Lead
On Tuesday, Nov. 25, at 8 p.m. ET, the final five couples of Dancing with the Stars season 34 will compete live for the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy in a finale simulcast on ABC and Disney+ (local time zones) and streaming on Hulu the following day. Each duo will perform three numbers — a judges’ choice, an instant/instantaneous dance and a freestyle — as judges’ selections and fan reactions shape the closing night. The episode also brings back all season 34 couples for an opening number choreographed by Joey Pizzi and several guest and alumni performances.
Key Takeaways
- Finale date and time: Tuesday, Nov. 25, at 8 p.m. ET; simulcast live on ABC and Disney+ in local time zones and available on Hulu the next day.
- Competitors: five finalist pairs — Alix Earle & Val Chmerkovskiy; Robert Irwin & Witney Carson; Dylan Efron & Daniella Karagach; Elaine Hendrix & Alan Bersten; Jordan Chiles & Ezra Sosa — will vie for the Mirrorball Trophy.
- Format: each couple performs three routines — a judges’ choice, an instant dance and a freestyle — consistent with the season’s elimination structure.
- Judges’ selections: Carrie Ann Inaba chose Alix Earle’s samba and Jordan Chiles’ paso doble; Derek Hough selected Robert Irwin’s quickstep and Elaine Hendrix’s rumba; Bruno Tonioli picked Dylan Efron’s paso doble.
- Music highlights: the finale includes an opening number to “Never Can Say Goodbye” (the Communards) and guest sets to tracks including Tyler, The Creator’s “Sugar On My Tongue,” Lady Gaga’s “Applause,” and Alexander Jean’s “I Don’t Dance.”
- Alumni appearance: season 33 champions Joey Graziadei and Jenna Johnson will perform a routine to “Tanguera” by Fabio Hager Sexteto during the telecast.
- Song pairings (freestyle and judges’ choices) are varied: examples include Alix Earle’s samba to “Hip Hip Chin Chin” (Club des Belugas) and Robert Irwin’s quickstep to “Are You Gonna Be My Girl?” (Jet).
Background
Dancing with the Stars has long paired celebrities with professional dancers to create weekly themed shows culminating in a season finale where a Mirrorball Trophy is awarded. The format blends judges’ scoring with audience voting; across 34 seasons the show has evolved its live production and incorporated cross-platform streaming as viewing habits shifted. Season 34 followed that template, narrowing the field through themed weeks and eliminations to five finalists.
The Mirrorball Trophy, named in part to honor judge Len Goodman’s legacy, remains the program’s defining prize and is awarded after judges’ scores and viewer votes are combined. Producers frequently boost finale viewership with spectacle: group numbers, guest performances and returning alumni. For season 34, the production emphasizes both a large opening ensemble choreographed by Joey Pizzi and several musical cameos to broaden audience appeal.
Main Event
The episode will open with a ballroom ensemble number choreographed by Joey Pizzi set to “Never Can Say Goodbye” by the Communards; all season 34 couples will return to the floor for that moment. Additional production segments are scheduled to feature performances to “Sugar On My Tongue” by Tyler, The Creator, “Applause” by Lady Gaga and “I Don’t Dance” by Alexander Jean, adding varied contemporary and pop textures to the broadcast.
Alix Earle and Val Chmerkovskiy will perform a judges’ choice samba to “Hip Hip Chin Chin” by Club des Belugas, selected by Carrie Ann Inaba, and will close their freestyle with a medley including “Maneater” (Nelly Furtado) and “Sports Car” (Tate McRae). The selection pairs Alix’s social-media persona with energetic samba rhythms intended to deliver show-stopping flair.
Robert Irwin and Witney Carson will dance a quickstep to Jet’s “Are You Gonna Be My Girl?” chosen by Derek Hough, followed by a freestyle set to “Black & Gold” (Sam Sparro) and “The Nights” (Avicii). The quickstep’s brisk tempo and the freestyle’s melodic mash-up are designed to highlight both technical footwork and emotive storytelling.
