Week 9 of Dancing With the Stars delivered a star-studded 20th birthday celebration on Tuesday night, with former champions and Season 34 competitors sharing the ballroom and the spotlight. Robert Irwin emerged as the episode’s standout, earning perfect scores in the main round and winning the evening’s relay to tie for the top total. The episode featured a return by longtime host Tom Bergeron as guest judge, a homage to the series’ past choreographed by Derek Hough, and a bittersweet elimination of fan favorite Andy Richter and partner Emma Slater.
Key Takeaways
- Robert Irwin received the season’s first perfect score and won the relay round, finishing with 42 points in Week 9.
- Three other couples also reached or tied the top score: Whitney Leavitt & Mark Ballas (42), Dylan Efron & Daniella Karagach (42), and Alix Earle & Val Chmerkovskiy (40).
- Week 9 was a 20th anniversary special featuring six former mirrorball champions joining Season 34 for a relay round that added two bonus points to final tallies.
- Tom Bergeron returned as a guest judge after his 2019 exit; Derek Hough choreographed the opening tribute that included Season 1 pros.
- Andy Richter and Emma Slater were eliminated after finishing Week 9 with 29 points.
- Elaine Hendrix, Dylan Efron, Jordan Chiles, Alix Earle and Whitney Leavitt each earned high marks, with Hendrix and Earle also receiving standing ovations and praise from judges.
- Immunity carried over for Whitney Leavitt & Mark Ballas: they received two automatic bonus points and sat out the relay.
Background
Dancing With the Stars marked its 20th anniversary by inviting past mirrorball champions and former professionals back to the ballroom, reinforcing the franchise’s long-running appeal and its growing alumni community. Since its Season 1 premiere, the series has evolved into a cultural fixture that blends celebrity competition with returning pros and occasional format twists—this season’s relay round paired current contenders with former winners for a unique head-to-head bonus.
Season 34 has already featured high-stakes moments and notable cast dynamics, from social-media sensations breaking into ballroom-style dance to athletes and entertainers testing unfamiliar styles. Judges Derek Hough, Bruno Tonioli and Carrie Ann Inaba continued to balance technical critique with performance appreciation; Tom Bergeron’s guest-judge slot this week recalled his long tenure as the show’s original host.
Main Event
The anniversary broadcast opened with the series’ theme and an ensemble number choreographed by Derek Hough that included the six original Season 1 pros alongside the current professionals. That nod to the show’s origins set a celebratory tone before the competitive rounds resumed.
Elaine Hendrix started the competitive program with a salsa to “It Takes Two,” explicitly channeling Mario Lopez and Karina’s past freestyle chemistry; judges praised her energy and Bruno Tonioli compared the routine to “fine champagne.” Tom Bergeron acknowledged personal bias when scoring and embraced Hendrix onstage after her performance.
Robert Irwin delivered an emotional foxtrot tribute to his late father Steve Irwin, echoing a past Bindi Irwin routine to “Footprints in the Sand.” Irwin had reportedly canceled travel plans with Prince William to remain in the competition; the prince later called to offer encouragement. Carrie Ann Inaba set aside a strict lift ruling and awarded Irwin a perfect score after Witney Carson joined him on the floor and a projection of father and son closed the piece.
Dylan Efron’s Argentine tango to “Ain’t No Sunshine” earned him his first perfect score and significant praise for technical growth; Derek Hough called it a breakthrough. Jordan Chiles brought fierce cha-cha energy inspired by Wayne Brady, and Alix Earle’s foxtrot to “Singin’ in the Rain” captured classic Hollywood glamour and also received a perfect mark. Whitney Leavitt’s theatrical Argentine tango to “Cell Block Tango” secured the show’s fourth perfect score of the night.
After the main dances, six of seven couples participated in the relay round (Whitney Leavitt & Mark Ballas were exempt due to immunity and received two bonus points automatically). Each Season 34 competitor was paired with a former mirrorball winner and performed a short style-off for two additional points. Robert Irwin, partnered with Season 32 winner Xochitl Gomez, won the jive relay; that bonus helped solidify his tie at the top of the leaderboard.
Analysis & Implications
The 20th-anniversary format highlighted both brand nostalgia and tactical gameplay. Pairing current competitors with former champions raised the stakes: chemistry, adaptability and stage presence became decisive in the two-point relay, a relatively small addition that nonetheless shifted rankings by measurable margins.
Robert Irwin’s emotional narrative—tying personal history to performance—proved effective both artistically and competitively. Judges responded to the storytelling aspect as well as technical execution, and the relay win showed that short-format head-to-head moments can disproportionately influence outcomes late in a season.
The return of Tom Bergeron as guest judge underscored the show’s reliance on familiar personalities to drive viewer engagement. For producers, nostalgia segments and alumni appearances offer high-reward programming value, but they also require careful balance to keep current competitors’ arcs clear and fair.
For contestants, the episode illustrated the importance of versatility: competitors who can switch between theatricality and strict technique—from quickstep to Argentine tango—are best positioned for the quarterfinals. Looking ahead, small bonuses (like the relay’s two points or immunity benefits) will likely be decisive in pairings that are otherwise statistically even.
Comparison & Data
| Couple | Week 9 Total |
|---|---|
| Whitney Leavitt & Mark Ballas | 42 |
| Dylan Efron & Daniella Karagach | 42 |
| Robert Irwin & Witney Carson | 42 |
| Alix Earle & Val Chmerkovskiy | 40 |
| Jordan Chiles & Ezra Sosa | 39 |
| Elaine Hendrix & Alan Bersten | 36 |
| Andy Richter & Emma Slater | 29 |
The leaderboard shows a three-way tie at the top (42 points) and a clear drop to Andy Richter at 29. The relay round and immunity mechanics produced measurable movement: Whitney Leavitt & Mark Ballas’ immunity granted two automatic bonus points, while Irwin’s relay victory added two earned points. Over a short stay in the competition, a single two-point swing can change rankings and elimination risk.
Reactions & Quotes
“Len would’ve loved yours,”
Tom Bergeron, guest judge
Bergeron referenced a Season 2 anecdote while praising Andy Richter’s quickstep, framing the performance in the show’s long history and offering a warm, comparative compliment.
“You definitely brought sexy back into the cha cha cha,”
Bruno Tonioli, judge
Tonioli’s comment followed Jordan Chiles’ cha-cha, underscoring how much judges value stylistic authenticity and audience impact as well as precision.
“That was your breakthrough moment by a long shot,”
Derek Hough, judge
Hough told Dylan Efron that the Argentine tango represented a clear technical and artistic leap, signaling potential momentum for Efron in the weeks ahead.
Unconfirmed
- Whether Tom Bergeron will return as a recurring guest judge beyond this anniversary episode remains unannounced.
- The long-term impact of the relay format on scoring policy for future seasons has not been confirmed by producers.
- Any additional private discussion between Robert Irwin and Prince William beyond the brief supportive phone call reported has not been publicly detailed.
Bottom Line
Tuesday’s 20th birthday episode blended tribute and competition, using alumni appearances and format tweaks to create meaningful, score-changing moments. Robert Irwin capitalized on an emotional, technically strong foxtrot and a relay win to emerge as one of several leaders heading into the quarterfinals.
For viewers and competitors alike, the episode reinforced that storytelling, adaptability and short-format bonus rounds can be as influential as raw technique. As Season 34 progresses, small advantages—immunity, bonus points and memorable routines—will likely separate finalists from those facing elimination.
Sources
- Yahoo News Canada (news report)
- TheWrap (original post referenced) — entertainment news
- ABC: Dancing With the Stars (official) — network show page