There will be carnage in the ballroom when ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" returns tonight, Oct. 27, for the Halloween-themed "Horror Movie Night" (8 p.m. ET/PT, streaming live on Disney+ and the following day on Hulu).
But the horrors won't stem fromlast week's national paso dobacle over pro dancer Val Chmerkovskiy's unprecedented one-week suspension after invoking Will Smith's infamous Oscar moment in response to judge Carrie Ann Inaba's critique of his wife, fellow pro Jenna Johnson.
"DWTS" didn't acknowledge the ballroom brouhaha during the Oct. 20 episode when it was fully frothing. Co-host Alfonso Ribeiro simply announced that Chmerkovskiy, 40, was absent and Alan Bersten (the pro dancer you want to bring home to the parents) would be stepping
in for Val as Jenna Dewan's partner.
If there were scores given to sidestepping a controversy, "DWTS" producers would have received straight 10s.
That appears to be the approach heading into Tuesday's Halloween-themed special, when Chmerkovskiy returns to the ballroom. All parties seem eager to move on, and it would be a surprise if the boneheaded scandal breaks out for another freestyle in the spotlight.
Chmerkovskiy has been on his best behavior on social media, handing out red-heart emojis like a Red Cross blood drive. He's already apologized. Maybe the pro will give a contrite word or take what's coming when facing Inaba during the dance judging portion (a must-watch moment regardless).
Two contestants will go home in 'DWTS' Halloween mayhem
The real blood on the dance floor Tuesday will come from the show's double elimination, after nobody was booted amid the beautiful tears and ugly cries of"Dedication Night." This TV reality show train is propelled by mowing down beloved contestants to crown a champion. So two couples will be sent packing during "Horror Movie Night" as a result of last week's reprieve, with last week's scores and viewer votes carrying over.
Here's where the main parties will likely head:
Val Chmerkovskiy won't be invoking Will Smith or even fresh produce
Chmerkovskiy doesn't have to look far to see what can happen when a "DWTS" star pushes the limits. His outspoken, judge-feuding older brother, Maksim "Maks" Chmerkovskiy, hasn't competed on the show since 2017, after 17 seasons and one Mirrorball Trophy.
Val, a three-time Mirrorball champion, can't let poor comments derail the ballroom gravy train. Expect Charming Chmerkovskiy to return, flash that winning smile and save any complaints for the privacy of his man-cave.
Carrie Ann Inaba will keep on judging, like Carrie Ann Inaba should
The veteran judge found herself at the center of the controversy after criticizing a lift during Johnson and Harry Shum Jr.'s samba on Oct. 13 that sparked this situation. Illegal lift-loathing Inaba even had the rule book printed at the table. Fellow judges Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli, both formally trained dancers, don't fuss about these lifts, but they have other things.
Somehow, Inaba, 58, has become a villain to some trolls who have set up camp in the comments on her social media. Maybe it was just emotional "Dedication Night," but Inaba was especially effusive last week, giving Johnson praise for her foxtrot with Shum and dropping a gracious 9 score. Inaba went full love for Dewan's Viennese waltz with substitute partner Bersten to "Unchained Melody," dedicated to Dewan's mother, Nancy Smith.
The ultimate sign of peace: Inaba awarded Dewan her first 10 of the season.
Jenna Dewan will keep on being a great, pro dancer
The nearly professional dancer, star of ABC's "The Rookie," has been working to build the kind of emotional connection with voters that can carry a contestant all the way to the Mirrorball Trophy.
Her partner's social media flap hasn't helped that effort. But Dewan, 45, has wisely avoided getting dragged into the dispute and is in no danger of elimination this week, or maybe ever. Now Chmerkovskiy is back, and Dewan can concentrate on the thing she does really, really well. Dance.
Dewan and Chmerkovskiy will perform an Argentine tango to "Uninvited" by Damned Anthem and Kendra Dantes, inspired by zombie movies. Like the undead, this couple could prove impossible to eliminate.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'DWTS' promises blood on the Halloween dance floor, but not Val's
