
The thirty-five contestants are divided into seven teams of five. After each team performance, the judges score each contestant individually and the contestants are given the opportunity to choose to give a special performance showcasing a skill. Depending on that performance, they may lose or gain points. The top-scoring contestant from each team advances to the upper tier and is safe from elimination in the next mission.
The thirty-five contestants are divided into seven teams of five. After each team performance, the judges score each contestant individually and the contestants are given the opportunity to choose to give a special performance showcasing a skill. Depending on that performance, they may lose or gain points. The top-scoring contestant from each team advances to the upper tier and is safe from elimination in the next mission.
After all teams have performed and seven top-scoring contestants have been selected, it's revealed that the top fifteen overall best-performing contestants will be ranked and placed in the upper tier. In the next mission, the fifteen Upper contestants have the opportunity to choose a contestant among the lower-ranked contestants to partner with, beginning with the first-ranked contestant. The partners' scores will be combined and the teams will have the opportunity to choose their next song in the order of their newly combined rank. Of course, with thirty-five contestants, this leaves five unpartnered contestants behind.