Guillermo Rodriguez Earns His Best Dancing with the Stars Score Yet — Then Steals the Show

Guillermo Rodriguez may have built his Dancing with the Stars run around winning over the audience, but on Yacht Rock Night, the Jimmy Kimmel Live! sidekick finally gave the judges something to cheer about, too.

Partnered with Witney Carson, Rodriguez earned his highest score of the season so far on Tuesday night, receiving 15 out of 30 for their foxtrot to Rupert Holmes’ “Escape (The Piña Colada Song).”

The score marked a noticeable improvement. Rodriguez received 12 points the previous week and started the season with a 10-point cha cha, meaning his latest performance was five points higher than his debut.

But Rodriguez still found a way to make the routine unmistakably his own.

A Coconut Bikini Surprise

At the end of the performance, Rodriguez dramatically removed his shirt to reveal a coconut bikini top, along with the words “DANCING 4 THE PEOPLE” written across his belly.

Host Alfonso Ribeiro immediately embraced the joke.

“You are dancing for the people,” Ribeiro told Rodriguez after the performance. “And the people are loving it!”

This time, the judges appeared to agree.

Carrie Ann Inaba praised Rodriguez for his balance and the content of the routine, telling him that although he was not dancing specifically for the judges, he had impressed her.

“He can be also funny, but he’s also working really hard, and it’s paying off,” she added.

Derek Hough also highlighted what Rodriguez does particularly well, giving him a perfect 10 for his charm and showmanship.

“Your charm and your showmanship is an absolute 10,” Hough said. “Undeniable.”

Hough also singled out an umbrella flip featured in the routine. Rodriguez joked that he had borrowed the move from Gene Kelly, while Hough called the moment “so endearing.”

Bruno Tonioli joined the praise, joking that he was “coconuts” for Rodriguez and pointing out that Rodriguez was genuinely trying to lead Carson through the dance.

His First Five-Point Scores

The positive feedback translated into fives across the board from Inaba, Hough and Tonioli.

It was the first time Rodriguez had earned a five from any of the three judges this season.

That progress is significant for Rodriguez, who has relied heavily on the audience to keep his Dancing with the Stars journey alive.

During each of his first two weeks, he survived elimination despite finishing at or tied for the bottom of the judges’ leaderboard. His performances may not have consistently impressed the panel, but viewers have continued to support him.

Rodriguez himself knows that connecting with the audience is one of his biggest strengths.

When Julianne Hough asked how he felt about performing the slower and more elegant foxtrot, he admitted that the style did not exactly come naturally to him.

“It’s very slow, it’s elegant,” he said. “But Witney and I, we keep it cute, we keep it funny for all of these wonderful people!”

Rodriguez and Carson Move On to Week 4

For the third consecutive week, those viewers came through.

Rodriguez and Carson survived Tuesday night’s elimination and will return for Week 4.

The pair now head into the next stage of the competition with something new to add to their audience support: a clear upward trend in their judges’ scores.

After starting the season with 10 points, moving to 12 and then reaching 15 on Yacht Rock Night, Rodriguez’s latest performance showed that his unconventional approach can come with measurable progress on the dance floor.