“DWTS” Week 4 Recap: Maks and Vanessa Return on the Show’s Most Emotional Night Yet
After last week’s rumors about Maksim Chmerkovskiy and Vanessa Lachey’s Dancing With the Stars partnership, viewers might have expected to see some tension between them during their rehearsal package. But the October 9 episode was all about love. The theme of the night was “My Most Memorable Year,” and as the stars opened up about their best and worst moments, there was a lot of crying (both happy and sad), a lot of reflection, and a lot of bonding.
Terrell Owens paid tribute to his late grandmother with a waltz to Whitney Houston, Lindsey Stirling shared the heartbreak of her father’s death from cancer, Vanessa Lachey recalled giving birth to son Phoenix at just 29 weeks, and Victoria Arlen opened up about learning to walk again after spending 10 years in a wheelchair.
The episode also saw the first 10s of the season, from Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli for Jordan Fisher and Lindsay Arnold, who danced in tribute to the year Fisher’s parents officially adopted him. (Hope you had some extra tissues on hand for that one.)
.@Jordan_Fisher and @lindsayarnold get a musical assist from @UsTheDuo for a contemporary tribute to his adoptive family. #DWTSpic.twitter.com/oN6lYSJx2L
— Official DWTS (@DancingABC) October 10, 2017
Unfortunately, with no elimination last week, one couple had to say goodbye this week. Nick Lachey and Derek Fisher were the two stars “in jeopardy” based on judges’ scores and fan votes, and the latter was ultimately sent home.
Check out the rest of the week four rankings below. (These rankings are based solely on scores from Len Goodman, Carrie Ann Inaba, and Bruno Tonioli, but as DWTS fans know, eliminations are based on a combination of scores and votes, so get to voting for your favorite pair.)
1. #TeamFishUponAStar: Jordan Fisher and Lindsay Arnold
Dance: Contemporary to “Take Me Home” by Us The Duo
Score: 29 out of 30 (10 from Carrie Ann and Bruno, 9 from Len)
Most Memorable Year: 2005, the year he was officially adopted
Stunning! Mom and dad raised him well! @Jordan_Fisher & @lindsayarnold! @DancingABC#DWTS@HamiltonMusical#MostMemorableYearpic.twitter.com/BrJsHqXL5v
— Good Morning America (@GMA) October 10, 2017
2. #TeamViVa: Victoria Arlen and Valentin Chmerkovskiy
Dance: Foxtrot to “I Lived” by OneRepublic
Score: 27 out of 30 (9 from each judge)
Most Memorable Year: 2016-2017, the year she regained control of her legs
Truly unbelievable! What an amazing, inspiring story and performance! @Arlenv1 & @iamValC! @DancingABC#DWTS#MostMemorableYearpic.twitter.com/tDrPZGmXUL
— Good Morning America (@GMA) October 10, 2017
3. #TeamStark: Lindsey Stirling and Mark Ballas
Dance: Viennese Waltz to “Anchor” by Mindy Gledhill
Score: 26 out of 30 (9 from Carrie Ann and Bruno, 8 from Len)
Most Memorable Year: 2016-2017, the year her father spent battling cancer before his death
Dad is looking down with a great big smile! 😢@LindseyStirling & @MarkBallas! @DancingABC#DWTS#MostMemorableYearpic.twitter.com/E4E8mMG2jQ
— Good Morning America (@GMA) October 10, 2017
4. (Tie) #TeamFranneyPack: Frankie Muniz and Witney Carson
Dance: Quickstep to “Adventure of a Lifetime” by Coldplay
Score: 24 out of 30 (8 from each judge)
Most Memorable Year: 2017, because he “learned to live in the present”
Magical start for @frankiemuniz & @WitneyCarson on #MostMemorableYear Night! @DancingABC#DWTSpic.twitter.com/kxBF77hnIa
— Good Morning America (@GMA) October 10, 2017
4. (Tie) #TeamGetchaPopcorn: Terrell Owens and Cheryl Burke
Dance: Viennese Waltz to “I Have Nothing” by Whitney Houston
Score: 24 out of 30 (8 from each judge)
Most Memorable Year: 2012, the year his grandmother died
Great tribute to grandma!!! @terrellowens & @CherylBurke! @DancingABC#DWTS@NFL#MostMemorableYearpic.twitter.com/lA8UCzy9mq
— Good Morning America (@GMA) October 10, 2017
4. (Tie) #TeamSmackdown: Nikki Bella and Artem Chigvintsev
Dance: Contemporary to “Fight Song” by Rachel Platten
Score: 24 out of 30 (8 from each judge)
Most Memorable Year: 2016, the year she returned to the ring after a potentially career-ending injury
She is a fighter! You can't keep her down!
