Dedication Night Twist Sends Jordan Fisher to Top, Scott Hoying Out on Wicked Night

When Jordan Fisher and his pro partner Ezra Sosa nailed a tango to Doechii’s “Anxiety,” they didn’t just earn a perfect 24; they set the tone for a night that would rewrite the show’s elimination playbook.

Season 34’s fifth episode, billed as “Dedication Night,” aired on October 14, 2025, on ABC and streamed the next day on Disney+. The twist? No one went home that week, and every score was hoisted onto the next episode’s leaderboard.

Dedication Night: A Non‑Elimination Twist

Usually, a Tuesday night of ballroom drama ends with a single couple saying goodbye. This time, the producers pulled the plug on the traditional exit, citing a desire to “heighten suspense” for the upcoming musical‑themed showdown. All eight remaining pairs performed dances dedicated to people who matter most—parents, mentors, or even a beloved pet. The judging panel was one‑man‑short: longtime judge Carrie Ann Inaba was absent for undisclosed reasons, leaving Bruno Tonioli and Derek Hough to dole out the scores. Their 10‑point breakdown (each judge contributing a maximum of 10) still felt familiar, but the missing third voice left room for speculation about how the scores would stack up.

Scoring Breakdown and Highlights

Here’s a quick snapshot of who earned what on Tuesday:

• Jordan Fisher & Ezra Sosa – Tango – 24 points (8, 8, 8)
• Dylan Sprouse & Daniella Karagach – Foxtrot – 23 points (7, 8, 8)
• Scott Hoying & Rylee Arnold – Jazz – 22 points (8, 7, 7)
• Danielle Jonas & Pasha Pashkov – Foxtrot – 21 points (7, 7, 7)
• Elaine Welteroth & Alan Bersten – Tango – 21 points (7, 7, 7)
• Jen Affleck & Jan Čejka – Cha‑cha‑cha – 19 points (7, 6, 6)
• Lauren Speed & Brandon Armstrong – Cha‑cha‑cha – 18 points (6, 6, 6)

The low‑scoring Speed‑Armstrong duo would later feel the sting when week‑5 and week‑6 numbers were merged, but for now they were safely on the dance floor.

Wicked Night: Guest Judge Jon M. Chu Takes the Stage

One week later, on October 21, 2025, the ballroom transformed into an emerald‑green wonderland straight out of the “Wicked” musical. The set designers drenched the studio in glittering green, and the audience got a surprise guest judge: director Jon M. Chu, best known for the blockbuster “Wicked: For Good.”

Chu’s judging style leaned heavily on storytelling and theatricality, a shift from Hough’s technical focus. While Tonioli kept his flamboyant commentary, the three‑judge panel now totaled 30 possible points per dance—another factor that made the combined‑week scoring even more crucial.

Elimination Shock: Scott Hoying and Rylee Arnold Depart

When the scores from Dedication Night were added to Wicked Night’s fresh numbers, the leaderboard resembled a high‑stakes math puzzle. Dylan Sprouse & Daniella Karagach topped the combined tally with 36 points, followed closely by Robert Irwin & Whitney Carson and Alex Earl & Val Chirkovski at 35 each.

Despite a respectable 22 points on Dedication Night, Scott Hoying—a 35‑year‑old vocalist from the Grammy‑winning a cappella group Pentatonix—found himself in the crosshairs once audience votes were factored in. The final elimination message read, “Scott Hoying and professional partner Rylee Arnold are leaving the competition.” Hoying’s farewell was both heartfelt and, oddly enough, perfectly timed with the Wicked theme: “It’s been everything. I had so much fun, I learned so much, and it’s Wicked Night — that’s the perfect way to go.”

What the New Scoring Rule Means for the Competition

Historically, DWTS has kept each week’s judges’ scores self‑contained; the audience vote decides the bottom two, but the judges’ numbers never carry forward. This season’s experiment—carrying Dedication Night scores into the elimination mix—creates a cumulative pressure cooker. Contestants can no longer rely on a single “good night” to rescue them; consistency across weeks is now the name of the game.

Industry analysts at Variety argue the move could boost viewership. “Fans love a gamble,” says senior TV analyst Maya Lin. “When scores lock together, the audience feels their vote truly matters, because it’s the difference between a safe spot and an exit.”

Looking Ahead: Halloween Night Preview

The next episode, slated for Tuesday, October 28, 2025, will be themed “Halloween Night.” The remaining nine couples will channel spooky classics—think “Thriller” and “Ghostbusters”—while the judges keep an eye on the evolving leaderboard. With the new scoring model, a low‑scoring performance on Halloween could be fatal, especially for those still hovering in the 30‑point range.

One thing’s certain: the drama isn’t over. As the season barrels toward its finale, every twirl, dip, and lift carries double the weight, and fans will be watching every heartbeat.

Key Facts

• Date of Dedication Night: October 14, 2025
• Date of Wicked Night: October 21, 2025
• Eliminated: Scott Hoying & Rylee Arnold
• Top Scoring Couple (combined weeks): Dylan Sprouse & Daniella Karagach – 36 points
• New scoring rule: Judges’ scores from non‑elimination week added to next week’s totals before audience votes are applied