Here’s what we know so far (at least, according to her partner Ezra Sosa): Anna Delvey couldn’t be found after night one of Dancing with the Stars because she was off crying in the bathroom. Apparently, the infamous subject of Netflix’s Inventing Anna read some negative comments online about her opening night cha cha and she just couldn’t take the pressure.
“I know what she did was really controversial and not right and I can never justify that for her or for anyone in her life,” Sosa said in a video posted on his Instagram. “No one deserves the amount of hate she’s getting right now. She deserves a second chance. She has stepped up to the plate.”
Okay, two things: no one twisted Delvey’s bedazzled ankle, I mean arm, to participate in the last great variety show on television. And two, she’s enjoying some pretty sweet treatment for being a convicted felon. She gets a national platform to supposedly rehabilitate her image, all while getting to wear pretty dresses and receiving free spray tans. Not a bad outcome for someone who posed as an heiress and swindled thousands of bucks from banks, hotels, and unsuspecting marks who fell for her extraordinary con.
It could be worse, Ms. Delvey. Just ask Jenn Tran about the guy she almost married.
Can we tango now?
Eric Roberts (The Dark Knight) with partner Britt Stewart. To help celebrate Oscar night in the ballroom, the duo visited L.A.’s Academy Museum where Roberts got to relive the night he almost won an Oscar for 1985’s Runaway Train. Nice moment! His tango to The Godfather theme, however, was not quite as moving. “Listen my darling, gravitas, presence, you brought that all in,” said judge Bruno Tonioli. “In the waltz you have to have a little more rotation. One two three one two three, that’s all.” Score: 15 out of 30
Reginald VelJohnson (Family Matters) with partner Emma Slater. The show did a corny callout to Die Hard by pulling a cop car into the ballroom and having VelJohnson put on the uniform again so he could dance an unexceptional paso doble to “Ode to Joy.” After dedicating it to his former co-star Bruce Willis, VelJohnson ended the number by shouting, “welcome to the party, pal!” “You are starting to nicely defrost,” said Tonioli. “We’re getting there.” Score: 15 out of 30
Former con artist Anna Delvey with partner Ezra Sosa: It’s not so easy to fake confidence; Delvey’s quickstep to “Suddenly I See” from The Devil Wears Prada lacked showmanship and the judges couldn’t ignore it. “Anna, listen, it is hard to deal with the haters but I want you to do is embrace this fully,” said judge Carrie Ann Inaba. “Still ,you are holding back just a hair. You have beautiful lines.” Score: 17 out of 30
Jenn Tran (The Bachelorette) with partner Sasha Farber. Tran opened the night with a cartwheel-enhanced tango that apparently gave her trouble because she couldn’t hear the Great Gatsby music on the dance floor. No problem, though! Tonioli said she still performed like a “mischievous little kitten” — whatever that means. “You are a natural performer,” added judge Derek Hough. “Watch the shoulders. When the elbow drops, the shoulder pops up.” Score: 19 out of 30
Tori Spelling (Beverly Hills, 90210) with partner Pasha Pashkov. Spelling injected emotion into her rumba to “This is Me” from The Greatest Showman by mouthing the lyrics and raising her arms to the sky as if to say, “can you believe I’m still here, y’all?” Sure we can! “This show is about a journey, a true journey, and you don’t get the benefits unless you really embark on it,” said Inaba. “Tonight you really took a risk.” Score: 19 out of 30
Model Brooks Nader with partner Gleb Savchenko. The producers hinted at a showmance during the rehearsal package after the model stole a kiss from her handsome partner. The buss didn’t make their performance but their quickstep to Dolly Parton’s “9 to 5” garnered a standing ovation — and lots more innuendos about whether a love connection is in the works. “I can feel you put a lot of overtime into this,” said Tonioli. “It really worked. It was so good. Hou really had the proper quality of a quickstep.” Score: 20 out of 30
Olympic rugby player Ilona Maher with partner Alan Bersten. The duo ended the night with a Dirty Dancing salsa that included multiple lifts — with Maher doing the most of the heave-ho’ing! The girl’s got muscles and panache. “That was amazing,” said Inaba. “Listen, not only was that a moment that people will be talking about years to come, you are restructuring the whole conversation…about what feminity is.” Score: 21 out of 30 (uh…she deserved more, guys)
Phaedra Parks (The Real Housewives of Atlanta) with partner Val Chmerkovskiy: The pro occasionally upstaged his sexy partner with a few show-stopping moves but Parks had enough presence to turn her foxtrot to “I”m Telling You I’m Not Going” from Dreamgirls into a guarantee that she’ll stay for a few more weeks. “I just can’t help but smile and smirk when I’m watching you,” said Hough. “You ooze this sensuality. That was really beautiful.” Score: 21 out of 30
Super Bowl Champion Danny Amendola with partner Witney Carson. The baller was a bit stiff during his jive to Top Gun‘s “Danger Zone” but he hit all the kicks and even managed to include a few gymnastic moves in his performance. “He was off like a jet fighter,” said Tonioli. “Talk about cruising at high altitudes. A little bit of turbulence there but you handled it well and you landed splendidly.” Score: 21 out of 30
NBA Champion Dwight Howard with partner Daniella Karagach. The diminutive pro figured out that the only way to perform with a giant like Howard is to hold his forearms while dancing the foxtrot to “City of Stars” from La La Land. It worked! “That foxtrot made the impossible possible,” said Inaba. “I was so concerned with how you guys were going to get through that.” Score: 22 out of 30
The Bachelor‘s Joey Graziadei with partner Jenna Johnson: Johnson brought in her hubby Val Chermkovskiy to teach Graziadei how to look sexy while performing the rumba to “Shallow” from A Star is Born. Something got through to bachelor boy: Graziadei looked and danced hot. “Joey you are a leading man,” said Hough. “You are a fantastic partner for Jenna. The way you filled the space was beautiful.” Score: 22 out of 30
Olympian Stephen Nedoroscik with partner Rylee Arnold: Drafting off his Superman nickname after the Paris Olympics, Nedoroscik performed the Paso doble to John Williams’ theme from the 1978 film. He even whipped his glasses off! Mad props for his knee walks; my quads hurt just watching him. “You are so much fun to watch,” said Inaba. “The likability factor in your routine is so amazing. We have some shaping issues that we will get too later.” Score: 22 out of 30
Chandler Kinney (Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin) with partner Brandon Armstrong. The actress received a standing ovation for her exquisite rumba to “What Was I Made For” from Barbie. If there was an America’s Got Talent-like Golden Buzzer on this show, Kinney would be sent right to the finals. “Chandler you were made for dancing,” said Hough. “So beautiful, the texture and your movement … I honestly had more notes for Brandon than you.” Score: 24 out of 30
With the former Greg Brady attempting to steal some camera time from behind, hosts Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough announced the bottom three after two weeks: Spelling, VelJohnson and Delvey.
Veljohnson is saved! Spelling and the con artist are sent packing, instead.
So what are you going to take from this competition? Hough asks of Delvey.
“Nothing,” Delvey replies. Seriously? See: aforementioned national platform. Pretty dresses. Free tans.
Whatever. No show next week, folks. See you October 8.