Val Chmerkovskiy Returns as Dancing with the Stars Goes Horror
Val Chmerkovskiy was back in the Dancing with the Stars ballroom on Tuesday, Oct. 27, after a one-week suspension. The episode was Horror Movie Night, the seventh week of season 35, and two couples were up for elimination at the end of the show, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The suspension followed a comment Chmerkovskiy made while critiquing Carrie Ann Inaba's judging of his wife, Jenna Johnson. He alluded to Will Smith's slap at the Oscars, and the show sidelined him for a week. He was back for this episode.
The dances took their cue from horror films. Routines drew on Sinners, Black Swan and Joker. Shirley Ballas joined the judging panel as a guest judge, meaning a one-night addition to the table.
Ten celebrities were still in the competition. They were Tatyana Ali, Tyler Cameron, Jenna Dewan, Ezra Frech, Amber Glenn, Maura Higgins, Jackson Olson, Harry Shum Jr., Julia Stiles and Connor Wood. Each was paired with a professional dancer for the night. Frech danced with Daniella Karagach, and Glenn with Pasha Pashkov. Dewan was paired with Chmerkovskiy, while Shum Jr. danced with Johnson.
Scores are out of 40. Glenn and Pashkov earned 38, and Frech and Karagach scored 37, according to MarcoNews.
Elimination works on a combined total. The judges' scores and the viewers' votes are added together, and the couple with the lowest total leaves the competition. Viewers can cast up to 10 votes per couple, per voting method, through ABC's website or by text. That is how the audience has a direct hand in who stays.
The week before, Dedication Night honoured people who had shaped the contestants' lives, and no couples were eliminated. Earlier episodes had themes of their own. Season 35 opened with 16 new celebrities on its premiere night. Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough host the show.
The episode airs on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. Eastern. It is simulcast, meaning the same broadcast runs at the same time on two services, ABC and Disney+.
Two couples went into the final part of the night facing the judges' and viewers' combined verdict. The result of that vote decides who goes home next.
