'Dancing With the Stars' recap: The pain begins as first star is dramatically sent home
Spoiler alert: This story contains the results from Monday's emotionally turbulent second week of "Dancing With the Stars." Sit down with loved ones and watch the episode before reading.
It's only week two of "Dancing With the Stars" Season 28, and yet the bitter pain of loss has already begun beneath the disco mirror ball.
Monday night's program, which fell on contestant and former White House press secretary Sean Spicer's 48th birthday, started the elimination process with one celebrity couple packing up and going home.
With remarkable dance drama in the early stages, there were tears, booing of judges and a conservative country star had a planned wardrobe malfunction involving her skirt.
Read on to get the dancing dirt on all the couples and find out which is the first (of 11) dearly departed before a new "DWTS" champion is crowned.
Last week's drama: Controversial Sean Spicer dazzles with outfit, if not with dance
Get to know your stars: Here are all the celebs competing
Actor James Van Der Beek and pro Emma Slater
Last week's breakout dance sensation, "Dawson's Creek" alum Van Der Beek, continued to impress with an impressive Cha-cha-cha amid a flurry of dance floor balloons. There was even too much flourish for perpetually cranky judge Len Goodman who objected to, among other things, a slick Van Der Beek slide move.
"It was another solid performance, just cut out the gimmicks, give me dancing," said Goodman.
Judge Bruno Tonioli called it a "Broadway" performance but also pressed Van Der Beek on a missed step, which the actor admitted was an attempt to avoid tripping over a fog machine (or as he called it "a fog-in-ator"). Ah, dancing problems!
Final score: 20/30
Sailor Brinkley-Cook and pro Valentin Chmerkovskiy
Model Brinkley-Cook continued to fill in for her injured supermodel mother Christie Brinkley, who cheered on with her apparently injured arm from the audience.
The judges admired Brinkley-Cook's body-clutching rumba and for stepping in on short notice. But judge Bruno Tonioli gave "tough love" saying she was hitting the moves but "had to link and feel" the "grown-up dance."
Commentator Erin Andrews pointed out that part of the difficulty might be that Brinkley-Cook's boyfriend was watching the romantic dance with heart-throb Chmerkovskiy (who is morally opposed to shirt buttons over his abs).
"You're still making your Mom very proud, but what you’re lacking is consistency," she said.
Final score: 18/30
Retired NFL star Ray Lewis and pro Cheryl Burke
The former Baltimore Ravens linebacker had his dancing face on during a passionate Foxtrot that had the judges impressed after a weaker dance in the previous week. There were foot mistakes, but the judges said they saw improvement and energy.
Judge Carrie Ann Inaba loved the dance despite "tons of mistakes."
"Whatever happens, you always light up the room," Tonioli added. "You sold it. Next time, if you come back, make sure you don’t make so many mistakes."
Lewis added, "It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish. It’s what the journey is about."
Final score: 15/30
Singer Ally Brooke and pro Sasha Farber
Brooke went to the emotional place usually reserved for later weeks, talking about how Internet trolls have always insisted she couldn't dance. "I'm not going to let that stop me," she declared tearfully, before going into a Viennese Waltz with Farber.
The final result had Inaba jumping joyfully away from the judges' desk and giving Brooke a hug.
"I love when it's transformative. 'Dancing With the Stars' can change people's life. It’s changing yours," said Inaba, as Brooke continued to cry. "To the haters, booyah!"
Final score 20/30
Comedian/actor Kel Mitchell and pro Witney Carson
Mitchell tearfully pointed out in the pre-dance video package that his father had undergone brain surgery, adding to the drama of his energetic samba.
"You are so smooth. I can tell the music feels good on you," said Inaba. "I really see improvement. There was more sophistication this week."
Mitchell announced that his father was safely out of the hospital, recovering and watching.
"I did this for my Dad. I love you Dad," he said with emotion into the camera.
Final score 20/30
Founding Supreme Mary Wilson and pro Brandon Armstrong
The Supreme Wilson, the oldest dancer at 75, wowed with her showmanship during her Cha-Cha-Cha to Aretha Franklin's "Think," which had mistakes. But Goodman pointed out that the missteps were disguised with her polished, unflappable stage presence.
"You're full of freedom. But, Mary it's a a joy to see you out there," said Goodman.
Total score: 15/30
Country singer Lauren Alaina and pro Gleb Savchenko
Alaina admitted she might have shocked her Alabama parents with her dangerous paso doble that featured Savchenko whipping off her skirt mid-dance to reveal a sheer jumpsuit.
"You seem so conservative, but not today," said Inaba.
"I never really expected a man rip my skirt off on TV. My dad in Alabama is very surprised right now," said the laughing Alaina afterwards. "I love you Dad."
Tonioli said the dance was "nasty, and I loved it, my darling. Nasty is good."
Total score: 19/30
Sean Spicer and pro Lindsay Arnold
Birthday-boy Spicer was less flamboyantly dressed from the past week's insane neon outfit, but is continuing to old-school campaign for votes with buttons and signs ("Let’s stand up for people who can’t dance!" he proclaimed).
This is one campaign pledge Spicer is keeping. But his methodical, foot-heavy tango paired with a skeleton-esque fixed grin left the judges slightly more impressed over last week.
"I can see the effort," said Tonioli."It was a little militaristic. But a tango nevertheless."
Final score: 16/30
'Queer Eye' culture expert Karamo and pro Jenna Johnson
Karamo drafted his former ballroom dancer mother-in-law to help him train and the results paid off in an energetic Quick Step dance to Prince's "Let's Go Crazy."
"Everyone is going crazy for Karamo," said Tonioli. "You have such panache, such flair." But Goodman, already an oddly fierce critic, continued to be clearly unimpressed for the second week in a row. "I wasn't over-struck," he grumbled, before giving a low, completely unwarranted 5 score. The boos rolled in, and Karamo's mother-in-law has jokingly threatened a little argy-bargy for the British Goodman, who has it coming.
Total score: 19/30
'The Office' star Kate Flannery and pro Pasha Pashkov
As the entire dance floor (and judges) donned space alien glasses, Flannery impressed with a Foxtrot to her favorite song, Frank Sinatra's "Fly Me to the Moon." Inaba called the dance and technique "amazing."
"Houston to Kate, we have lift-off," said Tonioli, who praised the star's improvement. "We have entered the correct orbit. Mission Foxtrot Accomplished."
Final score: 21/30
Former NBA star Lamar Odom and Peta Murgatroyd
The 6-foot-10 former Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat star bounced up from a dismal performance the past week (with the lowest score in the field), and showed some improvement with his salsa dance. But he remained dangerously low on the board with low judge scores.
"It’s difficult. You’re a very tall guy," said Goodman. "You seem a little more confident. You have a ways to go. But you’re on the right track."
Final score: 12/30
'Bachelorette' Hannah Brown and pro Alan Bersten
After kicking off the season in style with the first dance last week, Brown managed to get even better with her second week dance — a romantic Viennese Waltz in a flowing blue gown. The flower petal "American Beauty" finale had "Bachelorette" host Chris Harrison hooting and applauding in the audience.
Inaba said she was "whisked off into another world" watching the dance and even suggested that Brown might have been holding back last week. The reality show star earnestly insisted that she had just been nervous going first before.
Goodman proclaimed, "Everything is just an opinion, but that was the best dance of the night."
Final score: 24/30
So what happened in the end?
The judges' scores (from the past two weeks) were combined with votes from the fans. There was a loud gasp in the ballroom when Odom was the first star announced to be "safe." Even Odom was visibly open-mouthed surprised to make the first cut.
The rest of the "safe" dance couples were then called out and exited the dance floor, leaving only the bottom two couples — Ray Lewis-Cheryl Burke along with Mary Wilson-Brandon Armstrong.
With a new rule change this season, the final decision was left to the judges —with Tonioli and Inaba splitting their votes. The final call was left to the clearly pained Goodman, who voted with "my head, over my heart."
Goodman chose the Lewis-Burke team based on their potential to progress in the competition, sending home the show's first victim — singing legend Wilson.
The Supreme never stopped smiling.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Dancing With the Stars' recap: Who was cut on Sean Spicer's birthday?
