After Guillermo Rodriguez rolled (quite literally) through his first Dancing with the Stars performance on Monday, September 15, he and his pro partner, Witney Carson, received the second lowest judges’ score in the show’s history — just 10 out of 30. But incredibly, Jimmy Kimmel‘s longtime sidekick did not get sent home, thanks to an overwhelming amount of votes from viewers at home.
When Guillermo, 55, and Carson, 32, appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! the next night, September 16, Rodriguez wasn’t discouraged by the judges’ score. Instead, he focused on the outpouring of love he’s received from fans and new friends at the show.
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“I feel great, Jimmy,” he told his boss, beaming from the DWTS set as the second night of premiere week wrapped up. “The audience went crazy when I finished dancing! I’m so happy that America loves me.”
When Kimmel jokingly asked if that was “a statement written by your attorney,” Guillermo sweetly replied, “No! That was from the bottom of my heart.”
Later in their chat, Kimmel told Guillermo and Carson that oddsmakers have given them a measly one-percent chance to win the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy, and then played a montage of local newscasters across the country predicting that they’d be eliminated early in the competition.
“I want you guys to make them eat their words and win this whole thing,” Kimmel challenged them, as his audience cheered and Guillermo pumped his fist above his head, motivated to make it happen.
Fans are rallying around Rodriguez online, wanting — like Kimmel — for him and Carson to prove the naysayers wrong. One person who commented on a post about Rodriguez drew nearly a thousand likes for writing, “Rolled across that stage like a hot dog at the gas station, that’s MY dancer.”
Another wrote, “Keep him in the game for as long as possible ❤️❤️❤️❤️😂😂😂” while a donut brand quipped, “We’ve seen enough give him the mirrorball trophy”
Guillermo Rodriguez is Beloved by DWTS Cast & Crew, Too
The love for Rodriguez extends from DWTS fans to the show’s cast and crew, Carson told People after their quirky Monday night performance, set to Jean Knight’s 1971 song Mr. Big Stuff.
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Guillermo managed some actual dance moves during their routine, but also slid on his knees and rolled on the floor, which Carson humorously called the “sausage roll” when speaking with Kimmel.
“I do have to say he’s also the most loved with everyone, the crew, the producers,” Carson told People. “He’s always going out of his way to say hi to everyone, people who open the door, who are sweeping the floor. He’s always very, very kind. He’s the favorite of everyone.”