‘Dancing With the Stars’ Season 34 Episode 8 Live Recap: Dances, Scores and an Elimination

The ballroom transforms into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for its first show of the month.

Bailey Colon | 9 Hours Ago

Dancing with the Stars Week 7 Elimination / Christopher Willard/Disney/Getty Images

Dancing with the Stars is bringing Cleveland to Los Angeles to start off the month of November, with a night dedicated to the midwestern city’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Following a fright-filled Halloween special—where the competition’s final nine pairings debuted their spookiest performances of the season thus far—they will be channeling their inner rock stars with a nod to some of the greatest musical artists in the genre.

In case you missed last week’s show

Three days before Halloween night, the celebrity contestants and their professional partners played dress-up a little early. So did the show’s trio of judges, Derek Hough, Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli—who were joined on the panel by two-time mirrorball champion, Cheryl Burke. In addition to the couples’ routines, they also participated in a bonus, “dance monsterthon” that added an extra one to five points to their total score.

As for the performances that were fantastically frightening, Alix Earle's and Val Chmerkovskiy's Tango to “bury a friend” by Billie Eilish earned the night's top score. The pair notched a 39/40 from the judges, with 10s from Hough, Inaba and Tonioli, and one 9 from Burke. The guest judge noted Earle’s technique, specifically with breaking hold, as a deciding factor behind the decision. With four points from the bonus round, the duo’s official total was 43.

Sitting behind the first place pairing was Robert Irvin and Whitney Carson (who scored a 38/40 plus three bonus points) and Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas (who scored a 37/40 plus five bonus points). At the bottom of the leaderboard was Andy Richter and Emma Slater, who tallied four 7s and one bonus point for a total of 29. Additionally, Elaine Hendrix, who did not perform live during last week’s show due to injury, is primed for a return to the ballroom this week.

You can check out our full recap of last week’s episode here!

Last week’s elimination

Following a trio of eights from the judges following their contemporary performance to Taylor Swift’s “Look What You Made Me Do”—with two additional points from the competition's “dance monsterthon”—it ultimately was not enough to save Jen Affleck and her partner Jan Ravnik. The duo finished last Tuesday’s episode with the second-lowest score of the evening, only edging out Richter and Slater.

“My heart hurts knowing this chapter ends and I won’t be on stage Tuesday night, but I’m endlessly grateful for the ride and for showing my kids what their mom can do,” Affleck penned to Instagram two days after the outcome. The elimination followed a record-breaking night of voting, with 55 million votes counted during the episode.

This week’s theme

As mentioned, Week 8 of the competition is “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Night.” Every performance of the night from the eight final pairings will showcase the genre, and the show will also welcome a handful of notable names for the night’s festivities. Joining the judges panel is 2013 Hall of Fame inductee, Flava Flav. Chicago The Band and Kool and the Gang will also bring their musical talents to the stage.

Dylan Efron and Daniella Karagach

Efron and Karagach began the night with a jive to Elton John’s “I’m Still Standing.” Before hitting the stage, Efron quipped, “I do have a little PTSD with my broken nose,” in a behind-the-scenes clip. Then, he discussed the original music video from the 1983 hit—which featured Tonioli. Efron deemed the duo as “the ultimate showmen.”

When the pair wrapped up the number, Tonioli joked, “Why you didn't wear my outfit, I have no idea,” and gave the performance a rave review— specifically calling attention to Efron’s ab-baring apparel: “abs-soluetly fabulous.” Hough agreed, “When in doubt, get your abs out.” Inaba gave the duo an 8, Hough a 9; Flava Flav gave the pair their first 10, while Tovioli rounded out the judges’ votes with a 9. Total: 36/40.

Alix Earle and Val Chmerkovskiy

Earle and Chmerkovskiy continued the competition with a Paso Doble to “Livin’ On a Prayer” by Bon Jovi. In the behind-the-scenes clip, the partners discussed how the top three couples on the leaderboard are all doing the dance style tonight, yet Chmerkovskiy said he was “respectfully confident” in his partner’s ability to conquer the style. Plus, the duo exhibited a special message from Bon Jovi before their routine.

Tovioli called Earle “the paso doble bombshell,” when the performance concluded. Both Inaba and Hough concurred, and Inaba declared that Earle was in her “fierce girl era”. For her scores, Inaba, Hough, and Tovioli gave the duo a 10, while Flava Flav gave them their sole 9. Total: 39/40.

Andy Richter and Emma Slater

Before Richter and Slater showcased a Contemporary to “God Only Knows” by The Beach Boys, the comedian gushed over the love he has been receiving from fans. Then, Slater explained that their newest number was“representing the story of [their] friendship.” During the performance’s conclusion, Jordan Chiles and Ezra Sosa were spotted fanning away tears.

“Everything was right on point,” Flava Flav said on Richter’s performance. Tonioli called the comedian “charming [and] tender” and credited his“childlike honestly” that makes him the “people’s champion.” He earned a trio of 7s from Inaba, Hough, and Tovioli and Flava Flav gave the duo their first 9. Total: 30/40.

Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas

Due to a server error we missed Leavitt and Ballas’s paso doble to“No More Tears” by Ozzy Osbourne. However; they earned a trio of 10s from Hough, Flava Flav and Tonioli and a sole 9 from Inaba. Total: 39/40.

