‘Dancing With the Stars’ 2015: Redfoo Is First to Go In Week 2 of Season 20
“Dancing With the Stars” bids adieu to its first eliminated star of season 20.
-- Redfoo, one-half of the electronic dance music group LMFAO, was the first celebrity eliminated from season 20 of ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars," and the ballroom audience wasn't happy about it.
“It was an uproar,” Redfoo said on “Good Morning America” today of the audience’s reaction. “The people have spoken. This was our best performance by far.”
Redfoo and model Charlotte McKinney both tied for the bottom spot on the leaderboard for their respective season premiere performances, and although actress Suzanne Somers was also in danger of going home Monday night, Redfoo and his pro partner, Emma Slater, had the lowest combined total of judges’ scores and viewer votes for their performance last week.
“I was very surprised and shocked because all I was thinking about was just improving, getting better, taking what the judges said the first week and getting that skill,” the singer, who earned one of the highest scores Monday for his jive, explained. “Emma and I, we really honed in on the skill of the jive and drilled even harder. It was just a total shock.”
Slater shared his disappointment, adding, “We really drilled into the choreography. A lot of hard week went into that. It was a long week. But it paid off and I think if you’re going to go out, go out with a bang.
“There were so many things that we wanted to do that we never got around to doing, so we’re kind of disappointed for that,” she said. “But you’ve just got to look for the silver lining.”
Redfoo, whose real name is Stefan Gordy, didn’t have the heart to break the news to his dad, legendary Motown founder Barry Gordy, right away.
“He saw my performance but he didn’t know I had gotten voted off,” Redfoo recalled. “He was like, ‘Way to go. That was excellent. I guess you are smarter than me because that was magical.’ And I didn’t have the heart to tell him right there that I’m off the show.’”
Co-host Tom Bergeron said the situation underscored the importance of viewer participation.
“You’ve got to vote, guys,” he said Monday. “This is somebody who did a great job and because of viewer votes … and a tenth of a percent, a tenth of a percent.”
The stars all danced to their favorite songs on tonight's "My Jam Monday"-themed show.
The Routines
Chris Soules: The four judges encouraged the star of “The Bachelor” to work harder. Head judge Len Goodman said Soules’s jam “got in a little bit of a pickle here and there,” although he commended him for doing “an okay job” with just four days to rehearse the routine. Julianne Hough said she thought the choreography was “intricate” for the second week, but said Soules was enthusiastic and entertaining. Bruno Tonioli pointed out that Soules’s posture was “much more erect” than it was in the previous week, and Carrie Ann Inaba added that, while Soules seemed “up for the challenge,” he needed to take a less-casual approach. “Details, details, details,” she said. Soules earned three 5s and a 6, for a total of 21 out of a possible 40 points.
Suzanne Somers: The 68-year-old actress’s peppy jive won the judges over. “That was awesome!” Hough said, adding that Somers embodied what the competition was all about, which was improvement week after week. A pleased Tonioli called the routine “teasing but never sleazy,” and Inaba said she loved to see the spring in Somers’s step. Goodman said Somers’s routine was terrific, noting that she danced with “energy and verve.” Somers earned four 7s, for a total of 28 points.
Robert Herjavec: The “Shark Tank” star, with his trademark ballroom smile still in full effect tonight, earned praise for his foxtrot with partner Kym Johnson. Inaba said she was impressed that Herjavec kept up with the “really challenging routine,” and said the couple made such a cute pair that is almost made her “a little nauseous.” Tonioli said Herjavec had “supreme selling power,” while Goodman saw Herjavec’s “style” and “panache.” Hough gave Herjavec pointers for improving his frame, telling him it was all in the attitude. He earned four 7s, for a total of 28 points.
Charlotte McKinney: Judges liked the model’s playful, beach-themed cha-cha. “You gave it to me. Honey, that was really good,” Inaba said, adding that McKinney needed work more on the articulation of her feet. Goodman said the routine was fun and “better than last week,” and Hough said she believed McKinney had untapped potential. In a video before her performance, McKinney said she was bullied online for her figure, but after the routine Tonioli told her: “Darling, you’re gorgeous. If you’ve got it, flaunt it … be yourself. Be happy with it.” He also told her partner, Keo Motsepe, to help McKinney on knowing how best to work with her body. McKinney earned two 6s and two 7s, for a total of 26 points.
