By Staff Investigative Entertainment Desk
Published September 16, 2026, 10:15 p.m. ET
Executive Overview
The ballroom of Dancing with the Stars has historically been a place of high glamour, gradual progression, and gentle introductions for celebrities finding their footing on the dance floor. However, the landmark Season 35 premiere week tore up the rulebook, delivering an unprecedented and unforgiving double-elimination bloodbath that has left both the cast and the fandom reeling.
Marking the first time the reality competition series has sent contestants packing during Week 1 since Season 32—when Veep star Matt Walsh was summarily shown the door—Season 35 introduced a high-stakes format change. Over two consecutive nights of intense competition, two couples had their journeys abruptly cut short. On Night 1, Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Conner Leavitt and professional partner Adele Zaikman were eliminated. They were swiftly followed on Night 2 by Sarah Jane Nader and her partner, Hailey Bills, after a grueling opening-week performance that failed to impress the judges and secure critical viewer votes.
The controversial decision to feature a Week 1 double elimination has sparked a fierce debate across social media. While some loyal viewers have criticized the move as overly harsh—arguing that celebrities and debut pros deserve at least a couple of weeks to settle into their rhythm—others have praised the aggressive pacing as an exciting twist designed to heighten tension in a supersized celebrity roster. As the dust settles on an explosive opening week, the remaining contenders must now pivot toward Week 2, where the margin for error has evaporated entirely.
Detailed Chronology: A Week of High Pressure and Heartbreak
The trouble began brewing long before the live cameras started rolling for Season 35. Producers teased a massive lineup, boasting one of the most eclectic casts in the history of the franchise. Yet, with a larger pool of talent comes the logistical necessity of trimming the fat early on, setting the stage for an unprecedented early-season cull.
Night 1: The First Blow Falls
The premiere night on Monday set a tense tone. The ballroom was packed with anticipation as a fresh batch of celebrities stepped into the spotlight, many of them experiencing the sheer terror of live television ballroom dancing for the very first time.
Among them was Secret Lives of Mormon Wives breakout star Conner Leavitt, paired with Adele Zaikman—the triumphant winner of the spinoff competition Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro. Hopes were high that Zaikman’s elite professional pedigree would elevate Leavitt to mid-tier safety. However, their energetic yet structurally flawed cha-cha failed to ignite the judges’ scorecards, resulting in a bleak 12 out of 30.
When the votes from the judges were combined with the live viewer tallies, Leavitt and Zaikman found themselves at the bottom of the pile. Their elimination on Night 1 sent an unmistakable message to the rest of the celebrity roster: reputation and viral internet fame would offer zero protection against early elimination.
Night 2: Sarah Jane Nader’s Journey Cut Short
If Night 1 stunned the audience, Night 2 compounded the shock. The pressure reached a boiling point as the remaining half of the premiere cast took to the floor. Among them was Sarah Jane Nader, partnered with Hailey Bills.
Nader and Bills poured every ounce of their energy into their Week 1 routine, attempting to demonstrate technical growth and undeniable charisma. Unfortunately, the performance struggled under the weight of nervous execution, culminating in a judge’s score of 14 out of 30. While competitive, it was not enough to survive a crowded leaderboard where standout routines from veterans and high-scoring ringers raised the baseline expectation for survival.
As the final credits rolled on Tuesday night, the atmosphere in the ballroom shifted from celebratory to somber. Nader and Bills were visibly emotional, holding back tears as they were immediately swarmed by their fellow contestants and professional dancers in a moving display of camaraderie. Despite the brevity of her time on the show, Nader’s grace under pressure left an impression, and industry insiders anticipate she may make a guest appearance later in the season.
Supporting Context & Metrics: The Anatomy of a Shocking Premiere
To understand why this double elimination has generated such seismic reactions within the fandom, one must examine the structural metrics and historical precedents of Dancing with the Stars.