Danielle Fishel and Pasha Pashkov

Before hitting the stage, for a Contempory routine to Aerosmith's “Dream On”, Fishel reflected on tapping into her emotions and facials for the performance—which was a note from Inaba following last week’s dance. The Boy Meets World actress also reflected on a previous cancer diagnosis in reference to channeling heavy emotions on stage.

Following the performance, the duo earned mixed scores from the judges. Inaba and Flava Flav each posted 9s, while Hough and Tonioli gave a duo a set of 8s. Total: 34/40.

Elaine Hendrix and Alan Bersten

Hendrix’s Viennese Waltz to “What the World Needs Now Is Love” by Dionne Warwick marks her first live performance following an injury that sidelined her from last week’s competition. “I’m so grateful that we get to keep going,” she said in a behind-the-scenes interview before her routine. “I’m expecting to feel pain. I don’t care,” she also added.

The judges were fans of the routine, which Toniloli deemed “extremely elegant.” Inaba had an emotional response, stating she was “trying not to cry”. When scores came in, Inaba, Hough and Tonioli gave the pair a 9, while Flava Flav gave the duo a 10. Total: 37/40.

Jordan Chiles and Ezra Sosa

Chiles and Ezra Sosa commanded the ballroom with a Jazz to “River Deep – Mountain High” by Ike & Tina Turner. In a behind-the-scenes clip, the pair touched upon Chiles’ Tia Turner comparison by Inaba in the beginning weeks of the competition. However, the gymnast noted that she was a “little defeated” following last week’s scores.

Toniloli called the routine a “spectacular acrobatic display”, which got the crowd on its feet following its conclusion. For their scores, Inaba gave the pair a 10. Hough followed up with a 9. Flava Flav held up a 10 and Tonioli concluded the voting with 9. Total: 38/40.

Robert Irwin and Witney Carson

Irwin and Carson rounded out the night with a Paso Doble to “Icky Thump” by The White Stripes. The wildlife conservationist noted that his recent scores have “given [him] this boost of confidence” as the competition enters its “homestretch.”

Every judge beamed over the duo’s performance, with Inaba noting that Irwin’s “momentum” can “take [him] to the finish line.” The 21-year-old, on the other hand, gushed over his partner’s hard work and choreography with co-host Julianne Hough. For their score, Inaba and Hough respectively issued the pair two 9s, while Flava Flav and Tonioli each recorded 10s. Total: 38/40.

Bonus round: team dances

Following the individual numbers, the eight pairs split into two squads for the first team dances of the season. The total score from all four judges following the team performance was added to every couple’s individual score.

Richter captained Team Kool and was joined by his partner, Slater, along with Earle and Chmerkovskiy, Hendrix and Bernsten, and Irwin and Carson. Their competitors, Team Chicago consisted of Chiles and Sosa, Efron and Karagach, Leavitt and Ballas, and Fishel and Pashkov. Fishel was deemed its captain.

Additionally, both hosts, Julianne Hough and Alfonso Ribeiro, participated in the routines—choreographed to live performances by Chicago The Band and Kool and the Gang—with Hough on Team Kool and Ribeiro joining Team Chicago.

Team Chicago hit the stage first to “25 or 6 to 4”, and earned high praise from every judge. They earned a perfect score, bringing their total to 40/40. Then, Team Kool followed up with a performance to Kool and the Gang’s “Celebration.” The judges also swooned over the performance’s energy, with minor notes from Inaba and Hough. Inaba and Tonioli scored the team with a 9. Hough and Flava Flav gave the group a 10. Total: 38/40.

Dylan Efron and Daniella Karagach: 36/40 + 40 bonus points for a final score of 76
Alix Earle and Val Chmerkovskiy: 39/40 + 38 bonus points for a final score of 77
Andy Richter and Emma Slater: 30/40 + 38 bonus points for a final score of 68
Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas: 39/40 + 40 bonus points for a final score of 79
Danielle Fishel and Pasha Pashkov: 34/40 + 40 bonus points for a final score of 74
Elaine Hendrix and Alan Bersten: 37/40 + 38 bonus points for a final score of 75
Jordan Chiles and Ezra Sosa: 38/40 + 40 bonus points for a final score of 78
Robert Irwin and Witney Carson: 38/40 + 38 bonus points for a final score of 76

Who was eliminated?

Danielle Fishel and Pasha Pashkov / Frank Micelotta/Disney/Getty Images

The final result of Tuesday night’s voting sent home Fishel and Pashkov. “Every single moment, including this one has been joyous” the actress said after the results were declared by the compeition’s host. Pashkov called his partner a “friend for life.”

Next week, the theme is “A 20th Birthday Party”—highlighting the series’s 20th year on-air. The episode will debut on Tuesday, Nov. 11, at 8 p.m. ET, and we’ll be back in action with a live recap throughout the night. New episodes of DWTS Season 34 premiere every Tuesday night on ABC and Disney+, and are available to stream on Hulu the following day.

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Published 9 Hours Ago|Modified Nov 4, 2025

BAILEY COLON

Bailey Colón is a writer on the Breaking and Trending News team for SI Swimsuit. Before joining SI Swimsuit, Colón worked at the National Basketball Association where she served as a founding member of the ‘Starting 5’ newsletter and led editorial operations for the NBA App and dotcom. Colón is particularly passionate about the impact of athletics on popular culture, fashion and media. The New England native has a bachelor’s degree from Marist College in journalism and political science.