Dancing with the Stars (American season 10)


Season ten of Dancing with the Stars premiered on March 22, 2010. There was not an elimination the first week of competition. The first elimination took place on March 30. Singer Nicole Scherzinger won the competition.
Samantha Harris did not return as co-host for this season, due to her expanded correspondent duties on The Insider and Entertainment Tonight. On March 8, 2010, Tom Bergeron announced on Good Morning America that his new co-host is season seven champion Brooke Burke. Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli, and Carrie Ann Inaba continued as the judges this season.
Season ten had 11 contestants. Damian Whitewood, from the Broadway dance revue Burn the Floor, joined the list of professionals this season. Ashly DelGrosso Costa, whose last season as a pro was season three, returned, and Edyta Śliwińska continued as the longest tenured professional on the show, having appeared on the first ten seasons. This is the second season since season 5 that none of the couples scored a perfect 30 in the first night of the finals, and so far the first and only season where none of the couples got a 10 in the freestyle dances.
This season, the Results Show was moved to 8 pm on Tuesdays instead of the usual 9 pm slot. This season also features other changes such as the "red room" being inside of the ballroom, enclosed by glass walls, a balcony with a railing where the cast can stand and watch the performances live rather than on a monitor, and theme nights. Pussycat Dolls singer Nicole Scherzinger won the competition over figure skater Evan Lysacek, and ESPN host Erin Andrews, who took second and third, respectively.

Couples

Scoring chart

Averages

This table only counts for dances scored on a traditional 30-points scale. The scoring from week four counts as two dances.
Rank by averagePlaceCoupleTotal pointsNumber of dancesAverage
11Nicole & Derek4681727.5
22Evan & Anna4471726.3
33Erin & Maks3941624.6
46Pamela & Damian205922.8
54Chad & Cheryl2891322.2
65Niecy & Louis2271120.6
77Jake & Chelsie143720.4
811Shannen & Mark38219.0
99Aiden & Edyta87517.4
108Kate & Tony93615.5
1110Buzz & Ashly39313.0

Highest and lowest scoring performances

The best and worst performances in each dance according to the judges' 30-point scale are as follows:
DanceHighest scored dancerHighest scoreLowest scored dancerLowest score
Cha-cha-chaNicole Scherzinger29Buzz Aldrin14
Viennese WaltzEvan Lysacek28Kate Gosselin16
JiveNicole Scherzinger30Kate Gosselin15
FoxtrotEvan Lysacek
Nicole Scherzinger		29Buzz Aldrin12
Paso dobleEvan Lysacek
Nicole Scherzinger		30Kate Gosselin15
WaltzEvan Lysacek
Chad Ochocinco
Nicole Scherzinger		27Buzz Aldrin13
QuickstepEvan Lysacek28Chad Ochocinco18
RumbaNicole Scherzinger28Aiden Turner15
TangoNicole Scherzinger29Kate Gosselin14
SambaErin Andrews29Evan Lysacek
Jake Pavelka		21
Argentine tangoEvan Lysacek
Nicole Scherzinger		30Niecy Nash21
FreestyleNicole Scherzinger27Evan Lysacek24

Pamela Anderson & Shannen Doherty are the only stars not to land on this list.

Couples' highest and lowest scoring dances

According to the traditional 30-point scale :
CouplesHighest scoring danceLowest scoring dance
Nicole & DerekPaso doble, Argentine tango & Jive Quickstep
Evan & AnnaArgentine tango & Paso doble Samba
Erin & MaksimPaso doble & Samba Tango
Chad & CherylWaltz Foxtrot
Niecy & LouisQuickstep Cha-cha-cha, Jive & Rumba
Pamela & DamianRumba & Waltz Cha-cha-cha, Paso doble & Quickstep
Jake & ChelsieCha-cha-cha Tango
Kate & TonyTango Tango
Aiden & EdytaQuickstep Cha-cha-cha & Rumba
Buzz & AshlyCha-cha-cha Foxtrot
Shannen & MarkJive Viennese Waltz

