Is Dancing With the Stars Getting Too Soft?

By Lucy Fries, Staff Writer Edited by Eleanor Unsworth

The excitement of waiting for a new episode of your favorite series to be released is a feeling that unites viewers across the country. This fall, streamers have shifted their weekly obsession from The Summer I Turned Pretty to Dancing With the Stars. Since 2005, Dancing With the Stars has drawn major attention from viewers every season, giving them pieces of nostalgia, competition, and—let’s be honest—something to look forward to on a mundane Tuesday. Not only does the show host some of America’s favorite celebrities, but it also showcases fiery, emotional dance pieces that bring chills to its audience. Regardless of the talent on the show, viewers always get to participate by voicing their opinion. Whether it’s talking to their friends, posting on social media, or even voting, viewers are talking. 

This season, fans discuss this hot topic after every performance: how is Andy still on the show? After receiving some of the lowest scores out of the cast, Andy Richter and his partner Emma Slater have managed to progress in the show due to the support votes from the audience. This subject has sparked controversy, with some viewers supporting Richter and appreciating his dedication, while others feel like his votes are rooted in pity. 

The Richter-Slater duo started Week 1 with a total score of 9/20, putting them at the bottom out of a total of 14 pairs. Because it was the first week, being at the bottom of the leaderboard and having low scores was somewhat expected, as pairs were still learning the moves and acclimating to the stage. The couple successfully avoided elimination in Week 2, scoring a total of 16/30 points. They were still second to last in the leaderboard, but were pardoned by fans’ voting. Week 3 marked the beginning of the couple’s perseverance, which shocked fans. With a total score of 18/30 points, the couple tied for last place with Fifth Harmony singer Lauren Jauregui and ultimately survived elimination. Because Week 5 was Dedication Night, no pairs were eliminated. As if that was not already farther than anticipated by fans, the couple managed to make it through Week 6. However, the couple survived being at the bottom of the leaderboard during both Weeks 4 and 6, with a total score of 18/30 in Week 4 and 27/40 in Week 6. 

As Andy Richter has become a fan favorite and beloved by social media, he and Slater have managed to overcome their low scores to make their way to each next round. Viewers describe Richter’s positivity, likability, and overall “dad energy” that have made him a fan favorite online, even though he is not the best dancer of the group. Although Andy’s fan base has proved strong, the comedian is also receiving an immense amount of backlash, with ​​fans expressing that him staying on is turning the show into a popularity contest. There have been an abundance of critical comments posted on social media, nearly offsetting all of the positive ones. One viewer tweeted, “Because y’all decided to give your kids participation awards growing up is why Andy Richter is still on #DWTS. All of these people just encouraging mediocrity (& im using that word very generously) is wild but not surprising.”Another Dancing With The Stars fan also posted, “I mean, c’mon. I like Andy Richter as much as the next guy, but he’s a plank of wood out there on the floor and should have gotten the axe weeks ago.” 

Using Richter and Slater’s resilience as proof, fans are arguing that the show’s voting has become charm-based rather than talent-based. In addition to posting the frustration about Andy staying on, comments are beginning to direct blame towards the judges’ panel, sharing that the judges’ favoritism is the worst it’s ever been. One fan’s post stated, “I really can’t begin to understand Carrie Ann’s voting criteria beyond it just being favoritism and going off pure vibes.” This perspective has also taken into account the passing of long-time Dancing With the Stars judge Len Goodman, who was considered to be one of the show’s toughest critics. Goodman was renowned for his criticism and high expectations. His harshness was described to be not rooted in disdain or bitterness, but out of genuine love and passion for the craft of ballroom dancing. With these attributes in mind, receiving a “10” from Goodman was a rare occurrence, leaving the awarded couple ecstatic and fans astonished. The implementation of stricter judging is what made the high scores more rewarding and left fans stunned, an aspect viewers believe has begun to diminish in recent seasons. 

As the season continues and the show moves on to Week 7, the future standing of Andy Richter and Emma Slater remains up in the air. Opinions on the couple and the show as a whole continue to be divided, leaving viewers anxiously awaiting the next round of scoring. Regardless of whether fans support Andy or are praying for his downfall, a portion of the audience is bound to unhappily turn off their TV on Tuesday night. Ultimately, audience members are expressing disappointment in the diminishing sense of rigor that the show has offered this year in comparison to prior seasons. This shift has proven to hinder the excitement factor that fans value, leaving the audience wondering if Dancing with the Stars will return to its stricter standards. 

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