Guillermo Rodriguez Turns a Paso Doble Into Pure Friday Escapism
Friday Escapism is about the art that shakes something loose — not necessarily motivation, but the kind of spark that lets your brain wander, collect, imagine and eventually turn all that input into action.
Sometimes it is a painting. Sometimes it is a film. Sometimes it is a pop performance that lets you forget the daily grind for four minutes and remember that reinvention can be its own form of freedom.
Case in point: Guillermo Rodriguez and Witney Carson’s Viral Hits Night paso doble on Dancing with the Stars, set to Rihanna’s “Where Have You Been.”
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Guillermo Goes Full Paso Doble
Guillermo Rodriguez and Witney Carson trade comedy for drama on Viral Hits Night, taking on Rihanna with a routine that earned a clear week-to-week improvement.
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From 10 Points to 12 — and a Much Stronger Showing
Guillermo entered Viral Hits Night after a rough opening-week score of 10 out of 30, but this time around he and Witney came back with something noticeably sharper. Their paso doble earned 4s from Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli for a total of 12 out of 30.
Yes, still near the bottom of the leaderboard. But the number does not tell the whole story. Even Witney said afterward that the pair felt like they were slowly winning the judges over, while Guillermo pointed out that the critiques themselves were much more encouraging than week one.
The Joke Was Not the Whole Routine This Time
The fun of Guillermo on DWTS has always been obvious, but the paso doble gave him a different assignment: less wink, more commitment. One recap noted that he managed the whole thing without even cracking a smirk, while Carrie Ann specifically praised him for not relying on schtick.
That is what makes the performance fit Friday Escapism so well. Reinvention does not have to mean becoming somebody else. Sometimes it is simply stepping into a completely different mode for a few minutes and seeing what happens when you commit.
And somehow, a late-night sidekick dancing a Rihanna paso doble on national television becomes exactly the kind of four-minute detour Friday needs.
Don’t forget: Dancing with the Stars airs live Tuesdays at 8/7c on ABC and Disney+.
Watch Guillermo Rodriguez & Witney Carson Dance to Rihanna on DWTS
Guillermo Rodriguez and Witney Carson perform a paso doble to Rihanna’s “Where Have You Been” during Dancing with the Stars Viral Hits Night.
Source: ABC / Dancing with the Stars; Us Weekly. Images and video: Dancing with the Stars / YouTube.
