Here’s the Deal With the ‘Dancing With the Stars’ Judges’ Save and Why Fans Want It Back

Britt Stewart and Taylor Hanson were eliminated from Dancing With the Stars this week—despite delivering a beautiful foxtrot that impressed the judges and earned them a score of 18/30. There’s been a lot of backlash from fans, and the consensus? BRING BACK THE JUDGES’ SAVE.Like, even pro Witney Carson is on board:TwitterSo, What Is (Was) the Judges’ Save?The Judges’ Save was in effect for five seasons—from Season 28 to Season 32. After Bobby Bones won Season 27 despite getting lower scores than his fellow competitors, the rule was implemented to allow the judges to decide which of the bottom two pairings would go home. This ensured that couples with strong dancing skills could be prioritized in the face of fan favoritism.Why Did DWTS Get Rid of the Judges’ Save?Ultimately, the Judges’ Save gave the judges more say than voters at home, and the network abandoned it after deciding it was diminishing the viewers’ votes. “I think it should be about America,” executive producer Deena Katz told TV Line at the time. “And at the end of the day, the judges' save sometimes isn't what America wanted. And [eliminations are based on] half the judges and half America voting, and so that's kind of the reason we did it.”Meanwhile, some fans felt that the Judges’ Save made the show “predictable”.Could the Judges’ Save Come Back?When Dancing With the Stars ditched the Judges’ Save, an ABC rep confirmed it could “return at some point.” Two years later, the show still hasn’t reinstated it, but that could change amid all this fan backlash. And listen: it doesn’t have to be in the same format as before. Example: each judge could get one save per season! Or alternatively, the judges could get one group save per season that they deliberate on together! Just spitballing here.