Stephen Nedoroscik channels Superman on Week 2 of Dancing with the Stars

Oscars Night time was the proper time for Stephen Nedoroscik and Dancing with the Stars associate Rylee Arnold to embrace what made him a viral sensation through the Paris Olympics: his likeness to Superman!

After all, it began with the meme that has now been shared numerous instances and can absolutely proceed to be shared for years to return:

Stephen was focusing, calming himself down, and making ready for his one routine on pommel horse – the final one of many males’s group remaining for the U.S. that will in the end lead to bronze, the nation’s first males’s group medal since 2008 – when viewers began sharing the picture on social media, saying he was napping, meditating, and, one of many extra standard takes, making ready to rework from Clark Kent into Superman for his make or break second. Stephen did flip right into a Superman of kinds, whipping off his glasses to ship on the game’s largest stage, and it set off a series response that’s nonetheless going right this moment.

“I’d by no means have been right here if it weren’t for that meme,” Stephen mentioned within the preview video earlier than his Week 2 dance.

In that preview, Rylee famous the problem of going from the upbeat and energetic jive to a Paso doble – paso being “intense, daring, and robust.” That would’ve been a problem for Stephen, who has embraced the vitality and spent a pair weeks coaching for the jive versus every week turnaround for the paso, however he as soon as once more rose to the event, proving his versatility.

The dance (watch under) noticed Stephen change from a Clark Kent swimsuit into Superman-inspired ballroom apparel, full with American flags. Regardless of the enjoyable outfit and fast change, you could possibly see the deal with his face. The duo carried out to the long-lasting “Superman Principal Theme” by John Williams, which might appear to be a tough quantity to choreograph, but it surely labored properly with the paso.

All through, Stephen and Rylee nonetheless introduced the vitality and challenged themselves with intricate choreography, together with lifts and spins. One factor Stephen does properly: he doesn’t fade into the background like some males would possibly when simply beginning out in ballroom, particularly with an skilled professional like Rylee who might seize the entire consideration. As an alternative of simply standing there, or serving as a associate for the lady to bounce round, Stephen goes “full out” – as Carrie Ann Inaba mentioned after – and brings a fierce vitality.

Inaba gave the duo their first 8 of the season, saying, “That was golden!” She additionally commented on their likability issue – all the time a plus. Derek Hough was additionally complementary, saying, “Dude, I like you!” Each Inaba and Hough identified small technical issues that Stephen can enhance on, together with getting his hips ahead and opening his chest extra. Bruno Tonioli mentioned, “You’ve got a lot vitality, however now you need to discover ways to management it.” He added, “Punch, punch, punch, however then we want a caress.”

Hough and Tonioli gave the duo 7s to present them a grand complete of twenty-two/30 for Week 2. Unsurprisingly, Stephen and Rylee had been protected from the double elimination, with Tori Spelling and Pasha Pashkov and Anna Delvey and Ezra Sosa in the end being eradicated.

Though voting has closed for Week 2, transferring ahead, you possibly can vote for Stephen and Rylee on ABC.com and by texting STEPHEN to 21523. You possibly can vote 10 instances on-line and by way of textual content (so 20 votes complete) through the present every week. Dancing with the Stars is off subsequent week and can return with a two-night stint Monday, October 7 (Soul Practice Night time) and Tuesday, October 8 (Heavy Metallic Night time).

Watch Stephen and Rylee’s paso doble and see the complete leaderboard and a photograph gallery under!