Who else thinks that each week everyone should dance the same style as each other? Tonight especially I feel this. Like… obviously those with argentine tango/paso doble have lower scores because they had wayyyyy harder dances, and it feels unfair to be comparing it to a contemporary/jazz which aren’t as strict in the rules.

Seeing the difference between jenna’s and julia’s tangos, the scorings make sense. Up against harry or connor? Who have one of if not the easiest style on the show? It feels unfair to those who were given a harder dance, as if they were set up to fail.

I understand it’s so there’s variety and audiences don’t get bored, but I don’t care 🤷🏻‍♀️ In a real ballroom comp, each couple would be judged on the same style using the same rubric, so why should the show be any different?

What are your thoughts?

Tonight was not Julia’s best dance I think we all agree there. I don’t think it was horrifically bad nor the very worst of the night but still it was one of her weaker dances. She had a bad week that happens sometimes on the show but it really is gross to watch people on the Reddit pages accuse Julia of being “unhappy to be here”, “that she can’t take criticism”, “she’s sucking the joy out of Ezra”, or “seems difficult to work with” when there is nothing to indicate any of those things are just disgusting to see and really mirrors the classic misogyny comments you see towards women who aren’t as automatically outgoing and soft. Like she’s just a naturally reserved person plus she’s dealing with an injury as well so I doubt she’s going to be all giggles and smiles anyways… In the end it just seems Julia is being held to a impossibly high standard compared to everyone else because she played a dancer once in a movie 25 year ago with a stunt double. Like she’s basically started from scratch and has done well for the most part except for a couple off weeks like Week 2 and this week. I think it’s a case where Tango just isn’t her dance plus she had rib pain this week and Ezra had to rechoreograph last minute. It’s just sad to watch people say such harsh things about her and make assumptions about her when they don’t know her… As a neurodivergent person I just know if I went on the show people would accuse me of similar things because I’m not as cheery and that isn’t fair…

Having Shirley Ballas on the show highlights the contrast between her judging style and that of the US judges. As a former Latin champion, she brings a level of technical expertise and constructive criticism that I feel is sorely lacking on DWTS.

To me, it's highlighted just how much the US judges tend to coddle contestants rather than provide genuinely useful feedback. It's also made me question how much value Bruno, in particular, actually adds to the judging panel. I did not like how he referred to her as "The Queen of Mean", after she delivered her comments and found that to be demeaning.

I'd genuinely love to see an overhaul of the judges. I understand they've been there for years, and there's understandably a sentimental attachment for long-time viewers. But I think the quality of judging should ultimately take precedence over nostalgia.

My biggest issue is that poor judging actually limits the contestants' ability to reach their full potential. If you're competing on a dance show and genuinely want to improve, you need specific, constructive criticism that tells you what you're doing wrong and how to get better. Constant praise and inflated scores might feel good in the moment, but they're not necessarily helping anyone grow.Ultimately, I think having more technically rigorous judges would actually benefit the contestants, not just the quality of the show.

Curious to hear what others think. Does anyone else feel Shirley's appearance has exposed some of the weaknesses in the current judging panel?

I’m watching in Mountain time (specifically Denver) so it’s 1 hour behind. I just had 20+ minutes of commercials and missed Ezra + Danielle’s (I think) entire dance and Jackson + Emma’s dance and it picked up at their judging.

Did this happen to anyone else?

Horror Movie Night Running Order

1. Julia & Ezra

2. Harry & Jenna

3. Tatyana & Jan

4. Jenna & Val

5. Connor & Rylee

6. Ezra & Daniella

7. Jackson & Emma

8. Tyler & Sharna

9. Amber & Pasha

10. Maura & Mark

Wow Jackson was such a disappointment. I really thought he’d win post cast announcement 😭 with Emma coming off a high from last season and him being an abc darling/fun personality

What went wrong? lol

Did anyone else have to watch 15 minutes of commercials only for them to randomly drop us into Jackson getting scores? Totally pissed to have missed Ezra and Jackson like what happened (confirmed with 2 other cable watchers on the weather coast this happed to them too)

I really don’t know how this will go … Tatyana Connor come to mind but I don’t feel like Connor goes home? If not either of them, maybe Dewan in a surprise elim?

She goes against the whole spirit of the show that would normally grade performances of pros (like Harry and Jenna) harder to create a more level playing field for those that don't.

Even if you thought Harry's performance was 6 points better than Julia, the fact that those paddles are shown at this point of season does nothing for the show other than cheap shock value.

I would not want Shirley on the show judging again.

First of all, who cares? But also her grabbing the mic in Alfonso’s hands is crazy work.

