No One Eliminated on "Dancing with the Stars" Dedication Night
Co-hosts announced that all remaining couples are safe for the week, with a double elimination planned for Horror Night.
Viewers tuning in to "Dancing with the Stars" on Tuesday, Oct. 20, for Week 6's annual Dedication Night experienced an emotional evening filled with heartfelt tributes, family reunions, and a surprise pregnancy announcement. However, the biggest twist of the night came at the end of the episode when co-hosts Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough revealed that no contestants would be sent home.
"On such a special night, we didn't want anyone sent home," Hough announced to the ballroom, as the remaining 10 couples celebrated being safe for the week. While the contestants were granted a reprieve from elimination, the co-hosts warned that Tuesday's scores would carry over to the next episode on Oct. 27, when a double elimination will occur during the upcoming Horror Movie Night.
The evening featured several memorable routines dedicated to influential people and places in the contestants' lives. Among the highlights was actress Julia Stiles, who teamed up with partner Ezra Sosa to perform a contemporary routine dedicated to her late "10 Things I Hate About You" co-star, Heath Ledger. The performance brought together original cast members Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Gabrielle Union, Larisa Oleynik, Andrew Keegan, and Susan May Pratt for an emotional reunion on center stage, earning the couple a score of 36 out of 40.
Tyler Cameron also delivered a touching moment when he dedicated his contemporary routine to mothers, performing to Ed Sheeran's "Supermarket Flowers." Mid-performance, Cameron and his fiancée, Tate Madden, revealed they are expecting their first child. The couple received an on-air gender reveal with pink confetti, confirming they are having a baby girl, which moved guest judge Kym Johnson and the rest of the panel.
Paralympic gold medalist Ezra Frech and partner Daniella Karagach topped the leaderboard alongside Amber Glenn and Pasha Pashkov, securing some of the season's first 10s. Frech earned a 37 for his contemporary routine dedicated to his mother, Bahar, while Glenn received a high score of 38 for her contemporary performance dedicated to her sister, Brooke.
The ballroom also saw a notable shake-up with the absence of professional dancer Val Chmerkovskiy, who was suspended following a controversial social media remark. Eliminated pro Alan Bersten stepped in to dance with Jenna Dewan, earning a 37 for a Viennese waltz dedicated to Dewan's mother, Nancy. Meanwhile, Harry Shum Jr. performed a foxtrot with partner Jenna Johnson dedicated to his wife, Shelby, scoring a 36 after his wife and daughter joined him on the dance floor.
Judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli, and Derek Hough were joined on the panel by guest judge and former pro Kym Johnson for the special evening. With no eliminations lowering the competition count this week, all 10 remaining couples will carry their scores into next Tuesday's high-stakes double elimination.