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DANCING WITH THE STARS: Kelly Monaco, Cameron Mathison, Chrishell Stause and Tom Bergeron Return to the Ballroom for 20th Anniversary Episode

By Michael Fairman

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Photos: ABC

Last night, it was the dance party of the year as ABC’s Dancing with the Stars celebrated its 20th anniversary with a star-studded episode with past winners and contestants in attendance, longtime host, Tom Bergeron back as a judge, and four current couples competing in this season all scoring perfect 10’s as we head into the semi-finals next week.

General Hospital was well-represented by a rare public appearance by Kelly Monaco (ex-Sam McCall), who was seen in the audience enjoying the anniversary episode. As you recall, Monaco was the first-ever Dancing with the Stars champion along with pro Alec Mazo in 2005. She later returned to the series in 2012, when she participated in the Dancing with the Stars All-Stars championship for second shot at the Mirror Ball Trophy where she came in third. Monaco was killed-off the long-running ABC soap opera in 2024 to much controversy after 21 years in her role.

Cameron Mathison (Drew Cain) appeared on the series back in 2007 (when he was still with All My Children). He finished in fifth place with and was partnered with pro dancer Edyta Slinwinska. Another All My Children soap alum and Selling Sunset star, Chrishell Stause competed in 2020 and came in 8th place with her pro partner, Gleb Savchenko. Both were seen in the ballroom during the anniversary show.

Photo: ABC

Meanwhile, Tom Bergeron, the longtime host of the series, who was shown the front door in 2020 after comments made against the producers for allowing President Donald Trump’s former White House Press Secretary, Sean Spicer, to appear as a contestant on Season 28, was back and all smiles, as he sat at the judges table and scored the contestants alongside Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli.

In a surprise moment at the end of the November 11th episode, Bergeron looked to the camera and instead of offering up his comments on contestants, Alix Earle and Robert Irwin’s relay dance said, “You guys were great, but in my last comments as a judge, I want to talk directly to the network. This show is setting ratings records again, so next season bring back the results show. Let the whole country vote. Let everybody vote.”

Post-show, Bergeron clarified his comments to the Hollywood Reporter, “I always mourned the loss of that Tuesday show. I thought it made the voting more fair across the country, because the West Coast can’t vote now unless they’re watching on wherever the hell you’d watch it streamed live.”

Photo: ABC

The star-studded affair also brought a surprise video call to Robert Irwin, from Prince William, with whom he is currently working on an environmental project with, but is missing the work, due to being one of the top contenders for the finals. Prince William said, “Whilst your twinkle toes are going off elsewhere, I need you down here.” Addressing Irwin’s pro partner Witney Carson, he said, “you need to get him in as much glitter as you can.” Irwin serves as a global ambassador for the Earthshot Prize, an environmental prize awarded to five recipients each year.

Scoring a perfect 40 out of 40 from the judges were: Robert Irwin and Witney Carson performing a foxtrot to “Footprints in the Sand” by Leona Lewis, in one of the emotional high points of the show, plus Reality TV star Dylan Efron and Daniella Karagach, who wowed the judges with an unbelievable argentine tango to “Ain’t No Sunshine” by Bill Withers inspired by Milo Manheim and Witney Carson’s dance from Season 27.  In addition, social media star Alix Earle with Val Chmerkovskiy mperformed a foxtrot to “Singin’ in the Rain” by Matthew Morrison that served as a tribute to old Hollywood with a modern flare and received top scores, Finally, The Secret Lives of the Mormon Wives, Whitney Leavitt with Mark Ballas received a perfect score with their rendition of an argentine tango to “Cell Block Tango” from Chicago The Musical.

After the two rounds of competition, including the relay, where the remaining celebrity contestants were paired with former celebrity winners, time finally ran out for comedian Andy Richter and his partner Emma Slater and they were eliminated. Now the couples going to the semi finals are the aforementioned: Whitney and Mark, Dylan and Daniella, Alix and Val, Robert and Witney, plus Jordan Chiles and Ezra Sosa, and Elaine Hendrix and Alan Bersten.

So, what did you think of DWTS 20th anniversary celebration? Happy to see Kelly Monaco even for a quick minute? What did you think was the best routine of the night and who is your favorite going into the semi-finals? Share your thoughts and picks via the comment section. But first, check out a few of the best dances of the night below.

 

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I remember that great picture of Kelly in her costume at her Dancing With The Stars return in 2017 with a very supportive Billy Miller at her side. I believe someone said he got teary eyed in the audience as he watched her with pride. Sad to think about that now…

Ecstatic that she was there, but since ABC/D did everyone dirty, canceling shows, & uprooting AMC to Cali, only to be temporary, thousands of us, refuse to watch or support anything giving the rats support, except General Hospital, & Kelly & Mark, because they are both AMC victims.

