“It started, kind of, as a joke and it snowballed.”
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Guillermo Rodriguez and professional dancer Witney Carson reunited for one last routine following their Dancing With the Stars elimination.
Wednesday’s episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live featured a surprise appearance from a “very pregnant” Carson, who spun both Rodriguez and host Jimmy Kimmel around the ABC studio for one final goodbye.
“Whitney, thank you for teaching our boy so well,” Kimmel said. “We are very appreciative.”
The talk show host took a look back at Rodriguez’s triumphant DWTS run, which came to an end during Super Bowl Night on Tuesday.
“It started, kind of, as a joke and it snowballed into one of the more inspiring stories of the year,” Kimmel said of Rodriguez’s DWTS run. “So before we say goodbye, I want to take one look back at the miracle run of a tiny dancer who swept this nation off its feet and left it all face down on the ballroom floor.”
Rodriguez and Carson were eliminated after performing a salsa to “Tití Me Preguntó” by Bad Bunny, which earned them their highest score: a 22 out of 40. The pair was in the bottom two with Tyler Cameron and Sharna Burgess before ultimately being sent home.
Kimmel reacted to the elimination during Tuesday’s talk show, calling it “a kick in the mirror balls” before Rodriguez and Carson live. The late night host said Rodriguez’s elimination was “an outrage,” joking that they should “take legal action” against DWTS.
“Witney, first of all, I want to say, your choreography this season has been absolutely incredible,” Kimmel said during his Oct. 13 monologue. “I mean, honestly, you have taken this lump of Play-Doh and you sculpted him into a masterpiece.”
Rodriguez also shared his post-DWTS plans Tuesday, during an interview with Extra. “I’m going to go home and celebrate,” Rodriguez said. “I’m going to go and make me a margarita.” Carson explained that she set a rule he couldn’t drink throughout the DWTS run. Rodriguez also confirmed that he was “very surprised” by the positive reaction to his performances.
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Kimmel isn’t the only one who is going to miss seeing Rodriguez on DWTS — his fellow contestants are too.
“He is a magnetic human being and just brings love and joy into everything he does,” Ezra Frech told Entertainment Weekly on Tuesday. “I’m so sad that he has to go, but he and I will be friends forever.”
Dancing With the Stars airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC and Disney+.