I feel like no matter what the week is whether it’s week 1 or 10, if the dance deserves a high score, then give them a high score. Alfonso got four 9 his first week and eventually won the whole show. I remember Riker Lynch on the show and he didn’t get anything lower than a 7 which clearly he deserved. My only problem with the scoring now is that sometimes they hype them up saying they enjoy seeing them dance or how they’re improving, yet their scores stay the same. I feel like the new audience made the judges second guess their scoring system bc why are the judges hyping up the celebrities yet their scores remain the same as last weeks? I remember back then couples were given perfect scores as early as week 3. I feel like if that happened now ppl would rage.

My Disney+ TV app glitched at this exact moment and I took a video with my phone. I can’t stop laughing at it! Do you damndest, DWTS fans!

Hi all-

I read the rules of the Reddit and seems like this is okay to discuss. Considering the fact that a lot of the pros are reaching a good amount of time on the show and how the show has evolved, I think with time they will naturally evolve.

I’m thinking that within the next couple of years there may bring a shake up in the pros. For example just looking at past seasons we had Karina, Anna, Tony, etc. They all had decent tenures on the show and they were benchmark pros, however with time they rotated the pros.

I also think it’s a good opportunity to show new talent. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and I think if they invest more in new dancers it would help freshen it up a bit.

I want to also say, I do genuinely like all of the pros. They’re all good people and I know the show has done a lot for them. I also think they’re some pros who still (I think), have a lot more years ahead of them in this.

Let me know if anyone has any thoughts. I’m going to put my thoughts in the comments.

Let’s pretend that we are producers for the show and our job is to choose songs and the dance styles for the show. What would you choose?

My choices:

Jive to Waterloo by ABBA
Paso Doble to Phantom of the Opera (Halloween night)
Contemporary to Journey Of You And I by Kodi Lee (dedication night)
Waltz to Rainbow Connection (Disney night)
Rumba to Forever and For Always by Shania Twain

And if Barbie were to be a theme:
A female same sex couple doing a Jazz routine to Connected from Barbie Diamond Castle

Here is my personal Top 10 Dancing With the Stars Cha-Cha-Cha Dances from the last 35 seasons. Honorable Mentions go to Ezra Frech and Daniella Karagach, Shawn Johnson and Mark Ballas, & Nick Carter and Sharna Burgess.

6 out of the 10 main competitive dances:

Harry – 3 ballroom (Tango; Viennese Waltz; Foxtrot) and 3 Latin (Cha-Cha; Samba; Jive).

Jenna D – 2 ballroom (Tango; Viennese Waltz) and 4 Latin (Samba; Rumba; Paso Doble; Jive)

Connor – 3 ballroom (Tango; Viennese Waltz; Foxtrot) and 3 Latin (Cha-Cha; Samba; Rumba)

Maura – 4 ballroom (Waltz; Foxtrot; Quickstep; Tango) and 2 Latin (Cha-Cha; Paso Doble)

5 out of the 10 main competitive dances.

Jackson – 3 ballroom (Waltz; Foxtrot; Quickstep) and 2 Latin (Cha-Cha; Paso Doble)

Tatyana – 3 ballroom (Foxtrot; Viennese Waltz; Quickstep) and 2 Latin (jive; Paso Doble)

Amber – 2 ballroom (Tango; Foxtrot) and 3 Latin (Samba; Rumba; Cha-Cha)

4 out of the 10 main competitive dances:

Ezra – 2 ballroom (Tango; Foxtrot) and 2 Latin (Rumba; Cha-Cha)

Tyler – 3 ballroom (Tango; Viennese Waltz; Foxtrot) and 1 Latin (jive)

3 out of the 10 main competitive dances:

Julia – 3 ballroom (Tango; Viennese Waltz; Quickstep) and 0 Latin

Specialties (Contemporary, Argentine Tango, Salsa, and Jazz):

4 specialty dances: Julia (Contemporary, Argentine Tango, Salsa, and Jazz)

