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Dancing With the Stars Season 18, Week 6 Recap: Maks Gets Emotional, Another Couple Is Eliminated

DWTS
Week six of Dancing With the Stars' 18th season -- the so-called "Party Anthem" week -- found pro Maksim Chmerkovskiy in a vulnerable spot; plus, find out which couple was eliminated!

It's a party in the USA! Week six of Dancing With the Stars' 18th season, the so-named "Party Anthem" week, found the show's remaining eight couples tearing up the floor to club thumpers and smash Top 40 singles, with guest judge Redfoo joining the usual three panelists. But it wasn't all fun and games. With the competition getting tougher every week, pro Maksim Chmerkovskiy was feeling the pressure. He nearly broke down in rehearsals and had to be calmed down by his partner, Meryl Davis. Plus, another couple was eliminated from the race to win the Mirrorball trophy. Let's recap!

NeNe Leakes and Tony Dovolani, safe

After last week's behind-the-scenes video, which showed NeNe walking out on Tony because of his "attitude," the Real Housewives star was in an emotional place. This week's intro package began with her sobbing in his arms following their Disney night routine, and him bringing her flowers at their first rehearsal. "Tony and I have been through so much," she said. "This week is definitely a chance for us to be a stronger unit."

Indeed, the drama does seem to have brought them closer. Though both Len Goodman and Bruno Tonioli had some critiques on their technique this week, all four judges praised the fun factor of their salsa to Nelly's "Hot in Herre." "NeNe, that looked like your most comfortable dance," Carrie Ann Inaba told the star. Added guest judge Redfoo, of LMFAO: "NeNe, you looked like an entrepreneur out there, because you owned that!" 

Score: 33 out of 40 (9 from Redfoo, 8 from everyone else)

Related: PHOTOS: All of the season 18 contestants

Candace Cameron Bure and Mark Ballas, in jeopardy

Candace and Mark's assignment this week was a cha cha to Icona Pop's "I Love It," which meant Candace had to turn up the sex appeal a little. "Being the sexy girl isn't inherently me, but I've played the sexy girl on TV before," she explained in her intro package. "So I'm just gonna think of it as another character."

It worked — at times. Bruno said he felt like there was a light switch going on and off in Candace's head throughout the song, and Redfoo agreed. Len, however, praised her leg action as "terrific." 

Score: 32 out of 40 (8 from everyone)

James Maslow and Peta Murgatroyd, safe

James and Peta earned the first perfect score of the season for their Disney night routine to the Oscar-winning Frozen hit "Let It Go," so expectations were high for the couple's quickstep to "You're the One That I Want" from Grease. James struggled a bit during rehearsals, but he sold it during the live performance. Len and Bruno had a couple of notes on his footwork, but Carrie Ann gushed that the routine proved his "leading man" status, and Redfoo raved that he "loved" the dance.

Score: 35 out of 40 (8 from Len, 9 from everyone else)

Danica McKellar and Val Chmerkovskiy, in jeopardy

Danica and Val took DWTS back to the '80s with a rousing cha cha to "I Wanna Dance With Somebody," by the late Whitney Houston. Len raved that it was "the best dance of the night so far," while Redfoo said it put "love in the club" (whatever that means). "That cha cha was so difficult," Bruno added. "And you did it just naturally." 

Score: 36 out of 40 (9 from everyone)

Related: PHOTOS: Jaw-dropping DWTS makeovers

Meryl Davis and Maksim Chmerkovskiy, safe

Maks showed his vulnerable side this week during rehearsals for his and Meryl's tango to the Calvin Harris smash "Feel So Close." At one point during their behind-the-scenes video, he covered the camera lens with his hand and walked away. "We do all we can last week, we get f—ing 9s," he lamented. Then, referring to Julianne Hough's comment that he "phoned in" his switch-up routine with Danica McKellar in week four, he added, "Phoning in? Did somebody really call me out on phoning in?" 

Meryl had to literally hold Maks' hand to calm him down. "It's really crazy. I must be the weakest freaking person in this cast," he said, clearly frustrated. "There's something about the nature of this show…It gets to you. I used to be too proud to admit it, and now I'm too proud not to admit it." 

Maks needn't have worried. His and Meryl's tango earned the second perfect score of the season and was praised by Bruno as a "spine-chilling, totally gripping film noir" of a dance. "There is something so magical happening between you two," Carrie Ann gushed after a few moments of speechlessness. "Maks, your best choreography ever." 

Score: 40 out of 40 (10 from everyone)

Drew Carey and Cheryl Burke, in jeopardy

Drew and Cheryl kept the party going with a pimped-out tango to Rick James' "Super Freak," which Redfoo described as "pimp to the 10th degree," thanks in part because of Drew's "stanky pimp face." Added Bruno: "Drew, you pimped my tango, and you pimped it to maximum effect. The technique was a little all over the place, but I have to say, you put on a great show."

Score: 32 out of 40 (9 from Redfoo, 7 from Len, 8 from Carrie Ann and Bruno) 

Charlie White and Sharna Burgess, safe

Charlie was a little nervous about this week's cha cha to "Everybody Dance Now," by C&C Music Factory, because, as Sharna pointed out, the last time he did a Latin dance, he got slammed by the judges for his lack of hip action. This time around, Sharna made sure that wouldn't happen.

"You improved on your hip work tremendously," Carrie Ann raved. "It was hot, it was sexy, it was funky." Added Len: "Charlie, you've got the most brilliant musicality when you're out there. It was just terrific."

Score: 36 out of 40 (9 from everyone)

Amy Purdy and Derek Hough, safe

Amy continued to wow the judges with this week's fast-paced jive to the wedding reception staple "Shout," by the Isley Brothers. Bruno was so impressed that he proposed marriage after the routine, gushing, "Jive is the most difficult dance for anyone to perform. I don't think I've ever seen anyone, in my 18 seasons of [judging], do what you did tonight."

Score: 38 out of 40 (9 from Carrie Ann and Len, 10 from Redfoo and Bruno)

In the end, Drew and Cheryl, Candace and Mark, and Danica and Val found themselves in danger of being eliminated. Candace and Danica were ultimately pronounced safe, leaving Drew to hang up his dancing shoes. "It's been a real thrill," he said of the show. "Thank you for letting me borrow your dance floor." 

Tell Us: Did the right couple go home? Which pair is your favorite to win the Mirrorball?

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