From Four-Way Ties To Double Goodbyes, ‘Dancing with the Stars’ Brought The Drama In Week Two

If you needed proof that this season of Dancing with the Stars is one giant glorious confection of glitter and chaos, Week 2 gave you exactly that. After a premiere that set ratings records, the show dialed the nostalgia up to 11 with its One-Hit Wonders Night. (AKA Two hours of toe-tapping tunes you’ve no doubt belted out at karaoke and/or drunkenly awkward-danced at your high-school prom.) “Baby Got Back”? Yup. “What Is Love”? Of course. “Play That Funky Music”? Uh-huh. Funky, it was. It was also the kind of theme night that has you singing along with the show and maybe, just maybe, busting a few moves in your living room before you collapse on the couch.

The only thing missing was glitter cannons and an appearance from MC Hammer himself. Instead, the show had their first ever double elimination, which is always brutal this early in the season. Corey Feldman might have given us one of the more meme-able cha-chas of all time with his rendition of “Baby Got Back,” but even a hot pink suit couldn’t save his night. Baron Davis brought the party (in the form of a “Return of the Mack” dance routine) but couldn’t samba his way to safety. Both men went home after the two-night episode, complimenting each other’s partners Jenna Johnson and Britt Stewart before saying their tearful goodbyes.

The real shocker of the night, was a four-way tie for first place. Jordan Chiles came in strong with a jive so excellent, Carrie Ann screamed “Tina Turner vibes!” as if she’d just witnessed Woodstock. Robert Irwin once again honored the Irwin family tradition of never taking things halfway by laying it all on the line with a tango that was equal parts sugary and sharp (and apparently fierce enough to make Derek scream “Crikey!” Oh, you know it was coming). Jen Affleck, who’s been leaning heavily on her TikTok fame to get through the competition, busted out a countertop quickstep so clean that even we were shocked.

The rest of the cast were equally memorable in their own ways. Elaine Hendrix transformed herself into an ’80s cheerleader for her jive, and Toni Basil herself paid a surprise visit to rehearsals. Dylan Efron was praised by Len for having “expert-level hips” (literally the first and last time that combination of words will ever be spoken). Hilaria Baldwin must have dragged herself through the whole competition to nail a sharp and edgy tango. Danielle Fishel actually danced with a torn hamstring, Andy Richter embraced the camp of “It’s Raining Men” like only a former late-night TV writer could, and Scott Hoying turned his cha-cha into an Eiffel 65 tribute concert.

If that all wasn’t bizarre enough, the judges tried out a new one-word judgement rule. Sometimes it was powerful, sometimes it was gibberish, and sometimes it was just… yelled. As always, that’s the wonder of DWTS! It’s so gloriously, deliciously campy, so unabashedly cheesy, and yet unpredictable enough that it never fails to sparkle. If week two of the season served up an elimination, a tie, surprise guest appearances, and judges yelling random words, then we don’t even know what to expect for week three. Let’s just say that by now, this season is officially unhinged in the BEST possible way.