Witney Carson wasn’t thrilled with the judges after she and Guillermo Rodriguez made their “Dancing With the Stars” Season 35 debut. Following their first routine, Carson openly described their scores as “lame,” arguing that Rodriguez deserved more credit for what he accomplished on the ballroom floor.
Rodriguez, best known as the longtime “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” personality, was paired with Carson for his first attempt at competitive ballroom dancing. Their premiere assignment was a cha-cha to Jean Knight’s 1971 hit “Mr. Big Stuff.”
The routine certainly entertained the ballroom audience, but the judges saw plenty of technical problems. Carrie Ann Inaba awarded the couple a 4, while Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli each gave them a 3, producing a total of just 10 out of 30.
That put Rodriguez and Carson at the bottom of the Night One leaderboard and gave Rodriguez one of the lowest scores in “DWTS” history. The studio audience clearly disagreed with the harsh numbers, loudly booing when the scores were revealed.
Hough acknowledged that Rodriguez had significant work ahead of him. He said the technique was not there yet but praised the effort, specifically pointing to timing, power and incorrect heel leads as areas Rodriguez would need to improve.
Tonioli also recognized the technical shortcomings but found Rodriguez highly entertaining. Inaba offered perhaps the most encouraging assessment, noting that his movements were clearly defined and emphasizing that entertainment value and the audience’s response also matter.
Carson believed the numbers were too harsh. Speaking after the premiere, she called the judges’ scores “lame” and argued that Rodriguez recovered whenever he got off timing, listened to her direction and delivered the energy they had practiced in rehearsals.
Rodriguez wasn’t particularly happy either. He said he believed he had done well and jokingly declared Hough “dead to us” before suddenly remembering that the six-time Mirrorball champion would be judging him again the following week. Rodriguez quickly changed course, jokingly complimenting Hough instead.
Behind the humor, Rodriguez said he was proud that he followed Carson’s instructions. She had reminded him to look at her, smile, avoid rushing and enjoy the performance, and Rodriguez said he tried to do exactly that when they stepped onto the floor.
His popularity may have helped where his judges’ scores did not. Carson told PEOPLE that Rodriguez has become one of the most loved people among the cast, crew and producers because he makes an effort to greet and show kindness to everyone working behind the scenes.
Most importantly, the low score did not end Rodriguez’s “DWTS” journey. He and Carson survived the first elimination, while Conner Leavitt and professional partner Adele Zaikman were sent home. Rodriguez now faces the challenge of learning a Paso Doble for his next performance.
Carson has since argued that “Dancing With the Stars” is about more than comparing celebrities purely on dance ability, noting that contestants arrive with dramatically different levels of experience. Rodriguez entered without a dance background, but his first night showed that personality and audience connection can matter too. With another week secured, he now has the opportunity to turn that crowd support into improvement on the dance floor.
