Harry Shum Jr took the highest score on the opening night of Dancing with the Stars (DWTS) season 35. The former Glee performer brings years of dance experience to his debut but says he had never danced ballroom.
Shum and professional partner Jenna Johnson earned 21 out of 30 for a cha-cha to Earth, Wind & Fire’s «Let’s Groove» on 15 September. Paralympic champion Ezra Frech finished just behind on 20, leaving a one-point gap between the leading men.
That made Shum the first-night leader, rather than the leader of a completed opening round. The premiere is split across two evenings, with the female celebrities competing on 16 September and one contestant leaving each night, according to ABC’s elimination guide.
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Harry Shum’s dance background meets a new test
Shum’s performance experience includes Glee and work as a backing dancer for Beyoncé. Judges praised his musicality and potential, according to TheWrap’s account of the broadcast. He is also continuing production on Grey’s Anatomy while competing, adding rehearsals and live performances to his acting schedule.
The opening result also showed why the lowest judges’ score does not automatically mean elimination. Guillermo Rodriguez received 10, while Conner Leavitt scored 12 but became the first celebrity to leave, according to Entertainment Weekly.
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ABC confirms that it combines viewer votes with the judges’ marks to decide which couples advance. Leavitt and his partner, Adele Zaikman, were eliminated after performing a salsa to Tag Team’s «Whoomp! (There It Is).»
After the two-night premiere, the programme airs on Tuesdays at 8pm Eastern Time on ABC and Disney+ in the US, with episodes available the following day on Hulu. International availability depends on local rights.
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