Jimmy Kimmel Takes On Critics Of Guillermo’s ‘DWTS’ Run
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Jimmy Kimmel defended Guillermo Rodriguez after some viewers criticized his progress on Season 35 of Dancing With the Stars and suggested the competition was rigged. Kimmel said the show is entertainment, praised Rodriguez’s effort and argued that the most entertaining team should win.

Jimmy Kimmel defended Guillermo Rodriguez during his Oct. 7 monologue after some viewers criticized the late-night host’s sidekick for continuing on Season 35 of Dancing With the Stars and questioned whether the competition was rigged. Kimmel said the show is entertainment rather than a professional dance contest, and argued that Rodriguez’s appeal and effort are part of the reason audiences are watching.

Kimmel acknowledged that not everyone supports Rodriguez’s run, saying that some viewers have accused the competition of being rigged. He rejected that allegation, joking that “the competition isn’t rigged” but that “life is rigged in Guillermo’s favor.” He also said Rodriguez was “winning” despite online critics trying to bring him down. The comments were part of Kimmel’s monologue on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, rather than a statement from the DWTS production or network.

To make his case, Kimmel played videos and read posts from viewers criticizing Rodriguez. He said some people had lost sight of the nature of the show, telling the audience, “This is not the Olympics. This is not SEAL Team 6.” Kimmel described DWTS as an entertainment show, not a professional dance competition, and said its winner should be the team that is “most entertaining.” His audience applauded when he asked whether viewers had seen anything more entertaining on the show in its 21-year history.

Kimmel also praised Rodriguez for working hard each week, while joking about his dancing and physical performance. After showing clips from Rodriguez’s recent samba, Kimmel said the routine appeared to involve more time rolling on the floor than dancing. Rodriguez took the joke in stride, replying, “Jimmy, it was so comfortable, I didn’t want to get up.” The exchange offered a lighthearted defense, but did not establish how viewers’ votes are counted or address the rigging accusation with evidence about the voting process.

At a glance
updateWhen: Kimmel addressed the criticism during h…
The developmentJimmy Kimmel used his Oct. 7 monologue to push back against criticism of Guillermo Rodriguez’s Dancing With the Stars run and claims that the competition is rigged.
Jimmy Kimmel Takes On Critics Of Guillermo’s ‘DWTS’ Run
Entertainment • Season 35 • The debate

Jimmy Kimmel Takes On Critics Of Guillermo’s ‘DWTS’ Run

After viewers questioned Guillermo Rodriguez’s progress and alleged the competition was rigged, Kimmel defended his sidekick’s effort and made the case that entertainment belongs at the heart of Dancing With the Stars.

Oct. 7Monologue date
Season 35Current DWTS season
21 yearsShow history cited by Kimmel
UnverifiedRigging claim in this account
01 / The defense

Entertainment is part of the competition

Kimmel argued that the series is a television entertainment show, not a professional dance championship. His point: technical skill matters, and so do effort, personality and the audience’s experience.

The format

“This is not the Olympics”

Kimmel told viewers not to judge the series as an elite athletic or military competition. “This is not SEAL Team 6,” he added.

The case

Effort and appeal count

He praised Rodriguez for working hard each week and said his appeal is part of why audiences are watching.

The criterion

Most entertaining team

Kimmel said the winner should be whichever team entertains viewers most, while pointing to the crowd’s reaction.

02 / Two reactions

A run drawing both support and criticism

The report describes divided reactions around Rodriguez’s place in the season, but offers no polling figures to show how widespread either view is.

Why supporters are watching

EffortKimmel emphasized Rodriguez’s work week to week.
PersonalityThe longtime sidekick brings humor and a distinct presence to the show.
EntertainmentKimmel said the audience experience is a legitimate part of the format.

Why critics object

ProgressSome viewers argued Rodriguez should have been eliminated by this point.
TechniqueKimmel teased the floor work in Rodriguez’s recent samba routine.
FairnessSome online viewers alleged the competition was rigged; the account does not verify that claim.

“Jimmy, it was so comfortable, I didn’t want to get up.”

Guillermo Rodriguez, after the samba joke
03 / What the exchange establishes

Claims and evidence are not the same

Kimmel rejected the rigging allegation with a joke. His monologue did not explain the show’s voting or elimination process.

01

Viewers criticize

Some questioned Rodriguez’s continued run and raised a rigging claim.

02

Kimmel responds

He defended the contestant and framed DWTS as entertainment.

03

Evidence is absent

No vote totals, counting procedures or elimination rules were shared.

04

Results remain open

Rodriguez’s standing depends on the show’s voting and eliminations.

The takeaway

A spirited defense, not proof about voting

Kimmel’s comments show that Rodriguez has attracted both enthusiastic support and criticism. They make the entertainment case for his participation, but do not determine the result.

