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Dancing With the Starsis transforming the ballroom into the gridiron — and enlisted an expert to sit at the judge’s table.
Good Morning Americaanchors announced on Thursday, October 8, that sportscaster Joe Buckwill take a seat on the judging panel during the Tuesday, October 13, live show a.k.a. the series’ first-ever Super Bowl Night. For this week of the competition, pairs will perform routines inspired by iconic halftime shows.
The Monday Night Footballcohost, 57, will join the regular judging panel of Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioliand Derek Hough, who have already raised eyebrows over their scoring system this year.
“I think it’s changing the value of the numbers. It’s going to be a little bit of a shock to the system because it’s the first week,” Hough, 41,exclusively told Uslast month of handing out lower scores to the contestants. “My hope is that over time, if [a contestant gets] a 5, you’re like, ‘I got a 5.’ Like, ‘Oh, my gosh, I got a 5’ versus like, ‘Oh, my God, that’s insulting. Oh, my gosh, that’s crazy.’”
He continued, “It’s not a reflection on them, [but] it’s a reflection on the hope to change the value of what a number means,” Hough explained at the time. “I think when you actually look at the score, you look at where everybody ended up being placed. When you actually look at it, it felt pretty accurate.”
While Guillermo Rodriguez’s partner, Witney Carson, has been disappointed to see consistent 4s during the first four weeks, Maura Higginsand Mark Ballaswere thrilled to earn the season’s first 9 on Tuesday, October 6.
“I cannot believe it, and I did not expect it one bit,” Higgins, 35,told Usin a separate interview after Tuesday’s episode. “I mean, it’s crazy, and it’s not me putting myself down, but there’s way better dancers in this competition. I genuinely feel like so many others should have got 9s. That’s wild, I’m so happy, and I have no words for it.”
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The Irish reality TV star further gushed that she was “so happy” by the stellar scores.
“All I’m doing [is] my best,” Higgins said, noting that she came into the experience self-conscious by her lack of dance training. “The 9 means everything to me because, you know, I have to work extra hard. This dancing doesn’t come naturally to me. I can be quite stiff [and] I honestly do have such a good partner in Mark. He’s so patient with me.”
Dancing With the Stars airs on ABC and Disney+ Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET.