Here is my list and no particular order

Lauren Conrad (The Hills, fashion and lifestyle brand)
Hilary Duff (Lizzie McGuire, singer and actress)
Ellen Pompeo (Grey’s Anatomy)
Sandra Oh (Grey’s Anatomy, Killing Eve)
Jeffrey Dean Morgan (The Walking Dead, Supernatural)
Rainn Wilson (The Office — Dwight Schrute)
B.J. Novak (The Office — Ryan Howard, writer)
Mindy Kaling (The Office, The Mindy Project)
Paul Lieberstein (The Office — Toby Flenderson, writer)
Norman Reedus (The Walking Dead — Daryl Dixon)
Melissa McBride (The Walking Dead — Carol Peletier)
Lauren Cohan (The Walking Dead — Maggie Greene)
Steven Yeun (The Walking Dead — Glenn Rhee, Minari)
Dakota Fanning (War of the Worlds, The Equalizer 3)
Hannibal Buress (stand-up comedy, Broad City)
Tom Hanks (Forrest Gump, Cast Away, Toy Story)
Millie Bobby Brown (Stranger Things, Enola Holmes)
Kate Winslet (Titanic, The Reader)
Nicollette Sheridan (Desperate Housewives — Edie Britt)
Marcia Cross (Desperate Housewives — Bree Van de Kamp)
Teri Hatcher (Desperate Housewives, Lois & Clark)
Felicity Huffman (Desperate Housewives, Transamerica)
Shubham Goel (The Circle — Netflix reality competition)
Shohei Ohtani (Los Angeles Dodgers superstar baseball player)

I’m a viewer the comes from the cultural resurgence of DWTS. The social media presence, though I don’t always agree with it, is the driving force of that. On one hand I am in tune with pop culture, mainstream media, and reality tv. On the other hand, I’m grounded by my communications degree AND my love of these aforementioned subjects being rooted in shows like survivor, amazing race, and American idol.

As a casual fan, I aware of the CAI controversy and what attributes to it. But watching the first critique of this last episode, it’s so evident that she is just doing her job…

We’ve lost the plot as far as the meaning of these shows goes. What does judges panel mean if it cannot judge?

I don’t watch American Idol anymore. This is specifically because it was once a show based on talent first, dramatics follow. Many judge panels ago critiques were positive, skeptical, and negative - but all were valid. They were eligible to make those critiques and the show wouldn’t have been what it was if they didn’t.

At the end of the day, as a new/casual viewer, CAI is just doing HER JOB. Better than majority of reality show judges/hosts are doing it at this point, imo.

I just think it’s important to retain the importance of “calling a spade a spade” and not waste it on reality show judges keeping it REAL and doing job their above and beyond all requirements and expectations.

This is my first time watching in western (mountain standard) time zone. It should hypothetically start at 6pm to match 8pm eastern but it starts 7pm! That means my voting is never technically live before elim. How is that fair??

My boyfriend & I combine our scores and judges scores and add them together. & jot them down and see who’s our winner. I just need Jenna and Val to move up to third & I’ll have my top 3

im a canadian, but my abc app like HATES me and refuses to let me sign up to vote. Taty is my #1 and every week im so scared for her and i feel like i cant do anything.

so if you dont know who to vote for, or are just having fun VOTE FOR TATY FOR MEEEEE PLEASE

-a Tatyana Ali super fan

Vote for Connor and Rylee!!!! Text CONNOR to 21523 10 times AND online at dwtsvote.abc.com 10 times!!!! We NEED a RyConic Freestyle!!!!

This is one of the most entertaining episodes of the year! The stakes are high, and the pressure on the contestants is increasing, particularly because of the double elimination!

 I grouped the contestants as follows:

• I think Jenna D, Amber, Ezra, and Harry will have the strongest routines and the highest scores.
• Although, I have some doubts about Harry, not in terms of performance quality, but rather scoring from the judges. I don’t believe that Liftgate happened by chance only. I do believe that producers are preparing the viewers for Harry not making the finale.
• If there is a 4-persons finale, unfortunately, we will see Maura instead of Harry. They need someone with no dance experience (and most improved) in the finale, that is why Maura has been cultivating “I never danced before” image, to fit into this category. For tonight, I expect Mark to deliver a great choreo, however, I am not sure if Maura will be technically flowless.
• I expect a great performance by Julia. I think that she will be in the top 6 tonight.
• I do believe that Tatyana, Tyler, Connor and Jackson will be at their best and will deliver really nice performances. However, I expect them to be in the bottom 4. I believe Tatyana will have the highest (even elevated) scores among these four. Will higher scores and Swifties’ support help her to compete with Bachelor Nation, Connor’s and Arnold’s fans, and Savannah Bananas’ fans? It will be decided based on marginal differences. I guess that it is going to be Jackson and Tyler leaving.

Last but not least, I am very much looking forward to Shirley's judging. I hope she surprises us!

Alfonso Ribeiro is weighing in after Alexa PenaVega recalled a conversation with fellow Dancing with the Stars contestant Hayes Grier in which he questioned whether the competition was “rigged.”

Has there ever been a season/spinoff where past eliminated celebrities come back to have a second chance? DWTS:Second Chances or DWTS:Redemption.

Wonder if they will make one in the future. I think that would be cool! Maybe even focus a bit more for longer judges comments, a bit more training footage, and educate people on dancing and the proper techniques?

Alan, Brandon, Carter, Hailey, Kamri, and Onye Rehearsing at Disneyland for the ABC Christmas Special.

this dance was so good watch cai derek and bruno in the background when the little hop section starts. just pure perfection. i watch this foxtrot and the charli/mark foxtrot when i need to decompress. it’s just gorgeous.
it’s also proof that when pasha gets someone who can move/dance he can choreograph his ass off.

rylee and stephen were so good together and i loved seeing them dance together. like i know connor is not stephen but this is the last halloween dance she choreographed and connor is not harry jowsey hes actually trying and can move. im so excited for this dance. (also shirley ballas loves rylee down like that’s her niece shes the one who announced rylee as a pro)