Dancing with the Stars (American season 29)
Season twenty-nine of "Dancing with the Stars" premiered on September 14, 2020 on the ABC network. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the season was filmed without a live studio audience. On November 23, 2020, "The Bachelorette" star Kaitlyn Bristowe and professional dancer Artem Chigvintsev were announced winners, marking Chigvintsev's first win in the United States. He previously won the original version of "DWTS" in the United Kingdom, "Strictly Come Dancing", in season 8. "" host Nev Schulman and Jenna Johnson finished second, while singer Nelly and Daniella Karagach and actress Justina Machado  and Sasha Farber came in third and fourth place, respectively. Cast. Couples. Continuing from last season, the couples were not announced in advance and were instead revealed on the season premiere. During "The Bachelor: Greatest Seasons - Ever!", season 11's Bachelorette, Kaitlyn Bristowe, was announced as the first celebrity participant. On August 24, 2020, it was reported that AJ McLean, member of Backstreet Boys, would be a celebrity participant as well; McLean was later officially revealed on August 27. On August 29, 2020, it was reported that Anne Heche, Jesse Metcalfe, and Vernon Davis would be celebrity participants in the  season. The other celebrity participants were revealed on "Good Morning America" on September 2. The season's lineup of fourteen professional dancers was announced on "Good Morning America" on August 18, 2020, with the fifteenth professional announced on August 24. Ten professionals from the previous season returned, along with Sharna Burgess, Artem Chigvintsev, and Keo Motsepe, all of whom last competed in season 27. Two new pros were added: Daniella Karagach, previously a featured dancer, and Britt Stewart, a former troupe member, who is the first black female to become a pro. Lindsay Arnold and Witney Carson, who were both  expecting during the season, did not return as pros this season. Arnold's daughter, Sage Jill Cusick, was born on November 2, 2020; Carson's son, Kevin Leo McAllister, was born on January 3, 2021. Hosts and judges. On July 13, 2020, it was announced that Tom Bergeron and Erin Andrews would not be returning as hosts. The next day, it was announced that Tyra Banks was hired as the new host and would also serve as an executive producer. This is also the first season to only have one host rather than two. Series judges Carrie Ann Inaba and  Bruno Tonioli returned for the season. On September 8, 2020, it was announced that Derek Hough, who appeared as a professional partner in 17 of the show's 29 seasons between seasons five and 23, would be returning to the show to fill in Len Goodman's judging position, due to Goodman being unable to travel with COVID-19 pandemic travel restrictions. Goodman still appeared in certain pre-recorded video segments. Scoring charts. Average score chart. This table only counts dances scored on a 30-point scale. Highest and lowest scoring performances. The best and worst performances in each dance according  to the judges' 30-point scale are as follows: Couples' highest and lowest scoring dances. Scores are based upon a potential 30-point maximum. Weekly scores. "Individual judges' scores in the charts below (given in parentheses) are listed in this order from left to right: Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough, Bruno Tonioli." Week 1: First Dances. The couples danced the cha-cha-cha, foxtrot, salsa, tango, quickstep, paso doble, or jive. For the second time in the show's history, the official partnerships were revealed to the public during the live broadcast. Week 2: First Elimination. The couples danced one  unlearned dance; rumba, samba, and Viennese waltz are introduced. Week 3: Disney Night. The couples performed one unlearned dance to songs from Disney films; Argentine tango, Charleston, and waltz are introduced. Week 4: Top 13. The couples performed one unlearned dance. Note: Monica & Val were originally called safe due to an error, but they were later announced in the bottom 2 along with Anne & Keo. Week 5: '80s Night. The couples performed one unlearned dance to a song released in the 1980s; contemporary and jazz are introduced. Week 6: Top 11. The couples performed one unlearned dance. Week 7: Villains  Night. The couples performed one unlearned dance dressed as villains from a movie or television show. Week 8: Double Elimination Night. The couples performed one unlearned dance and a dance relay with two other couples. The show was originally going to be a double elimination night. However, on the day of the show, it was announced that Jeannie Mai would be withdrawing from the show after being hospitalized for epiglottitis. As a result, the double elimination did not take place and only one couple was eliminated. Week 9: Icons Night. The couples performed one unlearned dance dressed as an icon  and participated in specific dance-offs for extra points. Nev & Jenna were immune from the dance-off as a result of their Week 8 performance (and a tie-breaker of higher total season score). Week 10: Semi-Finals. During the first round, the couples performed a redemption dance to a new song that was coached by one of the three judges. They also later danced one unlearned dance in the second round. Two couples were sent home at the end of the night in a double elimination. After the bottom 3 was announced, the couple with the lowest combined total  was immediately eliminated while the remaining 2 couples faced the judges' decision. Week 11: Finale. The couples performed their favorite dance of the season and a freestyle routine. Dance chart. The celebrities and professional partners danced one of these routines for each corresponding week: