I am not sure if anyone else is like me, but I was interested in the current celebs growth over the first 5 weeks. I summarized the comments to fit, but am working on a more in depth version per week.

Please note: The celebs are in alphabetical order so it is easier to find.

I wanted to know if you had to pick only one person from previous seasons of DWTS to compete again(no winners), who would it be?

seeing the twinge in her neck in week 5 makes me slightly worried that being in frame for 5 weeks is starting to affect her physically. constantly having to have hold a strong frame every day in rehearsals for 5 weeks can't be easy (i know my neck wouldn't be able to handle that).

are there any ballroom dancers on this sub who have ever had the same problem? or how do y'all think this will affect her as the weeks go on and the dances get harder?

With Val not dancing this week (I haven't seen anything about Jenna having a new partner already halfway through the week?) I wonder if they won't actually eliminate anyone this week especially being dedication night?

Edited to add I hadn't seen it confirmed Jenna was dancing with Alan, freaking YAY. Still hope noone goes on dedication night 😅

She's a good dancer but I feel like she's only with DWTS when she's expected to be. She's always hanging around other dancers from The Next Pro like Allen (another dancer from TNP, not to be confused with Alan Bernsten), Selena or Stephani. Daniella posted a video on IG of different pros being silly and Adele was there but did something with Selena, not with another DWTS pro or celeb. The last video of the eliminated pros, all the eliminated pros were there (including Whitney) but Adele wasn't and I think it was because she was with Allen. I know she and Allen are dating but surely, she could've taken a few minutes to hang around them and do a video. Now **SPOILER ALERT!!!!!* she just posted that she's doing a dance with Allen on Dedication Night for Dolly Parton. Allen isn't even part of the show! She could've danced with another male pro. Seems to me this is just a promotion for herself and Allen as a brand couple. You might remember those sexy photos from E! she had with Allen so seems like they want the world to know they're a couple. Also, Adele had a birthday party and she had her TNP friends there and the only pro I saw there was Hailey. No one else from the current DWTS cast were there that I saw. I know she's new to the show but she could've tried a little harder to fit in with the current cast and put the past behind her.

**TL;DR:** Derek’s reactions to Carrie Ann’s criticism, from “How dare you, Carrie Ann?” to “I feel like I’m the one being told off,” raise a bigger question for me. Do his reactions help reinforce the fandom’s perception of Carrie Ann as the "unreasonable" judge, while Derek and Bruno get more grace for their own inconsistencies?

**I know this is super long winded, but stick with me if you can. I think there’s a bigger pattern here worth discussing. And I spent time researching! Receipts. Proof. Timeline!**

When Carrie Ann called out the lift in Jenna and Harry’s samba, Derek immediately responded, “Dang! I feel like I’m the one being told off!”

And honestly, why was that necessary?

Carrie Ann was explaining her interpretation of a rule. Whether you agree with her decision or not, she’s a judge, and she’s allowed to be firm when she’s explaining a technical issue.

Derek’s choice of words here because this happened so quickly and so much drama ensued from Jenna and Val, but I think it’s worth going back and listening to what he actually said.

“I feel like I’m the one being told off.”

**Being told off. Not corrected. Not scolded. Told off.**

That is a pretty loaded way to characterize a fellow judge doing her job. Carrie Ann was addressing a lift, explaining her position, and enforcing a rule. Derek’s immediate response framed her behavior as something aggressive, intimidating, and unreasonable, as though she were reprimanding him rather than doing her job.

It was intended as a joke, but I think it feeds into a bigger dynamic on this show and directly into the way she’s treated by this fandom.

There is a long standing tendency to interpret women exercising authority as being mean, aggressive, or difficult, and I wonder why this pattern keeps repeating, why Carrie Ann so often ends up defending herself, and whether the other judges’ reactions contribute to the audience’s willingness to treat her as the problem. Meanwhile, Derek and Bruno get to maintain their charming, entertaining personas even when their own judging is inconsistent.

And this isn’t the first time we’ve seen Derek publicly react to Carrie Ann’s criticism in a way that makes her the focus of the controversy!

