Plot

With just five couples left, the couples finally had to take on two individual performances for the first time this season. They'd be traveling through the decades and into the future with their dances this week.

The night began with the pros breaking down the strengths and weaknesses of their competitors, but it was soon on to the dancing.

Chad & Cheryl: Chad was getting focused in rehearsal and that meant he was getting quiet, which Cheryl didn't like. He said it was time to get serious, and they went out and performed the tango. Head judge Len Goodman said that learning two dances in a week puts the spotlight on any imperfections, and that's what he thought happened with Chad. Bruno Tonioli agreed and said the dance had to be "slicker," but his emotion was good. Carrie Ann Inaba also agreed and also remarked on Chad's lack of posture. Scores: 7, 7, and 7. Total: 21

Niecy & Louis: Coming off her best dance of the season -- despite still landing at the bottom of the leader board -- comedian Niecy Nash knew she had something the other dancers didn't. "I don't know what it is yet," she admitted, but she was going to find it. She was tired after long days of working a couple of different jobs, but Niecy took to her Viennese waltz like a pro. Bruno said it was very pretty at the beginning, but that at times she looked a little out of control. Still, he thought it was "a good performance." Carrie Ann said Niecy's transitions weren't quite there. Len said he was "pleasantly surprised." Scores: 7, 8, and 8. Total: 23

Erin & Maks: ESPN reporter Erin Andrews had some trouble listening to her partner again as he tried to get her to practice a jump off the stage during rehearsals. They danced their Argentine tango and she pulled off the jump and the rest of the routine to near perfection. Carrie Ann kissed Len on the cheek to express how great, "fantastic" and "truly beautiful" she thought it was. Len called Erin a "dirty, dirty girl" and said he "absolutely loved it." Bruno agreed with the other judges and said Erin was "on fire." Scores: 9, 10 and 9. Total: 28

Evan & Anna: After making it back from his worst performance of the season and providing the season's best performance overall, figure skater Evan Lysacek took his partner Anna to an ice rink to celebrate. He spun her around a few times. In rehearsal, Anna urged Evan not to come off as "cold" during their waltz. Len said he genuinely wasn't sure whether he liked it or not. Bruno said Evan's "top half" was "something to behold." Carrie Ann agreed that Evan's lines were impeccable, but she encouraged him to lose himself in the moment. Scores: 9, 9, and 9. Total: 27

Nicole & Derek: A week after being told she was the best dancer the show has ever seen, Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger has a minor breakdown as she talked about the expectations laid on her. They danced the foxtrot. Bruno called it "one and a half minutes of pure dancing joy." Carrie Ann was glad to see Nicole smiling and said Nicole was "dazzling and just defying my imagination." Len jumped on board and said she turned the dance into a beautiful love story. Scores: 10, 9, and 10. Total: 29

Dances from the future: To demonstrate what it meant to translate a dance into a specific decade, or even the future, pros Garry and Rita Gekhman performed a robotic dance that got them disqualified from the 2006 World Championships for being "too edgy."

Chad & Cheryl: For their decade-centric Latin dance, Chad drew a jive from the 1960s. Len said it was high-energy, fun and entertaining. He said he was glad there weren't more kicks, "because the few kicks you did do you were terrible." Bruno enjoyed it and said it was good to see Chad smile again. Carrie Ann thought it was great and even the wild energy suited the dance. Scores: 8, 8, and 8. Total: 24

Niecy & Louis: Niecy drew a paso doble from the '90s, "the era of the divas," as Louis said. He thought it was perfect for Niecy. Bruno said Niecy threw herself into it, but like an avalanche. He said she looked unsteady a lot of the time. Carrie Ann said it was Niecy's most ambitious dance, so far, but agreed that it was a bit out of control. Len said the paso just didn't suit Niecy's personality. Scores: 7, 6, and 7. Total: 20

Erin & Maks: Erin got a 1980s rumba, but Maks decided they weren't going to dance it in a 1980s way, because he didn't know how to do that. Carrie Ann told Erin she needed to believe in herself as a contender. Len said the whole thing had some "jerky" action to it. Bruno said Erin and Maks made "great music together" and said they should be in the finals. Scores: 8, 8, and 9. Total: 25

Evan & Anna: Evan got a cha cha from the future, and while the dance was normally flirty, but with the futuristic vibe it might take on a different form. Len said Evan got lucky because his Latin dances normally lack rhythm, and he said Evan again confused him. Bruno said it was "Mr. Spock meet Barbarella in 'Cha Cha Trek' in 3-D!" Carrie Ann liked that Evan was more committed to his character. She agreed it was lucky that Evan pulled a futuristic cha cha, but said she liked it more than Len did. Scores: 9, 8, and 9. Total: 26

Nicole & Derek: Derek was thrown off at the thought of what a 1950s paso doble would look like, but that was their task. Bruno loved it, saying it was "full of color" and adding, "the flavor of Spain has never tasted so good." Carrie Ann was speechless, calling Derek's choreography "brilliant" and he matched the era to the dance. Len said it wasn't in his nature to be nice about two dances from one couple in the same night. He said he was disappointed, because there was nothing he could see to criticize. Scores: 10, 10 and 10. Total: 30

LEADER BOARD:

Nicole & Derek: 29 + 30 = 59

Erin & Maks: 28 + 25 = 53

Evan & Anna: 27 + 26 = 53

Chad & Cheryl: 21 + 24 = 45

Niecy & Louis: 23 + 20 = 43