Weekly scores and songs

Week 1

Unless indicated otherwise, individual judges scores in the charts below are listed in this order from left to right: Carrie Ann Inaba, Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli.
;Running order
CoupleScoreDanceMusic
Chad & Cheryl18 Cha-cha-cha"It's Just Begun"—The Jimmy Castor Bunch
Shannen & Mark18 Viennese Waltz"The Killing Moon"—Nouvelle Vague
Erin & Maksim21 Cha-cha-cha"TiK ToK"—Ke$ha
Jake & Chelsie20 Viennese Waltz"Kiss from a Rose"—Seal
Niecy & Louis18 Cha-cha-cha"Rescue Me"—Fontella Bass
Evan & Anna23 Viennese Waltz"I'll Be"—Edwin McCain
Buzz & Ashly14 Cha-cha-cha"Cupid"—Sam Cooke
Nicole & Derek25 Viennese Waltz"Hold You In My Arms"―Ray LaMontagne
Aiden & Edyta15 Cha-cha-cha"Hungry Like the Wolf"—Duran Duran
Kate & Tony16 Viennese Waltz"She's Always a Woman"—Billy Joel
Pamela & Damian21 Cha-cha-cha"Gimme All Your Lovin'"—ZZ Top

Week 2

;Running order
CoupleScoreDanceMusicResult
Shannen & Mark20 Jive"Shake a Tail Feather"—Ray CharlesEliminated
Aiden & Edyta19 Foxtrot"I've Got You Under My Skin"—Frank SinatraSafe
Evan & Anna24 Jive"The Best Damn Thing"—Avril LavigneSafe
Niecy & Louis21 Foxtrot"Love You I Do"—Jennifer HudsonSafe
Jake & Chelsie20 Jive"Hip to be Square"—Huey Lewis and the NewsSafe
Buzz & Ashly12 Foxtrot"Fly Me to the Moon"—Frank SinatraSafe
Nicole & Derek28 Jive"SOS"—RihannaSafe
Erin & Maksim23 Foxtrot"Love Story"—Taylor SwiftSafe
Pamela & Damian22 Foxtrot"I Wanna Be Loved By You"—Marilyn MonroeBottom 2
Chad & Cheryl16 Foxtrot"100 Years"—Five for FightingSafe
Kate & Tony15 Jive"I'm Still Standing"—Elton JohnSafe

Week 3: Story-telling Week

;Running order
CoupleScoreDanceMusicResult
Evan & Anna26 Quickstep"Hot Honey Rag"— from ChicagoSafe
Buzz & Ashly13 Waltz"What a Wonderful World"—Louis ArmstrongEliminated
Jake & Chelsie21 Quickstep"Walk Like an Egyptian"—The BanglesBottom 2
Niecy & Louis21 Waltz"With You I'm Born Again"—Billy Preston ft. Syreeta WrightSafe
Chad & Cheryl20 Paso doble"Cancion Del Mariachi"—Los Lobos ft. Antonio BanderasSafe
Pamela & Damian21 Paso doble"Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood"—The AnimalsSafe
Aiden & Edyta20 Quickstep"Hey, Soul Sister"—TrainSafe
Erin & Maksim23 Waltz"See the Day"—Dee C. LeeSafe
Kate & Tony15 Paso doble"Paparazzi"—Lady GagaSafe
Nicole & Derek23 Quickstep"Anything Goes"—Cole Porter ft.Stacey KentSafe

Week 4: Double-score Showdown

;Running order
CoupleTechnical ScorePerformance ScoreDanceMusicResult
Erin & Maksim18 21 Tango"Sweet Dreams "—EurythmicsSafe
Evan & Anna26 26 Tango"Wait a Minute"—The Pussycat DollsSafe
Niecy & Louis18 18 Rumba"Taking Chances"—Celine DionLast to be Called Safe
Aiden & Edyta15 18 Rumba"Live Like We're Dying"—Kris AllenEliminated
Nicole & Derek25 25 Rumba"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face"—Roberta FlackSafe
Jake & Chelsie19 19 Tango"A Girl Like You"—Edwyn CollinsSafe
Kate & Tony14 18 Tango"For Your Entertainment"—Adam LambertSafe
Chad & Cheryl21 23 Rumba"Try Sleeping with a Broken Heart"—Alicia KeysSafe
Pamela & Damian23 24 Rumba"I Can't Make You Love Me"—Bonnie RaittSafe

