High-Energy Performances and Top Scores
Season 35 of Dancing With the Stars continued with its third installment, dubbed "Viral Hits Night." On Tuesday, September 22, the celebrity contestants took to the ballroom to perform routines set to trending social media tracks.
The night opened with a strong performance from Jenna Dewan and Val Chmerkovskiy. Their interpretation of Katseye’s “Animal” earned significant praise from the judging panel. Bruno Tonioli lauded Dewan’s intensity, calling her a “fast and furious sexy beast” and noting her precision throughout the routine.
The leaderboard saw a competitive three-way tie for the top spot, with each of the following couples earning 21 points:
- Jenna Dewan and Val Chmerkovskiy: Showcased sharp technique and energy.
- Ezra Frech and Daniella Karagach: The Paralympian’s cha-cha impressed the judges, with Derek Hough admitting he was "blown away" by the execution. Carrie Ann Inaba commended Frech for his commitment to excellence.
- Amber Glenn and Pasha Pashkov: Their tango was highlighted by Bruno Tonioli as the "best tango of the night," while Inaba described the experience as providing "full body chills."
The Bottom of the Leaderboard and Elimination
While some stars excelled, others struggled to impress the judges. Giada De Laurentiis and her partner, Alan Bersten, received criticism for their salsa routine. Tonioli noted the performance lacked "spice," and Inaba described the routine as "shaky."
With a score of 12, De Laurentiis and Bersten tied with Guillermo Rodriguez and Witney Carson for the lowest scores of the evening. Ultimately, this led to the elimination of Giada De Laurentiis from the competition. Following the results, the chef remained gracious about her departure:
“I tried my best and it wasn’t best enough. But I tried my best.”
Dancing With the Stars continues to air on ABC and Disney+ every Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET.