STEP OFF: Performance Night 1 of 2 for Week 6 of DANCING WITH THE STARS

Well, we're going to be deprived of an elimination this week - thanks to the third Presidential Debate tonight. So, yes. No elimination. It's solely a performance week, billed as "Guilty Pleasures" with the competitors split across two nights, where a group will perform their freestyle routine, and the other group will give their individual performances. Oh, and hey! We're down to a single hour of broadcast. Bazing.

Tonight, Gilles Marini's team performed their individual dances, while Shawn Johnson's group gave an admirable performance of "Call Me Maybe." Their routine - which yes, featured Melissa Rycroft - heralded a ten from Len, and universal praise from panel. They received a 29.5/30 for their collective number.

As BroadwayWorld reported earlier today, whether or not Melissa Rycroft would perform tonight after her herniated disc injury, was pretty up in the air. Her reps confirmed she was rushed to the hospital yesterday mid-rehearsal, but disc be damned, Rycroft was on that stage tonight for "Call Me."

Tonight's individual dances went a little something like this:

Kelly Monaco & Val Chmerkovskiy; Samba, 24.5/30
Len: "There were elements that I liked. It was a tad on the raunchy side for me."
Carrie Ann: "I thought this week you were a little nervous. It was not your best, but it was a good try!"
Bruno: "For me it is always on, you are tasty tease...overall I thought It was a good routine."

Gilles Marini & Peta Murgatroyd; Rumba, 29.5/30
Len: "You turned October into Hoc-tober! That was a blockbuster, it had everything."
Carrie Ann: "Let the baby-making begin!" (And then fell out of her chair.)
Bruno: "That was not a dance - that was masterclass theater…the best performance I have seen!"

Kirstie Alley & Maks Chmerkovskiy; Quickstep, 25.5/30
Len: "It was your best dance."
Carrie Ann: "Kirstie, I thought that was your best dance by miles."
Bruno: "You had your toyboy where you wanted…Well done, your carriage was perfect."

Emmitt Smith & Cheryl Burke; Samba, 29/30
Len: "An unstoppable performance , well done"
Carrie Ann: "No one does a Samba like you."
Bruno: "Always switched on - you always deliver maximum pleasure."

Tomorrow night, Gilles' team will perform their routine to Gangnam Style (ugh), and Shawn Johnson, Sabrina Bryan, Melissa Rycroft, and Apolo will perform. Be sure to check back after the performance for BroadwayWorld's recap!