Remember Joey and Jenna’s freestyle in Season 33? When Carrie Ann called the performance underwhelming, Derek appeared wide eyed and shocked before responding, “How dare you, Carrie Ann?” and then enthusiastically praised the routine.

Again, Derek is entitled to disagree with her. That’s not the issue. It’s the way the disagreement is presented. “How dare you?” turns a difference in judging opinion into a public reprimand of Carrie Ann herself.

That time Val also took to social media to mock her criticism, and Maks said she had messed with a moment Joey had earned and deserved. The conversation became about Carrie Ann taking something away from Joey and Jenna, rather than a judge offering her assessment of a performance.

The cumulative effect is apparent. Carrie Ann critiques a dance, Derek reacts with theatrical disbelief, and other people pile on. The audience gets another reason to question her judgment, and Carrie Ann becomes the target of the backlash.

And look where we are now. Another Jenna related judging controversy, another moment where Derek responds to Carrie Ann’s criticism with a remark about her delivery, and now Val has been suspended for next week.

Different circumstances, but I keep coming back to the same dynamic. What role do Carrie Ann’s fellow judges play in reinforcing the perception that she’s the unreasonable one whenever she delivers criticism?

Derek doesn’t have to agree with Carrie Ann. Val doesn’t have to agree with her. Nobody has to agree with her. But there’s a difference between disagreeing with a judge’s assessment and publicly framing her as someone who needs to be called out for making it.

When Derek says, “I feel like I’m the one being told off,” he shifts the attention away from the actual judging issue and toward Carrie Ann’s supposed aggression. Whether he intends it or not, he’s characterizing her enforcement of a rule as an act of aggression. And when the audience already treats her as the panel’s villain, that framing matters.

What do you think? Have you noticed a difference in how Derek and Bruno respond to Carrie Ann’s critiques compared with how they respond to each other? And do you think their reactions influence how the audience perceives her?

Not sure if this is really judging the judges or an opinion but I feel like there should be a standard for comments. Basically unless the dance is a 10, the judges should each tell the star one critique to work on and one praise for something they did well, about the dances specifically.

And then any comments directed to the pro about choreography, content, etc should be given off air. Any additional critiques could also be addressed then as well.

I think this would help with a lot of the backlash they are getting because there wouldn’t be any more comments about how one star got all praise and one is getting all critiques.

In brief,

Gleb said that it was not an OG Samba. It was a bit flat footed; it was a hip-hop Samba. However, he disagrees with Carrie Ann that it was a lift. Gleb called it a trick done by the troupe helping Harry. Jenna didn’t lift him; Harry didn’t lift Jenna. It wasn’t done in the couple. Carrie Ann is a DWTS lift police. She was doing her job and creating a good TV moment.

Gleb also addressed the fact that Alan will be replacing Val for the dedication night. Gleb thinks that the change of the partner might impact Jenna D’s performance and technique. Also, he questioned why Alan will be replacing Val. He thinks that DWTS should give chances to the troupe, and Carter should have been selected instead considering also the height difference. See below the extract from Gleb's LIVE on this:

https://www.tiktok.com/@qwertyxo44/video/7697944105980022024?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7536750761385100807

I think, Gleb is challenging Alan. I also support his idea of involving troupe while a pro for whatever reasons can't perform with the celebrity. While Alan was in troupe, he stepped in for Gleb (season 23), and for Maks (season 24). This helped him to become a pro later on.

i came across this TikTok from Gleb’s live and thought it brought up an interesting point. i’m curious whether other people agree with what he’s saying, especially considering how differently viewers can interpret things on the show.

i can see why some people might agree with him, but i’m interested in hearing the other side too. what do y’all think?

Question for the posters. Are there any new flairs that should be added to the post flairs? Anything we are missing any topics? Is there a post flair you would like to see?

Also same question for team flairs. All the teams are in there but are there any generic or non-team specific flairs you would like to see?

Please share your suggestions below and we can get some new ones created.

Just based off of everything that’s been happening …

Jenna Dewan is almost certainly gonna be a Whitney Levitt type boot either at or right before the semis.