Go ahead and be angry that AMC and OLTL were cancelled, but…

How are Kelly and Mark AMC victims? They made their career starts on the show, fell in love in real life. Left the show to go on to much greener pastures. They host a talk show owned and distributed by ABC. Looks like they’ve done quite well by the network.

The move to LA was intended to save the show, but horrific writing and storylines lead to plummeting ratings. ABC would’ve saved money and kept the show in NYC if they thought at the time they would be cancelling it a few years later.

bring it back the way it was.

It was a great show!

At least one ABC network show has the decency to invite her back.

Dancing with the Stars

DANCING WITH THE STARS: A Shocking Elimination on Grammy Night Leaves Ballroom Silenced

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In what could only be the stunner of this season of Dancing with the Stars, the Tuesday night, November 1o episode saw one of the heavy favorites Jenna Dewan and pro partner Val Chmerkovskiy eliminated right before next week’s all-important semi-finals for the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy.

Week 9 was Grammy night, where the contestants performed routines related to the Grammy Awards with songs that have either won or been nominated for the music industry’s highest prize.

After each couple performed their usual routine, they had to dance a second time vs, another couple doing the same dance style. Only Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Johnson earned immunity from having to participate in it.

Dancing with the Stars

Photo: ABC

THE RESULTS

When all was said and done during the results portion of the show; the following couples were deemed safe and will dance another day: Shum Jr. and Johnson, Amber Glenn and Pasha Pashkov, Ezra Frech and Daniella Karagach, Maura Higgins and Mark Ballas, and Connor Wood and Rylee Arnold.

That left former Y&R actress Tatyana Ali (ex-Roxanne) and Jan Ravnik and Dewan and Chmerkovskiy in the bottom two. It was then revealed that Jenna and Val would be going home. The ballroom fell silent and Dewan said her “thank you’s “in the most gracious way about her dance journey.

Dewan is a dancer, having worked professionally with the likes of Janet Jackson (who also popped up in a special message to her former back-up dancer in the episode) while currently being an actress, and appearing as a series regular on The Rookie. Chmerkovskiy has been controversial figure all season especially after being suspended one week after comments made towards judge Carrie Ann Inaba.

BREAKING THEIR SILENCE

This begs the question: did America want the couple gone, because they had an unfair advantage with Dewan’s dance prowess, or did the show want the couple booted off too?

Later, Jenna and Val broke their silence on the elimination to Extra. Chmerkovskiy shared “It’s’ definitely a sad result. I thought we had a great season.” Dewan admitted, “I know this was a particularly tough week for a lot of the online noise … but I know that we went out there and had the best time of our life.”

Val is married to pro dancer, Jenna Johnson, who remained in the top slot on the leaderboard during the competition with Harry Shum Jr. However, she also had a bad week breaking her nose in rehearsal!

Dancing With the Stars airs on ABC and Disney+ Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET and next day on Hulu.

So were you happy, or sad to see Jenna and Val voted off of Dancing with the Stars? Of the remaining couples who do you hope make it from the semi-finals to the finals and hoists the Mirrorball Trophy? Weigh-in via the comment section.

 

 

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DANCING WITH THE STARS: Guillermo Goes Home

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Guillermo

The Tuesday, October 13 episode of Dancing With the Stars brought with it the end of the line for a fan favorite, who for five weeks was able to hang in the competition for the coveted Mirrorball Trophy, due to the at-home voting, and not for his exceptional dance prowess.

With 11 pairs remaining, the couples hit the ballroom dance floor to songs by previous Super Bowl Halftime Show performers for “Super Bowl Night” with special guest judge ESPN’s Joe Buck.

The sports commentator joined Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough, and Bruno Tonioli at the judges table to offer up his thoughts on the dance routines and athleticism set before him throughout the night.

Guillermo Dancing with the Stars

Photo: ABC

THE RESULTS

When it time for the results following the final commercial break, DWTS hosts, Alfonso and Julianne, named Julia and Ezra, Maura and Mark, Jackson and Emma, Harry and Jenna, and Amber and Pasha safe. They were followed by: Ezra and Daniella, Jenna and Val, Tatyana and Jan, and Connor and Rylee.

That left the last two pairs on the stage, although not necessarily the bottom two in the voting between Tyler Cameron and Sharna Burgess and Guillermo Rodriguez and Witney Carson. As the tension mounted, especially because Cameron had delivered his best dance of the season thus far, it was revealed that Guillermo and Witney were eliminated.

