Alfonso Ribeiro Clears Up DWTS Scoring Confusion After Live Mishap
The season 34 premiere of Dancing With the Stars was full of sparkle, nerves, and, as it turned out, a little bit of live television chaos. What happened wasn’t a dance gone wrong, but a scoring slip that left the ballroom buzzing and viewers scratching their heads—until cohost Alfonso Ribeiro stepped in to set the record straight.
Also Read:Here’s how it played out. Mark Ballas and Whitney Leavitt, known from Secret Lives of Mormon Wives , had just wrapped up their routine. Judges Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli seemed impressed, each holding up a “7” paddle. That should have meant 14 points out of 20. But then, from the skybox, Julianne Hough interrupted to reveal that the math wasn’t quite right. Bruno had actually keyed in an “8,” which made their total 15. Cue laughter, a bit of awkwardness, and Julianne’s cheerful, “We love live television!”
Now, the paddle mix-up might have seemed like a simple on-air hiccup, but Ribeiro knew fans deserved some clarity. After the commercial break, he explained the scoring system in detail. Each judge, he said, locks in their score electronically right after the performance. Whatever number gets entered in that system is what counts—whether or not it matches the paddle they hold up. In this case, Bruno’s official score was an “8,” and that correction bumped Whitney and Mark’s total a notch higher.
The night had already started with a reminder that scores might look lower than fans expect. Derek had warned everyone that the judging is meant to leave room for growth across the season. Olympian Jordan Chiles and her partner Ezra Sosa, for example, opened the night with a 10 out of 20. Dylan Efron and Daniella Karagach earned the same. It wasn’t necessarily a reflection of weak performances—it was about setting the bar for the long haul.
Even so, the audience reaction showed how invested people get in those numbers. Some boos could be heard when the lower scores popped up, proving just how much passion this show inspires year after year. And it isn’t just fans who feel the pressure. Professional dancers themselves have admitted in past seasons that the judges can be intimidating. Derek, in particular, has been described as tough to read—stone-faced one moment, unexpectedly encouraging the next.
With Carrie Ann Inaba absent due to illness, the judging panel already felt a little different. But between Bruno’s exuberance, Derek’s sharp eye, and Alfonso stepping in to smooth over confusion, the premiere kept its energy high. After all, a little drama—whether on the dance floor or at the judges’ table—has always been part of the DWTS magic.
As the season unfolds, fans will be watching not just the footwork and costumes, but also the numbers flashing across the screen. Thanks to Ribeiro’s clear explanation, at least now everyone knows how the system works, paddle mix-ups and all.
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