Michael Sam: Judges praised the football player’s confident foxtrot. Goodman, who last week called Sam’s footwork “atrocious,” tonight commended the footwork and the routine. Hough said the routine was “like a Broadway performance, it was picture perfect, it was so beautiful.” Tonioli called the routine a timeless blend of Motown style and classic foxtrot, adding: “for such a big bruiser, you were so light on your feet.” Inaba said she was truly impressed at Sam’s “transformation” from last week. “You are in the game, my friend!” she said. Sam earned four 7s, for a total of 28 points.
Rumer Willis: The actress’s cha-cha -- performed to “Rumour Has It” –- earned her a standing ovation from the ballroom audience and plaudits from the judges. “You’re pretty much a powerhouse,” Hough said, while urging Willis to relax her upper body and breathe a little bit. Tonioli said Willis had a “keen sense of purpose.” Inaba told Willis’s partner, Val Chmerkovskiy, that she loved the choreography. Added Goodman: “It’s no rumor, Rumer. You can dance.” She earned four 8s, for a total of 32 points.
Redfoo: Last week judges were unhappy with Redfoo’s cha-cha, but tonight they were happy with the musician high-energy jive. “You went from running on empty to running on plenty,” Tonioli said. A thrilled Inaba said Redfoo “killed it!” Goodman said what the routine lacked in technique it made up for in energy, and Hough said it was “awesome.” Redfoo earned three 8s and a 7, for a total of 31 points.
Willow Shields: The “Hunger Games” actress and partner Mark Ballas received rave reviews for their pop art-inspired Argentine tango. Goodman admired the maturity in Shields’s performance. Hough said Shields had intensity, and Inaba praised the actress’s “incredible lines.” Added Tonioli: “Your lines and shapes were incredible … you’re a potential winner.”
Noah Galloway: The U.S. Army veteran dedicated his samba to his girlfriend, who was away on military training, and judges were impressed by Galloway’s strength, control and rhythm. Tonioli and Inaba said the routine was “hot,” Inaba adding that she was impressed by how the double amputee had formed a whole new set of skills for the dance floor. Hough said Galloway’s musicality was “on point,” and Goodman added: “the rhythm in your hips put a smile on my face. You’re an ordinary guy but you do extraordinary things.” Galloway earned three 7s and a 6, for a total of 27 points. After he learned his score, his girlfriend surprised him by showing up and giving him a hug on the set. He beamed and hugged her, calling her unexpected appearance “amazing.”
Nastia Liukin: The Olympian’s rumba was “so beautifully executed,” Hough said, while adding that she didn’t feel a connection between Liukin and her pro partner, Derek Hough, until the second half of the dance. (Derek Hough and Julianne Hough are siblings.) Tonioli called Liukin’s performance “marvelous motion,” while Inaba’s jaw dropped in amazement. “The quality of motion was spectacular,” she said. Goodman said the dance started off clean and crisp and then bloomed. Liukin earned two 9s and two 8s, for a total of 34 points.
Riker Lynch: The R5 band member’s foxtrot won him praise for his poise and his sleek appearance, a marked difference from his edgier look of last week. “I love your finishes. You put in tiny little details...but you maintain the style throughout. Good job,” Tonioli said. Inaba said Lynch’s performance was “so presentational,” adding that he was elegant but still himself. Goodman remarked on Lynch’s refined hair and dancing, and while he pointed out that Lynch’s hold could also be refined somewhat, he said he liked the performance. Hough called the routine “beautiful,” adding that Lynch (who is her cousin) had “such dynamic ability.” Lynch earned four 8s, for a total of 32 points.
Patti LaBelle: Dancing with an injured knee to 50 Cent’s “In Da Club, LaBelle’s saucy cha-cha had both Inaba and Hough bowing to her in admiration. “That was so fun! I want to go to the club with you, too,” Hough said. LaBelle earned four 7s, for a total of 28 points.
Tonight’s Scores
Nastia Liukin and Derek Hough: 34
Riker Lynch and Allison Holker: 32
Rumer Willis and Valentin Chmerkovskiy: 32
Willow Shields and Mark Ballas: 32
Redfoo and Emma Slater: 31
(They were voted off tonight.)
Robert Herjavec and Kym Johnson: 28
Patti LaBelle and Artem Chigvintsev: 28
Suzanne Somers and Tony Dovolani: 28
Michael Sam and Peta Murgatroyd: 28
Noah Galloway and Sharna Burgess: 27
Charlotte McKinney and Keo Motsepe: 26
Chris Soules and Witney Carson: 21