Dylan Efron and Daniella Karagach will tackle a judges’ choice paso doble chosen by Bruno Tonioli, set to “Stampede” by Alexander Jean featuring Lindsey Stirling, and their freestyle will use “Something in the Heavens” by Lewis Capaldi. Elaine Hendrix and Alan Bersten will perform a rumba selected by Derek Hough to “Take My Breath Away” by Jae Hall and will freestyle to “I Hope I Get It” from A Chorus Line. Jordan Chiles and Ezra Sosa will take a paso doble to Rihanna’s “Breakin’ Dishes” chosen by Carrie Ann Inaba and will freestyle to Normani’s “Motivation.”
Analysis & Implications
This finale underlines how DWTS blends competitive scoring with entertainment programming to maximize appointment viewing. Music choices range from classic show tunes to contemporary pop, reflecting producers’ intent to balance technical dance requirements with crowd-pleasing spectacle. Judges’ selections — often tailored to test strengths or expose weaknesses — can shift the competitive balance on the night when voting and scores are tallied.
Streaming the show simultaneously on ABC and Disney+ (and placing it on Hulu the next day) speaks to a multiplatform distribution strategy designed to capture both live-broadcast audiences and streaming viewers. That distribution can affect turnout for live votes and social engagement, particularly among younger viewers who follow contestants on social media.
For the finalists, song choices and choreography influence how judges score and how viewers connect emotionally, which is crucial in a format where audience votes can be decisive. A technically demanding judges’ choice paired with a charismatic freestyle can create momentum; conversely, a misstep during a high-stakes routine can be difficult to recover from before votes close.
Comparison & Data
| Finalist | Judges’ Choice & Song | Freestyle Song(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Alix Earle & Val Chmerkovskiy | Samba — “Hip Hip Chin Chin” (Club des Belugas) | “Maneater” (Nelly Furtado); “Sports Car” (Tate McRae) |
| Robert Irwin & Witney Carson | Quickstep — “Are You Gonna Be My Girl?” (Jet) | “Black & Gold” (Sam Sparro); “The Nights” (Avicii) |
| Dylan Efron & Daniella Karagach | Paso doble — “Stampede” (Alexander Jean ft. Lindsey Stirling) | “Something in the Heavens” (Lewis Capaldi) |
| Elaine Hendrix & Alan Bersten | Rumba — “Take My Breath Away” (Jae Hall) | “I Hope I Get It” (from A Chorus Line) |
| Jordan Chiles & Ezra Sosa | Paso doble — “Breakin’ Dishes” (Rihanna) | “Motivation” (Normani) |
The table above summarizes judge-selected dances and freestyle songs. These pairings reveal a mix of genres: samba and rumba for sultry, technical holds; quickstep and paso doble for fast tempo and dramatic flair; freestyles that often combine multiple songs to showcase range. Producers and choreographers use song selection strategically to highlight storytelling or technical difficulty.
Reactions & Quotes
“All season 34 couples return for an opening number choreographed by Joey Pizzi, set to ‘Never Can Say Goodbye.'”
ABC News (news report)
“Season 33 winners Joey Graziadei and Jenna Johnson will perform a special number to ‘Tanguera’ by Fabio Hager Sexteto during the finale.”
ABC News (news report)
Unconfirmed
- The exact running order of all performances and the sequence of guest appearances have not been fully published in advance and may change on the night.
- Specific judging-score weightings versus audience vote totals for the final tally (exact vote-to-score ratio) were not detailed in the preview and may be clarified by producers at broadcast.
- Any surprise cameo artists or additional encore performances not listed in the pre-show announcement remain possible but unverified.
Bottom Line
The season 34 finale promises a condensed showcase of technical tests and high-energy freestyles designed to highlight each finalist’s strengths before judges’ scores and public votes decide the Mirrorball Trophy winner. Producers are leaning on a mix of nostalgic and contemporary music, returning couples, and alumni appearances to maximize emotional payoff and streaming engagement.
Viewers should tune in live at 8 p.m. ET on Nov. 25 for the immediate results and social conversation; the telecast’s simulcast on Disney+ and next-day availability on Hulu also reflect how legacy broadcast events are adapting to multiplatform audiences. Expect the night to hinge on a few pivotal moments — a flawless judges’ choice, a memorable freestyle, or a viral social moment that drives votes.
Sources
- ABC News — news article reporting the finale line-up and song selections (news).
- Dancing with the Stars — official show page (ABC) — official show information and broadcast details (official).
- Disney+ — streaming platform details and simulcast information (platform).