Week 5: Movie Night

;Running order
CoupleScoreDanceMusicMovieResult
Niecy & Louis18 Jive"La Bamba"—Ritchie ValensLa BambaSafe
Chad & Cheryl18 Quickstep"The Bare Necessities"—Phil HarrisThe Jungle BookSafe
Erin & Maksim22 Jive"You Never Can Tell"—Chuck BerryPulp FictionSafe
Jake & Chelsie23 Cha-cha-cha"Old Time Rock and Roll"—Bob SegerRisky BusinessSafe
Pamela & Damian21 Quickstep"9 to 5"—Dolly Parton9 to 5Bottom 2
Kate & Tony15 Foxtrot"Don't You "—Simple MindsThe Breakfast ClubEliminated
Nicole & Derek29 Tango"Oh, Pretty Woman"—Roy OrbisonPretty WomanSafe
Evan & Anna27 Rumba"I Don't Want to Miss a Thing"—AerosmithArmageddonSafe

Week 6: Marathon Night

;Running order

Week 7: Team Dance Night

;Running order

Week 8: Race to the Semifinals

;Running order
CoupleScoreDanceMusicResult
Chad & Cheryl21 Tango"Sweet Dreams"—BeyoncéBottom 2
Chad & Cheryl24 1960s Jive"Love Man"—Otis ReddingBottom 2
Niecy & Louis23 Viennese Waltz"I Got You Babe"—Sonny & CherEliminated
Niecy & Louis20 1990s Paso doble"Rhythm is a Dancer"—Snap!Eliminated
Erin & Maksim28 Argentine tango"Una Música Brutal"—Gotan ProjectSafe
Erin & Maksim25 1980s Rumba"Missing You"—John WaiteSafe
Evan & Anna27 Waltz"Open Arms"—JourneySafe
Evan & Anna26 Futuristic cha-cha-cha"Bulletproof"—La RouxSafe
Nicole & Derek29 Foxtrot"Haven't Met You Yet"—Michael BubléSafe
Nicole & Derek30 1950s Paso doble"Spanish Guitar"—Bo DiddleySafe

Week 9: Semifinals

;Running order
CoupleScoreDanceMusicResult
Erin & Maksim27 Viennese Waltz"February Song"—Josh GrobanLast to be Called Safe
Erin & Maksim29 Paso doble"U Got the Look"—PrinceLast to be Called Safe
Nicole & Derek30 Argentine tango"El Capitalismo Foraneo"—Gotan ProjectSafe
Nicole & Derek29 Cha-cha-cha"Kiss"—PrinceSafe
Chad & Cheryl27 Waltz"If You Don't Know Me by Now"—Simply RedEliminated
Chad & Cheryl25 Samba"Alejandro"—Lady GagaEliminated
Evan & Anna29 Foxtrot"I've Got the World on a String"—Frank SinatraSafe
Evan & Anna30 Paso doble"Bring Me to Life"—EvanescenceSafe

Week 10: Finals

;Running order
CoupleScoreDanceMusicAssistant Judge
Erin & Maksim29 Samba
"Mi Swing Es Tropical"—Quantic & NikodemusBruno Tonioli
Erin & Maksim26 Freestyle"Alone"—HeartBruno Tonioli
Evan & Anna28 Viennese Waltz"Piano Man"—Billy JoelLen Goodman
Evan & Anna24 Freestyle"Footloose"—Kenny LogginsLen Goodman
Nicole & Derek28 Rumba"The Lady in Red"—Chris De BurghCarrie Ann Inaba
Nicole & Derek27 Freestyle"A Little Less Conversation"—Elvis PresleyCarrie Ann Inaba

CoupleScoreDanceMusicResult
Nicole & Derek30 Argentine tango"El Capitalismo Foraneo"—Gotan ProjectSafe
Evan & Anna28 Argentine tango"Bust Your Windows"—Jazmine SullivanSafe
Erin & Maksim26 Argentine tango"Una Música Brutal"—Gotan ProjectThird place

;Running order
CoupleScoreDanceMusicResult
Nicole & Derek30 Jive"Proud Mary"—Ike & Tina TurnerWinner
Evan & Anna28 Quickstep"I Want You to Want Me"—Letters To CleoRunner-up

