Dancing with the Stars Season 34 Week 2

Dancing with the Stars Season 34 Week 2: One-Hit Wonders Night — Recap, Eliminations & Injuries

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DWTS Season 34 Week 2: One-Hit Wonders Night — Recap, Eliminations & Injuries

On September 23, 2025, Dancing with the Stars returned for Week 2 with a themed night: One-Hit Wonders. The celebrities faced off dancing styles like Cha Cha, Samba, Tango, Foxtrot, Jive, and Quickstep to songs from artists known for one big hit, while some stars pushed through pain, others bounced back from tough scores, and two were eliminated.

Key Takeaways

  • Double elimination: Baron Davis and Corey Feldman were sent home. The results were based on votes from the first two weeks plus the judges’ scores.

  • Top scores: Four contestants tied at the top with 22/30 — Jen Affleck, Jordan Chiles, Whitney Leavitt, and Robert Irwin.

  • Injury drama: Danielle Fishel revealed she’s dealing with a hamstring tear sustained in practice. Despite the injury (and worsening after a deep tissue massage), she pushed through with her Cha Cha performance.

Standout Performances

  • Whitney Leavitt & Mark Ballas—a “fiery” Cha Cha to “Play That Funky Music” by Wild Cherry. Judges praised her energy and called her performance hot.

  • Robert Irwin & Witney Carson—Tango to “Move Your Feet” by Junior Senior. Robert drew emotional connections to his late father and received high praise, with Bruno calling it charismatic and Carrie Ann remarking that his stage presence was “off the charts.”

  • Alix Earle & Val Chermansky—danced “Mambo No. 5” by Lou Bega. Strong technical skill plus performance flair; the judges, including returning Carrie Ann Inaba, were impressed.

  • Hilaria Baldwin—performed a Tango to “What Is Love” by Haddaway. Despite being exhausted from rehearsals, she delivered an impressive performance with votes from the judges noting the mix of power, elegance, and fun.

Other Highlights & Moments

  • Scott Hoying (with Rylee Arnold) made improvement from Week 1, performing the Cha Cha to “Blue (Da Ba Dee)” by Eiffel 65. Judges noted timing and consistency, though suggested he needs to occupy more space and develop even more presence.

  • Danielle Fishel, despite her injury, gave a spirited and determined performance—a real “push through the pain” moment. Her connection to her One-Hit Wonder song “Rhythm of the Night” by Corona added emotional weight.

Eliminations & Emotional Farewells

  • Eliminated: Baron Davis and Corey Feldman. For Baron, leaving the show meant having missed out on what he thought he could achieve with partner Britt Stewart. For Corey, the elimination was especially hard as he felt his partner, Jenna Johnson, “deserved better.”

Judges’ Notes & Overall Vibe

  • Judges Derek Hough, Bruno Tonioli, and Carrie Ann Inaba each returned with strong commentary. Notably, Carrie Ann was back after missing the premiere due to illness.

  • The theme One-Hit Wonders allowed for both nostalgia and challenge — contestants had to channel the spirit of memorable songs that might define pop culture in a single track, while also bringing freshness to their performances and honoring the choreography and style.

What’s Ahead

Going into Week 3, expectations are high for those who scored well to maintain momentum. Injuries like Danielle’s may become storyline points, especially how they affect performance quality and consistency. Also, the elimination of two contestants this week raises the stakes: everyone remaining needs to step up or risk going home.

DWTS Week 2 Performance Rankings

🔝 Top Performers (22/30)

These four celebrities tied at the top and are currently the frontrunners:

  1. Whitney Leavitt & Mark Ballas — Cha Cha (“Play That Funky Music”)

    • High energy, fun, and technically sharp. Judges called it “hot.”

  2. Robert Irwin & Witney Carson — Tango (“Move Your Feet”)

    • Emotional storytelling tied to his father, strong charisma, praised for presence.

  3. Jordan Chiles & Brandon Armstrong — Jive (song: One-Hit Wonder)

    • Athletic, powerful, sharp movements — her gymnast background shined.

  4. Jen Affleck & Alan Bersten — Foxtrot (song: One-Hit Wonder)

    • Graceful and polished, earned praise for elegance and control.

📈 Strong & Improving

  1. Alix Earle & Val Chermansky — Mambo (“Mambo No. 5”)

    • Stylish, technically sound, and fun to watch. Judges loved her performance quality.

  2. Hilaria Baldwin & Sasha Farber — Tango (“What Is Love”)

    • Good mix of strength and elegance, showed noticeable improvement from Week 1.

  3. Scott Hoying & Rylee Arnold — Cha Cha (“Blue (Da Ba Dee)”)

    • Still growing but showed solid progress. Judges want more confidence and space.

💪 Battling Through Challenges

  1. Danielle Fishel & Gleb Savchenko — Cha Cha (“Rhythm of the Night”)

    • Dancing with a hamstring tear, but still delivered energy and commitment. Judges admired her courage.

❌ Eliminated

  • Baron Davis & Britt Stewart

    • Despite effort, couldn’t match the technique or polish of stronger contestants.

  • Corey Feldman & Jenna Johnson

    • Fun performance but inconsistent technique. Emotional exit — Corey said Jenna “deserved better.”

🌟 Overall Takeaways

  • Whitney Leavitt, Robert Irwin, Jordan Chiles, and Jen Affleck are the ones to watch — all tied at the top.

  • Alix Earle could become a dark horse — strong technique and fan support.

  • Danielle Fishel’s injury may affect her consistency moving forward.

  • With a double elimination this week, pressure is higher — weaker performances in Week 3 could mean going home fast.

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