Following a (of course) tearful good-by from Kate Gosselin last week, seven couples remain. They'll be dancing the Argetine Tango or the samba and will then compete in the swing dance marathon.
The couples come out (and as a side note, Pamela Anderson has brown hair for the night).
Jake and Chelsie are first with the samba. We see a video of Jake in a Carmen Miranda top (big sleeves, nearly bikini top). He worries because he's not as good a dancer as Evan or Nicole and is trying to catch up. "But, go-oolly, the samba's tough," he says.
They dance (not a single button on Jake's shirt is being used).
Len thinks Jake is showing more confidence (even though he calls him Jack), but lacks rhythm. Bruno thinks it lacked "bounce," although Jake nailed the pelvic gyrations. Carrie Ann says he needs to connect to the music.
Backstage, Jake discusses his slight stumble by the steps (when his pivot whacked the stair) and he just needs to put in the work. They get 7s across the board for 21.
Next up, Evan and Anna, following their 9s last week. Anna tries to get him to use more hips for the samba and they practice lifts for the marathon -- including one attempt that ends up with Evan landing on his head. He goes to urgent care and is diagnosed with a mild concussion.
They dance. Bruno says he's going to be hard on them because Evan's "lyrical lines" don't work for samba. (He gets booed.) Carrie Ann says he lost the battle of the samba and it never came together. Len says it was his worst dance and was far too balletic, and didn't suit him.
Evan promises Brooke he'll work on his hips. He gets 7s for 21, his lowest score.
Neicy and Louis are up next and plan for a "funny Argentine tango." She keeps kicking him as they practice and she vows to control her feet.
They dance. She takes the rose from his teeth and nibbles a petal. She mock kicks him in the junk and even manages a foot on his shoulder at one point. For the grand finally, he pulls a cookie out of his pocket and she slides out his body grabbing for it. And that is what constitutes a funny tango.
Carrie Ann says it was nice to see her dancing and she improved a ton and went for a lift. Neicy interrupts: "Can you believe he picked all this up, girl?!"
She didn't like the comedy but Len did, noting that Neicy lusting after a cookie made sense. "It's obvious you're an enthusiastic eater." (Neicy manages not to flinch.)
Backstage, Neicy is finishing her cookie. They get all 7s for 21.
Erin and Maks are up next. She worries about keeping up with him and he calls her an over-thinker. "I'm going to get institutionalized after this season is over, without a doubt," he says.
They dance, and in the process Maks' shirt comes off piece by piece.
Len tells Erin upfront she's getting a 7 because she didn't give him a "proper dance" and he's fed up with shirts coming off. Bruno points out she didn't choreograph the routine and she danced like a "girl who likes to be on top." Carrie Ann says she nailed it.
Erin tells Brooke she needs to work on her nerves. Carrie Ann and Bruno give her 9s to go with Len's 7 for 25.
Chad and Cheryl are next following Chad's bad quick step last week. They took a trip back to Cincinnati for a Bengals draft party, where he makes a pitch for votes and big dudes in jerseys say Chad's the best dancer.
"The Argentine Tango is all about chest and hips pressed together," he says. "I have a feeling I'm going to like that."
Cheryl wants Chad to focus on leading her, and not fake it like they have been doing. They dance.
Bruno calls it "strong, powerful" and says he proved he could actually dance. "You were like a prowling panther out there," Bruno says. Carrie Ann says they nailed it and Len says Chad grew tonight.
They get straight 8s for 24, his highest score ever.
Nicole and Derek are next. She's disappointed to learn the samba is not the salsa and "not the Brazilian dance party" she wanted it to be. Derek worries she over-analyzing and she even stresses about the camera angles in rehearsal.
Their dance is fierce and fast. Carrie Ann struggles for something constructive to say and can only come up with Nicole's weird facial expression. Len thinks the dance lacked key elements and was just a "hodge podge of sexy moves and gyrations." Bruno stands up and sings "One singular sensation" at her. Carrie Ann gives a 9, Len a 7 and Bruno a 10 for 26.
Pamela and Damian are next, following a week in the bottom. In rehearsal, Pam struggles with the lifts but says she's up for the challenge.
Pam (and her wig) and Damian dance.
Len notes that Pam is good at the seduction of the dance, Bruno thinks she played the part well. Carrie Ann wanted a little more technique in her legs. They get 7s from Len and Carrie Ann and an 8 from Bruno for 22.
Then it's time for the swing dance marathon, in which couples will be knocked out one by one by the judges and get points based on where they go. It's the first dance allowing lifts and last twice as long as a regular dance. They show some rehearsal footage with Jake doing lifts with no problem and everyone angling for the max 10 points.
The dancing begins with lots of lifting and swinging and scooting. Jake and Chelsie are the first out. Chad leapfrogs Cheryl, Neicy does a drop and roll and she and Louis are the next out. Erin ends up upside down for a few very long seconds that will certainly be on Youtube soon. Evan and Anna are out next.
Four couples remain and the dance floor opens up. Chad and Cheryl are out next.
Pam shows off her bouncy skills, but she and Damian are the next.
Erin and Maks are next, leaving Nicole and Derek as the winners.
Len says he got outvoted on many eliminations and Bruno says they all did great.
Nicole and Derek are at the top with 36 and Chelsie and Jake are at the bottom with 25.