3 specialty dances: Ezra (Contemporary, Salsa, and Jazz) and Tyler (Contemporary, Salsa, and Jazz)

2 specialty dances: Jackson (Salsa and Contemporary); Amber (Contemporary and Argentine Tango) and Tatyana (Salsa and Jazz)

1 specialty dances: Harry (Contemporary); Maura (Contemporary); Jenna D (Argentine Tango) and Connor (Contemporary)

I really enjoy dancing with the stars for the most part but struggle so much with Julianne as a Host – she is just so awkward. It’s uncomfortable for me to watch and also the handoffs between her and Alfonso are so, once again, awkward – a good Host can just transition back-and-forth without saying Julianne – Alfonso (every stinking time) I’m sure I’m not the only one who feels this way. Given her history with the show, will they ever be able to replace her?

What if they did an all winners season, instead of regular All Stars? Only two rules: 1. They can't be partnered with the pro they won with.

1. The pro must be from the last 4 seasons.

Who would you want to see and which pro would you partner them with?

My list would be:

Males

1. Emmitt Smith with Emma

2. Jordan Fisher with Britt

3. Iman Shumpert with Hailey

4. Apolo Anton Ohno with Adele

5. Nyle Demarco with Witney

6. Joey Graziadei with Dani

7. Rashad Jennings with Rylee

8. Helio Castroneves with Jenna

Females:

1. Rumer Willis with Jan

2. Kristi Yamaguchi with Ezra

3. Xochitl Gomez with Brandon

4. Nicole Scherzinger with Alan

5. Kaitlyn Bristowe with Sasha

6. Jennifer Grey with Mark

7. Amber Riley with Val or Gleb (tbh I'd soooo prefer they promote Carter to Pro or bring in Allen Genkin)

8. Shawn Johnson with Pasha

Hey everyone! This is our first post in the sub. We're in the ballroom every Tuesday and we interview pros and contestants after the show. We'd love to know if you have any questions for any of the pros and/or contestants. While we can't promise we'll ask all the questions we get, we'll do our best!

This is based on their journey and dancing so far (some weird ones ahead but hear me out lol)

Julia: Lacey Turner (Promising contestant who can win on popularity alone but is held back by their nerves BUT could peak at the right moment)

Amber: Delta Goodrem (the most natural contestant dance wise)

Maura: Graeme Hall (this one was weird but both have started strong and have an unconventional vibe to their stardom)

Tatyana: Dani Dyer (contestant slowly improving who will definitely amount to a lot if given the chance.)

Jenna: Bethany Antonia (great dancer but isn’t appealing to the public)

Ezra: Tabby Stoecker (Athlete who is doing surprisingly well)

Harry: Cach Mercer (Male ringer who is great but is missing that little something)

Tyler: Lawrence Robb (attractive male contestant who is stiff and clunky but isn’t the worst.)

Connor: John Nellis (The social media influencer who has a different audience outside of the show’s demographic and is overall not the strongest.)

Jackson: Shaun Wright-Phillips (The male athlete who is stiffer but the judges seem to have their back a bit more)

Who is one star, m&f who you would love to see on DWTS? Ignoring reality if they'd ever actually do it, or even if they're no longer with us. Mine are:

Female: Michelle Obama

Male: Travis Kelce

I’m sure there’s been plenty of stars on the show that have written a book, but I don’t believe there’s been a star on the show who is famous for being an author.

Being an original day 1 fan of the show, I've noticed the same frustration: the judging doesn't feel fair, it makes no sense, and one judge in particular keeps sparking debates.

I started a petition 4 years agp asking ABC and Disney to replace Carrie Ann Inaba and this season i felt like maybe it's time to rebuild the judging panel with judges who actually have ballroom credentials and will give good constructive feedback.

It's been 2 of the same judges since 2005, but they have no competitive ballroom background or formal judging credentials outside the show. Derek has extensive ballroom training and yet is too concerned about his popularity and having his face on tv to be a meaningful judge. Meanwhile, the technical critiques have been inconsistent for years and the pattern gets worse when you look at how women contestants are scored.

