“Dancing With the Stars” Season 35 wasted no time producing an upset. Conner Leavitt and his professional partner, Adele Zaikman, were eliminated at the close of Tuesday night’s show, the first of a two-night premiere event.
“This has been the most fun. I have the greatest dance partner in the world in Adele. I can’t wait for the world to get to see her talent,” Leavitt said after learning he was going home. His wife, Whitney Leavitt of “Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,” finished fifth on the show last season.
Zaikman, who earned her spot on the show’s roster of professionals by winning the first season of “Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro,” described dancing in the ballroom as “a dream come true.”
Co-hosts Julianne Hough and Alfonso Ribeiro had also named two other couples in danger before announcing the elimination: “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” sidekick Guillermo Rodriguez, paired with Witney Carson, and comedian Connor Wood, paired with Rylee Arnold.
Leavitt scored 12 out of 30 for a Salsa danced to Tag Team’s “Whoop! There It Is.” The number was part of “Premiere: Night One,” which had every male contestant perform to a No. 1 song from the year of his birth.
Who topped the leaderboard
“Glee” alum Harry Shum Jr. and partner Jenna Johnson led the field with a 21 out of 30 for a Cha Cha set to Earth, Wind & Fire’s “Let’s Groove.”
Paralympic gold medalist Ezra Frech and partner Daniella Karagach followed with a 20 out of 30 for a Tango to Kelly Clarkson’s “Since U Been Gone.”
“Bachelor Nation” personality Tyler Cameron and partner Sharna Burgess scored 17 out of 30 with a Tango to Lenny Kravitz’s “Are You Gonna Go My Way.” Judge Derek Hough mistakenly called him “Dylan” during the broadcast.
Connor Wood and Rylee Arnold earned a 16 out of 30 for a Cha Cha to Tim McGraw’s “I Like It, I Love It,” matching musician Taylor Hanson and partner Britt Stewart, who scored the same for a Quickstep to Billy Joel’s “Tell Her About It.”
Savannah Bananas performer Jackson Olson and partner Emma Slater received a 15 out of 30 for a Cha Cha to the Spice Girls’ “Wannabe.” Rodriguez and Carson posted the night’s lowest score, a 10 out of 30, for a Cha Cha to Jean Knight’s “Mr. Big Stuff.”
Carson on partnering with Rodriguez
Ahead of the premiere, Carson spoke about working with Rodriguez, calling him “everything you want him to be.”
“He wears his heart on his sleeve, and he’s down for everything, while being naturally funny and open. He’s a great person to have in the ballroom because we laugh and have so much fun, but he’s also such a hard worker. He is putting in the work and shows up ready to learn every day.”
Carson, who is pregnant with her third child, said she had “definitely some hesitation” about joining the season but that the experience has been pushing her in a positive direction. “This season I’m all about empowerment, for myself and for other women, because we can do anything,” she said. “One of my biggest priorities for this season is to show all moms that we don’t have to lose parts of ourselves to grow a family.”
“Dancing With the Stars” continues Wednesday night with “Premiere: Night Two,” featuring the female celebrities dancing to chart-topping songs from their birth years. After the two-night premiere, new episodes air Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+, with streaming available on Hulu the following day.
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