“Welcome to Hometown Glory week on Dancing with the Stars!” Tom announced as the intro clip played showing the remaining celebrities and their respective hometowns. “Tonight is a special three-hour long episode where each couple will perform two dances - One to represent the star’s hometown and one to represent the professional dancer’s hometown, and at the end of the evening one more couple will be eliminated. Tonight we will be kicking things off with Airman Noah Puckerman and his partner Quinn Fabray as we learn about his hometown of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.”
The two stayed in their place smiling for the camera as it zoomed in on them while everyone else left to go up to the redroom while their package played. “So for my hometown dance this week I chose the song “Don’t Stop Believing” by Journey,” Puck began. “And for our style I decided that Jazz would be the best suited style for the song,” Quinn piped in on the video. “This week though we only had a few days to really practice our two dances as we went to my hometown over the weekend for my older sister’s wedding,” Quinn continued.
Next on the package came Puck’s mother. “Growing up in Philly, my Noah was a good boy. He always helped me in taking care of his little sister. As a family we spent time together going to Eagles football games and getting lunch together beforehand. When Noah was 10 though, his father left us and that left Noah pretty devastated and it was hard on him no longer having a male role model to look up to anymore. At 13 he began drinking and I was worried about him. He was having sex with random girls at school, but then when he entered high school he stopped drinking when he joined the football team and eventually the glee club. I truly believe that they helped saved his life and I got to have my boy back,” she tearfully explained on the package as clips of the two rehearsing played. “Then right out of high school he joined the Air Force and I was so proud of the man he had become,” she continued. “When I got the news of what happened when he saved his partner’s life and that he was going to be on Dancing, I was absolutely overjoyed. This was all just proof of the man he has become and how hard he has worked. I couldn’t be prouder of him. Noah, mom loves you. Now you get out there and win that shiny mirror ball trophy!” she exclaimed as the package finished and rolled to black.
After performing their first dance, the two couldn’t have been happier with how it went. Now for the judges’ comments…
Carrie Ann’s comments: “Wow! What a great way to kick off tonight’s show! I absolutely loved it. However, tonight I felt like your timing was slightly off. I don’t know if it was a result of your shortened rehearsal schedule for the week or what, but I did get that sense that you were slightly off. You still have your second dance tonight to redeem yourselves, but it was still a great way to open us for tonight.” Score: 9
Len’s comments: “I have to agree with Carrie Ann. You guys did a great job performing it and selling it to us, but I just got that feeling that you guys were slightly off tonight. Good work though nonetheless.” - Score: 9
Bruno’s comments: “I don’t know what you two were talking about! I didn’t get the sense that you were even off tonight! You guys were great and that lift was like you were lifting up a graceful gazelle! Absolutely stunning!” - Score: 10
Upon the first half of the competition completing, it was time for the pros to celebrate their hometowns, but not before a special half opener of their own to show off their hometowns and childhood photos.
Once again, Quinn and Puck were up first. They stood in their positions once again as their second package rolled. “For my hometown glory dance I wanted to dance to the song “American Girl” as covered by The Swon Brothers,” Quinn’s voice carried out. “We’ll be dancing the quickstep. Growing up in Dallas I pretty much lived an All-American lifestyle. Every week my father would take my older sister and I to the Cowboys game at Texas Stadium in Arlington, and we never had to worry about much,” she continued. “My dad was a lawyer that ran his own firm while my mom stayed home to raise my sister and I, though she did help in teaching Sunday School at our Catholic church. Growing up I took ballet, tap, lyrical, pointe and ballroom dance classes as well as taking part in my high school’s National champion cheerleading squad. I absolutely loved growing up in Dallas and I wouldn’t trade it for the world,” her voice rung out as more clips of them rehearsing played before it faded to black.
During the performance Puck had a little stumble that he was sure would effect their scores, but only the judges could tell…
Carrie Ann’s comments: “DANG IT! You guys were doing so great! But then you had that little stumble! I have to knock a point off for that, but otherwise it was another great and solid performance from you, Noah.” - Score: 9
Len’s comments: “Yes, aside from the stumble it was a solid performance. But you guys recovered greatly and that’s what really counts when you make a mistake like that. Well done.” - Score: 9
Bruno’s comments: “Urgh! This time I did catch your mistake. But like Len said you handled that well and you recovered nicely. Your patriotism from both of you shone very nicely from your costumes though. But I still have to take a point off for that stumble.” - Score: 9
Results: Noah & Quinn fell to 3rd on the leaderboard for the night, and they were announced as safe for the week.
Eliminated Couple: Sam Evans (Member of Boy Band “JBE”) and Witney Carson