Speaking to the cameras following his elimination, the ‘Jimmy Kimmel’ sidekick, shared, “I want to say thank you to all the audience, thank you to everyone and Dancing with the Stars. I had a lot of fun, it was great. Witney, I love you for teaching me how to dance, thank you so much.”

Ezra and Daniella

Photo: ABC

LAST DANCE

Witney Carson. who has been pregnant while in the competition, said to Guillermo, “Thank you so much for making the season just so fun, so enjoyable.” She added, “He has taken care of me so much throughout this entire season, it’s felt like an empowering season.”

In their final routine, Guillermo and Witney Carson had performed a salsa to Bad Bunny’s “Tití Me Preguntó.” As the episode concluded, all of the celebrity contestants and pro dancers swarmed Guillermo and hoisted him in the air, celebrating his efforts throughout the competition.

As for who were the standouts on “Super Bowl Night” Paralympian Ezra Frech and Daniella Karagach performed a salsa to “Hot in Herre” by Nelly to the top the leaderboard. along with The Rookie star Jenna Dewan and Val Chmerkovskiy who peformed a paso doble to “Bad Romance” by Lady Gaga. Each couple scored a 36/40 receiving straight 9’s from the judges, the highest scores thus far on season 35.

Now below, check out the top two routines of the night and Guillermo and Witney’s last dance.

Then let us know, are you glad that Guillermo was finally sent home, or were you hoping that somehow he would keep surviving in the competition week after week? Of the remaining couples, who did you think delivered the best routine on Super Bowl Night and who are you rooting for now to take home the Mirrorball Trophy? Let us know in the comment section.

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Dancing with the Stars

DANCING WITH THE STARS: Britt Stewart Visibly Upset After Shocking Elimination with Taylor Hanson

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Taylor Hanson and Britt Stewart

The September 29 episode of Dancing With the Stars showcased the continued strengths of some couples, but showed the cracks in others, as the 13 remaining duos hit the ballroom dance floor to yacht rock songs in week 3 of the competition.

At the end of the night, the couple with the lowest combined judges’s scores and viewer votes was sent home, and this proved to be a sticking point issue with the voting.

During the results portion at the end of the show, the first five couples who were named safe were: Jenna Dewan and Val Chmerkovskiy, Tyler Cameron and Sharna Burgess, Maura Higgins and Mark Ballas, Ciara Miller and Brandon Armstrong, and Julia Stiles and Ezra Sosa.

They were followed by: Tatyana Ali and Jan Ravnik, Ezra Frech and Daniella Karagach, Amber Glenn and Pasha Pashkov, Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Johnson, and Connor Wood and Rylee Arnold.

Taylor Hanson, Britt Stewart

Photo: ABC

AN UNEXPECTED TWIST

The remaining three couples awaiting their fate were: Guillermo Rodriguez and Witney Carson, Jackson Olson and Emma Slater, and Taylor Hanson and Britt Stewart. The couple sent home was Taylor and Britt.

Taylor and Britt performed a foxtrot to the the Doobie Brothers, “What a Fool Believes” during the night of competition and scored an 18 out of 30 from the judged. While it wasn’t the stand out routine on Yacht Rock night, it certainly wasn’t the worst.

With many expecting Guillermo and Witney to be sent home, when Britt and Taylor’s name was called, Stewart was visibly emotional and upset. After the shocking elimination, several of her pro partners spoke out and rallied around her and Hanson.

DANCING WITH THE STARS PROS SPEAK UP

Pro dancer, Sharna Burgess is hoping that next season, Stewart will make it to the finals. ]It should be noted that Britt is the first Black woman to be in the Dancing with the Stars pro company having joined in season 29 back in 2020, and she has never made it to the finale. Her highest placement was when she came in fifth in season 31 with her now husband, CODA star Daniel Durant.

“Knowing Britt and loving Britt, I just want to see her do a freestyle. I just want to see Britt, next season, get what our fans call a ringer, and we see her get to the end so we can have a Britt freestyle, expressed Burgess to EW.com.

Ciara Miller and Brandon Armstrong spoke out as being the couple who has spent the most time with Britt and Taylor during competition weeks. “I think Britt is an elite dancer, and an elite pro,” Armstrong continues, explaining that he and Miller were “gutted” when they heard the news. “It’s horrible,” said Armstrong. Miller shared she has chills” over it, and is “processing this elimination.”

Perhaps, Dancing with the Stars pro Jan Ravnik said it best, exclaiming everything is “going to be f—ed from now on” with them gone and more eliminations weekly. “I did love this partnership. I think they were incredible. I love Britt so much. I think she is one of the best dancers that I ever worked with.”

Now below, check out the dance routines from last night of Guillermo and Witney, Jackson and Emma and Taylor and Britt, and let us know if you think the right couple was sent packing via the comment section below.

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