With just eight teams left in the competition, “Dancing with the Stars� is headed toward the “this is going to hurt� eliminations.
Monday — due to Election Day on Tuesday — the heartache was felt. Julia Stiles, the remaining “old� contestant, was sent home. You could tell the others were upset when credits rolled. She was embraced by the others, suggesting the mirror ball is near.
Julia Stiles and Ezra Sosa perform Monday during “Disney Night� on “Dancing with the Stars.�
Two leaders, Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Dewan, pulled ahead with perfect scores for their Disney Night dances. Shum did a jazz number to “Mary Poppins.� Dewan did a quickstep to “Beauty and the Beast.� Both were exceptional. Because he had more points than Dewan, Shum got immunity in next week’s group number.
The night, though, will be remembered for the quotes that spilled out:
— Paralympian Ezra Frech on his style: “It might look a little different, but I can do anything.�
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— Judge Carrie Ann Inaba on Stiles’ improvements: “I see you.�
— Judge Derek Hough on Tatyana Ali’s contemporary dance: “Dance is emotion made physical.�
— Host Julianne Hough: “Right after this.� (Her fake-out when the scores are reported and a commercial is waiting. She says it too often.)
Jenna Johnson, Harry Shum Jr., Jenna Dewan, Valentin Chmerkovskiy, Daniella Karagach, Ezra Frech, Rylee Arnold and Connor Wood perform Monday during “Disney Night� on “Dancing with the Stars.�
After the individual dances, the eight were divided into two teams and competed in the group dance competition. One did “High School Musical�; the other did “Zootopia.� Because it had the two 40-point dancers on its team, Team Wildcats won. Both, though, were good … and united.
While Frech still has the popular vote on his side, he could be bested in performance because his partner, Daniella Karagach, makes adjustments in her choreography. That shouldn’t hurt him, but Shum and Dewan are making moves.
Connor Wood is a favorite among the contestants. He’s one of the lower scorers, but he could last another week if Maura Higgins continues to falter. Both had 32 this week; Ali got a 33.
At this point in the competition, injuries start surfacing. Stiles had rib problems; Ali had foot woes; Frech has been dealing with sores on his stump. Those issues could factor in.
Now, though, they’re all friends on a mission. That’s fun to see.

