On a night filled with sparkle and excitement, contestants on Dancing With the Stars honored their favorite movies through their dance routines. Since there were no eliminations in Week 1, the competitors and their professional partners worked hard to continue their journey for the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy.
They aimed to impress judges Derek Hough, Carrie Ann Inaba, and Bruno Tonioli while also convincing viewers at home to vote for them. While Week 2 was not as upbeat as Week 1, as many stars were trying ballroom styles for the first time instead of cha-chas, there was clear improvement across the board.
From Chandler Kinney’s heartfelt Barbie-themed rumba to Stephen Nedoroscik’s Superman-inspired paso doble, this article covers the highlights of Week 2 and details about who had to leave the competition.
Celebrities Honored Classic Movies
The Season 33 premiere was “the most watched premiere in years,” according to co-host Alfonso Ribeiro at the start of Oscars Night. This is a significant achievement for a show that has been on the air since 2005. With such strong viewership after the season opener, how can the show keep its audience?
The answer lies in making contestants dance to memorable soundtracks. The first to take the stage this week was former Bachelorette Jenn Tran, who honored The Great Gatsby with her tango to “A Little Party Never Killed Nobody.”
Even though there was an audio issue at the start of her performance, Tran stayed on beat and impressed everyone. She received the same scores as in Week 1, but her energetic dance set a lively tone for the night.
Chandler Kinney again topped the leaderboard with her rumba to Billie Eilish’s “What Was I Made For?”. The Zombies star showed that she is not afraid of the pressure to improve and give her best every week. Like in the premiere, Dwight Howard finished second with a more difficult routine.
Instead of just dancing and smiling, the former NBA champion had to perform a foxtrot, which requires smooth movements and continuous flow. Despite the height difference between him and his partner Daniella Karagach, Howard showed determination to overcome challenges during his time on the show.
Nedoroscik and Season 28 Bachelor Joey Graziadei tied for third place again, receiving the same scores from the judges for two weeks straight.
Emotional Moments from Eric Roberts and Reginald Veljohnson
Fans of Dancing With the Stars know that high scores do not guarantee safety in the competition. This was clear last night when actors Eric Roberts and Reginald Veljohnson received the lowest scores but were not eliminated.
Even though they were the least experienced dancers this season, they worked hard to pay tribute to the films that inspired their performances. In emotional packages before their dances, Roberts and his partner Britt Stewart visited the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures.
There, he remembered his Oscar nomination in 1986. This trip added depth to his beginner-level waltz to The Godfather theme, allowing viewers to see beyond his struggle with the routine.
Similarly, Veljohnson thought back to his big-screen past working with Bruce Willis in Die Hard. His paso doble was not as exciting as Nedoroscik’s, but it held more significance as it honored his former co-star.
The First Eliminations of the Season
As the night filled with Oscar excitement came to an end, two contestants had to leave. The first eliminated celebrities were Tori Spelling from Beverly Hills 90210 and Anna Delvey, the infamous fake heiress. Delvey faced a lot of criticism after her casting was announced, and her performance last week received negative attention online.
Before performing her quickstep to “Suddenly I See” from The Devil Wears Prada, Delvey shared her feelings about the negativity on social media. She even invited model and actress Julia Fox to visit the studio and offer support. However, that was not enough to earn votes from the viewers.
When co-host Julianne Hough asked Delvey what she learned from her experience on Dancing With the Stars, she answered with “nothing,” dismissing her partner Ezra Sosa, who stood beside her.
Oscars night showed that Season 33’s contestants are willing to work hard to maintain their place in the competition. There was notable improvement in scores for competitors like model Brooks Nader and Super Bowl champion Danny Amendola.
This strengthens the chances of Kinney and Howard becoming the frontrunners this season. While the judges were tough on Roberts and Veljohnson (especially Derek Hough), voters demonstrated they did not want to let the senior competitors go yet.
With Delvey’s departure, which removed a controversial figure, Week 3 will likely have a lighter tone. After all, there will be no rhinestone-covered ankle monitor in sight—just pure energy and effort in the ballroom.
In the second week of Dancing With the Stars, contestants honored iconic films through their performances, despite facing the challenge of ballroom styles. The episode featured standout routines, including Chandler Kinney’s rumba and Jenn Tran’s tango to The Great Gatsby.
Eric Roberts and Reginald Veljohnson earned low scores but remained in the competition, showcasing emotional backstories.
The night ended with the elimination of Tori Spelling and Anna Delvey, the latter facing significant criticism. With strong performances and audience engagement, the season continues to show promise, building excitement for future weeks on the show.
Dancing With the Stars Season 33 airs on Tuesday nights on ABC and Disney+. Next week, a new episode will not air due to the U.S. vice presidential debate.
