“Dancing with the Stars” has become J.R. Martinez’s world and everyone else is just dancing in it.
On Monday, the Army veteran and former “All My Children” star trumped his competition by a mile, scoring the first perfect score of Season 13, and then, in the second “Instant Dance” round – he scored the second, taking home a perfect 60 out of 60 points for the night.
“Oh my God,” a flabbergasted J.R. said after earning his second 30 points on Monday, for an instant jive (the contestants were given their music during the live competition, giving them just half a show to rehearse their second number). “I don’t have anything to say.”
But the judges – including notoriously tough judge Len Goodman – had plenty.
“You’ve got the X-factor and the feel good factor mixed together and you’ve come out here with the most fantastic jive,” Len said.
Carrie Ann Inaba said J.R., who performed with professional Karina Smirnoff, was “in a class all your own.”
J.R. was inspired to achieve the marks after landing in the middle of the pack just last week, and he made his goal known – to earn the first 30 — from the first dance, which he performed earlier in the evening — a gorgeous waltz, to “What the World Needs Now Is Love.”
“It was like a musical Valentine card,” judge Bruno Toniolo commented.
That first perfect score thrilled J.R., who couldn’t help but grab the mic from show co-host, Brooke Burke-Charvet, after round 1.
“I want to thank my mom, God, everybody, thank you America,” he said, laughing. “Justin Bieber, I will never say never.”
J.R. – with Karina — bested his nearest celebrity competition by eight points.
Landing in a tie for second were couples – Ricki Lake and Derek Hough, and a much-improved Hope Solo with Maksim Chmerkovskiy.
Surprisingly, Maks and Len even seemed to make amends, following their bust up earlier in the season.
“This was fantastic,” Len said, brushing off light critiques of the pair from Carrie Ann and Bruno. “It was everything a jive should be.”
So moved by the praise, Maks even went over and gave Len a kiss on the cheek.
The Leaderboard for Nov. 7 was:
J.R. Martinez and Karina Smirnoff took home 60/60
Ricki Lake and Derek Hough earned 52/60
Hope Solo and Maksim Chmerkovskiy also earned 52/60
Rob Kardashian and Cheryl Burke took home 51/60
Nancy Grace and Tristan MacManus earned 44/60
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