DWTS Dedication Night: Emotional Tributes, Val Chmerkovskiy Suspension, and No Eliminations

Key points

• Val Chmerkovskiy was suspended for a week after referencing Will Smith's 2022 Oscars slap while defending his wife, Jenna Johnson, against comments by judge Carrie Ann Inaba.
• Alan Bersten, a previously eliminated pro, substituted for Chmerkovskiy to dance with Jenna Dewan in a Viennese Waltz dedicated to her mother, Nancy.
• Tatyana Ali honored her 'Fresh Prince of Bel-Air' co-star James Avery with a Viennese Waltz, joined by host Alfonso Ribeiro.
• Julia Stiles dedicated a contemporary dance to her late '10 Things I Hate About You' co-star Heath Ledger.
• No couple was eliminated this week, with prediction markets suggesting an 81% chance of no elimination due to the emotional nature of the night.

Background

Season 35 of 'Dancing With the Stars' has seen several eliminations, including Guillermo Rodriguez and Witney Carson in Week 5. The show airs on ABC and Disney+, with voting via ABC's website and text messages.

How outlets are covering it

The Hollywood Reporter and Sports Illustrated Lifestyle both covered the emotional tributes and scores, with THR emphasizing the Val Chmerkovskiy suspension and SI highlighting the live scores. The Cincinnati Enquirer focused on the Cincinnati native Tate Madden's involvement in Tyler Cameron's dance. USA Today provided live updates and noted the lack of elimination, with prediction markets suggesting a high chance of no one going home. All sources agreed on the emotional nature of the night and the substitution of Alan Bersten for Val Chmerkovskiy.

Why it matters

The Val Chmerkovskiy suspension highlights the show's commitment to maintaining professional standards, while the emotional tributes underscore the show's ability to connect with audiences on a personal level. The lack of elimination this week may impact the dynamics of the remaining weeks, as the field narrows and the competition intensifies.

What to watch

Val Chmerkovskiy is expected to return for the next episode, which is themed around horror movies. The remaining couples will continue to compete, with the field narrowing as the season progresses. The show will continue to air on ABC and Disney+, with voting via ABC's website and text messages.