The ballroom is officially open for season 33 of the iconic television series, “Dancing with the Stars,” and the star-studded cast is competing for the coveted Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy.
With professional athletes like Dwight Howard in glittery costumes, reality TV stars like Jenn Tran trying to stay on beat, and ex-convict Anna Delvey performing with a bedazzled ankle monitor, Dancing with the Stars brings the art of ballroom dancing to a diverse audience.
As professional dancers lace up their shoes for another season, the stars scramble across the dance floor to impress judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough, and Bruno Tonioli. But the real critics are the viewers watching from home, ready to cast their votes each week.
Fans tune in to critique dances, follow behind-the-scenes drama, and vote for their favorite couples to stay another week. While you’d think a celebrity’s ability to execute a jive or Viennese waltz would dictate eliminations, the show has evolved — and so has its audience.
Ultimately, it comes down to who wins America’s hearts. Who stands out? Who falls flat? And which performance prompted viewers to take a bathroom break? These factors, more than just technique, decide who is worthy of the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy.
Anna Delvey, a con artist and ex-convict, danced a Cha-Cha to “Espresso” by Sabrina Carpenter with her partner, Ezra Sosa, who made his DWTS debut. However, the ballroom energy shifted when her routine started, and the performance lacked the needed intensity.
Despite solid choreography and a score of 18/30, Delvey and Sosa were among the first eliminated due to low votes, driven by controversy surrounding Delvey’s appearance on the show.
After the tense double elimination, viewers wondered why stars with the lowest scores avoided elimination. One such contestant was Reginald VelJohnson, known for his roles in “Family Matters” and “Die Hard.”
VelJohnson performed a Salsa to “Motown Philly” by Boyz II Men with his partner, Emma Slater. Though his routine lacked content and failed to display strong dancing skills, his charm earned him a score of 16/30. Yet, America’s votes kept him in the competition for another week before his eventual elimination, proving popularity plays a significant role in the show’s outcomes.
To stay in the competition, stars must do more than dance; they need to win over America. Many turn to social media to connect with viewers, creating funny, relatable, or flirty content that resonates with fans.
Ultimately, audience votes decide who earns the Mirrorball Trophy — regardless of whether dance ability is the deciding factor in this competition.
