Giada De Laurentiis and Alan Bersten were eliminated from Dancing with the Stars on September 22. The pair performed a salsa to Becky G’s “Bella Ciao” during Season 35’s Viral Hits Night. The judges gave them 12 points out of 30, and the combined scores and viewer votes sent them home at the end of the show.
It was the third elimination of the season. The two-night premiere had already sent home Conner Leavitt and Sarah Jane Nader with their partners. Giada and Alan reached Week 2, but their salsa left them at the bottom of the judges’ scores. This was not a judges-only decision: the show combines scores with audience votes before announcing which couple leaves.
What did the judges say?
The three judges each gave the pair four points. Derek Hough said Giada still looked timid in parts of the routine. Bruno Tonioli made the night’s most direct comment about the dance:
“You gave me salsa without spice, that is a problem.”
Giada called the 12-point result disappointing in the broadcast recap. The rehearsal segment had also shown a difficult week for the pair. That makes the result less surprising, but it does not change that they completed the live routine. The official ABC photos show them on the dance floor and with the hosts after the performance.
Who was still in danger at the end?
Giada and Alan were one of the final three pairs left on the floor as the results were announced. Tyler Cameron and Sharna Burgess, and Guillermo Rodriguez and Witney Carson, were the other two. Both pairs were called safe before Giada and Alan’s elimination was confirmed. Being in the final group does not necessarily give an exact public ranking for the safe couples.
The episode had 14 couples before the elimination. Its theme was songs and moments that spread online, so the dances ranged from pop hits to tracks tied to TV fandom. Giada’s song and salsa style were on ABC’s official lineup before the show aired. Her exit was the main result of the night, while the remaining couples move on to the next round.
In the US, Dancing with the Stars airs live on ABC and Disney+ on Tuesdays. ABC says the episodes arrive on Hulu the next day. The Season 35 page has the cast art and official photos. If you are watching outside the US, check your local service, because ABC’s streaming schedule is regional.
