Ariana Madix fought through the pain of a back injury during the semifinals of Dancing With The Stars on Tuesday to earn a spot in the season finale.
The 38-year-old reality star and pro partner Pasha Pashkov, 37, advanced to the season 32 finals during a tense ending of the two-hour show on ABC.
Ariana and Marvel Studios star Xochitl Gomez, 17, were the last two celebrities remaining after scores from the judges and live votes were tabulated.
Show hosts Alfonso Ribeiro, 52, and Julianne Hough, 35, revealed the results in no particular order with Alyson Hannigan, Jason Mraz and Charity Lawson being named as finalists leaving Ariana and Pasha and Xochitl with pro partner Val Chmerkovskiy, 37, as the two couples left.
‘The question is which couple will compete in the finale? It’s time for the final result,’ Alfonso said.
Ariana Madix fought through the pain of a back injury during the semifinals of Dancing With The Stars on Tuesday to earn a spot in the season finale of the ABC show
Ariana and Xochitl were on the verge of tears as they faced elimination despite stellar semifinals performances from both of them.
Los Angeles native Xochitl looked distraught as her hope of making the finale was in jeopardy despite receiving perfect scores from the judges for both of her dances during the semis.
Ariana also looked despondent as she faced elimination despite earning a perfect score for her second dance after admitting that she was suffering from a painful back injury.
‘Based on the combination of the judges’ scores and viewer votes, the couple dancing in the finale is …both of you!,’ Alfonso announced shocking both Ariana and Xochitl.
‘That’s right. No one is going home tonight. Everyone here has made it to the finale. For the first time ever we’ll see five couples dancing for the trophy,’ Julianne said.
All of the celebrities hugged on stage with Ariana and Xochitl sharing a special embrace.
Julianne interviewed Alyson, 49, about making the finals and asked how she was feeling.
‘This is incredible. I’m so grateful. I can’t talk. I sound like a frog,’ Alyson said.
The 38-year-old reality star and Pasha for their second dance performed a Foxtrot and received perfect scores from the judges
Ariana and Xochitl Gomez looked distraught as they faced elimination at the end of the two-hour episode
Alfonso Ribeiro revealed that both Ariana and Xochitl were advancing while standing next to co-host Julianne Hough
All of the celebrities hugged on stage with Ariana and Xochitl sharing a special embrace
Alfonso then caught up with Ariana who was still recovering from the shock of making the finals after believing that she faced elimination.
‘Ariana, how exciting is it for you that it’s going to be five couples in the finale?,’ Alfonso asked.
‘It’s going to be amazing. I’m so excited to see everybody’s dances. Literally I thought I was going to throw up just now. I’m just really glad,’ said Ariana, who has continued to strive since splitting with longtime boyfriend Tom Sandoval, 40, earlier this year after learning of his months-long affair with her friend Raquel Leviss, 29.
The judges’ scores and viewer voting will carry over to next week’s scores to determine the season champion and winner of the first Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy, named in honor of the longtime DWTS judge who died in April at age 78.
Ariana and Pasha opened the show with a spirited Jive dance to Runaway Baby by Bruno Mars that earned strong applause from the studio audience.
Derek Hough, 38, told Ariana that she was ‘not a runaway baby.’
‘You are running towards the finale with that dance,’ Derek added.
Bruno Tonioli, 68, called Ariana’s performance a ‘jewel of a jive’.
‘This is incredible. I’m so grateful. I can’t talk. I sound like a frog,’ Alyson Hannigan said after making it to the finale
‘It’s going to be amazing. I’m so excited to see everybody’s dances. Literally I thought I was going to throw up just now. I’m just really glad,’ Ariana said after advancing to the finals
Ariana and Pasha opened the show with a spirited Jive dance to Runaway Baby by Bruno Mars that earned strong applause from the studio audience
Bruno Tonioli, 68, called Ariana’s performance a ‘jewel of a jive’
‘I know the girl can’t help it, but I love it,’ Bruno said.
Carrie Ann Inaba, 55, told Ariana that she had all the qualities to win the competition.