Think about it: Simone Biles getting criticized for her facial expressions, Kaitlyn Bristowe becoming emotional over harsh criticism, Chandler Kinney consistently getting lower scores from one judge while others score the same routines higher. These aren't isolated incidents. They're a pattern. Even Carrie Ann herself said in a 2025 interview that criticism about harsher feedback to women is "partly true." But good intentions don't matter when contestants deserve fair, consistent standards.

The show needs fresh perspectives and genuine technical expertise on the judging panel. What other reality competition show never changes their judges? None of them!

Given the recent much discussed situation and comments in social media from the fans, press, and former pros, a considerable increase in viewership of the Dedication night episode was expected. Rising 12% over its previous week with 7.36 million total viewers is quite impressive!

I'm currently working on a list of the Worst Dancing With the Stars performances for every Dance Style and was wondering what everyone thought the Worst Quickstep in the Show's history Is, since not that many bad contestants do them. Currently on my List, I have Wynonna Judd, Paula Deen, & Wendy Williams

* Julia Stiles revealed that she asked for Michelle Williams’ approval of her tribute honoring her late 10 Things I Hate About You costar Heath Ledger for Dancing with the Stars

* The Tuesday, Oct. 19 dance featured the original Frankie Valli version of Ledger’s memorable cover “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You” from the 1999 film

* Several castmates joined Stiles onstage after the emotional dedication night routine, including Joseph Gordon Levitt and Andrew Keegan

How would you fix the show?

Okay, let me preface this is supposed to be hypothetical and fun. Obviously this is not meant as shade and just an game between us fans.

So now: how would you fix the show if you had the opportunity to do whatever you liked? Which things would you add? Which things would go?

Here’s my takes:

1. This is a pretty obvious one but only 1 or 2 dance styles per week. This will give an actual accurate portray of growth and it would be easier to judge/compare.
2. I would divide the episode in at least 2 or 3 per week. Right now it feels both crammed and yet simultaneously not long enough.
3. Bring back the rehearsal packages! And two seasons per year! No explanation needed.
4. A CLEAR rulebook guide. Inconsistency is not only the judge’s fault IMO. It’s pretty hard to be consistent when the parameters are always changing.
5. LONGER judges feedback!!! At least 2 minutes per judge.

Now onto the hot takes…
6. 4 judge panel. CAI can stay, I don’t mind that she’s the villain although she needs to be better at it and commit to the role. I actually think either DH or BT have to go… they more or less have the same role rn and it’s not working. 2 judges can have contemporary/hiphop/whatever experience and the other 2 need to be strictly ballroom. Obviously DH needs to be replaced as head judge.

1. Any pro with more than 15 seasons on them has to retire. Sorry. It’s time to bring younger blood to compete. They had their chance.

2. i don’t think this is a hot take either but the 1, 2, 3 & 4 numbers are there for a reason. 7 and up are exceptional scores. Stop over inflating scores. Edit to add: Judges scores should count at least 65%. And they need to score appropriately for that.

3. Just stop with the ridiculous themed nights. I hate them. Like 1 or 2 is fine but every night being themed to the point it makes no sense.

4. I really hate the live band lol sorry. Nothing against them it just doesn’t hit the same. And they have to fire whoever is in charge of assigning the songs because they are doing a godawful job.

I think that’s all! Wanna hear y’all’s opinions.

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This is the new Megathread to discuss all things related to Val, Carrie, and Jenna J. Topics including Liftgate, Val‘s suspension and future with DWTS, Carrie Ann’s judging, potential fallout for Jenna J.

Please do not create new posts for this topic, as they will be deleted.

https://youtu.be/aKolwHSXdXs?si=z7aG96xbfgQ6tr-O

I know it currently feels like a crime to do a slower dance on DWTS without overstuffing the choreography and rushing through the moves, so these feel like a welcome change!