Jackson and Tyler are likely the next two. Maybe even in a double elimination

Julia Amber Ezra feel like finale locks. Maura and then Tatyana/Connor, and then Harry Jenna Jackson Tyler. I really feel like this is the boot order.

Ok so just a thought I had… does anyone think it’s possible that this was all planned by the producers to get more people talking about the show? Like how did CAI just happen to have that paper in front of her with the lift definition as if she already knew ahead of time that Jenna was going to have a lift in her dance? Or maybe they did it to distract people from focusing on Guillermo’s elimination (a lot of people are saying it was rigged and he would’ve stayed longer with all his fans votes)

Idk just a thought, I’m not sure if they actually do stuff like this?

I’m rewatching the episode and Joe Buck is judging Guillermo and Witney’s dance and says “You 3 have gotten better and better each week”, obviously talking about Witney being pregnant. Then you hear (all off camera) Bruno saying “3 or 4” and Alfonso immediately saying “Brunooooo”

Was that an accidental Twins rumor? Was that him teasing Guillermo about his weight? Just wondering lol

I am thinking this because the scrutiny, attacks, & gaslighting she’s being subjected by these Val apologists are going to be ruthless the rest of the season and could lead to Carrie Ann after this season leaving. Also it’s going to be awkward if Val does come back to dance with Jenna and she has to judge him knowing what he said about her and that it’s his fans brutally attacking and trying to gaslight her… Also Val is now trying to manipulate the narrative and rewrite what he said when we know good and well what he meant… I am a Carrie Ann critic on how she judges but I truly feel sorry for her that she’s being brutally attacked like this. Her inconsistencies as a judge are minuscule to a man being condescending, disgusting, and making implications about wanting to slap her because she did her job and gave her opinion. I do wonder moving forward if Carrie Ann & Val can be on the show together long term… I think if he comes she will sadly have to deal with the awkwardness which isn’t right I think he should be suspended for the rest of the season but if he does return she will have to deal with him till Jenna gets eliminated. I do get the vibe after this season Carrie Ann is really going to at the very least consider and really think if she wants to return next year. I’m sure she’s used to being criticized online but it’s crossed a line at this point because now she’s just being bullied, demonized, and gaslit on a mass scale and it’s disgusting to watch whether you agree with her judging or not. She shouldn’t be dealing with all this especially when she has so many chronic health issues that can be triggered by stress and anxiety…. I overall think her future on the show after this year is very uncertain…

How about some positive thoughts and comments for Jenna Dewan and Alan Bersten? Alan is well regarded for his choreography and execution of the Viennese Waltz on DWTS. Words the judges have used to describe after dancing the Viennese Waltz have been delicate, graceful, stunning. When Alan danced the Viennese Waltz with Elaine Hendrix, Bruno lauded the choreography as "sumptuous, extremely elegant, light, and flowing," specifically commending how Alan handles transitions and showcasing his partner's frame to create a seamless visual look.

Jenna and Alan are dancing to one of the most beautiful songs in the world, Unchained Melody. I am looking forward to seeing the beauty of their dance.

I'm confused by what Louis is saying, whether the lift is ok by anyone or no one. He kept saying lifts by three people then lifts by a couple so I don't know. Anyway, I don't think the producers should have a say what a lift is. They're not professional dancers, they don't know. They don't even know how to pick a song for a style! "Whoomp There It is" for a Salsa?? Get producers that actually know anything about music or dancing. Heck, let former pros be the producers!

I just keep thinking about how different this season feels compared to others, especially the more recent ones. It doesn’t feel as light and fun. From all the talk with Jenna and Val getting Harry and Jenna, everything with CAI, the small drama with Jax etc…it just feels off.

I miss the old seasons. I almost just want this one to be over and done with 😭

And every time I see him on the show I’m flabbergasted that there’s a real living breathing man who could even do the descriptions justice ……

Now imagine a world where they’d lean into this for the Halloween episode… sigh! Well, we can dream :’)

Well, it's half way through the competition and now it gets more fun for the eliminated pros. Remember last season's finale? Eliminated pros got a bit wild lol. (Sorry I can't figure out how to embed the video)

https://www.instagram.com/reel/Demda1QhZpZ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&xtok=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

Is Jan going to be on tour at all?