Was DWTS’ Wicked Elimination Spoiled Weeks Ago? Untangling the Theory

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Warning: This story contains spoilers from the Oct. 21 episode of Dancing With the Stars.

Scott Hoying’s busy schedule may not have left much room to compete for a Mirrorball Trophy.

Following a challenging week on Dancing With the Stars, Pentatonix singer and his dance partner Rylee Arnold were voted off the ABC show on October 21st.

Although fans were surprised by the elimination of the popular couple, one person on social media noticed a clear sign that they wouldn’t last long on the show.

A TikTok user posted a screenshot on October 21st showing a Google search result for the a cappella group’s “Christmas In the City” tour, which begins November 8th. This led people to believe that Scott would be leaving “Dancing With the Stars” soon enough to be able to prepare for the tour, which involves a lot of travel.

Someone commented on the video, explaining they knew Scott was returning home because Pentatonix’s tour begins in two weeks.

In addition to his tour, Scott has a lot on his plate with a new family addition. He and his husband, Mark Manio Hoying, announced during the October 14th episode of Dancing with the Stars that they are expanding their family.

Mark, 34, shared some exciting news with Rylee in a video message before Scott’s performance: they’re expecting a baby through a surrogate!

Scott admitted it sounds unbelievable, but having Mark as a partner has made being a father even more wonderful.

Scott shared her excitement about starting a family with her partner, saying they both feel incredibly fortunate.

You can watch Dancing With the Stars on ABC Tuesdays at 8 p.m. Eastern Time. Keep reading for exclusive behind-the-scenes content!

In 2019, Variety reported that contestants on Dancing With the Stars initially earn $125,000 for rehearsals and the first two weeks of the show, with earnings increasing weekly if they continue. Sources at the time estimated a maximum potential payout of $295,000.

However, Bobby Bones, who won season 27 with Sharna Burgess in 2018, claimed he earned significantly more.

Speaking on Jason Tartick’s Trading Secrets podcast in September 2025, Bones revealed a payment structure where contestants receive no money for the first episode, $10,000 for the second, and increasing amounts each week—potentially reaching $50,000 per episode if they stay on the show. He also stated he received a base salary of around $110,000, bringing his total earnings from the show to nearly $400,000.

ABC has not officially confirmed these figures.

Details about professional dancers’ earnings aren’t widely available, but like the celebrity contestants, they generally earn more the further they progress in the competition. Even if a pro dancer is eliminated early, they still receive payment. Jenna Johnson explained on the June 2025 episode of The Morning After podcast with Kelly Stafford and Hank Winchester that dancers are guaranteed payment for a certain number of weeks, though contracts can vary. She clarified that she can’t speak for all the pros.

It seems professional dancers on Dancing with the Stars don’t earn extra money for winning the Mirrorball Trophy, despite what many might think. While they don’t receive a large prize like a million-dollar payout, there’s still a financial benefit to reaching the finale. As pro dancer Jenna Johnson explained on The Morning After, making it to the end means getting paid for the entire season, plus a bonus. Winning, now named after the late Len Goodman, is more about the honor than the money – it’s a trophy to share with your celebrity partner!

That doesn’t seem to be true. Dancer Lindsay Arnold shared on the 2022 podcast Trading Secrets that her pay was reduced by more than half when she moved from a principal dancer to a member of the dance troupe.

Professional dancers have very little say in who they’re paired with on Dancing With the Stars. Lindsay explained on the Hot Smart Rich podcast that pairings are simply assigned, with dancers expected to make it work. Jenna added on The Morning After that the pairings are usually kept secret until the last minute to capture a genuine reaction. They don’t even tell the dancers who’s in the cast, trying to prevent leaks. According to former showrunner Rob Wade, the Dancing With the Stars team considers height, body type, personality, and compatibility when making matches. They avoid pairing people who are likely to clash, as the experience is too intense for everyone involved. Wade admitted they’ve made that mistake before, resulting in a miserable experience for the celebrity, the show, and viewers – and they don’t want to create that kind of drama.

Dancing with the Stars requires a huge time commitment. Rylee Arnold, who danced with Stephen Nedoroscik in season 33, explained on the Lightweights Podcast with Joe Vulpis that rehearsals typically last four hours, either from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., or 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. But the work doesn’t end there – she often spends additional time with producers, working on choreography, or studying dance routines. Rylee says it essentially takes over her whole life, but she loves it and is passionate about her work. The schedule is relentless, with rehearsals happening from Wednesday to Sunday after their Tuesday show, followed by camera blocking on Monday before starting the cycle again. It’s a job where there are no days off.

Oh my gosh, you guys, it’s happening! Emma and Britt finally confirmed it in a video last September – they’re totally coming back, though they said it’s a team effort with the show’s producers. I’m losing it! It’s not exactly what I hoped for, but I’ll take anything to see them dance again!

If you think the quickstep dance is fast-paced, you should see how quickly the costume department works! Costume designer Daniela Gschwendtner explained to TV Insider that they collaborate with set, lighting, and dance teams to create a unique story for each contestant’s outfit. Then, they have just five days – sometimes only half a day per costume – to create everything, before even adding the rhinestones. With a team of around 20 people plus a separate tailor shop, it’s a huge operation.

Steven Norman Lee, another costume designer, shared that dancers often don’t try on their costumes until just hours before the show. While they might re-use pants for male dancers, most costumes are custom-made each week.

As Gschwendtner added, they do reuse items for group performances or promotional photos, but never for the competition itself. They aim to keep the looks fresh and new each week to maintain excitement.

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2025-10-22 19:17