‘Dancing With the Stars’ recap: Doug Flutie gets heave-ho on ‘Famous Dances Night’

Does it matter, fellow “Dancing With the Stars” fans, that we’ve seen competitors and pros on this long-running show hoof it to that earworm barn-burner “Footloose” half a dozen times?

Or that they’ve performed to Janet Jackson songs four times in the past, slightly more often than they’ve tried to be “sssssssmokin’” hot with that ditty from “The Mask”?

No, it does not.

Even for the diehard viewers, it’s probably acceptable that “DWTS” recycles music during “Famous Dances Night.” Who can disagree with a mega-hit Michael Jackson tune, even if it’s been used in the contest before? Two words: toe tapper. Two more words: crowd pleaser.

What I personally take issue with? Covering up or otherwise obscuring any part of the magnificent Nyle DiMarco’s face or bod. Bad “DWTS.” Bad!

Anyway, the environmentally friendly program trotted out the familiar, as it’s so often wont to do, from ’90s blockbuster movies to iconic music videos to memorable live performances for Monday night’s episode. Guess who was shagadelic? Read on to find out.

But first a quick word about “DWTS” injuries, which happen a lot when amateurs and professionals collide during rehearsal, when the time constraints push people to their limits and beyond, and when the pressure of vying for a 99-cent trophy simply overwhelms. (It’s stressful, y’all!)

Already in the current season, pro Mark Ballas strained his back during a ballroom lift and hearing-impaired competitor Nyle DiMarco got clocked in the face during practice and needed stitches to close a gash over his eye. Kim Fields may have stress fractures in her lower legs.

But in the past few days, actress and “Fuller House” star Jodie Sweetin jetted to the top of the battered list with an injured ankle and an elbow to the nose. She and pro partner Keo Motsepe had been trying to master a particularly acrobatic routine when the mishaps took place, and though she’s the one who got hurt, I’m not sure who to feel sorrier for, her or Keo.

To wit: Jodie did much better during “Switch-Up Week” without Keo. Val Chmerkovskiy pulled her out of her doldrums, and the dreaded middle of the pack, with an impressive paso doble.

Keo, on the other hand, didn’t fare too well at all. He had to defend his non-waltz waltz with Kim to the Purist Brothers (Len Goodman and Maks Chmerkovskiy).

Then Keo’s bad luck continued. When he started practicing again with regular partner Jodie, he hospitalized her. Poor Jodie! Poor Keo!

See how they and the other nine remaining couples did on Monday, week six of the season. Non-spoiler spoiler: Doug Flutie went home:

Kim Fields and Sasha Farber

Jive to “You Can’t Stop the Beat” from the musical film, “Hairspray”

Kim was still stinging emotionally from the previous week, but she also had some physical problems. A doctor recommended she skip rehearsal because of possible injuries to her lower legs, to which she said, “Are you kidding me right now?” In short, she didn’t listen and even sweet, concerned Sasha couldn’t convince her to take it easy. “I’ve had two kids,” she said, not drawing a straight line between childbirth and stress fractures, but I think we get what she’s saying. She’s a tough gal. And there was absolutely no rest in that very active routine, even with all those pros added. Kim looked like she was having a blast, obviously thrilled to be back with Sasha. Len said it “captured the fun” of the movie, Bruno Tonioli was incomprehensible and Carrie Ann Inaba thought it was “vibrant, lively, filled with energy” but not quite enough energy.

Score: 24

Apropos of nothing: why was Carrie Ann wearing toe shoes under her gown? Apropos of everything: Len’s birthday. Many happy returns, Grumpster!

Von Miller and Witney Carson

Jazz to “Bad” by Michael Jackson (from the epic music video)

Witney “Cursed With Switch-Up Week” Carson was thrilled to be back with the farting, chronically tardy Super Bowl MVP. Von, for his part, felt like this was “the dopest” stuff he’d learned so far on “DWTS,” especially the crotch-grabbing part. I’m just guessing about that last part. He did seem newly energized or maybe motivated to try to live up to the Michael Jackson legacy. He sure brought it. Bruno called it “badass,” noting that Von attempted the “West Side Story” reach. You know what he means, right? (The pantomime helped.) Carrie Ann thought he “embodied” Jackson but brought his own spin and flavor to it. “Dangerous,” she said. Len called it “terrific.”

Score: 24

Jodie Sweetin and Keo Motsepe

Contemporary to Pink’s “Try” from her “American Music Awards” performance

Jodie felt badly for Keo because of his “Switch-Up Night” debacle, and said she was happy to be back with her partner. But she admitted she was afraid of the Pink music video they were set to reproduce, with good reason, as it turned out. Two injuries and a trip to the ER later, she vowed to push through the athletic, emotional number. And she did, with plenty of support from the studio audience. (People clearly love her.) Carrie Ann said it was “a difficult routine to watch” and compared their own struggle as partners to the story of the song. Something that was aggressive, bordering on ugly, became “dynamic and artistic and beautiful,” she said. Bruno called it an “incredibly demanding” routine that’s tough to reproduce, seeing that it’s all about a dysfunctional relationship. “You pulled it off,” he said, though it nearly gave him a heart attack because of the perilous lifts. Jodie said she was happy to push through the pain.

