DWTS Season 35 Premiere Launches with Voting Glitch and First Elimination

Key points

• The season launched with a two-night premiere on Sept. 15 and 16, airing on ABC and streaming on Disney+, with live options via DirecTV, Fubo, Sling, and Hulu + Live TV.
• During the first night, online voting crashed, prompting hosts Julianne Hough and Alfonso Ribeiro to discard all digital votes and rely solely on text messages for the elimination decision.
• Conner Leavitt and pro partner Adele Zaikman were eliminated after scoring 12/30, while Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Johnson topped the night with 21/30.
• A new 'DWTS After Party' hosted by season 34 champion Robert Irwin aired on Sept. 16 to discuss the double elimination format.
• The full cast includes 16 celebrity-pro pairs, with notable names like Jenna Dewan, Maura Higgins, and Giada De Laurentiis.

Background

Prior coverage noted that the season introduced a gender-based elimination twist, with men competing on the first night and women on the second. Earlier odds from The Action Network had Harry Shum Jr. as the favorite to win, while Giada De Laurentiis was predicted to be eliminated first. The cast was fully revealed in early September, following initial announcements in August.

How outlets are covering it

The Hollywood Reporter focused on the streaming logistics and the new 'After Party' format, while Variety emphasized the technical voting failure that disrupted the premiere. Both outlets confirmed the elimination of Conner Leavitt, but Variety highlighted the confusion caused by two contestants named Connor, requiring specific text codes to differentiate them.

Why it matters

The voting glitch raised questions about the reliability of live audience participation in high-profile TV events. The new after-show format also signals a shift toward extended engagement and post-episode discussion, potentially influencing future reality TV structures.

What to watch

The second night of the premiere, featuring the female celebrities, aired on Sept. 16. Weekly episodes will continue on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. PT/ET, with the next elimination round expected to follow the standard format.