‘I see it in you every time you get on the dance floor. But I want to know, what is the injury you’re dealing with? Because sometimes I see you holding back and I don’t know if it’s injury or performance,’ Carrie Ann said.
‘Um, it’s right where my ribs connect to my spine,’ Ariana said as she turned around and pointed to her lower back.
Carrie Ann said the injury explained why she didn’t have full range of motion and told Ariana her dance was fabulous.
Ariana got a score of 28 out of 30 points for her Jive with Bruno giving her a perfect score of 10.
Jason, 46, performed next with pro partner Daniella Karagach, 30, and they danced a Viennese waltz to Jason’s song I Won’t Give Up.
They got straight 9’s from the judges for a score of 27 points.
Xochitl and Val for their first dance performed an upbeat Samba dance to the Gloria Estefan song Samba and earned a perfect score of 30 points from the judges.
Xochitl and Val for their first dance performed an upbeat Samba dance to the Gloria Estefan song Samba and earned a perfect score of 30 points from the judges
The Bachelorette star Charity, 27, and pro partner Artem Chigvintsev, 41, for their first dance performed a Rumba to Love The Way You Lie.
They received a score of 29 out of 30 points.
Alyson and Sasha for their first dance performed a Jive to Footloose by Kenny Loggins and recieved a score of 25 points.
Jason and Daniella for their second dance performed a Paso doble to Diablo Rojo by Rodrigo y Gabriela and earned a perfect score.
Xochitl and Val for their second dance treated viewers to a flawless Waltz to ‘La Vie en rose’ by Lady Gaga.
The teenager delivered an emotional performance that ended with roses being tossed to her on the stage and wiped away tears afterward.
‘You know, I was thinking about how important this season is, what the gravity of the season means to win this season. Because this is the first time we have the Len Goodman Trophy. I tell you right now, Len would have loved that dance. That was absolutely perfect. Perfect,’ Derek said in a voice full of emotion.
Bruno heaped praise on Xochitl as he called her an ‘artist’.
The Bachelorette star Charity, 27, and pro partner Artem Chigvintsev, 41, for their first dance performed a Rumba to Love The Way You Lie.
Val and Xochitl for their second dance treated viewers to a flawless Waltz to ‘La Vie en rose’ by Lady Gaga
The teenager delivered an emotional performance that ended with roses being tossed to her on the stage and wiped away tears afterward.
Alfonso stood behind judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli
‘This girl became the rose in front of our eyes. For somebody so young, your maturity in the interpretation of the role goes beyond dancing. There is dancing and there is artistry. This is what you did, my love. You have an amazing future,’ Bruno said.
Carrie Ann emotionally told Xochitl that her performance really touched her heart.
‘It transported me to another world and I just felt like I never wanted it to end. And that’s so rare after 32 seasons after watching dances and dances. That was stunning,’ Carrie Ann said.
The judges not surprisingly gave Xochitl and Val a perfect score of 30 points.
Charity and Artem for their second dance performed a Quickstep to Boss by Fifth Harmony.
‘When you have fun, we have fun,’ Carrie Ann told Charity after her routine.
Derek stood up and clapped for Charity and praised her for making a difficult dance look easy and fun.
The judges noticed Charity’s continued improvement in showing emotion and rewarded her with a perfect score of 30 points.
Alyson and Sasha for their second dance did a Waltz to Come Away With Me by Norah Jones and received a score of 26 points.
Ariana and Pasha for their second dance delighted the audience with a Foxtrot to Trampoline by Shaed & Zayn.
The Vanderpump Rules star clutched her ribs while being critiqued by the judges and Carrie Ann noted that she was clearly in pain.
Boss energy: Charity and Artem for their second dance performed a Quickstep to Boss by Fifth Harmony
The Vanderpump Rules star clutched her ribs while being critiqued by the judges and Carrie Ann noted that she was clearly in pain
Ariana and Pasha received a perfect score of 30 for their Foxtrot.
The Vanderpump Rules star during rehearsal for their Foxtrot complained of an ‘aching back’ while forcing herself into awkward body posture for the dance.
‘Pain hasn’t stopped me before. It’s certainly not going to stop me now,’ Ariana said.
Dancing With The Stars will return next Tuesday for the season finale.