Nikki @BellaTwins & @artemchigvintse! @DancingABC#DWTS@WWE#MostMemorableYearpic.twitter.com/dqe0FFacoT
— Good Morning America (@GMA) October 10, 2017
4. (Tie) #TeamATeam: Sasha Pieterse and Gleb Savchenko
Dance: Foxtrot to “Over My Head (Cable Car)” by The Fray
Score: 24 out of 30 (8 from each judge)
Most Memorable Year: 2015-2016, the year she finished filming Pretty Little Liars and got engaged to Hudson Sheaffer
When one door closes… @SashaaPieterse & @Gleb_Savchenko! @DancingABC#DWTS#PLL#MostMemorableYearpic.twitter.com/LFmjOZj6de
— Good Morning America (@GMA) October 10, 2017
4. (Tie) #TeamBabiesAndBallroom: Vanessa Lachey and Maksim Chmerkovskiy
Dance: Rumba to “Godspeed (Sweet Dreams)” by Nick Lachey
Score: 24 out of 30 (8 from each judge)
Most Memorable Year: 2017, the year that her “family was complete”
Beautiful! So emotional! @VanessaLachey & @MaksimC! @DancingABC#DWTS#MostMemorableYearpic.twitter.com/m6lVQXutPd
— Good Morning America (@GMA) October 10, 2017
4. (Tie) #TeamHotProperty: Drew Scott and Emma Slater
Dance: Jive to “Don’t Stop Me Now” by Queen
Score: 24 out of 30 (8 from each judge)
Most Memorable Year: 2007, when he and his twin, Jonathan, started Property Brothers
Seeing double! You can’t stop THEM now! @MrDrewScott & @EmmaSlaterDance with @MrSilverScott! @DancingABC#DWTS#MostMemorableYearpic.twitter.com/Uv4Nb3emc0
— Good Morning America (@GMA) October 10, 2017
5. #TeamMomAndPops: Nick Lachey and Peta Murgatroyd
Dance: Contemporary to “Falling Slowly” by Marketa Irglova and Glen Hansard
Score: 22 out of 30 (8 from Carrie Ann, 7 from Len and Bruno)
Most Memorable Year: 2011, the year he married Vanessa Lachey
Gorgeous! Moving performance by @NickLachey & @PetaMurgatroyd! @DancingABC#DWTS@98official#MostMemorableYearpic.twitter.com/3FRrat5Dza
— Good Morning America (@GMA) October 10, 2017
ELIMINATED: #TeamHoopsAndHeels: Derek Fisher and Sharna Burgess
Dance: Jazz to “Move on Up” by Curtis Mayfield
Score: 23 out of 30 (8 from Len and Bruno, 7 from Carrie Ann)
Most Memorable Year: 2007, the year his then-10-month-old daughter was diagnosed with a rare eye cancer
Move on up! Beautiful celebration of his daughter's life! @derekfisher & @SharnaBurgess! @DancingABC#DWTS@NBA@Lakers#MostMemorableYearpic.twitter.com/BSRP9jqhMx
— Good Morning America (@GMA) October 10, 2017
What was the most memorable year of your life? Tell us @BritandCo.
(Photos via ABC/Paul Hebert + ABC/Craig Sjodin)