“Dancing With the Stars” delivered another surprise elimination during Mariah Carey Night, with Ciara Miller and professional partner Brandon Armstrong becoming the latest couple to leave Season 35.
Miller appeared to be in a relatively safe position after performing a jazz routine to Mariah Carey’s “Emotions.” The judges awarded the couple 21 points out of 30, placing them well above the bottom of the leaderboard.
But when judges’ scores were combined with viewer votes, Miller and Armstrong were eliminated.
The result immediately attracted attention because another couple had finished significantly lower with the judges. Guillermo Rodriguez and Witney Carson scored only 13 out of 30 for their samba to “Obsessed,” yet received enough viewer support to remain in the competition.
According to ABC’s post show coverage, Miller became the fifth celebrity eliminated from Season 35. Entertainment Weekly and Page Six also highlighted the unexpected result as the competition entered a more unpredictable stage.
Miller’s exit demonstrates one of the most important elements of “Dancing With the Stars”: the judges do not have complete control over who stays.
Viewer voting can dramatically change the outcome, meaning contestants with lower scores can survive if they have enough public support. Conversely, a celebrity who performs reasonably well can still be eliminated.
The result came during a night dedicated entirely to Mariah Carey’s music. Twelve celebrity couples performed routines to some of the singer’s biggest songs, including “Hero,” “Fantasy,” “My All,” “Without You,” “Touch My Body” and “Vision of Love.”
Maura Higgins and Mark Ballas produced one of the strongest performances of the episode, scoring 25 points for their waltz to “If It’s Over.”
But the biggest conversation after the show was not necessarily about who finished first.
It was about who unexpectedly went home.
Search interest around “Dancing With the Stars” eliminations surged following the episode, as viewers looked for confirmation of the result and questioned how a contestant who scored considerably higher than the bottom placed couple could still be eliminated.
With Miller and Armstrong now out, the remaining celebrities move one step closer to the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy.
And as the latest result demonstrated, being near the top of the judges’ leaderboard may help, but it does not guarantee another week in the ballroom.