The report includes no evidence establishing whether the competition is or is not rigged, no response from DWTS producers, and no measure of how many viewers share the criticism.

04 / What’s next

Performances, votes and results

The next developments are Rodriguez’s upcoming dance and the show’s announced eliminations. The report does not say when he might leave or whether the criticism will affect voting.

Dancing With the StarsTuesdays at 8 p.m. Eastern / 7 p.m. Central on ABC and Disney+
Jimmy Kimmel Live!Weeknights at 11:35 p.m. Eastern / 10:35 p.m. Central on ABC
05 / Quick answers

Key questions

What did Kimmel say about Rodriguez’s run?

He defended Rodriguez during his Oct. 7 monologue, rejected viewers’ rigging claims and said DWTS is an entertainment show rather than a professional dance contest.

Did Kimmel provide evidence about the voting?

No. The account contains no vote totals or procedural details that independently establish how the competition is run.

How did Rodriguez respond to the samba joke?

He took it in stride, saying the floor was so comfortable that he did not want to get up.

When can viewers watch DWTS?

The report lists Tuesdays at 8 p.m. Eastern / 7 p.m. Central on ABC and Disney+.

Kimmel Frames DWTS as Entertainment

The exchange highlights a familiar tension in competition-based reality television: viewers can disagree over whether a contestant’s performance merits a place in the next round, while the format also depends on audience interest. Kimmel’s argument was that DWTS is not a professional dance championship and that entertainment value is a legitimate part of its appeal. He did not claim that dancing is irrelevant; he used Rodriguez’s effort and the audience reaction to argue that the contestant contributes something beyond technical performance.

For viewers following the season, Kimmel’s comments make clear that Rodriguez has attracted both enthusiastic support and online criticism. His defense may shape conversation around the contestant, but it does not determine the competition’s result. Rodriguez’s standing depends on the show’s voting and elimination process, details of which were not explained in Kimmel’s monologue.

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Rodriguez’s Place in Season 35

Rodriguez is Kimmel’s longtime sidekick and a contestant on the current season of Dancing With the Stars. The Yahoo Entertainment report describes him as a fan favorite, while also noting that some viewers believe he should have been eliminated by this point. That description reflects the competing reactions surrounding his run; it does not provide audience-polling figures or other data measuring how widespread either view is.

Kimmel referred to the show’s 21-year history as he made the case that entertainment has long been central to its appeal. He also contrasted its title, Dancing With the Stars, with a hypothetical competition for professionals. His comments followed Rodriguez’s samba, which Kimmel teased for its floor work. The series airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. Eastern and 7 p.m. Central on ABC and Disney+, according to the report.

“The competition isn’t rigged. Life is rigged in Guillermo’s favor.”

— Jimmy Kimmel

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Voting Claims Remain Unsubstantiated

Kimmel’s monologue does not provide evidence for or against the allegation that DWTS is rigged, and no details about the show’s vote totals, counting procedures or elimination rules were included in the report. The accusation is presented as something some viewers have said, not as a verified finding. It is also unclear how many viewers share the criticism or whether it has affected Rodriguez’s support. Kimmel’s jokes and defense should not be read as confirmation of any irregularity.

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Rodriguez’s Next Dance and Results

Rodriguez’s competition will continue through the season’s scheduled performances and eliminations. The next developments for viewers are his upcoming dance and the show’s announced results; the report does not state when he might be eliminated or whether the criticism will affect voting. No response from DWTS producers about the rigging accusation is included in the account.

Viewers can watch the program Tuesdays at 8 p.m. Eastern and 7 p.m. Central on ABC and Disney+. Kimmel’s late-night show airs weeknights at 11:35 p.m. Eastern and 10:35 p.m. Central on ABC.

Source: Yahoo Entertainment

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Key Questions

What did Jimmy Kimmel say about Guillermo Rodriguez’s DWTS run?

Kimmel defended Rodriguez on his Oct. 7 monologue, rejected viewers’ rigging claims and said Dancing With the Stars is an entertainment show, not a professional dance competition.

Did Kimmel provide evidence that the competition is not rigged?

No. He dismissed the accusation in his monologue, but the account includes no details about voting procedures or vote totals that independently establish how the competition is run.

How did Guillermo Rodriguez respond to Kimmel’s jokes?

Rodriguez took the jokes in stride. After Kimmel teased his floor work during the samba, Rodriguez replied, “Jimmy, it was so comfortable, I didn’t want to get up.”

When and where does Dancing With the Stars air?

The series airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. Eastern and 7 p.m. Central on ABC and Disney+, according to the report.

Source: Yahoo Entertainment

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