Carrie Ann Inaba’s attempt to compliment a Dancing With the Stars partnership prompted an awkward exchange at the judges’ table. While praising Ezra Frech and Daniella Karagach, she made a comparison that drew a laugh from the athlete and a visibly uncomfortable reaction from his professional partner.
The pair had opened the November 10 Grammy Night episode with an Argentine tango to a remix of Beyoncé’s “Crazy in Love.” Frech, a Paralympic gold medalist, was taking on choreography that tested both his balance and his ability to tell a romantic story.
In the rehearsal footage, Karagach had described their close bond as resembling that of a brother and sister. Their assignment required them to bring a different dynamic to the ballroom, a contrast Inaba picked up on during her critique.
Grammy Night began with seven couples still competing for the Mirrorball Trophy. Alongside their individual routines, most of the remaining partnerships were assigned a head-to-head dance for bonus points.
Inaba’s Compliment Draws an Awkward Response
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Inaba began by calling the routine Frech’s hardest of the season. She praised the way he stayed centered while executing the tango’s intricate movements and delivering its story, according to Entertainment Weekly.
“Turning your sister into your lover for one night is all good!” she declared. The judge continued by telling the pair she was proud of them and praising the sense of danger they had brought to the performance.
Host Alfonso Ribeiro repeated the unusual comparison before Derek Hough responded, “That was weird.” Inaba laughed as the conversation continued. Hough then returned to the choreography, reaching across the table to pull Bruno Tonioli into an embrace as he demonstrated the connection he had admired between the dancers.
The Judges Praised Frech’s Recoveries
Frech had acknowledged during rehearsals that fully committing to the acting was outside his comfort zone. Working with someone he trusted helped, and he understood that viewers would notice if he held back, according to PEOPLE.
The routine presented technical challenges as well. Karagach wanted to feature Frech’s prosthetic blade in the choreography, while he worked on keeping the movements clean. Hough noticed moments of uncertainty during the performance but credited Frech with recovering and continuing, praising his strength as a partner.
Tonioli liked the way the couple gradually built the drama, although he pointed out some balance issues. All three judges awarded nines, for a total of 27 out of 30. ABC7 confirmed the score in its recap.
Karagach Explains How They Approached the Dance
Asked about Inaba’s remark by Entertainment Weekly after the broadcast, Karagach initially joked, “We’re not gonna talk about it!” Frech reacted with an exclamation beside her, according to Parade, which published their response on November 11.
Karagach then offered a warmer assessment of the judge’s intentions. “You know, she means love,” she said. She explained that each partnership develops its own chemistry, strengths and boundaries around what the dancers feel comfortable performing.
For this routine, Karagach said, they focused on the characters the choreography required them to portray. That meant committing to the performance even when its mood differed from their everyday friendship. As she put it, “we commit to the gig.”
Frech and Karagach Advance After Dance-Off Loss
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Frech and Karagach later faced Olympic figure skater Amber Glenn and Pasha Pashkov in a rumba while Brandy and Monica performed “The Boy Is Mine” live. The couples incorporated shared movements and interactions, drawing praise from Hough for the way the routines worked together.
Glenn and Pashkov won the round and received two additional points. Frech and Karagach’s total remained unchanged as the competition moved toward an elimination decided by judges’ scores and viewer votes.
TV Insider reported that Jenna Dewan and Val Chmerkovskiy were sent home despite winning their own Dance-Off. Their departure left Frech and Karagach among the six partnerships advancing.
The November 17 semifinals will also feature Glenn and Pashkov, Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Johnson, Maura Higgins and Mark Ballas, Connor Wood and Rylee Arnold, and Tatyana Ali and Jan Ravnik.