Hello, Upper East Siders of the ballroom. Ella here, and I have a scoop that's sparkling brighter than a sequined jumpsuit under a spotlight.
Per Cosmopolitan, sources say Dancing with the Stars producers have "gotten everything totally wrong" about this season's frontrunners. The report alleges that the contestants producers reportedly hyped, Jackson Olson and Jenna Dewan, are underperforming. Meanwhile, Maura Higgins and Ezra French are said to be emerging as the surprise breakouts of season 35. The Cosmopolitan description goes even further, calling the producers' hopefuls "a total disappointment" so far.
That's the reported tea. Now let me pour my own cup.
The Plot Twist Nobody Storyboarded
Let's be clear about what we know and what we don't. This is a sourced, behind-the-scenes account, not an on-the-record statement from the show. Nobody at DWTS has been quoted here, and the claims are allegations. But the shape of the story is so familiar to reality TV fans that it's hard not to be intrigued.
Producers, as the report tells it, picked their pets. The audience, as the report tells it, picked different ones. And the season is only just beginning, which makes this the juiciest possible moment for a mismatch. Early impressions harden quickly, and whoever gets the "favorite" label now tends to be framed that way for weeks.
It's hard not to wonder what happens when the edit says one thing and the living room says another.
Jackson and Jenna: Hyped, But Not Connecting?
According to the report, Jackson Olson and Jenna Dewan are the two names producers were reportedly counting on, and the two now said to be lagging. I'll note, with a raised eyebrow and zero malice, that Jenna Dewan is no stranger to a dance floor, so the "expected to shine" label is easy to understand. (That's my read, not the report's. Cosmopolitan's brief doesn't spell out why the pair aren't landing.)
And that's the thing: the reported disappointment is about connection, not necessarily about skill. Ballroom shows run on a mysterious chemistry between a contestant and the couch. You can have the footwork and still not get the phone-voting energy. You can also stumble through a cha-cha and become a household name by Tuesday. We've all seen it happen.
I'll stay respectful here. Being the producers' pick isn't a crime, and a slow start isn't a verdict. It's week one, darlings, not the finale.
Enter Maura Higgins, Dark Horse Extraordinaire
Now for the plot twist. Maura Higgins is reportedly one of the contestants audiences are warming to most, a surprise breakout that, per sources, producers did not see coming.
If the report is right, it's a classic underdog arc, and reality audiences adore those. Nobody feels invested in the person who was handed the crown at the door. People feel invested in the one they discovered themselves. Fans love to say "I called it," and a dark horse hands them that line on a silver platter.
Ezra French Is Having a Moment
Then there's Ezra French, the other name the report flags as a surprise breakout. The details of what exactly is winning viewers over aren't spelled out in the reporting, so I won't invent a signature move for him. What the report does say is that he's on the rise, and that producers reportedly didn't expect it.
Two breakouts, two reported misfires. If you're a producer, that's the sort of week that makes you stare quietly at a spreadsheet.
Fan Votes vs. the Producer Narrative
Here's the angle I can't stop circling: what does a show do when its preferred storyline stops cooperating?
Reality competitions live in the space between what's edited and what's felt. Producers shape packages, music cues, and the "journey" montage. Audiences, meanwhile, vote with their thumbs and their loyalties. When those two forces point in different directions, one of them eventually blinks. Whether the show leans into its surprise favorites or keeps pushing its original picks is the question to watch. (To be clear, the report doesn't say what producers plan to do. That's me speculating, and I'm shameless about it.)
The timing matters too. Early in the season, the narrative is still wet cement. Viewers who feel the show is steering them toward certain contestants can get restless, and a backlash cycle can quickly turn a favorite into a target. Reality fans know this dance, and they know the steps.
What I'll Be Watching
A few things on my radar as the season unfolds:
- The edit. Do Maura and Ezra get more screen time, more heartfelt packages, more glowing commentary? Or does the show stay loyal to its reported picks?
- The momentum. A strong first stretch isn't a guarantee. Dark horses can fade, and so-called disappointments can rebound.
- The reaction. If the sources are right, fan sentiment is already telling the show something. Whether it listens is the juicy part.
Remember, all of this comes from unnamed sources relayed by Cosmopolitan. Nothing has been confirmed on the record, and a single week of dancing is a tiny sample size. Anything can happen between now and the mirrorball trophy.
The Last Word
Here's my parting thought. A producer can pick a frontrunner, but only an audience can make one. If this report is accurate, the show planned a coronation and the viewers staged a coup. And honestly? That's the most entertaining thing a ballroom competition can offer.
You know you love it.
XOXO,
Ella
