Dancing With the Stars' Pays Homage to Legendary Pop Culture Moments on Music Video Night: Find Out Which Couple Got Eliminated

During Music Video Night, the contestants of Dancing With the Stars celebrated and relived some of pop culture's most memorable moments.

The episode that aired on Tuesday, November 7, started off with a special appearance by guest judge Paula Abdul, who entered the stage while her 1989 hit "Forever Your Girl" played. Cohost Julianne Hough emphasized that Abdul, who is now 61 years old, was the ideal person to assess and critique the performances of the theme night.

Hough, 35, praised the "Straight Up" singer as one of the world's most influential music video icons. Abdul was particularly impressed by Vanderpump Rules star Ariana Madix, describing her performance as a stunning combination of elegance and fierceness, effortlessly channeling Britney Spears. Madix and DWTS pro Pasha Pashkov's Cha Cha routine to Spears' 2001 hit "I'm a Slave 4 U" earned high scores from Bruno Tonioli, Derek Hough, and Carrie Ann Inaba. However, Abdul awarded Madix a perfect 10.

Other contestants didn't perform as well in the episode. Inaba, 55, mentioned to Harry Jowsey that his performance suffered when his backup dancers left the front stage. "Once the boys weren't in front of you, it wasn't as good," she told Jowsey, 26, while the crowd booed.

During the rehearsal before their dance to 'NSync's "It's Gonna Be Me," Jowsey and his partner, Rylee Arnold, received a visit from Lance Bass himself. However, Bass' advice to Jowsey to "get out of your head and just perform" didn't prevent Jowsey and Arnold, 18, from feeling disappointed with their score: all four judges gave them sixes.

Barry Williams, Peta Murgatroyd, Jowsey, and Arnold received the lowest scores at the end of the night. Despite this, it was Lele Pons and Brandon Armstrong who were ultimately eliminated. Pons, 27, expressed her immense gratitude for the experience, while Armstrong, 29, described the elimination as a painful disappointment.

Meanwhile, Madix and Pashkov, who earned the highest score of the night, 37, will be exempt from the dance-off in the following week.

Alyson Hannigan and her partner, Sasha Farber, may not have been leading the way, but they were the most improved duo of the night. Inaba praised Hannigan's Quickstep to Christina Aguilera's "Candyman" as her best dance and said she transformed into a whole new person during the performance.

Tonioli noted that Hannigan now had a spring in her step, which she was previously missing. He declared the problem solved. Hannigan also received her first nine from Abdul in the competition.

In addition to the partnered dances of the evening, the contestants also took part in a team dance-off. Jowsey, Pons, Xochitl Gomez, Charity Lawson, and their professional partners showcased their moves to the tune of "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)" by the Backstreet Boys. Meanwhile, Hannigan, Jason Mraz, Madix, Williams, 69, and their partners brought the energy with their performance to "Gangnam Style" by PSY.

After a challenging jazz routine with Arnold, Jowsey managed to redeem himself during the group dance. Derek, age 38, was so impressed by Jowsey's performance in the group number that he couldn't help but stand up and embrace him.

Derek informed Jowsey that he had discovered his true talent. "You excel in working as part of a team, rather than being a solo performer," Derek expressed. To their delight, Jowsey's team received a flawless score of 40 from the judges, whereas the opposing team received a score of 37. Continue scrolling to view the scores of all the performers on Music Video Night.

Credit: ABC

'Dancing With the Stars' Revisits Iconic Pop Culture Moments on Music Video Night: See Who Went Home

Dancing With the Stars contestants revisited some of the most iconic moments in pop culture during Music Video Night.

The episode on Tuesday, November 7, started with Paula Abdul, guest judge, making her entrance to the tune of her 1989 hit "Forever Your Girl". Cohost Julianne Hough acknowledged Abdul's status as a music video icon and deemed her the ideal person to judge the theme night. One of the standout contestants for Abdul was Ariana Madix, star of Vanderpump Rules.

