The ballroom doors are officially open again. Fans across the country are already buzzing about the unexpected drama. The highly anticipated Dancing With the Stars Season 35 premiere kicked off with a massive two-night television event. It brought great music, bright costumes, and one very sad exit.
This year, the show changed the rules. The male celebrities performed on Tuesday night. The female celebrities will take the stage on Wednesday night. The first night was packed with fun routines, but it also ended with a brutal elimination.
If you missed the big show, do not worry. We have all the details. Let us break down everything that happened during the exciting Dancing With the Stars Season 35 premiere in very simple terms.
The First Shocking Elimination
Nobody wants to go home on the very first night. Sadly, someone has to lose. After all the men danced, the combined judges’ scores and fan votes were counted. The results were shocking.
Conner Leavitt and his professional partner, Adele Zaikman, were the first couple sent home. They danced a salsa routine to the hit song “Whoomp! There It Is!” by Tag Team. Unfortunately, they only scored a low 12 out of 30 from the three judges.
This early exit was especially sad for Adele Zaikman. She is a brand-new professional dancer on the main cast. She earned her spot after winning the spinoff show, Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro. After the show, Leavitt praised his partner and said he was very thankful for the fun experience.
The Lowest Score of the Night
While Conner Leavitt went home, he did not actually have the lowest score. That title belonged to late-night TV sidekick Guillermo Rodriguez and his partner Witney Carson.
Here are the details about their bottom-scoring dance:
- The Dance Style: They performed a cha-cha.
- The Song: They danced to “Mr. Big Stuff” by Jean Knight.
- The Score: They received a very low score of just 10 out of 30 points.
Judge Derek Hough told Guillermo that he lacked technique, but he praised his great effort. Thanks to the fans voting at home, Guillermo and Witney were saved from elimination.
The Brilliant Top Performers
The night also had some truly brilliant moments. Some stars surprised the judges with their natural talent.
Actor Harry Shum Jr. and his partner Jenna Johnson took the top spot on the leaderboard. They performed a very sharp cha-cha to the classic song “Let’s Groove” by Earth, Wind and Fire. The judges absolutely loved it. They awarded the duo an impressive 21 out of 30 points. Judge Bruno Tonioli even said their chemistry was as sharp as a scalpel.
Paralympian Ezra Frech also had an amazing night. He danced a fast tango with his partner Daniella Karagach. They danced to the hit song “Since U Been Gone” by Kelly Clarkson. The judges gave them a massive 20 out of 30 points.
For a complete breakdown of all the judge’s scoring criteria, you can check out [Link to relevant source].
Big Drama With the Voting System
The Dancing With the Stars Season 35 premiere also featured some off-stage drama. The show uses a live voting system so fans can save their favorite stars.
However, there was a massive technical problem on Tuesday night. The official online voting system crashed and experienced major difficulties. Because the website was broken, the show had to direct all the fans to use SMS text voting instead. This technical glitch added extra stress to an already nervous night.
Looking Ahead to Night Two
The fun is only just beginning. Because of the special two-night schedule, the female celebrities will perform their very first dances on Wednesday, September 16.
Currently, 15 celebrity contestants remain in the big competition. The female stars include people like actress Tatyana Ali, chef Giada De Laurentiis, and actress Julia Stiles. The pressure is on because another couple is expected to be eliminated at the end of the second night.
In conclusion, the Dancing With the Stars Season 35 premiere proved that anything can happen in the ballroom. From low scores to broken voting websites, the drama is real. Make sure you tune in to ABC or stream it live on Disney+ to see who goes home next.
FAQs:
Q: Who was eliminated first on Dancing With the Stars Season 35?
A: Conner Leavitt and his professional partner Adele Zaikman were the first couple eliminated.
Q: Who had the highest score on the premiere night?
A: Actor Harry Shum Jr. and his partner Jenna Johnson earned the highest score. They scored 21 out of 30 points for their cha-cha.
Q: Why couldn’t fans vote online during the premiere?
A: The show experienced a technical difficulty with their online voting system. Fans were told to use SMS text voting instead.
Q: When do the female celebrities perform?
A: The female contestants are scheduled to perform on the second night of the premiere event, which falls on Wednesday, September 16.