ENTERTAINMENT

Week 5: Doug Flutie on 'Dancing With the Stars'

Jennifer Sangalang
FLORIDA TODAY
Retired NFL football player Doug Flutie of Melbourne Beach joined season 22 of "Dancing With the Stars."

Doug Flutie cruises into week 6 on "Dancing With the Stars."

The retired NFL football player from Melbourne Beach switched dance partners this week — instead of Karina Smirnoff, he performed with Peta Murgatroyd.

Perhaps the switch was just the boost the Heisman Trophy winner needed. In last week's #DWTS, Flutie's jazz dance with Smirnoff landed him straight 6's from four judges: Carrie Ann Inaba, Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli and guest judge Zendaya.

For Monday night's "switch-up"-themed episode, Flutie and Murgatroyd performed the tango and impressed the judges. Murgatroyd did mention that Flutie would be judged by her fiance, guest judge Maksim Chermovskiy.

Doug Flutie joins 'Dancing With the Stars'

Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.

Said Tonioli: "It wasn't all gold, but it wasn't bad at all.

Carrie Ann Inaba and Len Goodman, however, gave Flutie positive marks, with Inaba saying, "I didn't think you missed a step!"

Flutie and Murgatroyd landed straight 7's for a score of 28 out of 40.

Last week Flutie and Smirnoff had some fumbles during their Mary Poppins-ish dance. Though he had low scores, he was safe.

"I'm 53 years old, I still feel like I'm in good shape. There's a few aches and pains," Flutie said on this week's show. "But you know what? I played 21 years of professional football, and I wouldn't change a thing."

Doug Flutie loses both parents within an hour on Wednesday

Some of Flutie's friends got in on the #DWTS action:

• Fellow NFL football player Tom Brady showed off his Flutie Flakes on a Facebook post

• Patriots head coach Bill Belichick posted a video on Instagram, saying, "I'm sure you'll do well. You've got great feet."

At the end of the episode, co-host Erin Andrews announced the DWTStants are safe this week. "Dancing With the Stars" airs at 8 p.m. Mondays on ABC. Visit abc.com.

See what happens next week on DWTS.

Sangalang is FLORIDA TODAY's entertainment reporter and Nerdgirl columnist.

Contact Sangalang at 321-242-3630

or jsangalang@floridatoday.com.

Twitter: @byjensangalang