Abdul commended Madix, 38, for her impressive combination of grace and intensity, expressing that her portrayal of Britney Spears was flawless. Madix, along with DWTS pro Pasha Pashkov, captivated the audience with their Cha Cha routine to Spears' iconic 2001 hit, "I'm a Slave 4 U." While Bruno Tonioli, Derek Hough, and Carrie Ann Inaba awarded her with nines, Abdul granted her a perfect score of 10.

Unfortunately, other contestants did not fare as well in this episode. Inaba, 55, conveyed to Harry Jowsey that his performance suffered when his backup dancers faded into the background, ultimately detracting from his presence on stage. As the crowd voiced their disapproval, Inaba criticized Jowsey, 26, for not maintaining the same level of excellence when he was no longer supported by his fellow performers.

Jowsey and his partner, Rylee Arnold, were paid a visit by Lance Bass himself during their rehearsal for their performance to ’NSync’s “It’s Gonna Be Me.” Despite receiving advice from Bass to “get out of your head and just perform,” Jowsey and Arnold, both 18, were disappointed to receive sixes from all four judges.

At the end of the night, Barry Williams and Peta Murgatroyd, as well as Jowsey and Arnold, obtained the lowest scores. However, it was Lele Pons and her partner, Brandon Armstrong, who ultimately faced elimination. Pons, 27, expressed her immense gratitude for the experience, while Armstrong, 29, revealed his disappointment, stating, "This one burns."

Madix and Pashkov, with the highest score of the night, 37, will be exempt from participating in the dance-off next week. Despite not ranking at the top, Alyson Hannigan and Sasha Farber demonstrated significant improvement, making them the standout duo of the night. Inaba commended Hannigan, 49, stating that her Quickstep to Christina Aguilera's "Candyman" was her most impressive dance yet and praised her transformation during the performance.

Tonioli, 67, complimented the actress on her newfound confidence and even noted that she had a spring in her step. He declared that her previous problem had been solved. Additionally, Hannigan received her first nine of the competition from Abdul.

Apart from the evening's partnered dances, the contestants also took part in a team dance-off. Jowsey, Pons, Xochitl Gomez, Charity Lawson, and their professional partners danced to the song "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)" by the Backstreet Boys, while Hannigan, Jason Mraz, Madix, Williams, 69, and their partners performed to "Gangnam Style" by PSY.

After facing difficulties in his jazz routine with Arnold, Jowsey managed to regain his confidence and shine in the group dance. Derek, 38, was greatly impressed by Jowsey's outstanding performance during the group number, leading him to enthusiastically embrace him.

Following the heartening moment, Derek revealed his realization about Jowsey's forte, stating, "I've figured it out – you excel as a team player, not as a soloist." Recognizing Jowsey's abilities, the judges awarded his team a flawless score of 40, while the opposing team received a score of 37.

Keep scrolling to see all the performers’ scores from Music Video Night:

Credit: ABC/Andrew Eccles

Lele Pons and Brandon Armstrong — Eliminated

Dance: Salsa 

Song: “Whenever, Wherever” by Shakira

Score: 33

Credit: ABC/Andrew Eccles

Ariana Madix and Pasha Pashkov

Dance: Cha Cha 

Song: “I’m A Slave 4 U” by Britney Spears

Score: 37

Credit: ABC/Andrew Eccles

Harry Jowsey and Rylee Arnold

Dance: Jazz 

Song: “It’s Gonna Be Me” by 'NSync

Score: 24

Credit: ABC/Andrew Eccles

Jason Mraz and Daniella Karagach

Dance: Jazz

Song: “Take On Me” by a-ha

Score: 35

Credit: ABC/Andrew Eccles

Alyson Hannigan and Sasha Farber

Dance: Quickstep

Song: “Candyman” by Christina Aguilera

Score: 33

Credit: ABC/Andrew Eccles

Xochitl Gomez and Val Chmerkovskiy

Dance: Jazz

Song: “Hollaback Girl” by Gwen Stefani

Score: 34

Credit: ABC/Andrew Eccles

Charity Lawson and Artem Chigvintsev

Dance: Jazz 

Song: “All For You” by Janet Jackson

Score: 32

Credit: ABC/Andrew Eccles

Barry Williams and Peta Murgatroyd

Dance: Quickstep 

Song: “I’m Still Standing” by Elton John

Score: 28