Historically, Week 1 of DWTS has served as a grace period. Contestants perform routines they have spent weeks rehearsing, and while scores are logged and carried over, eliminations are traditionally withheld until Week 2 or even Week 3. This allows the audience to familiarize themselves with the personalities, gives underdogs time to capture the public imagination, and cushions the blow for novices who experience severe stage fright.
The last major deviation from this tradition occurred in Season 32, when comedian Matt Walsh was eliminated immediately following the premiere. However, Season 35 escalated this precedent by turning the opening stanza into a two-night gauntlet that claimed two couples before the audience even had a chance to digest the full roster.
Fan Reactions: Divided on the "Twist"
The digital landscape erupted immediately following Tuesday’s broadcast. On platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Reddit’s dedicated r/dancingwiththestars community, opinions were sharply polarized:
- The Critics: A vocal faction of the fandom argued that eliminating dancers in Week 1 is fundamentally unfair. Detractors pointed out that celebrities come from vastly different backgrounds—some with minor dance training, others with none at all—and that penalizing a contestant before they have received constructive feedback from the judges damages morale. Hashtags protesting the format sprang up within minutes of the broadcast.
- The Supporters: Conversely, a substantial segment of the audience embraced the high-stakes chaos. Proponents argued that modern reality television requires aggressive pacing to stay relevant against streaming competitors. With a larger-than-average cast this season, an early culling prevents the competition from dragging out predictable eliminations in the middle weeks.
Official Statements and Behind-the-Scenes Insights
While network executives at ABC have remained tight-lipped regarding specific justifications for the Season 35 formatting overhaul, production sources indicate that the decision was driven by scheduling constraints and a desire to maximize viewer engagement from the very first minute.
In post-show interviews, several professional dancers addressed the brutal emotional toll of the double elimination. Speaking anonymously, one veteran pro noted: "You spend four weeks building an intimate working relationship with your partner, teaching them how to move, listening to their insecurities, and pouring your heart into a 90-second routine. To have that vanish on night one or night two feels cruel, but it also reminds us all that this is a professional sport with very real stakes."
Conner Leavitt released a brief statement via social media following his Night 1 exit, expressing gratitude for the opportunity: "Adele and I left everything on that floor. It wasn’t the score we wanted, and our journey was way too short, but the lessons and the family I found in that ballroom are unforgettable."
Sarah Jane Nader echoed similar sentiments following her Tuesday departure, emphasizing that while the exit hurts, the experience of performing live on a national stage was a transformative personal milestone.
Future Outlook: Looking Ahead to Week 2 and Beyond
With the initial carnage of premiere week officially behind them, the surviving couples must now pivot toward the future. The logistical relief for the cast is that the two-night event format was strictly a Week 1 anomaly.
Beginning Monday, September 22, Dancing with the Stars Season 35 will return to its regularly scheduled programming cadence: a single, high-octane night of competition airing live on ABC and streaming simultaneously on Hulu, with next-day availability on Disney+.
What to Watch For in Week 2
- The Judges’ Retaliation: With the baseline established and two couples already sent home, judges are expected to tighten their scoring criteria even further. Technical precision will take precedence over sheer enthusiasm.
- Fan Base Mobilization: The early exits of Leavitt and Nader serve as a stark warning to fan bases: complacency kills. Viewers who assume their favorite celebrity is safe based on social media following learned a harsh lesson this week. Live voting during the broadcast will be more critical than ever.
- The Leaderboard Battle: High-performing couples from Night 2—such as Jenna and Val, who set the ballroom ablaze with their sultry tango to Blondie’s "Call Me," and Julia and Ezra, who charmed the audience with a lightning-fast quickstep to Dolly Parton’s iconic "9 to 5"—must defend their top-tier status against surging competitors aiming to steal the spotlight.
As the competition settles into its weekly rhythm, the shadow of Week 1 will undoubtedly loom large. The message to the remaining stars is loud and clear: adapt instantly, execute flawlessly, or risk becoming a footnote in one of the most unpredictable seasons in Dancing with the Stars history.
