PureDWTS Season 24 Week 9 – Media, Interviews, Scores, And More After The Dances

This show really needs to find a different way to do eliminations. It just seems so unfair how they eliminate a couple from last week’s scores and voting and don’t count this week’s votes and scores as well. Yes, I’m still sad Simone and Sasha aren’t in the finals. It just doesn’t seem right and it’s happening way too often. But, wowww to all the dances last night. They were all so good… and Simone and Sasha went out on a high mark and will be remembered forever more.

Let’s review the scores:
Simone & Sasha (Carrie Ann Inaba) 40 (10, 10, 10, 10) 40 (10, 10, 10, 10) Eliminated
Normani & Val (Len Goodman) 36 (9, 9, 9, 9) 40 (10, 10, 10, 10)
Rashad & Emma (Bruno Tonioli) 38 (9, 9, 10, 10) 39 (10, 9, 10, 10)
David & Lindsay (Julianne Hough) 34 (9, 8, 9, 8) 36 (9, 9, 9, 9)

To relive all the dances again, see Idolxfactor (these videos work Internationally) and the official You Tube site.

For media, interviews, and recaps, first see People and Entertainment Tonight. Val and Normani tease on next week’s Freestyle here.

Glamour has their backstage interviews posted. I’m loving these two takes. Be sure to read more at the link.

Simone and Sasha will be back in the ballroom next week for the finale, and as tradition has it, will fly with the other three finalists for the after-party on Good Morning America the next morning. In the meantime, they are “100%” throwing their support behind Rashad Jennings and Emma Slater (naturally, given that Sasha and Emma are engaged).

Speaking of, Rashad was positively beaming backstage. The plan is for his dad (who is a double amputee) to fly out for the finale. Emma had no idea that was in the works, and was beyond thrilled to hear that Mr. Jennings might be in the audience come Monday night.

“The reason I want this so much is not just for myself,” Rashad told me afterwards. “I’m not a self-made man. It’s the love from family, from friends, [and those] who have made so many sacrifices for me. When it caps that story of community, of family, of hope, of dreams come true, and also my partner, [Emma] deserves the ball more than anybody. She’s amazing, she’s a workaholic. She takes her time, she teaches, and I honestly don’t want to let her down either. There’s plenty that I’m out here dancing for.”

David Ross: What?! How? I don’t even see me winning this thing!

Glamour: There’s two reasons: 1) You’re one of the nicest, most charismatic people, and that comes through each week. 2) You are what this show is about; taking someone without any dance experience and turning them into a dancer. So what would winning Dancing with the Stars mean to you?

David: Can I give you a dead honest answer? I don’t know if I would feel really great about it because of all the hard work, or guilty that I know I’m not the best dancer. You know what I mean? When I started out on this, if I got to week three, I was going to be happy personally. But as it’s gone on, I’ve really wanted to get a Mirrorball trophy for [Lindsay] as much as for me. Cause of this relationship—she’s amazing. To show the world that she can show me how to dance and get that many votes and to win it would mean everything to me because she’s amazing. She deserves it more than I do.”

Below are some interviews with FOX. Note the small hint at the end on Emma and Rashad’s freestyle for next week. As always, David is so humble…

Former Chicago Cub Ross, who earned a cumulative score of 70 out of 80 for his foxtrot and tango with partner Lindsay Arnold, told FOX411 after the show, “I’m shocked…. My heart hurt. I didn’t feel like I could celebrate [making it to the finals] on the stage because I honestly felt bad. I felt like, why am I taking her spot? I don’t know if I should feel that way or not but I do. I’m super happy I’m going [on] but there is a part of me that hurts for her.”

Singer Kordei, with partner Val Chmerkovskiy, earned 36 points for a waltz and a perfect 40 for a lively jazz number paying tribute to her New Orleans home town. On Monday’s show, the stars recalled dramas from their past and Kordei shared how her mother had breast cancer and the family had to flee New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.

Kordei, with a total of 76 points, said Biles has become a close friend. Although she looks like the clear front runner to win the mirror ball trophy, the singer told FOX411, “I was honestly really nervous tonight. For some reason, I was really anxious [but] I pulled through. I wouldn’t have changed anything.”

Football running back Jennings was also thrilled to be a finalist and told FOX411 he had no problem telling viewers about his learning difficulties and weight issues growing up.

“It’s never hard for me to talk about anything that I went through. I have nothing to hide but it’s emotional. You put yourself back in that place and every time I talk about it, I always feel it,” he said backstage after earning a cumulative 77 points for two dances.

For the finale, Jennings and partner Emma Slater promised excitement.

Bring it on, Guys! More at FOX.

ABC7 (great interviews by George):

E Online:

Here’s an interview with Cheryl Burke…

Facebook:

And that is all for now. Keep checking back for more through out the day and thanks for reading! ~ Vogue x

ETA: Here is Simone and Sasha on GMA today…

ETA2: Access Hollywood interviews…

Extra: