Season twenty-three of Dancing with the Stars premiered on September 12, 2016, on the ABC network.
On November 22, 2016, Olympic gymnast Laurie Hernandez, made history as the youngest winner in the show's history, at age 16, and she was partnered with Valentin Chmerkovskiy. IndyCar driver James Hinchcliffe and Sharna Burgess finished in second place, and Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson Jr. and Lindsay Arnold finished third.
Cast
Couples This season featured thirteen celebrity contestants. The first eight professional dancers were revealed on Good Morning America on August 23, 2016: Lindsay Arnold, Sharna Burgess, Witney Carson, Artem Chigvintsev, Val Chmerkovskiy, Sasha Farber, Allison Holker, and Gleb Savchenko. The other returning dancers were later announced: Emma Slater, Maksim Chmerkovskiy, Derek Hough, and Cheryl Burke. Jenna Johnson was the only new pro this season, having previously been a member of the troupe.
The full cast was revealed on August 30, 2016, on Good Morning America.
Celebrity Notability Professional partner Status Actor Eliminated 1st Governor of Texas Eliminated 2nd Singer-songwriter & record producer Rapper & actor Model & actress Eliminated 5th Actress & author Eliminated 6th Olympic swimmer Eliminated 7th Actress, broadcaster & author Eliminated 8th Reality television personality Eliminated 9th Country music singer & actress Eliminated 10th NFL wide receiver Third place IndyCar driver Runners-up Olympic artistic gymnast Winners
Hosts and judges Tom Bergeron and Erin Andrews returned as hosts, and Carrie Ann Inaba, Len Goodman, and Bruno Tonioli returned as judges. On August 26, 2016, it was reported that Julianne Hough would return to the show as a judge following a one-season hiatus. Due to a personal tragedy, Erin Andrews took a week off from her co-hosting duties and former pro Kym Johnson-Herjavec filled in during the results show in week 3. On October 17, Pitbull took over Len Goodman's position as a guest judge for week 6. On November 7, Idina Menzel took over for Goodman as a guest judge for week 9.
Dance troupe The troupe consisted of returning members Alan Bersten, Brittany Cherry, Hayley Erbert, and Dennis Jauch, joined by former pro Keo Motsepe and new member Britt Stewart.
Episodes
Scoring chart The highest score each week is indicated in with a dagger (), while the lowest score each week is indicated in with a double-dagger ().
Color key:
+Dancing with the Stars (season 23) - Weekly scores Couple Week 1 2 1+2 345 6 5+6 78 910 11 Night 1 Night 2 Laurie & Val 1st 31 25 37 62 34+35=69 30+3=33 40+40= 30+30= 38+40= +40= James & Sharna 2nd 29 60 29 28 38 36+38= 30+5= 36+37=73 29+30=59 37+40=77 +40=117 Calvin & Lindsay 3rd 26 28 54 23 37 61 36+38= 30 37+37=74 26+30= 35+40=75 +40= Jana & Gleb 4th 27 29 56 26 23 26 66 34+35=69 27+3=30 40+40= 28+30=58 35+36= Terra & Sasha 5th 25 31 56 30 25 27 30 57 34+35=69 24 38+36=74 30+30= Marilu & Derek 6th 27 29 56 28 21 27 34 61 29+35= 36+36= Ryan & Cheryl 7th 24 24 48 25 22 30 54 28+38=66 23+3=26 Maureen & Artem 8th 22 26 48 28 24 31 55 28+38=66 Amber & Maks 9th 24 24 48 25 24 Vanilla Ice & Witney 10th 25 26 51 23 Babyface & Allison 26 30 56 25 Rick & Emma 12th Jake & Jenna 13th 22 2446 Notes
Weekly scores Individual judges' scores in the charts below (given in parentheses) are listed in this order from left to right: Carrie Ann Inaba, Len Goodman, Julianne Hough, Bruno Tonioli.
Week 1: First Dances Couples are listed in the order they performed. After Ryan & Cheryl's performance, two protesters were arrested for rushing to the stage and shouting at Lochte.
CoupleScoresDanceMusic Marilu & Derek 27 (7, 7, 6, 7) Jive "Can't Stop Dancin'" — Captain & Tennille James & Sharna 31 (8, 8, 7, 8) Foxtrot "Live Life" — Zayde Wølf Calvin & Lindsay 26 (7, 6, 6, 7) Cha-cha-cha "That's What I Like" — Flo Rida, feat. Fitz Maureen & Artem 22 (6, 5, 5, 6) Viennese waltz "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" — Mary J. Blige Babyface & Allison 26 (7, 6, 6, 7) Foxtrot "'Deed I Do" — Ray Charles Amber & Maks 24 (6, 6, 6, 6) Foxtrot "Here" — Alessia Cara Vanilla Ice & Witney 25 (7, 5, 6, 7) Cha-cha-cha "Ice Ice Baby" — Vanilla Ice Jana & Gleb 27 (7, 6, 6, 8) Viennese waltz "Dangerous Woman" — Ariana Grande Jake & Jenna 22 (5, 6, 5, 6) Jive "Kiss You" — One Direction Rick & Emma 20 (5, 5, 5, 5) Cha-cha-cha "God Blessed Texas" — Little Texas Terra & Sasha 25 (7, 6, 6, 6) Jive "Stuff Like That There" — Betty Hutton Ryan & Cheryl 24 (6, 6, 6, 6) Foxtrot "Call Me Irresponsible" — Michael Bublé Laurie & Val 31 (8, 8, 7, 8) Cha-cha-cha "American Girl" — Bonnie McKee
Week 2: TV Night The couples performed one unlearned dance to famous TV theme songs, and are listed in the order they performed.
CoupleScoresDanceMusicTelevision showResult Maureen & Artem Quickstep "The Brady Bunch Theme" — Peppermint Trolley Company The Brady Bunch Safe Jana & Gleb 29 (7, 8, 7, 7) Tango "I Don't Want to Be" — Gavin DeGraw One Tree Hill Safe Rick & Emma 22 (6, 5, 6, 5) Quickstep "Green Acres Theme" — Vic Mizzy Green Acres Safe Calvin & Lindsay 28 (7, 7, 7, 7) Foxtrot "As Days Go By" — Jesse Frederick Family Matters Safe Amber & Maks 24 (6, 6, 6, 6) Viennese waltz "Game of Thrones Theme" — Ramin Djawadi Game of Thrones Safe Jake & Jenna 24 (6, 6, 6, 6) Cha-cha-cha "Go, Diego, Go! Theme" — George Noriega & Joel Someillan Go, Diego, Go! Eliminated 26 (6, 7, 6, 7) Foxtrot "Love and Marriage" — Frank Sinatra Married... with Children Safe Terra & Sasha 31 (8, 7, 8, 8) Quickstep "Bewitched Theme" — Howard Greenfield & Jack Keller Bewitched Safe Babyface & Allison 30 (8, 7, 7, 8) Argentine tango "The X-Files" — Mark Snow The X-Files Safe Laurie & Val 32 (8, 8, 8, 8) Jive "DuckTales Theme" — Mark Mueller DuckTales Safe James & Sharna 29 (7, 7, 7, 8) Paso doble "The Walking Dead Theme"—Bear McCreary The Walking Dead Safe Marilu & Derek 29 (7, 8, 7, 7) Foxtrot "Angela" — Bob James Taxi Safe Ryan & Cheryl 24 (6, 6, 6, 6) Quickstep "The Muppet Show Theme" — Jim Henson & Sam Pottle The Muppet Show Safe
Week 3: Face-off Night The couples were paired off into six sets, and each set of couples performed the same dance to different songs. The highest-scoring couple from each set won immunity and could not be eliminated. Any ties were broken by Len Goodman. Couples are listed in the order they performed.
CoupleScoresDanceMusicResult Babyface & Allison Jive "Great Gosh A'Mighty" — Little Richard Safe Jana & Gleb 26 (6, 7, 6, 7) "Too Many Fish in the Sea" — Bette Midler Immunity Rick & Emma 23 (6, 5, 6, 6)Paso doble "Tamacun" — Rodrigo y Gabriela Eliminated 23 (6, 6, 5, 6) "Save Tonight" — Zayde Wølf Immunity James & Sharna 29 (7, 7, 8, 7)Cha-cha-cha "Big Trouble" — Outasight Immunity Ryan & Cheryl 25 (6, 7, 6, 6) "If It Ain't Love" — Jason Derulo Safe Terra & Sasha 30 (8, 7, 8, 7)Viennese waltz "Iris" — Goo Goo Dolls Safe Calvin & Lindsay 32 (8, 8, 8, 8) "Woman's World" — BJ the Chicago Kid Immunity Amber & Maks 25 (7, 6, 6, 6)Salsa "Booty" — Jennifer Lopez, feat. Iggy Azalea Safe Maureen & Artem 28 (7, 7, 7, 7) "Tres Deseos" — Gloria Estefan Immunity Laurie & Val 31 (7, 8, 8, 8)Tango "Into the Sunset (Headhunterz radio edit)" — Crystal Lake, feat. Kifi Immunity Marilu & Derek 28 (7, 7, 7, 7) "Battle Cry" — Imagine Dragons Safe
Week 4: Cirque du Soleil Night Individual judges' scores in this chart (given in parentheses) are listed in this order from left to right: Carrie Ann Inaba, Julianne Hough, Bruno Tonioli.
The couples performed one unlearned dance inspired by a Cirque du Soleil show, while acrobats, aerialists, dancers, and fire-stick performers from Cirque du Soleil performed alongside them. Two couples were eliminated at the end of the night. Couples are listed in the order they performed.
CoupleScoresDanceMusicCirque du Soleil showResult Calvin & Lindsay 23 (8, 7, 8) Charleston "Bella Donna Twist" — Raphaël Beau Kurios: Cabinet of Curiosities Safe Maureen & Artem 24 (8, 8, 8) Argentine tango "High Bar/Taiko" — Benoît Jutras MystèreSafe Jana & Gleb 23 (8, 7, 8) Foxtrot "Here Comes the Sun" — The Beatles The Beatles: LOVESafe Marilu & Derek 21 (7, 7, 7) Paso doble "Battlefield" — René Dupéré Kà Safe Amber & Maks 24 (8, 8, 8) Argentine tango "Tickle Tango" — Simon Carpentier Zumanity Safe Ryan & Cheryl 22 (7, 7, 8) Viennese waltz "Jeux d'Eau" — Benoît Jutras O Safe 18 (6, 6, 6) Tango "Come Together" — The Beatles The Beatles: LOVE Eliminated Terra & Sasha 25 (9, 8, 8) Samba "Tzelma" — Benoît Jutras O Safe Laurie & Val Jazz "The Way You Make Me Feel" — Michael Jackson Michael Jackson: One Safe Vanilla Ice & Witney 23 (8, 7, 8) Viennese waltz "La Nouba" — Benoît Jutras La Nouba Eliminated James & Sharna 28 (9, 9, 10) Quickstep "The Hollywood Wiz" — Guy Dubuc & Marc Lessard Paramour Safe
Week 5: Most Memorable Year Night Individual judges' scores in the chart below (given in parentheses) are listed in this order from left to right: Carrie Ann Inaba, Julianne Hough, Bruno Tonioli.
The couples performed one unlearned dance to celebrate the most memorable year of their lives. No elimination took place this week. Couples are listed in the order they performed.
CoupleScoresDanceMusic Maureen & Artem 24 (8, 8, 8) Foxtrot "From the Ground Up" — Dan + Shay Calvin & Lindsay 24 (8, 8, 8) Jazz "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" — Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell Jana & Gleb 26 (9, 8, 9) Contemporary "In My Daughter's Eyes" — Martina McBride Ryan & Cheryl 24 (8, 8, 8) Contemporary "A Song for You" — Leon Russell Laurie & Val 25 (8, 9, 8) Paso doble "Rise" — Katy Perry Marilu & Derek 27 (9, 9, 9) Viennese waltz "Surprise Yourself" — Jack Garratt Amber & Maks 24 (8, 8, 8) Samba "Woman Up" — Meghan Trainor James & Sharna 29 (10, 9, 10) Tango "The Right Time" — Yves V, feat. Mike James Terra & Sasha 27 (9, 9, 9) Contemporary "Stand by Me" — Florence + The Machine
Week 6: Latin Night Individual judges' scores in the chart below (given in parentheses) are listed in this order from left to right: Carrie Ann Inaba, Pitbull, Julianne Hough, Bruno Tonioli.
The couples danced a Latin-inspired routine. Couples are listed in the order they performed.
CoupleScoresDanceMusicResult Ryan & Cheryl 30 (7, 8, 8, 7) Salsa "La Negra Tiene Tumbao" — Celia Cruz Safe Terra & Sasha 30 (7, 8, 8, 7) Paso doble "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" — Santa Esmeralda Safe Amber & Maks 28 (7, 7, 7, 7) Cha-cha-cha "Bla Bla Bla Cha Cha Cha" — Petty Booka Eliminated James & Sharna 38 (10, 9, 9, 10) Rumba "Need the Sun to Break" — James Bay Safe Marilu & Derek 34 (8, 9, 9, 8) Cha-cha-cha "Echa pa'lante" — Thalía Safe Jana & Gleb Argentine tango "Hands to Myself" — Selena Gomez Safe Maureen & Artem 31 (8, 7, 8, 8) Samba "Mas que Nada" — Sérgio Mendes, feat. The Black Eyed Peas Safe 37 (9, 10, 9, 9) Argentine tango "Hotel California" — Eagles Safe Laurie & Val 37 (9, 9, 9, 10) Salsa "Light It Up" — Major Lazer, feat. Nyla & Fuse ODG Safe
Week 7: Eras Night The couples performed one unlearned dance and a team dance representing different historical eras. Couples are listed in the order they performed.
After a three-week absence, Len Goodman temporarily returned to the judges' table.