Dwight Howard, Ilona Maher, Nedoroscik Excite Fans on Dancing With The Stars Week 7
Paul KasabianFeatured Columnist IIOctober 30, 2024
PG/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images
Halloween Nightmares Night marked Tuesday’s episode of Dancing With the Stars’ 33rd season, which saw four current or former athletes making up the remaining seven competitors and continuing a tradition of sports stars dominating this show.
Entering the day, former NBA center Dwight Howard, ex-NFL wide receiver Danny Amendola and a pair of 2024 Summer Olympic bronze medalists (rugby player Ilona Maher and gymnast Stephen Nedoroscik, a two-time winner) were still alive.
Left also were Jenn Tran of The Bachelor, Joey Graziadei of The Bachelorette and actress/singer Chandler Kinney of Pretty Little Liars fame.
Little was left on the dance floor here, as the stars put on a phenomenal show. Maher put up the “worst” score of the night but still got straight 8’s across the board for a very respectable 24 out of 30. And to be frank, some people were not buying that score, and social media caught fire. Here are eight examples of many more.
Amanda Cagle @cagle_amandaOkay so everyone is now getting 10, 9, 9 but Ilona only got straight 8s…. #DWTS pic.twitter.com/LLRW1iiMvf
Zoe 🫶🏻 @lavieenzoeIlona getting all 8s for this dance is my villain origin story #DWTS
pic.twitter.com/gnWaCt47Zk
cam @CameronSilasEveryone getting 10s but Ilona got all 8s…….. judges I see you and it’s UGLY behavior #dwts
Kim @KimmersMemphisMe watching #DWTS and all these 10s being handed out but @ilona_maher and @Dance10Alan only got 8s
She was perfection!! pic.twitter.com/NPNVrnAphF
penelope @thisisptrying13I’m so mad Ilona got all 8s again. Her dance tonight deserved so much more. The judges are continuously scoring her so low but she’s getting so much better every week and I just HATE IT for her
The Finasco 🌹 @TheFinascoYep yep so basically everyone got the same score… ilona being the only person with 8s feels weird. Why not just put her up there with everyone else😕 #dwts pic.twitter.com/wJ4LPBfmFi
_mads_ @jus_madsHow are they handing out these tens and Ilona got EIGHTS?!?!?!? Y’all better vote. #dwts #dancingwiththestars
lauren❣️ @timelessfolklrei’m sorry but ilona getting all 8s when her dance was one of the best of the night and everybody else getting 9s and 10s is so????
Of course, Amendola stopped the show with another great outing, putting up 28 (10, 9, 9). He’s been on fire of late, tying for the top score each of the past two weeks leading into Tuesday. Howard and Nedoroscik got the same exact score as well and got the adulation they deserved. Nedoroscik in particular has been a fan favorite here, much like he was during the Summer Olympics.
Stefanie @StefmaraDanny Amendola just killed the Argentine tango! WOW pic.twitter.com/51dCn0vb7H
Josh❤️ #BB26 #TheAnonymous #DWTS #BlackLivesMatter @supermangeek101Danny Amendola Tango was just incredible as the lifts & Danny tossing Witney in the air is epic! Danny got the second ten of the season from Carrie Ann! #DWTS pic.twitter.com/01T4njugmb
em @emilysolegitI’ve been watching this season of dancing with the stars on TikTok and I know nothing about danny amendola but I think I love him
gary walsh @g738647ilona maher can’t get a 10 but dwight howard can for just lifting daniella the whole time… #DWTS
Josh❤️ #BB26 #TheAnonymous #DWTS #BlackLivesMatter @supermangeek101Dwight Howard got the first ten of the season from Carrie Ann! #DWTS pic.twitter.com/LvMIgLe7TR
Juli Lancaster @JuliJo06I think I may be the only person who really doesn’t want Dwight Howard to go home #DWTS
Gymnastics Now @Gymnastics_NowThey live to see another week on #DWTS! 🧟♂️
Stephen Nedoroscik and partner Rylee Arnold had a breakout week, earning their first perfect 10 of the season, and they’re moving on!
P.S. Next episode is in two weeks after the U.S. election.✌🏻
(📸: DWTS) pic.twitter.com/aZx8o2NhgJ
CHELS 🖤 @WalkerTXGinger1I’m sick of the Dwight Howard slander on here. Going to TikTok where they are supportive of him 😌
Jenna Cakez @Jenna_Cakez@DwightHoward you’re amazing!!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/3TsftPFT9p
keeker @yellowhammergrl@officialdwts Dwight Howard’s contemporary dance earned straight 10’s tonight. Everyone else paled in comparison and received the same scores he did 🤦🏻♀️ #DancingWiththeStars
Gueric Nkunzimana @iamGuericDwight. Howard. SO GOOD. #DWTS pic.twitter.com/L63i6LaSyZ
Mads 👻🎃🧡 @bradfrdslucyThis is a Ilona Maher, Chandler Kinney, Joey Graziadei, and Stephen Nedoroscik stan account
Josh❤️ #BB26 #TheAnonymous #DWTS #BlackLivesMatter @supermangeek101Stephen Nedoroscik Contemporary dance was just so phenomenal! That was sensational especially when Stephen leapt right over Rylee as that was so epic! He had so much energy as a zombie! #DWTS #DancingWithTheStars pic.twitter.com/fDCLAKjoZU
Gabriella Gonzales @bygabriellagStephen Nedoroscik putting his gymnastics skills on display tonight! #DWTS
Kicking off the next portion of the night was the dance-off section, in which six of the remaining seven duos were paired together in a competition. The winners received extra points before the final votes and eliminations occurred.
On this night, Howard was a big winner, with him and professional parter Daniella Karagach dancing the cha-cha to Ray Parker Jr.’s “Ghostbusters,” defeating Maher and Alan Bersten.
Nedoroscik (with Rylee Arnold) was not victorious in his dance-off, falling to Jenn Tran. They danced the salsa to “Jump in the Line” by Harry Belafonte.
Incredibly, Amendola came up on the short end in his dance-off, losing to Graziadei.
Closing out the night was an elimination, and was a tough choice given how well everyone has performed.
Knocking out anyone at this stage is tough. Generally speaking, it’s clear who the less-talented dancers are early on, but the middle stages showcase some fierce competitors who fall victim to a numbers game.
In the end, Tran was eliminated, meaning all four athletes are still remaining. Eleven athletes have won the mirrorball trophy, and it’s certainly possible we could see a 12.
Six remain overall, though, and they’re back in action in two weeks, with a break next Tuesday for Election Night. Tuesday, Nov. 12 will be the series’ 500th episode.
