Dancing With the Stars season 35 drew audience engagement during its third episode on Tuesday, Sept. 22, according to host Alfonso Ribeiro, even as chef Giada De Laurentiis and partner Alan Bersten were eliminated from the ABC competition. The evening featured 14 couples performing routines inspired by internet trends and social media phenomena during “Viral Hits Night.”
Viral Hits Night Eliminates Giada De Laurentiis
According to ABC, Giada De Laurentiis and Alan Bersten landed at the bottom of the leaderboard with a score of 12 out of 30 for their salsa to Becky G’s “Bella Ciao.” They tied with Guillermo Rodriguez and partner Witney Carson, who also earned a 12 out of 30. Based on the combined total of judges’ scores and viewer votes, De Laurentiis and Bersten were sent home by the end of the night.
The elimination follows a two-night premiere earlier in the week where male and female celebrities competed separately. Conner Leavitt and Sarah Jane Nader were eliminated on Night 1 and Night 2, respectively. Following those departures, 14 couples took to the floor together for the first time in the current season.
Did you know? Voting rules for West Coast viewers require participation between 5 p.m. PT and roughly 6:45 p.m. PT, as live voting closes shortly after the final performance during the East Coast broadcast.
Leaderboard Highlights and Top Scores
Three couples dominated the top of the leaderboard with a score of 21 out of 30, according to the evening’s scorecard. Jenna Dewan and Val Chmerkovskiy opened the show with a jive to KATSEYE’s “Animal.” Bruno Tonioli called the routine a “scorcher,” while Carrie Ann Inaba called Dewan a “fast and furious sexy beast.”
Ezra Frech and Daniella Karagach matched that top score with a cha-cha to Flo Rida’s “Low,” earning three sevens from the judges and drawing a standing ovation in the ballroom. Amber Glenn and Pasha Pashkov also tied for the highest score of the night with a tango to Harrison’s “All the Things She Said,” serving as an homage to Heated Rivalry, per ABC’s broadcast details.
Other notable routines included Ciara Miller and Brandon Armstrong scoring an 18 out of 30 for a tango to “No Broke Boys” by Disco Lines and Tinashe. Meanwhile, Tyler Cameron and Sharna Burgess earned a 16 out of 30, and Julia Stiles paired with Ezra Sosa to score 16 out of 30 for a tango to Teddy Swims’ “The Door.”
Viewer Engagement
Host Alfonso Ribeiro announced during the live broadcast that “Viral Hits Night” received more fan votes than both premiere episodes. Just before revealing the eliminated couple, Ribeiro confirmed that the total fan vote had also triumphed over the numbers recorded during the season 34 finale.
Judges for the season include Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough, and Bruno Tonioli, alongside hosts Ribeiro and Julianne Hough. To keep the broadcast on schedule following time overruns during the premiere week, a rule was instituted requiring the third judge to critique each routine using just a single word.
Pro Tip: For West Coast fans hoping to save their favorite celebrity couples, tuning in early is essential because voting windows close immediately after the final dance concludes on the East Coast feed.
Full Scoreboard for Viral Hits Night
- Jenna Dewan and Val Chmerkovskiy: 21/30
- Amber Glenn and Pasha Pashkov: 21/30
- Ezra Frech and Daniella Karagach: 21/30
- Maura Higgins and Mark Ballas: 19/30
- Ciara Miller and Brandon Armstrong: 18/30
- Jackson Olson and Emma Slater: 18/30
- Tatyana Ali and Jan Ravnik: 18/30
- Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Johnson: 18/30
- Tyler Cameron and Sharna Burgess: 16/30
- Julia Stiles and Ezra Sosa: 16/30
- Connor Wood and Rylee Arnold: 15/30
- Taylor Hanson and Britt Stewart: 15/30
- Giada De Laurentiis and Alan Bersten: 12/30 (Eliminated)
- Guillermo Rodriguez and Witney Carson: 12/30
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was eliminated on Viral Hits Night?
Giada De Laurentiis and Alan Bersten were eliminated from Dancing With the Stars season 35 after landing at the bottom of the leaderboard with a score of 12 out of 30.
Which couples scored the highest during Week 2?
Jenna Dewan and Val Chmerkovskiy, Ezra Frech and Daniella Karagach, and Amber Glenn and Pasha Pashkov tied for the highest score of the night, earning 21 out of 30 points.
When does Dancing With the Stars air?
Season 35 episodes air Tuesdays at 8 p.m., simulcasting across ABC and Disney+, and streaming the following day on Hulu.
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