Fans who want standout routines to continue have something concrete to do: vote. On Sunday at 11: 24 a. m. ET, judge Arthur Gourounlian urged dancing with the stars viewers to pick up the phone after a shock dance-off put Tolü Makay and Olympic rower Philip Doyle head to head, despite praise for high-caliber performances.
Arthur Gourounlian Calls On Viewers To Protect Skill With Their Votes
Gourounlian said he hears from people daily who insist the wrong contestant went home, but many of them admit they never voted. “Every day on a daily basis I meet people who come up to me and say the wrong person went home. And I always say to them, ‘Did you vote?’ and they’re like, ‘No, but I love the show’, ” he explained. His takeaway was blunt: “You have to pick up the phone and vote for the best dancer. ”
He added that audience choices often reflect personality as much as proficiency. “Sometimes people vote for the person they want to see on TV, ” he said, stressing that fan participation determines who returns each week on dancing with the stars and who does not.
Tolü Makay And Philip Doyle Face-Off After A Perfect-Score Night
Viewers were left devastated when Makay and Doyle were forced into a dance-off, even after Makay earned a perfect score from the judges earlier in the night. That contrast — top marks followed by a fight to stay — sharpened the stakes for competitors who rely not only on technique but on audience support to avoid elimination.
Gourounlian described the moment as “heartbreaking, ” noting how difficult it is to predict which couples land in the bottom. He framed the show as entertainment as well as competition, where outcomes hinge on a blend of performance, personality, and public voting that can upend expectations, even on nights when scores suggest safety.
Dancing With The Stars: Viewer Choices After Tolü And Philip’s Close Call
In praising Makay’s semifinal-level command on the floor, Gourounlian singled out both execution and presence. “The way Tolu was doing all the moves and facial expressions was phenomenal, ” he said, adding, “If I was casting dancers for Beyonce I would cast her tomorrow. ” He called her “the whole package, absolutely incredible, ” underscoring how even a standout can be vulnerable without votes.
For fans, the message is direct: performance alone does not guarantee survival. Gourounlian emphasized that results reflect the balance between judges’ scores and viewer action, and he framed voting as the only way audiences can ensure their favorites keep dancing. That said, he acknowledged the unpredictability as part of the show’s appeal — an entertainment format where surprises are possible every week.
The series returns on Sunday, when another round of routines will test both technique and public support. If viewers who sat out earlier now “pick up the phone, ” as Gourounlian urged, the next results could look very different from the last elimination.