Dance chart

In addition to recapping the week's earlier performances by the competitors, each results show features one or more guest musical performers/acts who perform at least one song. During each song, the Dancing with the Stars dance troupe or guest dancers perform a choreographed dance. Unless otherwise noted, the Dancing with the Stars dance troupe performed during the musical number.
;March 30, 2010
The Beach Boys featuring John Stamos performed "California Girls", "Kokomo", and "Fun, Fun, Fun", accompanied by dancers Cheryl Burke, Maksim Chmerkovskiy, Ashly Costa, Anna Trebunskaya, Louis van Amstel and Damian Whitewood.
The Macy's Stars of Dance segment featured Emmanuel Pierre-Antoine with Haitian dancers.
;April 6, 2010
Reba McEntire performed "I Want a Cowboy" and "Consider Me Gone". Mark Ballas performed "Malagueña" while Chelsie Hightower and Derek Hough danced.
;April 13, 2010
Sade sang "Babyfather" while Chelsie Hightower and Damian Whitewood danced, and also sang "The Sweetest Taboo".
The Macy's Stars of Dance segment featured Nuttin' But Stringz and Tiler Peck with other dancers.
;April 20, 2010
Maxwell performed "Fistful of Tears" while Teddy Forance and Tyne Stecklein danced. Debi Nova performed "Drummer Boy", featuring dancing by Dmitry Chaplin, Tony Dovolani, Derek Hough and Damian Whitewood.
The Macy's Stars of Dance segment featured Iconic Movies dance by Marguerite Derricks with Debbie Allen.
;April 27, 2010
Melissa Etheridge performed two songs: "Fearless Love" and "Come to My Window". Benise performed "Salsa Salsa" featuring his own dancers.
;May 4, 2010
Train performed "Hey, Soul Sister" while Mark Ballas, Cheryl Burke, Dmitry Chaplin, Tony Dovolani, Chelsie Hightower and Lacey Schwimmer danced, and also performed "Drops of Jupiter", which featured dancing by Karina Smirnoff and Louis van Amstel.
The Macy's Stars of Dance segment featured Viva Elvis by Las Vegas Cirque du Soleil.
;May 11, 2010
Gipsy Kings performed two songs: "You've Got a Friend in Me", and "Bamboleo", which featured DJ Guthrie, Tyne Stecklein and two other guest professional dancers.
;May 18, 2010
Sarah McLachlan sang both "Angel" and "Loving You is Easy". Miley Cyrus performed "Can't Be Tamed" featuring her own dancers.
For the May 18th "Design a Dance" performance, viewers had voted in the weeks beforehand about what former female celebrity they wanted to do the dance, what former male celebrity they wanted to do the dance, and what song they wanted the couple's Tango to be to. Also, Dancing with the Stars held an online contest where viewers could submit their drawings for outfits for the performance. The viewers then also voted for a set of costumes picked by the show's designers. The winner was Emilio Oh. His designs were turned into the costumes for Fatone and Rycroft, and he won a trip to the show.

College dance championship

Four colleges were featured in a tournament-style competition. Three individual episodes featured two colleges competing against each other in a one-dance showdown. The judges provided individual scores following each performance.
On May 11, 2010, UC San Diego competed against Purdue. Purdue advanced to the finals, with viewer votes offsetting their 24 to 22 deficit in judges' scores. The May 18 episode featured Rutgers and Utah Valley. Both teams danced the Cha-cha-cha, and Utah Valley won the dance-off with their score of 29 over Rutgers' 21. In the finals, Utah Valley topped Purdue for the championship.

Ratings

Episode NumberEpisodeOriginal AirdateRatingShareRating/Share
Viewers
Weekly Rank
10.01Week 1March 22, 201015.0236.424.192
10.02Week 2, Part 1March 29, 201014.4235.6/1622.9661
10.03Week 2, Part 2March 30, 20109.3153.0/914.2805
10.04Week 3, Part 1April 5, 201013.35.15.1/1421.212
10.05Week 3, Part 2April 6, 20108.2132.5/712.43512
10.06Week 4, Part 1April 12, 201013.2214.9/1420.563
10.07Week 4, Part 2April 13, 20108.6142.8/813.606
10.08Week 5, Part 1April 19, 201013.4214.8/1321.0661
10.09Week 5, Part 2April 20, 20108.8142.4/713.5565
10.10Week 6, Part 1April 26, 201013.2214.4/1220.4041
10.11Week 6, Part 2April 27, 20108.2132.4/712.39010
10.12Week 7, Part 1May 3, 201012.5204.1/1219.6411
10.13Week 7, Part 2May 4, 20107.8132.4/712.04311
10.14Week 8, Part 1May 10, 201012.3194.1/1119.163
10.15Week 8, Part 2May 11, 20108.1132.5/712.51515
10.16Week 9, Part 1May 17, 201012.1194.1/1119.041
10.17Week 9, Part 2May 18, 20108.6142.5/713.1913
10.18Week 10, Part 1May 24, 201012.6214.0/1219.363
10.19Week 10, Part 2May 25, 201011.6193.9/1118.404