DWTS: Derek Hough Chimes In On Controversial Len Goodman Rule

Dancing With The Stars judge Derek Hough has some strong opinions about the show’s rules. Before joining the judging panel last season, Derek competed as a pro dancer for 17 seasons of DWTS. He is a six-time champion and last won the show with Bindi Irwin in season 21. He went on to place sixth with Marilu Henner in season 23. Now in its 30th season, Derek is joined by original DWTS judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Len Goodman and Bruno Tonioli. Derek missed one episode due to a potential COVID-19 exposure but returned the following week.

Since season 28, Dancing With The Stars has changed the voting format by incorporating a judges’ save. Like several other reality competition shows, the judges have the power to save one of the two contestants who received the lowest number of votes. However, since DWTS season 29, the format gives one judge more power than the others. With Derek being the fourth judge, there is the possibility of a tie among the judges’ votes. If Carrie Ann, Derek and Bruno do not come to a unanimous decision, then head judge Len casts the deciding vote. It effectively has the power to cancel out the other judges’ votes. This season, DWTS fans were particularly frustrated when Len chose to send home contestants like Matt James and Mel C.

Now Derek is chiming in to Us Weekly with his opinions on the format. He too feels that it’s unfair, saying, “I still don’t understand it, and I’ve said this to producers. I was like, ‘Guys, we gotta reword this thing because the tie doesn’t make sense.” Derek tried to simplify what he feels is the reality of the situation, adding, “So basically, this is kind of the way I’m explaining it: Essentially, Len has two votes, that’s it? Len has the weight of two votes. I wish we just said it like that because that makes so much more sense.” Despite expressing his confusion and frustration, Derek admitted that he does think the rule is fair, since Len has been a DWTS judge since the very first season.

Derek added that Dancing With The Stars is one of, if not the, only reality competition shows where all of the original judges have stayed on the panel this long. “[Len]’s the head judge,” he said. “There’s no show that exists where the original judges from season 1 [are still there in] season 30. It’s pretty impressive. It’s pretty remarkable.” DWTS pro dancers this season have also given their input. Cheryl Burke said that the format is a bit confusing but doesn’t mind it. Artem Chigvintsev said he thinks the format works but has an idea for an improvement. He said, “If the judges can’t decide who to send home, then it should be going into the voting system. Who got the most votes? The audience becomes a fifth judge in a sense.” This is how many other competition shows work, including America’s Got Talent, which DWTS host Tyra hosted for two seasons.

This season of DWTS has seen its fair share of controversy, which is what producers always hope for. However, they should be a bit concerned when fans are upset with the format of the show. When contestants are eliminated from DWTS based on the public vote, they are not responsible. If anything, leaving the results entirely up to the viewers may ease viewer complaints. The fans only have each other to blame for their favorites going home. But when producers introduce new rules, that takes the viewers’ power away, and fans become furious and even accuse the show of being rigged. While producers need to keep the show fresh, it is risky for an established show to make any major changes to the format. That being said, Dancing With The Stars clearly has a loyal fan base.

Dancing With The Stars airs Mondays at 8pm on ABC.

Source: Us Weekly