Score: 25, with a 9 from Carrie Ann

Paige VanZant and Mark Ballas

Jazz to “Soul Bossa Nova” from “Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery”

Mark The Method Dancer Ballas went full Mike Myers, complete with striped suit nerd glasses and scruffy wig. This was after an initial disappointment over an unnamed lost song (for legal reasons) and scrapped choreography that put the pair a few days behind for the episode. It didn’t show one bit in that groovy number. Paige looked adorable in a mod ’60s mini-dress and even added a few of her own gymnastic moves to the dance. In my humble opinion, it would’ve been impossible not to enjoy those two minutes. Len, on a sugar high from his birthday cake, said, “There was nothing I didn’t like about that,” and Bruno thought it was swinging, baby. Carrie Ann pointed up its precision, detail and fun.

Score: 28, with a 10 from Len! That’s the best of the night so far.

Nyle DiMarco and Peta Murgatroyd

Quickstep to “Hey! Pachuco” from ’90s Jim Carrey comedy “The Mask”

Riding high from the first 10 of the season (from Len!), Nyle knew he’d be under pretty heavy scrutiny. Does that explain the full “Mask” makeup, prosthetics and veneers? No, I say! But he was determined to fully inhabit the cartoon character, the star of one of his favorite films, he said during rehearsal. He also mentioned that he thought Val was his competition, instead of the other amateurs. Um, probably not cool to admit that with your translator’s outer voice. I’m willing to let that slide because you’re so amazing. Others may not. Will it lose him any votes? We’ll see. That dance was a fine frenzy. Bruno said there was “so much slapstick” while maintaining the technical aspects of the quickstep. “As a performance, it was incredible,” he said. Carrie Ann felt his “frame was very broken,” and let slip that she herself has danced in a mask but declined to give details. Oh Carrie Ann, do tell! Len said he’s gotten kinder as he’s gotten older – ha! – but he found the Charleston section “poor,” with some overall foot faults. Co-host Tom Bergeron blamed “sugar crash” for Len’s crankiness.

Score: 25, with a 9 from Bruno

Ginger Zee and Val Chmerkovskiy

Jazz to “Nasty” by Janet Jackson (from her music video)

Because the “Good Morning America” meteorologist is so darn cheery and light, her partners seem to want to bring out her sultry side. Val said during practice that she had to exude sexiness, but it had to be “clean,” meaning sharp. She was more convincing in last week’s salsa, I think, and couldn’t quite grasp Miss Jackson’s take-no-prisoners command of the number. Carrie Ann said she brought her own attitude and “almost owned it.” Len also thought it lacked some attitude, finding it “more tasty than nasty.” Bruno found it “Janet in the best possible taste,” minus the Janet “ball breaker” persona.

Score: 24

Doug Flutie and Karina Smirnoff

Bollywood to “Jai Ho” from “Slumdog Millionaire”

Doug doing Bollywood? OK, that just seemed mean, especially when in the video package Karina admitted she’d never tackled that genre before. “That puts us in the same boat,” Doug said. Well, no. But he danced his heart out, and he obviously wanted to capitalize on the previous week’s solid performance. Len called it “jolly good” Bollywood, and Bruno said it will stay in his head forever. In a good way? Carrie Ann said he wasn’t just going through the motions anymore, but he was really mastering some movement. That’s fairly high praise in week 6.

Score: 21, straight 7s

Wanya Morris and Lindsay Arnold

Jazz to “Bye Bye Bye” by NSYNC (from their “Video Music Awards” performance)

Boyz II Men star Wanya was determined to get back to the top of the leaderboard, he said during practice, but what he probably wanted to do most was beat his NSYNC pal and former “DWTS” contestant Joey Fatone. Lindsay wanted to recreate the iconic live performance from the VMAs but go even bigger. There were so many moving parts to the number – green screen, special effects! – so they had to hit it hard. Did they? They certainly did, with a couple of NSYNC vets cheering them on from the sidelines. “Somebody got his mojo back,” Bergeron said. Bruno found “nothing missing,” and Carrie Ann shouted, “This boy is on fire!” He brought the dirty and kicked that number “to the curb.” Len said he took “a great step forward toward the final.”

Score: 29, 10s from Carrie Ann and Bruno

Antonio Brown and Sharna Burgess

Jive to “Footloose” from the seminal coming-of-age flick “Footloose”

Hurt feelings! Ballroom drama! Antonio gave Sharna a stern talking-to about believing in their partnership. Actually, during the video, he lectured her about giving up on him. He’d heard her handicap the contest the previous week, and she put Wanya and Nyle ahead of him. The NFL standout took offense, to which Sharna said she understood that he meant business. Before, she wasn’t so sure. Gracefully done, Sharna! Antonio said he was ready to channel Kevin Baco, just proving the point. No one had ever questioned his talent or his natural ability. They thought he lacked commitment. (I’ve been in that camp.) But see what happens when you really apply yourself, Antonio? He pretty well crushed that number. Carrie Ann thought he brought the house down, even though he had a Charles Schultz “Peanuts” moment in the beginning. Len noted his “great attitude,” and Bruno called him “a leading man” who “never lost focus,” saying, “Hard work pays off.”

Score: 27, for a personal best

Time for the elimination. Among the couples in jeopardy were Paige and Mark (what?!), Doug and Karina, Von and Witney. Lowest combined totals of judge and viewer scores for the past two weeks: Doug and Karina. Doug, gracious to the end, called the dancers “family” and said he had a great time.

Next week, it’s a must-see episode: men versus women and a double elimination. Huge!