Carson and Rodriguez made their debut during the September 15 episode of the 35th season of Dancing with the Stars.

The pair performed a cha-cha to Jean Knight’s 1971 song “Mr. Big Stuff.”

The performance earned a combined score of 10 out of 30 from judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli.

Inaba gave the pair four points, while Hough and Tonioli each awarded three.

The low scores prompted boos from members of the studio audience.

Speaking on the official Dancing with the Stars podcast on September 18, Carson said she felt the three-point scores were unnecessarily harsh.

“I thought that was a little uncalled for,” Carson said, while acknowledging that Rodriguez still had areas of his dancing that needed improvement.

Carson explained that Rodriguez had been moving, attempting the choreography and putting effort into his performance.

She said she understood the judges’ criticism of his technique but believed the scoring did not fully reflect his effort and entertainment value.

Rodriguez, 55, is best known as Jimmy Kimmel’s longtime sidekick on Jimmy Kimmel Live! He joined the competition without professional dance experience.

During the judges’ feedback, Hough acknowledged that Rodriguez needed to improve his technique, particularly his timing and power, but also praised his energy and enthusiasm.

Tonioli highlighted Rodriguez’s body roll during the routine, joking about its connection to the cha-cha while suggesting the moment could become popular with viewers.

Inaba described the performance as entertaining and noted that Rodriguez’s movements were clearly defined.

Despite the low score, Rodriguez said he remains determined to improve. He is preparing to perform a Paso Doble in the next round, a dance he described as challenging and fast-paced.

“That’s why we gotta practice for the next one,” Rodriguez said on the podcast, adding that he wanted to improve and did not want to receive another score of three.

Carson has also praised Rodriguez for his attitude throughout the competition.

She said he has been kind to the cast and crew and regularly takes time to greet people working behind the scenes.

Rodriguez said he was surprised by the audience’s strong reaction to his first performance, describing the cheers as overwhelming.

The pair will continue competing in the 35th season of Dancing with the Stars, with new performances airing weekly.