Jimmy Kimmel Praises Guillermo Rodriguez After DWTS Exit
Jimmy Kimmel celebrated Guillermo Rodriguez after his Oct. 13 elimination from Dancing With the Stars season 35. Kimmel highlighted that Rodriguez and partner Witney Carson drew more than 700,000 YouTube views and said he was proud of him. Rodriguez and Carson later joined Jimmy Kimmel Live! by phone after their exit.
Rodriguez reached week five of DWTS season 35 before his Oct. 13 elimination. Kimmel dedicated a segment to him, noting that Rodriguez and Witney Carson’s routines drew over 700,000 YouTube views—more than triple the next contestant’s total. Kimmel later phoned them, praising Carson’s choreography and joking about Rodriguez’s transformation.
Rodriguez, 58, has long appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! alongside Kimmel. The article lists his children: Katie, 35, and Kevin, 33, with ex Gina Maddy, plus Jane, 12, and Billy, 9, with wife Molly McNearney. A young fan asked if Kimmel was his father; Kimmel said no but felt equally proud. Rodriguez said he met his goal by losing weight.
The elimination may matter most to viewers who follow late-night TV and reality competition crossovers. It could boost Rodriguez’s public profile and reinforce DWTS’s appeal as a place where unlikely contestants can win attention even without the trophy. Fans of Witney Carson may discuss her decision to compete while pregnant. The gap between strong YouTube interest and the actual result could also prompt broader chatter about how online popularity does or does not translate into votes