When Alfonso Ribeiro, host of Dancing with the Stars stepped onto the stage on October 1, 2025, viewers knew they were in for something different. The episode, billed as TikTok Night, marked the third instalment of the show's twentieth‑anniversary season and aired live on ABC and Disney+ simultaneously. In just over an hour and twenty‑four minutes, twelve celebrity‑pro pairs tackled viral songs that had dominated the TikTok feed, while fans voted in real time from coast to coast.
- Air date: October 1, 2025 (ABC listings) – reported as September 30 by the Palm Beach Post
- Runtime: 1 hour 24 minutes 46 seconds
- Hosts: Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough, co‑host and former judge
- Guest star: Charli D'Amelio, season‑31 champion
- Voting: live TV, online via dwtsvote.abc.com, and U.S. SMS/text (no Canadian SMS)
Background: Twentieth Anniversary and Season Overview
The 34th season of Dancing with the Stars launched on September 16, 2025, and is slated to wrap up on November 25. It’s the first time ABC has officially renewed an unscripted series for the 2025‑26 schedule, a nod to the franchise’s staying power. The show returned to a live‑simulcast format on both broadcast and streaming, a practice that began two seasons ago and has proved a ratings booster.
After a “Personal Anthems” opening week and a “One‑Hit Wonders Night” second week, producers turned to the cultural zeitgeist with TikTok Night. The decision mirrors a broader TV trend of capitalising on short‑form social media hits, hoping to pull younger viewers into the ballroom.
Performance Highlights and Viral Choreography
The opening number set the tone: a high‑energy mash‑up of Charli XCX’s “Apple” performed by the troupe, with cameo appearances by Charli D'Amelio. Content creator Kelley Heyer contributed the viral move that lit up TikTok last summer, and the routine struck a perfect balance between pop‑culture reference and ballroom flair.
Each of the twelve couples delivered an “unlearned” dance – meaning none of the routines had been previously seen on the show – to tracks that had amassed millions of Views on TikTok. Highlights included:
- Jen Affleck (reality‑TV star) and Jan Ravnik rocked a Cha‑Cha to Carl Carlton’s “She’s a Bad Mama Jama (She’s Built, She’s Stacked)”.
- Hilaria Baldwin, author and wellness influencer, teamed with Gleb Savchenko for a Samba set to “Shake It To The Max (FLY) [Remix]” by MOLIY, Silent Addy, Skillibeng & Shenseea.
- Olympic gold‑medalist gymnast Jordan Chiles and partner Ezra Sosa performed a dramatic Tango to Doechii’s “Anxiety”.
- Season‑31 champion Charli D'Amelio joined longtime pro Mark Ballas for a contemporary piece titled “Assumptions” by Sam Gellaitry.
Behind the scenes, choreographers Jenna Johnson Chmerkovskiy and Britt Stewart fused TikTok’s signature fast‑cut moves with classic ballroom technique, a blend that impressed both the judges and the live audience.
Guest Appearances and Special Performances
Beyond D’Amelio’s cameo, the troupe delivered two additional numbers. The first was a disco‑infused routine to “No Broke Boys” by Disco Lines and Tinashe, offering a nostalgic nod to the platform’s retro‑revival trend. The second featured a mash‑up of Megan Thee Stallion’s “Savage” – a song that sparked countless viral challenges – with the troupe’s own choreography, again courtesy of content creator Keke Janajah.
Voting Mechanics and Audience Engagement
Fans could cast votes in three ways: during the live broadcast via the ABC app, on the website dwtsvote.abc.com, or by texting a four‑digit code to a short‑code provided on‑screen. The SMS option was only available to U.S. wireless carriers; Canadian viewers could still participate online. Voting windows opened at the start of the live simulcast (Eastern Time) and closed shortly after the final performance, giving viewers a narrow but intense window to influence the scoreboard.
The live‑voting format has become a staple since the 2022 season, and producers noted a 12% spike in interactive votes compared to the previous “One‑Hit Wonders” week. The data suggests that TikTok‑centric content may be driving higher engagement among younger demographics.
Judges’ Scores and Elimination
The panel – consisting of Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli – delivered their usual blend of technical critique and theatrical flair. While the exact scores for each couple were posted on the show’s official site, the highest weekly score was awarded to D’Amelio/Ballas, whose seamless integration of TikTok moves earned them a perfect 30 from the panel.
Unfortunately for the competition, one couple was sent home at the end of the night, although the name was not disclosed in the early press releases. The elimination will be confirmed in the next episode recap.
What Lies Ahead: Upcoming Themes
Looking forward, Week 4 is scheduled as “Disney Night” on October 7, where contestants will reinterpret classic Disney songs through ballroom lenses. Producers hinted at a possible “Holiday Classics” theme for Week 5, but details remain under wraps.
As the twentieth anniversary season marches toward its finale, the blend of nostalgia, social‑media relevance, and high‑stakes voting appears to be keeping the franchise fresh. Whether TikTok’s fleeting fame can sustain long‑term interest remains to be seen, but for now, the numbers and social buzz suggest the experiment is paying off.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can U.S. viewers vote for their favorite couples?
Fans may vote live via the ABC app, the official website dwtsvote.abc.com, or by sending a text message to the on‑screen shortcode. All methods close shortly after the final performance.
Why was Charli D'Amelio invited to TikTok Night?
D'Amelio is one of TikTok’s biggest stars, with millions of followers. Her presence tied the theme directly to the platform’s culture and drew a younger audience to the show.
What were the most talked‑about performances on social media?
The Cha‑Cha by Jen Affleck and Jan Ravnik, and the TikTok‑inspired Tango by Jordan Chiles and Ezra Sosa generated the most buzz, each racking up over 200,000 views on TikTok within 24 hours.
Will Canadian fans be able to vote in future episodes?
Canadian viewers can participate through the online voting portal, but SMS/text voting remains unavailable due to carrier restrictions.
What is the significance of the show's 20th anniversary?
Marking two decades on air, the anniversary underscores the program’s cultural impact and has prompted special themed nights, higher production values, and a renewed push for live streaming.
