‘Dancing With the Stars’ recap: Kim Fields, Von Miller axed on ‘Icon Night’

Stuff just got real up in the ballroom, fellow “Dancing With the Stars” fans, because the whittling began in earnest.

No more one-offs, like the good natured but robotic Geraldo Rivera or the has-been brat Mischa Barton. No one misses them anyway because they barely registered in this season 22 contest. Flutie? Sweet dude. Terrible dancer. Bye-bye!

But the true bloodletting started with Monday’s double elimination, and from here on out, it’s survival of the fittest hoofer until the winning celeb clutches the cheaply constructed but oh-so-coveted Mirrorball trophy later this month.

Who will it be? Here’s who it certainly will not be: Kim Fields and Von Miller. It’s brutal, but somebody (two somebodies) had to go. And just when Kim was hitting her stride!

Read on to find out what happened on “Icons Night,” which used music from, you guessed it, iconic artists as soundtracks for the dance numbers. (This is not to be confused with the previous week’s “Famous Dances Night,” which used iconic music as soundtracks for famous dances. Got all that? It’s about people pleasing, people!)

There were two perfect scores -- for Paige and Ginger -- at least a few butt slaps and two team dances, pitting the men against the women for the first time in the long-running ABC show’s history. There was also a high-tech incursion: a special opening disco number that let viewers get virtually close to the preternaturally gorgeous pros. Sorry, no touching! If you missed it or want to relive that brush with Val’s eight-pack, you can find the 360-degree video clip on ABC.com/VR or the “Dancing With the Stars” Facebook page or YouTube channel.

Jodie Sweetin and Keo Motsepe

Quickstep to Stevie Wonder’s “For Once in My Life”

See Jodie in pain from two months of strenuous dance rehearsals and performances. KT Tape across her shoulders? Check. Hear Jodie get her back popped by Keo. Was that a Foley effect? Because if it wasn’t, that was a near deafening crunch. Despite her “body breaking down,” the “Fuller House” star forged ahead in a canary-yellow gown that struck me as a little matronly. (Mother of the bride?) But it sparkled. Len Goodman loved the “commitment and attack,” though she and her partner “lost body contact” here and there. Bruno Tonioli thought she took flight and showed “freedom of movement,” and Carrie Ann Inaba liked the lighthearted aura and thought Jodie kept pace in spots when Keo foot faulted. Ouch. It has not been Keo’s season. Poor Keo!

Score: 26, 9s from Len and Bruno, causing Jodie to do what co-host Tom Bergeron called “some happy hoppin’”

Kim Fields and Sasha Farber

Samba to the Jackson 5’s “ABC”

Kim had fire in her eyes from the previous week, saying during the video package, in essence, “What’s a girl gotta do to get a 9 around here?” Maybe channel her inner Jermaine Jackson superfan? That could work! And rock a short, sassy wig? Another plus! Revelation No. 1: The “Facts of Life” and “Real Housewives of Atlanta” alum is really getting the hang of it, especially when she puts on her game face. Revelation No. 2: Aussie import Sasha Farber is a national treasure, for saying that he was pooping his pants with anxiety and for wishing his mother a happy birthday. And for so many other reasons. Bruno called it an “electrifying” mix of Jacksons and Mary J. Carrie Ann said she loves it “when people get pissed” about low scores because it motivates them for the next performance, and Kim “got pissed.” Len dubbed it her “best dance.” Sadly, it wasn’t enough to keep her around for the quarter-finals next week.

Score: 27, straight 9s

Nyle DiMarco and Peta Murgatroyd

Foxtrot to “Beautiful Day” by U2

The time had come -- Nyle had to eat some humble pie, and he wisely did. He had to live down his comment from last week about having no real competition on the show, except for pro Val. Protective Peta to the rescue! She said during rehearsal that his words were taken out of context. And the winner of “America’s Next Top Model” – and first completely deaf “DWTS” contestant -- put himself back in his (amateur) place, as Len had done the prior Monday. And then he danced a lilting and beautiful foxtrot to a rock song, which is no easy feat. Carrie Ann thought it was “elegant and grounded,” but Len said his “bum stuck out in hold,” and his shoulders were hunched sometimes, but that he “climbs mountains.” Bruno dubbed his turns “fantastic.” His bubble butt? That was pretty fantastic, too, according to Bruno.

Score: 28, with a 10 from Carrie Ann and another kerfuffle over an alleged 10 from Bruno that was really a 9. Why does this keep happening?

