Dancing with the Stars, season 28

Cast

Couples

This season featured twelve celebrity contestants. For the first time, the couples were not announced in advance, but were revealed during the season premiere. On August 19, 2019, Peta Murgatroyd announced that she would be returning as a professional. On August 21, the cast was revealed on Good Morning America. Artem Chigvintsev and Sharna Burgess did not return for this season. Two new dancers, Daniella Karagach and Pasha Pashkov, were added to the pro line-up. However, there was no dance troupe this season.

On September 16, it was announced that Christie Brinkley had to withdraw from the competition due to an injury sustained during rehearsal. Her daughter, Sailor Brinkley-Cook, took her place.

Hosts and judges

Tom Bergeron and Erin Andrews returned as hosts, while Carrie Ann Inaba, Len Goodman, and Bruno Tonioli, returned as judges.

Scoring chart

The highest score each week is indicated in bold green with a dagger (†), while the lowest score each week is indicated in italicized red with a double-dagger (‡).

Color key:

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, Bruno Tonioli.

Week 1: First Dances

The couples danced the cha-cha-cha, foxtrot, salsa, or tango. Couples are listed in the order they performed.

For the first time in the show's history, the official partnerships were revealed to the public during the live broadcast.

Week 2: First Elimination

The couples performed one unlearned dance, and are listed in the order they performed.

Two new format changes were introduced for the remainder of the season: live voting during the broadcast (only available to viewers in the Central and Eastern time zones), and a judges' save for one of the bottom two couples.

Judges' votes to save

Carrie Ann: Mary & Brandon

Bruno: Ray & Cheryl

Len: Ray & Cheryl

Week 3: Movie Night

The couples performed one unlearned dance to famous film songs, and are listed in the order they performed.

At the beginning of the show, it was announced that Ray Lewis had withdrawn from the competition due to an injury sustained in rehearsals. His dance partner, Cheryl Burke, performed their routine during the live show with season 24 winner Rashad Jennings as a stand-in. There was no additional elimination.

Week 4: Top 10

Individual judges' scores in the chart below (given in parentheses) are listed in this order from left to right: Carrie Ann Inaba, Leah Remini, Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli.

The couples performed one unlearned dance. Couples are listed in the order they performed.

Season 17 semifinalist Leah Remini served as a guest judge for this week.

Judges' votes to save

Carrie Ann: Karamo & Jenna

Bruno: Karamo & Jenna

Len: Did not vote, but would have voted to save Karamo & Jenna

Week 5: Disney Night

The couples performed one unlearned dance to songs from Disney films. No elimination took place this week. Couples are listed in the order they performed.

Week 6

The couples performed one unlearned dance. Couples are listed in the order they performed.

Judges' votes to save

Carrie Ann: Ally & Sasha

Bruno: Ally & Sasha

Len: Did not vote

Week 7: Halloween Night

The couples performed one unlearned dance and a team dance. Couples are listed in the order they performed.

Judges' votes to save

Carrie Ann: Karamo & Jenna

Bruno: Kate & Pasha

Len: Kate & Pasha

Week 8: Dance-Off Week

The couples performed one unlearned dance and participated in paired dance-offs for extra points. Due to being on top of the previous week's leader board and holding the highest average of the season this far, James & Emma earned immunity from competing in the dance-off and automatically received two bonus points, though they were explicitly not immune from elimination. Couples are listed in the order they performed.

Lindsay Arnold was absent for two weeks while mourning the death of her mother-in-law. Sean Spicer performed instead with Jenna Johnson.

Judges' votes to save

Carrie Ann: Ally & Sasha

Bruno: Ally & Sasha

Len: Did not vote, but would have voted to save Ally & Sasha

Week 9: Boy Band & Girl Group Night

Individual judges' scores in the chart below (given in parentheses) are listed in this order from left to right: Carrie Ann Inaba, Len Goodman, Joey Fatone, Bruno Tonioli.

The couples performed two unlearned dances to songs from famous girl groups (the first round) and boy bands (the second round). Couples are listed in the order they performed.

NSYNC member Joey Fatone, who competed on both season 4 and season 15, served as a guest judge for the week.

For the second consecutive week, Sean Spicer performed with Jenna Johnson.

Judges' votes to save

Carrie Ann: Lauren & Gleb

Bruno: Lauren & Gleb

Len: Did not vote

Week 10: Semifinals

During the first round, the couples performed a redemption dance to a new song that was coached by one of the three judges. In the second round, they performed one unlearned dance. Couples are listed in the order they performed.

Judges' votes to save

Carrie Ann: Ally & Sasha

Bruno: Ally & Sasha

Len: Did not vote, but would have voted to save Ally & Sasha

Week 11: Finale

The couples performed their favorite dance of the season and their freestyle routine. Couples are listed in the order they performed.

Dance chart

The couples performed the following each week:

Week 1: One unlearned dance

Week 2: One unlearned dance

Week 3: One unlearned dance

Week 4: One unlearned dance

Week 5: One unlearned dance

Week 6: One unlearned dance

Week 7: One unlearned dance & team dance

Week 8: One unlearned dance & dance-off

Week 9: Two unlearned dances

Week 10 (Semifinals): Redemption dance & one unlearned dance

Week 11 (Finale): Favorite dance & freestyle