Dancing With the Stars returned for season 35 — with a night full of unforgettable performances and a jaw-dropping elimination.
The ballroom competition kicked off Tuesday, September 15, where the male celebrity contestants each danced to a Billboard No. 1 hit from their birth year. While the cast gave it their all, the judges were no-nonsense when it came to handing out scores.
“Our expectations are super high, you’re going to have to earn every single point,” judge Derek Hough warned after Jackson Olson’s Savannah Bananas-themed cha-cha. “Don’t be surprised at where the scores land tonight.”
Olson earned a trio of 5s from Hough, Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli, while Jimmy Kimmel Live! sidekick Guillermo Rodriguez earned a total score of 10. Tyler Cameron, for his part, saw a dip in his score after Inaba pointed out he slightly lifted pro Sharna Burgess during their tango.
At the end of the night, Conner Leavitt and pro partner Adele Zaikman were eliminated from the competition.
“This has been the most fun,” the Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star said. “I have the greatest partner in the world in Adele [and] I can’t wait for the world to get to see her talents.”
The second part of the premiere airs Wednesday, September 16, with the female celebs going head-to-head to avoid another elimination.
Dancing With the Stars airs on ABC and Disney+ Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET. Scroll down for a complete breakdown of each couple’s scores from the first night of season 35 premiere:
