DWTS Wicked Night: Shocking Elimination & First 10s of Season 34!

Last Tuesday, the Dancing With The Stars ballroom transformed into the magical Land of Oz for "Wicked Night," bringing high-flying performances, unexpected scores, and a truly emotional elimination. Get ready for all the glittering details!

TL;DR: Your Quick Guide to DWTS Wicked Night

• Scott Hoying and Rylee Arnold were eliminated after combining scores from "Dedication Night" and "Wicked Night."
• Whitney Leavitt & Mark Ballas, and Jordan Chiles & Ezra Sosa soared to the top, earning the season's first 10s and tying with 39 out of 40 points!
• Jon M. Chu, director of the Wicked films, joined as guest judge, offering his expert insights on the dazzling performances.

Stepping Into Oz: How 'Wicked Night' Took Over the Ballroom

If you love show tunes and dazzling dance moves, then Dancing With the Stars' "Wicked Night" on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, was your absolute dream come true. The ballroom was completely reimagined, pulling out all the stops to celebrate the beloved musical Wicked and its highly anticipated film sequels, including the upcoming Wicked: For Good.

From the moment the show kicked off with a spectacular opening number featuring the pros dancing to a medley of iconic Wicked songs (think "No One Mourns the Wicked," "Defying Gravity," and "What Is This Feeling?"), it was clear this wasn't just another themed night. The energy was palpable, the costumes were vibrant, and even the set pieces were straight out of Glinda and Elphaba's world.

Adding to the star power was special guest judge Jon M. Chu, the visionary director behind the Wicked movies. He joined our esteemed panel of Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough, and Bruno Tonioli, bringing his unique perspective on storytelling through performance. Plus, fans even got a sneak peek at a never-before-seen clip from Wicked: For Good and video messages from the film's stars like Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, making it a truly immersive experience for musical lovers.

The Green Gauntlet: Who Bid Farewell to the Mirrorball Trophy?

After a week of no eliminations during "Dedication Night," the stakes were incredibly high heading into "Wicked Night." The scores from both weeks were combined with viewer votes, making for a truly nail-biting conclusion. When the dust settled, it was none other than Pentatonix's Grammy-winning singer Scott Hoying and his pro partner Rylee Arnold who were sent home.

Scott, a self-proclaimed Wicked super fan, and Rylee performed a Contemporary routine to "The Wizard and I." Scott, embodying the Wizard to Rylee's Elphaba, aimed to take up more space on the floor, addressing prior judges' feedback. However, their routine, while vigorous, was dinged for "choppy transitions" by guest judge Jon M. Chu and earned them a score of 28 out of 40.

Despite the elimination, Scott shared some heartfelt sentiments:

"I feel really... lucky. Genuinely," he told "Extra" after his elimination. "And I'm so sad to go, but I just can't believe it. Like, my husband and I were standing face-to-face announcing our baby on the show, that's crazy. That's more than I could've ever dreamed for."

It was a poignant moment, especially considering Scott had just revealed his and husband Mark Hoying's baby news via surrogacy during "Dedication Night." Rylee Arnold reciprocated the admiration, telling Scott, "I'm so proud of you. You did amazing this season, and I couldn't have asked for a better partner." While their journey ended on "Wicked Night," their memorable performances and personal milestones will surely be remembered.

Defying Gravity: The Standout Performances of the Night

While one couple's journey ended, others absolutely soared, earning some of the highest scores of the season – including the very first 10s! Two couples tied for the top spot, proving that hard work and a touch of magic can pay off big time.

Whitney Leavitt & Mark Ballas: "Popular" Prowess

Reality TV star Whitney Leavitt from The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives and her partner Mark Ballas truly redeemed themselves after a small stumble on "Dedication Night." Dancing a Quickstep to "Popular," Whitney embraced her inner Glinda with a performance that was pure joy and technical brilliance. They even got to use some of the actual set pieces from the Wicked film!

The judges were floored. Jon M. Chu called it "the perfect blend of technical prowess and... art," adding, "I was floating on air in a bubble watching it." Whitney and Mark earned an incredible 39 out of 40 points, receiving three perfect 10s (only Derek Hough held back with a 9, and honestly, we're still wondering why!).

"It felt great—amazing feelings, super grateful, but also, just very proud of Whitney 'cause it's a lot," Mark exclusively told E! News. Whitney echoed, "It just felt like me, so it was easy to just put on a show for it."

Jordan Chiles & Ezra Sosa: Dancing "For Good"

Olympic gold medalist Jordan Chiles and her partner Ezra Sosa closed out the night with a breathtaking Rumba to "For Good." It was a unique take on the Rumba, which typically embodies lovers, as they beautifully portrayed the deep friendship between Elphaba and Glinda. Their chemistry and emotional connection shone through, leaving the judges in awe.

Carrie Ann Inaba simply declared it "perfection!" Jordan and Ezra also earned a phenomenal 39 out of 40 points, with three 10s. This was an especially significant moment for Ezra Sosa, who shared his excitement:

"I've never had a 10 before on the show in my life," Ezra told E! News. "That's always been the absolute dream of mine. So, just the fact that I get to experience it with someone I absolutely love and adore just makes it that much more special."

Jordan added, "Knowing that we're halfway done and we just got our first 10s of the season means everything. It means everybody is seeing the progress and the progression that we're trying to give."

Other Notable Performances from 'Wicked Night'

Many other couples delivered their best performances yet, scoring impressive 36/40 points with nines across the board:

• Robert Irwin & Witney Carson: Their Jazz to "Dancing Through Life" was praised by Inaba, who called it "so ambitious" and "stunning" choreography. Robert truly embodied Fiyero's breezy energy.
• Elaine Hendrix & Alan Bersten: Dancing a Contemporary to "Defying Gravity," Elaine brought the ballroom to its feet. Inaba even shed tears, calling it "something special" and a display of "beauty, elegance... I am so proud of you."
• Danielle Fishel & Pasha Pashkov: Their Argentine Tango to "No Good Deed" was Fishel's "breakthrough," according to Inaba. Bruno Tonioli praised its "passion and drama" and "fantastic style."

Other strong performances included Alix Earle & Val Chmerkovskiy's Jazz to "What Is This Feeling?" (35/40) and Dylan Efron & Daniella Karagach's Rumba to "I'm Not That Girl" (32/40), where Dylan proved his hips could move! Even Andy Richter & Emma Slater earned their highest score yet (27/40) for their Jazz to "One Short Day," with Bruno Tonioli proclaiming, "You were on time! It's a miracle!"

Still in the Race: The Celebrities Continuing Their Journey to the Mirrorball

With Scott Hoying and Rylee Arnold's departure, the competition is heating up, and only five weeks remain until the grand finale! Here's who's still in the running for the coveted Mirrorball Trophy:

• Jen Affleck (with Jan Ravnik)
• Jordan Chiles (with Ezra Sosa)
• Alix Earle (with Val Chmerkovskiy)
• Dylan Efron (with Daniella Karagach)
• Danielle Fishel (with Pasha Pashkov)
• Elaine Hendrix (with Alan Bersten)
• Robert Irwin (with Witney Carson)
• Whitney Leavitt (with Mark Ballas)
• Andy Richter (with Emma Slater)

It’s anyone’s game now, and with the high scores seen during "Wicked Night," the remaining weeks promise even more spectacular and competitive dancing!

Catch All the Glitter: How to Watch & What's Coming Up Next on DWTS

Can't get enough of the dazzling performances and dramatic eliminations? Good news! Season 34 of Dancing With the Stars continues to air and stream simultaneously.

• Live Broadcast: You can catch new episodes live on ABC every Tuesday night at 8:00-10:00 p.m. EDT/PDT (7:00-9:00 p.m. CDT).
• Live Streaming: For those who prefer to stream, new episodes are available live on Disney+ at the same time as the ABC broadcast. You can also use live-streaming services like Hulu + Live TV, FuboTV, YouTube TV, or Sling.
• Next-Day Streaming: If you miss the live show or just want to rewatch your favorite routines, new episodes are available to stream the very next day (Wednesdays) on Hulu.
• Voting: Remember, your votes count! Live voting takes place during the East Coast and Central Time zone airings via dwtsvote.abc.com and participating U.S. wireless carriers via SMS/text.

And for what's next? Get ready for some spooky fun! The ballroom will be filled with ghoulish glamour as the show celebrates its annual Halloween-themed night on October 28. Expect creative costumes, eerie music, and hopefully, more terrifyingly good scores!

Frequently Asked Questions About DWTS "Wicked Night"

Got more questions about the most recent Dancing With the Stars episode? We've got you covered!

When did the DWTS "Wicked Night" episode air?

The "Wicked Night" episode for Dancing With the Stars Season 34 aired live on Tuesday, October 21, 2025.

Where can I stream or rewatch DWTS Season 34 episodes?

You can stream new episodes live on Tuesdays on Disney+ or ABC's website. If you want to watch on demand, new episodes are available on Hulu the day after they air (Wednesdays).

What was "Wicked Night" on DWTS about?

"Wicked Night" was a themed episode of Dancing With the Stars Season 34 where contestants performed ballroom routines to songs from the beloved musical Wicked and its upcoming film sequels. It also featured special guest judge Jon M. Chu, director of the Wicked films.

Who was eliminated during DWTS "Wicked Night"?

Scott Hoying, the singer from Pentatonix, and his professional partner Rylee Arnold were eliminated on "Wicked Night." Their elimination was based on a combination of judges' scores and viewer votes from both "Dedication Night" and "Wicked Night."

Sources: The Hollywood Reporter, USA TODAY, E! News, Playbill, OnTheRedCarpet.com, Good Housekeeping, ABC Publicity.