Here, Carrie Ann shares her thoughts via email about the show’s first (double!)
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Anna Delvey andTori Spellingwere the first two contestants to go home.
Did either of those results surprise you?
Anna Delvey on ‘Dancing With the Stars’.Disney/Eric McCandless
CARRIE ANN INABA:The first eliminations always bring a mix of emotions.
This week, we said goodbye to Anna and Ezra, and Tori and Pasha.
Toris departure caught me off guard.
Anna Delvey and Ezra Sosa on ‘Dancing With the Stars’.Disney/Eric McCandless
We all put in the effort to give her a fair opportunity.
But I dont think she could see that and its a shame.
A little gratitude could have changed the narrative.
Sasha Farber and Jenn Tran on ‘Dancing With the Stars’.ABC
You urged viewers to give Anna a chance on the premiere.
Do you feel like this result means they did not?
I think our audience did what felt right to them.
Pasha Pashkov and Tori Spelling on ‘Dancing With the Stars’.ABC
And thats the beauty ofDWTSfor our fans.
Our fans are passionate and engaged and they vote for who they want to win the Mirrorball trophy.
But Id like to point out something important.
Brandon Armstrong and Chandler Kinney on ‘Dancing With the Stars’.ABC
Our fans dont vote people off.
That is not our format.
UnlikeSurvivorwe dont vote people off.
Reginald VelJohnson and Emma Slater on ‘Dancing With the Stars’.ABC
Our fans vote for who they want to win.
You told Jenn Tran that shes a surprise.
What about her is surprising to you?
Eric Roberts and Britt Stewart on ‘Dancing With the Stars’.ABC
Its exciting to see how good she is.
She isnt a trained dancer, that I know of, and shes really good!
She has a spark that is refreshing.
Carrie Ann Inaba on ‘Dancing With the Stars’.Disney/Eric McCandless
ABC
We couldnt hear the music malfunction in her and Sasha’s routine at home.
How long did it last and how disruptive could it have been to the performance?
Im so glad to hear that the audience at home could hear the track.
Ilona Maher and Alan Bersten on ‘Dancing With the Stars’.ABC
It looked like a mistake.
But this brings me to an interesting point Im not sure the viewers at home realize.
The judges see the dance from a completely different angle than the viewers at home.
Our director chooses the camera shots to create a beautiful and dynamic entertaining experience for the viewers at home.
You asked Danny a few times if he was okay right after your remarks.
What was happening and what were you worried about?
Thats why they call it “DanceSport.”
You told Reginald that everyones 10 looks different.
But as a judge, are you evaluating everyone by the same standard?
Yes, this can be complicated to understand.
But here it is: From day one, I have judged the same way.
I believe everyone has the ability to get a ten.
And that ten will be the ten they can achieve with their ability.
That is what makes it fair.
So, how could I expect her to point her toes?
And her unique abilities.
There are so many areas to look at when we judge.
I judge the performance as a whole.
Of course, everyones ten is different and Im judging everyone by the same standard.
I cant speak for Bruno and Derek.
We each look for different things.
Its always been that way.
And from day one, Ive always judged this way.
You spoke to your own chronic pain and Eric’s challenges.
How is that making his job harder?
Dancing with the Starsis about pushing your own personal boundaries through these beautiful art forms of dance.
It’s really a competition with oneself.
And it’s really about growing.
Steven keeps throwing off his glasses.
Who is out of frame catching them?
Ill have to find out for you… but I love that hes got a signature move.
His charisma or rizz as the kids call it is really fun to watch.
Hes just pure joy with great skills to match.
You joked about the missing kiss in Gleb and Brookss routine.
Do you think something is going on there?
Are you worried theyre trying to sell a showmance for audience buy-in?
Hmmm… not sure whats happening there.
I definitely dont think they are trying to sell a romance.
I dont think thats a great strategy.
I think they have great chemistry and that can work to their advantage.
Brooks has so much potential; shes a really good dancer and has the stature.
What happens to them off the floor is their business.
Ilona and that beautiful lift.
Can you expand on why those lifts were so meaningful?
I too have felt like I’m outside the box.
My whole life, my doctors told me I was too heavy.
And then added one more just for fun.
That moment will be remembered, and it will leave an imprint on all of us in subtle ways.
