'Dancing With the Stars': Tyra Banks announces live TV miscue in wild finish, elimination drama

With "Tiger King" star Carole Baskin voted off "Dancing With the Stars" last week, there was one big looming question.

Would the remaining cast generate the needed drama that the polarizing Netflix star brought to the reality competition?

The answer was a definitive yes Monday night, with a sobbing judge, revelations about Anne Heche's 1990s relationship with Ellen DeGeneres, a tearful tribute to "Disney" star Cameron Boyce and the first perfect 10 of the season.

All of this before a wild live TV finish, which saw host Tyra Banks read the wrong name for "safe" dancers, requiring one celebrity couple to be brought back to the dance floor to face elimination.

"It's just like the Oscars 2018," judge Derek Hough said in shock.

Hyperbole perhaps, but it made for an eventful night even by "DWTS" standards. Here's what went down.

'Tiger King' star Carole Baskin: Voted off 'Dancing With the Stars' on Disney Night

Skai Jackson paid tearful tribute to Cameron Boyce

Disney star Jackson was not just emotional paying tribute to her late "Jessie" co-star, the 18-year-old was full-on in tears during her taped interview.

"I want this dance to be dedicated to Cameron, who was a really close friend of mine and co-star," Jackson said of Boyce, who died at age 20 in 2019. She showed she keeps his picture on her iPhone. "He was in my life for half of my life, which was crazy. We built up this bond for years and years and years. He was kind of like a big brother figure to me."

Jackson's foxtrot to "Ordinary People" by John Legend with pro Alan Bersten had Carrie Ann Inaba so tearful, the judge had to initially pass on speaking to compose herself.

"I am sure Cameron is watching you right now, and he is so proud of you," Inaba said when she could speak. "You were like an angel … it was perfection."

Inaba backed it up with the first 10 of the season, shooting Jackson to the top of the leaderboard (28/30 total).

"You did Cameron proud," said Banks.

Nelly brought out the guns to 'Win'

There was a lot of hype about Nelly needing a breakout dance this week. He brought the muscle, with a sleeveless shirt that showed his massive arms, and an inspired, if imperfect, paso doble with pro Daniella Karagach to "All I Do Is Win" by DJ Khalid.

Was it the success that Nelly needed? The rapper seemed genuinely unsure and shrugged when asked. But the judges at least gave it lip service.

Hough called it a "popping paso." Inaba seemed to buy the break-out idea. "It was just the way you attacked it," she said, calling for more refinement. The judges gave straight 7 scores for 21/30 total, leaving Nelly at the bottom of the pack.

Chrishell Stause talks baby dreams, past relationships

The "Selling Sunset" star dropped a personal bombshell to explain her dance woes last week. She was freezing her eggs and taking hormone shots to ensure that she will be able to have a child in later years. Stause said that in the wake of failed relationships, not mentioning ex-husband Justin Hartley, this was crucial.

"There are certain hopes and dreams I have, and one of them is being a mom," she said, a notion which has been difficult as her relationships have not "panned out."

Stause, in a stunning blue dress, then nailed a foxtrot to Harry Styles' "Adore You" that ended with her heel on kneeling pro Gleb Savchenko's chest. Imperfectly executed, but effective imagery.

Judge Bruno Tonioli said the foxtrot was "almost too hot to trot," giving a 7 score, and Inaba raved about her "potential" with another 7 (22/30 total).

Banks raved about the emotional revelation. "For you to show that, and you're dancing every week with those hormones. It's no joke," said Banks.

Monica Aldama earned judges' raves, was nearly eliminated

"Cheer" coach Aldama started with a nationally televised therapy session with pro partner Val Chmerkovskiy as they dissected his sometimes harsh criticism. Something must have clicked, because the two rocked their samba to "Party in the USA" by Miley Cyrus, with Aldama's hair a hot mess after all that moving.

"It brought you guys closer together, it looked like you were having fun, and you were totally in control," said Inaba, as the judges gave Aldama her highest scores of the season with straight 8s (24/30 total).

Still, it was not enough to keep Aldama out of elimination danger.

Anne Heche talked about her relationship with Ellen DeGeneres

Heche used her near-elimination last week (she was spared as judges voted for Baskin to go) to talk about difficulties she has overcome in her past – such as making her relationship with DeGeneres public more than two decades ago.

Heche said her insistence on bringing DeGeneres to the 1997 premiere of her movie "Volcano" lead to serious career fall-out.

