Dancing with the stars has gained newfound popularity with its 33rd season, which had a positive impact on ratings and fan engagement, but also attracted a lot of criticism, particularly towards the judges. Initially, fans were just confused about the rankings this season, as it seemed like no one was really progressing in the rankings and seemed to be falling behind for a few weeks. The judges' notes are also strangely vague this season, compared to previous seasons where contestants are given a breakdown of what they did well and what they need to work on.

But the most criticized part of Season 33 was one judge in particular, namely Carrie Ann Inaba. Now all the judges have weighed in on the season 33 mess, but Carrie Ann has been the most weak online week after week because of her apparent preference for certain contestants. But it's not the first time something like this has happened Dancing with the starsand unfortunately it won't be the last time. The judges often play favorites, and that's one of the show's biggest flaws.

The “Dancing with the Stars” judges show bias against contestants

Something that Dancing with the stars always struggles with finding the balance between fan votes and judge votes. It's so great that the show is interactive and allows viewers to vote for their favorite contestants, but it also means that the show often becomes a popularity contest rather than a dance competition like it should be. It's only natural to feel drawn to certain contestants, especially when one of the season's favorite stars joins. Therefore, most fans are expected to vote based on who they like as a person, rather than their actual dancing skills. But when it comes to the judges, their entire job is to critique the dances and score the contestants based on them It can be confusing when a judge shows a clear preference or dislike for a competitor when the judge is supposed to be impartial. Showing enthusiasm and admiration for a dance is welcome, but competition must remain fair. Otherwise, what's the point of having a jury anyway? Yet, throughout the show's 33 seasons, there have been so many instances where the judges didn't treat all contestants equally, and we're seeing that happen with them right now Chandler Kinney And Brandon Armstrong.

Chandler and Brandon have been one of the strongest couples since the beginning of the season. They repeatedly topped the leaderboard each week and brought incredible dances to the ballroom that showcased their exceptional skills. Yet despite the obvious talent they exude, they continue to be criticized and singled out, especially by Carrie Ann. It's been noticeable for a while, but it wasn't until the Halloween episode that fans really started to get upset about it. Throughout the episode, Carrie Ann handed out 10s like they were candy to each couple, but when it came time for Chandler's dance, her entire demeanor changed and she began to subvert her routine. She told them that she had to be tougher on them because they were performing one of the more difficult dances of the Viennese Waltz, while many of the other couples had contemporaries.

Chandler and Brandon deserved better on Dancing with the Stars

Immediately, Chandler and Brandon's entire mood seemed to change and they seemed so defeated. You can even hear Chandler begging Carrie Ann to tell her what to do because she wants to improve, but Carrie Ann remained silent. This was made all the more frustrating when both happened Derek Hough And Bruno Tonioli called the dance “perfection” after Carrie Ann claimed that wasn't the case. She then gave the dance a 9, while Derek and Bruno both gave it a 10, meaning that without Carrie Ann's score, Chandler would have achieved the first perfect score of the season.

And sure, maybe Carrie Ann really believes it wasn't a perfect routine. But this isn't the first time she or the judges have singled out Chandler or given her feedback that turns out to be somehow fake. At Dedication Night, Chandler dedicated her dance to her mother, and the feedback from the judges was that they felt she needed to dig deeper and they didn't feel emotionally connected to it. In the skybox, a tearful Chandler talked about how much she loves her mother and how she wouldn't even be where she is without her. On Dedication Night of all days, it felt like unnecessary criticism, considering that the dances and their stories are deeply personal to the participants. So telling them that they don't dig deep or aren't emotional enough is a very strange comment.

But we have experienced this exact scenario before. In season 31, the series had a two-part event. Night 1 Charli D'Amelio And Mark Ballas danced a contemporary dance to commemorate Charli's most memorable year. She picked the year she was diagnosed with anxiety, scored 39 out of 40, and was praised for her vulnerability and emotion. But the next night, after she and Mark danced a jive, Carrie Ann told her that she needed to show more growth and vulnerability. I completely retract the praise she gave Charli just the night before.

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There's a pattern of favoritism on Dancing with the Stars

We also saw this kind of blatant bias towards a contestant in season 28, when Hannah Brown was a candidate. She was constantly unfairly criticized and particularly singled out by Carrie Ann. So much so that Carrie Ann even said she was surprised by Hannah's win, which is not something you want to hear from a jury. And it seems like we'll see a similar pattern with Season 33. Chandler and Brandon are constantly underscored, and the judges are tougher on them, and yes, Chandler has natural talent, so it's understandable that she's held to slightly higher standards, but there are other contestants who are at a similar level are like them and to whom the same standards do not even come close. Joey Graziadei And Jenna JohnsonAnd Danny Amendola And Witney Carson are among the season's frontrunners alongside Chandler and Brandon, but are not criticized as heavily. Minor mistakes go unnoticed by them, but result in Chandler and Brandon losing points. They are not told to “dig deeper” or “show more emotion.” They're all so talented, but it's becoming increasingly clear that Chandler and Brandon aren't being judged on the same level and aren't even given any criticism to work on, which puts them even further in the way of being successful, and it's starting to take its toll.

Apart from this, Chandler and Brandon took the criticism they received in strideand although they are constantly underlined, they do not let it get to them. Week after week they deliver breathtaking performances and it was so satisfying to see them finally recognized for it by Derek and Bruno on Halloween night. Here's hoping they continue to get their flowers and the judges, or especially the judge, stop playing favorites against them. Dancing with the stars is all about the beauty of dance, and Chandler and Brandon deserve to enjoy it with an open mind.

Dancing with the stars is available to stream on Disney+ in the US.

US reality show based on the British series 'Strictly Come Dancing' in which celebrities team up with professional dancers and compete in weekly elimination rounds to determine a winner.

Release date

June 1, 2005

Pour

Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli, Len Goodman, Tom Bergeron, Cheryl Burke, Tony Dovolani, Derek Hough, Mark Ballas, Karina Smirnoff, Maksim Chmerkovskiy, Kym Johnson, Sasha Farber, Val Chmerkovskiy, Emma Slater, Sharna Burgess

Main genre

reality

Seasons

studio

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