Paula Abdul couldn’t have been a more perfect guest judge for “Music Video Night” on “Dancing With the Stars.”
The legendary choreographer added an extra layer of pressure for the remaining Season 32 contestants as she watched them perform live routines inspired by some of the most iconic music videos of all time.
Exclusively speaking to Page Six after the show, the “Straight Up” singer told us she was highly impressed by many of the numbers, especially Ariana Madix and Pasha Pashkov’s cha cha to “I’m a Slave 4 U” by Britney Spears.”
“I think it was one of her best performances,” gushed Abdul, who has choreographed for artists like Debbie Gibson, George Michael and The Pointer Sisters.
“She nailed it! She channeled Britney incredibly. I just was really proud of her. She just was fierce tonight.”
Madix and Pashkov received a total combined score of 37/40 for the routine from Abdul and fellow judges Derek Hough, Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli.
The high score placed the “Vanderpump Rules” star and her pro partner at the top of the leaderboard and granted them immunity from next week’s “Dance-Off” challenge round.
Another standout performance from “Music Video Night” was Charity Lawson and Artem Chigvintsev’s Janet Jackson-inspired jazz to “All For You.” Watching the performance was extra special for Abdul, as she has a long history with the singer and her family.
The Jacksons discovered Abdul when she was dancing and choreographing for the Los Angeles Lakers’ cheerleading squad, the Laker Girls. Abdul, now 61, went on to choreograph some of Janet’s most famous music videos, including “Nasty,” “When I Think of You” and “Control.”
“I’ve had the proud honor, and I’m so grateful that my partnership as a choreographer for Janet, it opened so many big doors. So I’m always grateful for Janet,” she told us. “But also Janet, I would say, would [use] fearlessness to counteract her shyness and make her like as fierce and formidable as a dancer.”
“Charity, lovely, she hit all the dance steps. She’s wonderful, but to do a Janet Jackson [tribute], I feel like if she stepped into her power more and executed harder, people would have been shocked, you know? So I encourage her to become more powerful with her dancing because she is a contender.”
Other performances included Harry Jowsey and Rylee Arnold paying homage to *NSYNC, Alyson Hannigan channeling Christina Aguilera with Sasha Farber and Xochitl Gomez impersonating Gwen Stefani with help from Val Chmerkovskiy. Surprisingly, no one attempted an Abdul routine.
“You know, people are saying, ‘Are you upset that no one did a routine to one of your songs?’ I was told by production that some of the people who left were going to be doing a routine,” the “Cold Hearted” singer revealed. “For me, the pressure was off. Because it would have been a little bit trickier to judge.”
Abdul also told Page Six that she was thrilled to be asked back in the ballroom after guest judging for the first time back in 2012.
“It was incredible, I had the best time, I really did,” she gushed, adding that she’s “always” been a fan of the dance competition series. “Being able to watch these performers get better and better, and the evolution of when they started to where they are now, it’s just great to see.”
She continued, “I truly believe that dance is the one art form that gets into every cell of your body, unlike any other art form. It changes your life … and seeing people become so happy and the fact that they continue to take ballroom lessons after this show is a testament to what this show has done.”
Next up, Abdul is gearing up for the Magic Summer Tour with New Kids on the Block, which kicks off June 14, 2024.
“Well, I have time, thank God! So that gives me time to get in shape and get ready for the fun summer,” she teased, when asked about what fans can expect from her as she hits the road.
“We’re both celebrating our 35th anniversary of our albums – theirs being ‘Hangin’ Tough’ and mine ‘Forever Your Girl.’ So it’s going to be nostalgic.”
Abdul is also co-producing “How to Dance in Ohio,” which she previously described as “a heartwarming Broadway musical about a group of young, autistic adults as they prepare for their first formal dance.”
“Dancing With the Stars” airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC and Disney+, with new episodes streaming the following day on Hulu.
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