"I was in a relationship with Ellen DeGeneres for three-and-a-half years and the stigma attached to that relationship was so bad that I was fired from my multimillion-dollar picture deal and I did not work in a studio picture for 10 years," Heche said, before vowing to overcome on the dance floor.

She donned a flowing rainbow-colored outfit for her passionate paso doble with pro Keo Motsepe to "Rise" by Katy Perry.

Tonioli called Heche a "multicolored warrior" for her outfit and stance. Inaba said, "You don't give up and we don't give up rooting for you."

The judges scores of straight 7s led to Heche's highest score of the season (21/30 total). But the actress was still at the bottom of the scoreboard.

Nev Schulman manscaped to show off his (less hairy) chest

The "Catfish" star continued to impress with beautiful dance lines in his rumba with pro Jenna Johnson to "Because You Love Me" by Celine Dion. He made no bones about feeling Celine passionately. It showed on his face during the emotional dance.

But most impressive was showing off his less-hairy chest with a dangerously unbuttoned shirt. Tonioli even commented on the clear "manscaping" Schulman had undergone, as compared to past weeks.

"I actually trimmed for you, Bruno," said Schulman, facing the judges. "It's the first time I've seen my nipples in 15 years."

Judges did not penalize for TMI and rolled with straight 8 scores for a leading 24/30 total.

Justina Machado's hips didn't lie in her salsa

Machado had an off week last week, but the “One Day at a Time” actress was showing the power smile and impressive hip moves dancing her salsa to Wisin's "Que Viva La Vida" with pro partner Sasha Farber.

In the critique of the night, Tonioli exclaimed Machado was "on fire."

"Those hips don't lie," the judge bellowed. "They scream, 'Look at me, I'm fabulous.' " No argument here. Judges gave straight 8s forming a cluster at the top of the leaderboard (24/30 total).

Kaitlyn Bristowe danced for her 'Bachelor Nation' love

"Bachelorette" star Bristowe brought her "Bachelor Nation" love Jason Tartick into the "DWTS" mix. The two coo-ed about each other in the predance video and she dedicated her Viennese waltz to Luke Combs' "Beautiful Crazy" to her man of more than a year.

Bristowe, who was back in heels after an ankle injury in past weeks, was a vision in silver, twirling in dance floor fog. The judges loved it. Tonioli compared her to "a feather taken by a breeze, and you can never quite catch it." Inaba called it "something special" giving Bristowe her first 9 of the season (25/30 total).

Her only miscue was more TMI: talking about her boyfriend. "I think about him going to the bathroom, sometimes. Is that weird?" she told Banks. Yes, it is. But the dance was excellent.

Johnny Weir went 'Crocodile Rock' in green

The Olympic figure skater brought curls in his hair and a wild green, sparkly suit to dance a buoyant jive to Elton John's "Crocodile Rock" with pro Britt Stewart. The world-class athlete was breathless but smiling after pulling off the complicated footwork.

"You were glowing," said Inaba, giving the first of three 8 scores. "Everything about it was fantastic." (24/30 total).

A.J. McLean brought the Backstreet Boys for help

"DWTS" ended the night with a virtual reunion. McLean danced his cha cha to the boy band's hit "Larger Than Life" with pro Cheryl Burke, along with the vision of the dancing Boys projected behind him on the stage (larger than life, it must be noted). At one point, Burke was out of frame, as McLean made solo moves on the podium with his beloved, virtual bandmates. Ballroom purist judge Len Goodman would have been aghast.

"Backstreet is back, all right," said Hough, who praised the showmanship, but critiqued the footwork. The judges continued to dole out straight 8 scores (24/30 total).

Then the drama really started …

Banks began announcing the couples who had been spared from elimination by a combination of viewers' votes and judges' scores. But she accidentally dismissed Aldama, saying she was safe. Banks had to dramatically cop to a live TV error and bring Aldama back – she was in the bottom two with Heche.

"Please have Monica come back. There has been an error in the control room. This is the craziness of live TV," said Banks. "I'm so sorry. This is live TV."

"I was reading my cards, but my cards were wrong," she said.

Aldama, who had just frolicked off to the wings, had to be brought back to centerstage and face elimination with Heche. But the judges, who have the final vote, did not spare Heche in the actress' second week at the bottom.

Inaba voted to save Aldama. As Banks urged Hough to decide before the show ended, Hough too voted to save Aldama.

Heche was voted off and, in the final indignity of live TV, did not even have a chance to say goodbye to the cast before credits rolled.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'DWTS' recap: Tyra Banks reveals elimination 'error' in wild TV finish