Reginald VelJohnson, the beloved actor known for his role as Carl Winslow in the popular sitcom 'Family Matters,' recently made headlines for his heartfelt performance on the reality TV show 'Dancing with the Stars.' The third episode of season 33, themed around 'Soul Train Night,' saw VelJohnson and his dance partner Emma Slater perform a foxtrot to Johnny Nash's 'I Can See Clearly Now.'
The performance was deeply moving for the judges, particularly guest judge Rosie Perez, who praised VelJohnson's energy and spirit. Perez expressed her admiration by saying, ' I just love you ,' highlighting the actor's infectious joy and innocence on stage.
Carrie Ann Inaba, another judge, was visibly moved to tears by VelJohnson's performance. She commented, ' I don't know why this is making me so emotional ,' reflecting the profound impact of VelJohnson's act on the judging panel.
Derek Hough also chimed in, noting that VelJohnson's performance reminded him of watching his grandfather dance. He added, ' It's like watching my grandpa out there dance, you know? And that makes me so happy .' Bruno Tonioli complemented VelJohnson by saying his 'personality shines,' emphasizing the actor's undeniable passion and charm.
Despite receiving praise for his emotional presence, VelJohnson and Slater received a total of 21 points, which was the lowest score of the night. The judges were critical of his technical performance, but his passion and joy on stage were undeniable.
Other contestants also delivered memorable performances. Joey Graziadei, a star from 'The Bachelor,' impressed the judges with a dynamic jive to 'Shout' and secured the first nine points of the season. Chandler Kinney from 'The Walking Dead' took the first spot for the third week in a row with 36 points for his fusion of cha-cha and hip-hop to 'It's Tricky' by Run-D.M.C.
Former NBA player Dwight Howard and his partner Daniella Karagach struggled with their cha-cha performance due to insufficient practice time. They danced to Earth, Wind & Fire's 'Let's Groove' and scored 23 points. Model Brooks Nader and partner Gleb Savchenko's rumba act on Marvin Gaye's 'S*xual Healing' was also notable, but they finished with a score of 28 points.
What's Next for Reginald VelJohnson on Dancing with the Stars?
As the competition heats up, VelJohnson and Slater are set to perform a cha-cha dance to 'I Wanna Rock' by Twisted Sister in the next episode, titled 'Hair Metal Night.' This episode will air on Tuesday, October 8, on ABC and Disney+. The scores from both nights will be combined with audience votes, and there is a possibility of a double elimination this week.
Dancing with the Stars airs on Tuesdays at 8 pm ET/PT on ABC and Disney+, offering viewers a chance to witness more emotional and energetic performances from the contestants.
