‘Dancing with the Stars’ week 9 slugfest: Reflecting on Harry Jowsey’s improbable run, previewing the Semi-Finals [WATCH]

Daniel Montgomery, Jeffrey Kare and Cordell Martin
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“No hard feelings to the guy, but now we can actually focus on the dancing more than who’s got the rabid fan base that won’t stop voting people in,” says Gold Derby editor Daniel Montgomery about Harry Jowsey, a “Dancing with the Stars” fan-favorite who was ultimately eliminated in sixth place at the end of “A Celebration of Taylor Swift.” Montgomery discussed this and more with contributors Jeffrey Kare and Cordell Martin in this week’s slugfest. Watch their discussion above.

Martin was worried that Alyson Hannigan or Charity Lawson might be eliminated instead based on the combination of their judges’ scores and viewer votes, especially after host Alfonso Ribeiro noted that there were more votes on Swift night than any other night of the competition. After the elimination announcement, though, “I might have to be an honorary Swiftie. Like, Swifties, you guys did your thing. Kudos to you guys.” That said, “I think it was a great run for Harry. I think he slowly improved week after week, but I think it was good for him to end on a high note and not tarnish his experience by being that one contestant who makes it to the finals that people tend to trash.”

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Montgomery agrees that Jowsey progressed as the season went on: “I will give credit where credit is due. In his rumba there were a couple of turns when he was in hold” that were genuinely impressive. And Kare points out, “He really did the best he possibly could throughout this season, especially as he really wanted to get better week by week.” So while this trio has been critical of Jowsey’s dance skills over the course of the season, they agree that he should be proud of what he accomplished.

As for the Semi-Finals coming up, Martin thinks Lawson will finally get her perfect score for her quickstep, though Kare warns that “if Charity doesn’t nail these, her days in the ballroom might be numbered, but I hope she really gives it her all in both routines.” They’re not worried about Xochitl Gomez dancing the dreaded samba even though that style recently tripped up Jason Mraz. She has been consistent for almost the entire season. Kare hopes Hannigan “continues her growth arc” with her jive and waltz. Martin expects another set of high scores for Mirror Ball dark horse Madix, and he thinks Mraz got “the best two dance styles, I think, that will fit his personality and his dance ability” with the Viennese waltz and paso doble.

What are you looking forward to in the Semi-Finals?

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