Former Dancing With the Stars professional Peta Murgatroyd has publicly challenged the reality dance competition’s scoring system, asserting that a ‘nine’ should represent near-perfection for a celebrity and suggesting scores should realistically begin at twos and threes. Her comments, made on her ‘Penthouse With Peta’ podcast, have reignited long-standing debates among fans and former pros about fair judging and contestant growth.
The ballroom has been buzzing with discussion after longtime Dancing With the Stars pro Peta Murgatroyd offered her candid thoughts on the show’s scoring. During the Friday, October 24, episode of her “Penthouse With Peta” podcast, the 39-year-old dancer took aim at the system, particularly concerning the scores handed out during the ongoing Season 34.
“A nine for me is, like, you are close to perfection — and perfection for a celebrity,” Murgatroyd explained, highlighting a core philosophical difference in how scores are perceived. “That’s why I feel like the scoring system is so, so hard and so not correct.” She went on to suggest that a more appropriate starting point for new contestants would be “twos and threes,” rather than immediately seeing nines that, in her opinion, some contestants don’t yet deserve. This isn’t entirely without precedent, as Master P famously received twos back in Season 2 for his challenging paso doble.
The Nines Controversy: Are Scores Too High Too Soon?
Murgatroyd’s comments come after judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough, Bruno Tonioli, and guest judge Jon M. Chu awarded multiple nines during the October 21 “Wicked Night” episode to contestants like Whitney Leavitt, Jordan Chiles, and Alix Earle. While Peta refrained from naming specific individuals she felt were undeserving, her critique resonated with a segment of the fan base that often questions the early inflation of scores.
Interestingly, the judges themselves had initially adopted a more conservative approach at the beginning of Season 34. Scores were intentionally kept lower, often in the sixes and sevens, with Derek Hough, 40, explicitly stating during the season premiere, “The scoring tonight, just be mindful, it might be a little lower than you’re expecting because there’s a long way to go. This is a marathon. We want to give you guys room to grow.” This strategy was appreciated by his sister and DWTS host, Julianne Hough, 37.
Hybrid Dances vs. Technical Mastery: The Heart of the DWTS Challenge
Julianne Hough elaborated on the reasoning behind the initial lower scores and the show’s evolving dance landscape on the show’s companion podcast. “I think over the years, we’ve done a lot of fusions of proper technical ballroom and Latin dances have fused into sort of these hybrid dances,” she noted. She acknowledged the influence of modern trends like TikTok on dance styles, which can be “playful fun and entertaining.”
However, Julianne also underscored the importance of the show’s foundational technicality. “That’s why Dancing With the Stars is so amazing because it is technical and it’s a specific genre and it’s hard to do,” she emphasized. This perspective aligns with Peta’s desire for scores to more accurately reflect the mastery of these traditional techniques, rather than simply entertaining performances.
Judging Under Scrutiny: Fan Feedback and Professional Support
The constant discussion around scoring is a core part of the Dancing With the Stars experience, often leading to intense fan reactions. In recent weeks, the judging panel has seen former DWTS pros like Kym Johnson-Herjavec and Cheryl Burke step in as guest judges. Cheryl Burke, 41, who is set to appear on “Halloween Night” next week, recently defended permanent judge Carrie Ann Inaba against fan criticism regarding her feedback.
Burke exclusively told Us Weekly on Thursday, October 23, that Inaba “she’s not going in hard.” She highlighted the double-edged sword of judging, stating, “When the judges are all full of compliments, [people] get mad at that too. This is also the beauty of the show, like, everyone has the right to their own opinion, but don’t attack anybody.” Burke also pointed out a concerning trend, observing, “If you’re opinionated and you happen to be a woman, there is a little bit of that, right? Because, like, I’m pretty sure every judge has said the same thing at some point, but the reaction to them, to them as individuals, it’s very different.”
These insights from Burke provide a crucial look at the pressure judges face and the varying interpretations of their critiques by the passionate fan base. As Dancing With the Stars continues to air on ABC and Disney+ on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET, the debate over its scoring system, and what truly constitutes perfection, is unlikely to fade.
