DWTS season 33 episode 4 was themed Hair Metal Night and aired on Tuesday, October 8, 2024. The show featured 11 celebrity-professional dance couples performing to iconic rock anthems. KISS legend Gene Simmons joined the judging panel alongside regulars Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough, and Bruno Tonioli.
Joey Graziadei and Jenna Johnson scored the highest with 36 out of 40 for their tango. Brooks Nader and Gleb Savchenko made a comeback, scoring 33/40 for their cha-cha.
The DWTS episode ended with a double elimination, sending home Eric Roberts and Britt Stewart as well as Reginald VelJohnson and Emma Slater. Nine couples remain in the competition after this week's eliminations.
Joey Graziadei tops DWTS leaderboard on Hair Metal Night
Former Bachelor star Joey Graziadei emerged as the new frontrunner in this DWTS week's competition. Partnered with professional dancer Jenna Johnson, Graziadei performed a tango that wowed the judges. Their routine earned them a 36 out of 40, with each judge awarding a 9.
Judge Derek Hough praised the performance as the best tango he had ever seen from a male celebrity on the show. Graziadei's background as a drummer was credited for his excellent rhythm and timing during the dance.
This high score propelled the couple to the top of the leaderboard, surpassing previous leader Chandler Kinney. Kinney and her partner Brandon Armstrong scored 33 out of 40 for their jive routine.
Brooks Nader's comeback and scoring controversy
Model Brooks Nader and her professional partner Gleb Savchenko made a significant comeback this DWTS week. With a score of 33 out of 40, the couple achieved their best point total of the season.
This marked a substantial improvement from their previous performance, which had left them visibly disappointed.
The scoring for their routine sparked a minor controversy when guest judge Gene Simmons initially held up a 9 paddle but attempted to change it to a 10. The show's producers ultimately kept the 9 as the final score.
Despite this, Nader and Savchenko's performance demonstrated considerable progress and boosted their standing in the competition.
Double elimination results
The episode concluded with a tense double elimination. Actor Eric Roberts and his partner Britt Stewart were the first pair eliminated. They finished toward the bottom of the scoreboard with a 22 out of 40 score on their paso doble dance.
The second couple to leave the DWTS season 33 was actor Reginald VelJohnson and Emma Slater. VelJohnson and Slater performed a cha-cha that received the lowest score of the night, 21 out of 40. During their performance, VelJohnson nearly dropped Slater, which likely contributed to their low score.
The eliminations reduced the number of competing couples from 11 to 9, intensifying the competition for the remaining contestants.
Leaderboard standings
DWTS season 33 episode 4 performances resulted in significant shifts on the leaderboard. Here are the final standings for the episode:
- Joey Graziadei and Jenna Johnson: 36/40
- Chandler Kinney and Brandon Armstrong: 33/40
- Brooks Nader and Gleb Savchenko: 33/40
- Stephen Nedoroscik and Rylee Arnold: 32/40
- Jenn Tran and Sasha Farber: 31/40
- Danny Amendola and Whitney Carson: 30/40
- Dwight Howard and Daniella Karagach: 29/40
- Phaedra Parks and Val Chmerkovskiy: 26/40
- Ilona Maher and Alan Bersten: 26/40
- Eric Roberts and Britt Stewart: 22/40 (eliminated)
- Reginald VelJohnson and Emma Slater: 21/40 (eliminated)
As Hair Metal Night came to a close, the final leaderboard standings reflected the night's dramatic shifts. DWTS season 33 episode 5’s theme is announced as Dedication Night which is set to air on 15 October 2024.
In a special segment, judge Derek Hough and his wife Hayley Erbert will perform a dance commemorating Hayley's return to the ballroom following her recovery from brain surgery.