Harry Shum Jr. leads Dancing with the Stars Season 35 as voting issues emerge and the first celebrity exits the competition.

Dancing with the Stars returned for Season 35 premiered on September 15 and included both a voting problem and a memorable performance. Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Johnson got the highest mark of 21, while Paralympic gold medalist Ezra Frech scored 20. Conner Leavitt and Adele Zaikman were eliminated. The second premiere night airs September 16, with female celebrities taking the ballroom floor.

Harry Shum Jr. takes the early lead

The first episode was about male celebrities singing No. 1 songs. Shum Jr. and Johnson were excellent at their cha-cha routine and won 21 points. Frech and Daniella Karagach followed with 20 for their tango.

Tyler Cameron and Sharna Burgess scored 17, while Taylor Hanson and Britt Stewart and Connor Wood and Rylee Arnold each received 16. Jackson Olson and Emma Slater finished with 15.

A voting glitch changes the night

The premiere faced a technical issue when online voting stopped working during the live broadcast. Viewers were directed to text voting instead. Host Alfonso Ribeiro later announced that the premiere received double the votes of last year's premiere.

The bottom three were Wood and Arnold, Guillermo Rodriguez and Witney Carson and Leavitt and Zaikman. Leavitt and Zaikman became the first couple eliminated from Season 35.

What happens on night two?

The competition continues September 16 with the female celebrities making their Season 35 debuts. These include Julia Stiles, Jenna Dewan, Tatyana Ali, Giada De Laurentiis, Amber Glenn, Ciara Miller, Maura Higgins and Sarah Jane Nader.

Each contestant will perform to a No. 1 song from their birth year. One female celebrity will leave before the show moves into its regular Tuesday schedule.

Key points:

  • Season 35 began with a two-night premiere.
  • Harry Shum Jr. earned the highest score.
  • Ezra Frech emerged as an early standout.
  • Conner Leavitt was the first celebrity eliminated.
  • Online voting faced a technical problem during premiere.

Season 35 also brings professional dancer Adele Zaikman into the main competition after winning Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro. Sharna Burgess is back after a five-year break.

Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough are back to host the show, while Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli judge. Premiere season two will air September 16 at 8:00 p.m. ET on ABC, Disney+ and Hulu.

Thus, Business Fortune believes that Season 35 has already delivered surprises, setting the stage for an unpredictable and exciting competition ahead.

FAQs

When did Dancing with the Stars Season 35 premiere?

Dancing with the Stars Season 35 premiered on September 15 with the first night of its two-night premiere.

Who earned the highest score on the first night?

Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Johnson earned the highest score of 21 points for their cha-cha routine.

Who was eliminated from Dancing with the Stars Season 35?

Conner Leavitt and Adele Zaikman were the first couple eliminated from Season 35.

What happened with voting during the premiere?

Online voting experienced a technical problem during the live show, so viewers were directed to vote by text instead.

When is the second premiere night of Season 35?

The second premiere night airs September 16 at 8:00 p.m. ET, featuring the female celebrities competing for the first time.