Why 'DWTS' Judge Carrie Ann Inaba Doesn't Mind Getting Booed
Carrie Ann Inaba
This season Dancing with the Stars has taken steps to return to the original concept of the series where several of the celebrities who have been invited to participate have absolutely no dance experience or even anything resembling it like cheerleading, ice skating or gymnastics, so it’s been a pleasure for the audience to watch each week as stars like Harry Jowsey, Alyson Hannigan or Mauricio Umansky light up when they see the progress that they are making reflected in the increase in points awarded by the judges.
“I love the talent this season,” Carrie Ann Inaba exclusively tells Parade. “I think that there’s a lot of people that have room to grow, and I think that’s what the show’s always been about. I love watching people grow, and I think that is why people continue to tune in and why they get so engaged. You want people to root and have heroes.”
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But in order for that to happen, Carrie Ann, as well as fellow judges Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli have to speak truth to the dancers, so that they can improve, and the comments that they make—especially Carrie Ann’s this season—aren’t always popular with the audience. But she says she doesn’t mind getting booed.
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“Never,” she insists. “The whole point is we want people to have their opinions. The reason why people get vested in this competition is because they have an opinion, and it matters. We are one of the few [shows where ] judges actually hold up scores. So, what we do matters, but also what everybody does at home matters. So, it’s good that they boo. I think it shows that they’re really supporting somebody. In fact, they’re very invested this season, let me say.”
Carrie Ann, who became best known for her dancing as one of the original Fly Girls on the FOX sketch comedy series In Living Color, has been with DWTS since the dance competition premiered on ABC on June 1, 2005, and hasn’t missed a season, making this her 32nd. Part of the fun of it is dressing to the themes for each night, so she will be getting in costume for Halloween, but not as a witch!
Related: Watch Carrie Ann Inaba Transform Into Halloween Look For DWTS in New BTS Video
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“When I was in eighth grade, we went to a volleyball game and I was trying to impress this guy that I really liked,” she shares. “He played volleyball. I wore my witch’s hat, and we walked in, my girlfriends, three witches. Somebody served the ball and it hit my hat off my head and I fell down. So, it was kind of horrific. So, no more witches. It was so embarrassing.”
Dancing with the Stars airs Tuesday nights at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC.
