On a spellbinding “Wicked Night,” Dancing with the Stars Season 34 witnessed a historic moment as Whitney Leavitt and Jordan Chiles earned the first 10s of the season, captivating judges and fans alike with their near-perfect routines to songs from the iconic musical, setting a high bar for the competition.
The ballroom transformed into the Land of Oz for Dancing with the Stars Season 34’s “Wicked Night,” a dedicated celebration of the beloved musical and its upcoming film adaptation, Wicked: For Good. This special evening, featuring guest judge and film director John M. Chu, proved to be truly “thrillifying,” as it delivered the season’s inaugural perfect scores to two standout celebrity contestants.
Whitney Leavitt’s ‘Popular’ Quickstep Earns First 10s
Whitney Leavitt, star of Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, alongside her professional partner Mark Ballas, made an indelible mark on the season with their quickstep to “Popular.” The performance was met with resounding praise from the judges, leading to three out of four perfect 10s and a total score of 39 out of 40. Judge Derek Hough was so moved that he rose from his seat, exclaiming, “What?!” and lauded the “advanced” and “jam-packed” routine, sensing the emergence of “a star before our eyes.”
Guest judge John M. Chu echoed the sentiment, praising the dance as the “perfect blend of technical prowess and fun,” making him feel like he was “floating on air in a bubble.” Bruno Tonioli playfully dubbed it “Glinda gone ballistic,” while Carrie Ann Inaba found it “unhinged in all the right ways.”
A ‘Big Reward’ for an ‘Intimidating’ Dance
Speaking after the live show, Leavitt expressed her gratitude for the nearly perfect score, telling Us Weekly that it felt like “a big reward” for the hard work she and Ballas invested. She described the quickstep as “the most intimidating dance” she had performed so far, feeling a profound sense of relief and accomplishment after hitting their final pose. Ballas, proud of his intricate choreography, noted the “hustle” and “lot of detail” that went into the routine, emphasizing the importance of performing one’s best. The judges’ recognition of Leavitt’s blossoming on stage was particularly meaningful to her, as reported by Us Weekly.
Leavitt’s journey to Dancing with the Stars is a deeply personal one. A mom of three, she reconnected with her childhood love for dance through social media, eventually joining “MomTok” and starring in Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. Her participation in DWTS is a “full-circle moment,” allowing her to pursue a dream and inspire her own children, as she shared with People. Her husband, Conner Leavitt, has become a fan favorite for his dedicated themed costumes, notably painting his face green as Elphaba for Wicked Night.
Jordan Chiles’ ‘Perfection’ in Rumba
Later in the evening, Olympic gymnast Jordan Chiles and her partner Ezra Sosa also soared, earning three 10s for their “stunning rumba” to “For Good,” achieving a matching total score of 39 out of 40. Bruno Tonioli lauded the routine as “drop-dead gorgeous,” while Carrie Ann Inaba simply declared it “perfection.”
John M. Chu, who had previously witnessed Chiles compete at the Paris Olympics, observed the same determined look in her eyes on the ballroom floor, stating, “You want to win this thing, I can tell.” Derek Hough, however, was once again the holdout, awarding a 9 and encouraging Chiles to express “the emotions even more.”
Leaderboard Changes and Shocking Elimination
At the close of “Wicked Night,” the combined scores from the past two weeks placed Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas at the top of the leaderboard, while comedian Andy Richter and Emma Slater found themselves at the bottom. Despite Richter’s low placement, viewer votes ultimately sent Pentatonix’s Scott Hoying and his partner Rylee Arnold home. Hoying embraced his exit, calling the DWTS experience “everything” and concluding, “It’s wicked night. It’s the perfect way to go,” as reported by Reality Pop Culture.
Other notable performances included:
- Robert Irwin and Witney Carson: Jazz to “Dancing Through Life” (36/40)
- Danielle Fishel and Pasha Pashkov: Argentine Tango to “No Good Deed” (36/40), marking a “breakthrough” for Fishel.
- Elaine Hendrix and Alan Bersten: Contemporary to “Defying Gravity” (36/40), recreating a show-stopping moment from the musical.
Dancing with the Stars Season 34 continues to air Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+, with episodes streaming the next day on Hulu. The competition now looks ahead to the highly anticipated Halloween Night.