Antonio Brown and Sharna Burgess

Tango to “Paint it Black” from the Rolling Stones

Antonio put his myriad activities on hold for a week so he could dedicate himself to learning this new number. Sharna tried to hide her surprise, but she seemed pleased with his renewed commitment, since the tango would require a completely different side of him. Instead of flashing that Pepsodent smile, he’d need to swap it out for a serious Blue Steel persona. And speaking of flashing: Sharna nearly had a wardrobe malfunction. Football standout Antonio tried for sexy during that tango, but he mostly scowled. Len said the dance had “plenty of attitude,” but noted a number of mistakes. Bruno agreed that the footwork wasn’t quite on point.

Score: 24

Wanya Morris and Lindsay Arnold

Foxtrot to Aretha Franklin’s “I Say a Little Prayer”

The busy Boyz II Men singer was frustrated by his hectic schedule and had a bleep-filled conversation with some unfortunate person on the phone during practice. He had to miss some dance rehearsals in the past week because of his concert tour, and he was less than pleased. He’s such a natural, but he worried that the stress would affect his performance. It really didn’t. It was a sweet number, almost a throwback to a ’50s musical. Bruno thought it was “full of goodness” and “as wholesome as apple pie,” and “done beautifully.” Carrie Ann thought it was “really good,” but not quite good enough. They “carefully placed it on the floor,” rather than tearing up the floor. Len found it “full of whimsy and joy,” but Wanya lost his neck during parts (meaning he hunched his shoulders).

Score: 27

Ginger Zee and Val Chmerkovskiy

Viennese waltz to Whitney Houston’s “I Have Nothing”

Ginger was Janet Jackson Lite last week – not nasty! – landing at the bottom of the leaderboard. Val cracked the whip, so to speak, and then gave her a tough-love pep talk, captured on their rehearsal video. Did it work? It did. It certainly did. The “Good Morning America” meteorologist was probably sharper and more focused than she’d ever been, but the romantic number better suited her. In fact, that choreography made the most of everything she does well. Carrie Ann found it “powerful, elegant – it was perfection!” Bruno called it “impeccable” in all its pieces.

Score: 30, the first perfect score of the season

Von Miller and Witney Carson

Salsa to “A Little Less Conversation” by Elvis

In jeopardy last week, the Super Bowl MVP knew he’d have to step it up. Could that please start with some music and/or pop culture education? He had no idea who Elvis was. Really, Von? Come on! Witney guessed, rather tentatively, that Elvis was the “king of rock and roll,” and vowed to trick-out the routine to take advantage of Von’s strength. Len found it both “tasty” and “crusty,” but he liked the lifts, which Bruno compared to positions in the Kama Sutra. (Witney had no idea what he was talking about). Carrie Ann said he “played along,” revealing his steamy side.

Score: 24

Paige VanZant and Mark Ballas

Jive to Tina Turner’s “Proud Mary”

The UFC fighter landed a 10 from Len, finishing only two points from a perfect score, and yet ended the night last week in danger of elimination. Paige was really hard on herself because of it, worrying about not having enough audience support. Why don’t people like me, she asked during practice. (It was kind of heartbreaking and vulnerable rather than whiny.) But she wanted to regain her confidence and inspire other girls to believe in themselves. And she nearly brought the house down with that lightning-fast jive, going literally toe-to-toe with Ballas. Bruno said it was “smoldering, scorching, almost illegally hot,” and “so technical, so tightly packed, so difficult.” Carrie Ann devolved into gibberish and then said Paige had channeled Tina Turner. Len gave new meaning to UFC: “Under full control,” he said.

Score: 30, the second perfect score of the night and the season

Time for the team numbers, with the guys, Team James Brown, going first, meshing a bunch of disparate personalities and adjusting to Nyle’s hearing impairment and Wanya’s absences. Engineered by the female pros, this trick-filled routine was slick and fun. Bruno said they brought their individual quirks to the routine while embodying James Brown, and Carrie Ann said they were “completely in sync,” showing some real teamwork, even following a few of Nyle’s missteps so they’d be moving in unison.

Score: 28

Too bad Team Beyonce couldn’t mimic any of Queen Bey’s scorched-earth masterpiece, “Lemonade,” but that’s for pay cable. This is network and, hence, “Crazy in Love.” See above under “people pleasers.” Jodie, Ginger, Paige and Kim didn’t seem that in sync, particularly in their simultaneous turns, Bruno noted. Carrie Ann said they were “working Sasha Fierce,” and tackled challenging choreography, upping the ante. Despite its fempowering inspiration, it was kind of meh, I thought.

Score: 25

Couples in jeopardy: Kim and Sasha, Wanya and Lindsay, Von and Witney. Von and Kim got the ax. Von, ever gracious, thanked his Barbie drill sergeant and said he had a great time. A teary Kim clearly didn’t see her elimination coming, but called it “a blessing” to be part of the program.