Honestly, back in 2005, nobody thought a show about B-list celebrities doing the cha-cha would actually work. It sounded like a summer filler that would be gone by July. But then the music started, the lights hit the floor, and we met the three people who would basically dictate the pulse of Monday night television for the next two decades. The dancing with the stars original judges—Len Goodman, Carrie Ann Inaba, and Bruno Tonioli—didn't just score dances. They created a vibe that was somehow both classy and completely unhinged.
It was a weird mix, right? You had a grumpy British legend, a former "Fly Girl" from In Living Color, and an Italian choreographer who looked like he’d just finished five espressos before every taping. But that chemistry is exactly why the show didn't just survive; it became a juggernaut.
The Headmaster: Why Len Goodman Was the Soul of the Show
Len Goodman was the "grumpy old man" we all secretly loved. He was the anchor. While the other two were falling out of their chairs with excitement, Len was there with his reading glasses, looking for a "proper" heel lead. He didn't care if a celebrity did a triple backflip; if they messed up the footwork in a Viennese Waltz, he was going to tell them. And he was going to be blunt about it.
"Pick your feet up!" or "It was a bit of a pickle!" were classic Len-isms. He wasn't being mean for the sake of ratings, though. He genuinely respected the ballroom tradition. He started dancing late—at 19—because a doctor suggested it for a foot injury. That’s a wild detail most people forget. He went from being an apprentice welder to the most respected voice in ballroom. When he passed away in April 2023 from bone cancer, it felt like the end of an era. The show even renamed the trophy the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy. That tells you everything you need to know about his impact.
Len's "Seven!" became a meme before memes were really a thing. He’d hold up that paddle, and you knew the couple had worked for it. He missed a few seasons here and there—specifically Season 21 and Season 29 (the COVID year)—but he always came back. Until he couldn't.
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The Heart and the Hammer: Carrie Ann Inaba
Carrie Ann Inaba is often the most misunderstood of the dancing with the stars original judges. People sometimes think she’s "the nice one," but tell that to a pro who accidentally let their partner's foot leave the floor during a Rumba. She is the Lift Police. If a toe leaves the ground in a dance where it shouldn't, she’s on it.
Her background is fascinating. She wasn't a ballroom dancer by trade. She was a pop singer in Japan and a dancer for Madonna. She brought the "commercial" eye to the panel. While Len looked at the feet, Carrie Ann looked at the extension of the arms and the "breath" of the movement.
She’s been there since Day 1, Season 1. She’s the only original judge who has never taken a long-term hiatus or missed huge chunks of the show’s history. Her perspective is basically the DNA of the series. She looks for the story. If a celebrity cries after a performance, Carrie Ann is usually crying with them. But she'll still dock a point for that lift. Honestly, that's the kind of consistency you need on a reality show.
The Human Firework: Bruno Tonioli
Then there’s Bruno. What can you even say? The man is a walking exclamation point. If he’s not standing up, he’s leaning so far over the desk he’s practically in the audience’s lap. He has choreographed for the greats—Elton John, Tina Turner, Freddie Mercury. He knows what makes a star.
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Bruno and Len used to fly back and forth between London and LA every single week because they were judging both the UK's Strictly Come Dancing and the US version at the same time. Imagine that jet lag. It’s no wonder he was always so high-energy; he was probably living on caffeine and pure adrenaline.
His critiques are legendary for being... colorful. He once compared a dance to a "fervent gazelle" or a "steamy night in a Brazilian kitchen." It’s theatrical, sure, but he knows his stuff. He’s looking for the "attack" and the performance value. He and Carrie Ann actually did a spinoff called Dance War: Bruno vs. Carrie Ann back in 2008, which was basically a battle of their two different styles of coaching. Team Bruno won, by the way.
The Shift in the Table
Things changed significantly in recent years. Derek Hough, a six-time champion as a pro, joined the panel in Season 29. He was originally filling in for Len, but he was so good they just kept him. Now, he sits alongside the remaining dancing with the stars original judges, Carrie Ann and Bruno.
It’s a different dynamic now. It’s younger. It’s faster. But the foundations laid by that original trio are still there. You can still hear Len’s voice in the way they critique a frame, even if he isn't there to hold up the paddle himself.
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Real Talk: What Actually Made Them Special?
It wasn't just the dancing. It was the fact that they felt like a family that actually disagreed. They fought. Len would get annoyed with Bruno’s "theatrical nonsense." Bruno would roll his eyes at Len’s "boring" technical requirements. Carrie Ann would try to mediate while sticking to her guns about the rules.
They weren't "characters" played by actors. They were experts who had spent decades in a very niche, very difficult industry. That’s the "E-E-A-T" (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness) that Google loves, but more importantly, it's what the audience felt. You trusted them because they knew more than you did.
If you’re looking to dive deeper into the show’s history, keep an eye out for:
- Season 1 Rewatches: Seeing how "shaky" the first season was compared to now is hilarious. Tom Bergeron and Lisa Canning were the original hosts, but the judges were the only ones who stayed consistent.
- The Len Goodman Tribute: If you haven't seen the professional dancers' waltz to "Moon River" from Season 32, find it. It's the most emotional moment in the show's history.
- The "Lift" Rule: Next time you watch, see if you can spot a lift before Carrie Ann does. It’s harder than it looks.
The dancing with the stars original judges turned ballroom dancing from a niche hobby into a primetime staple. While the show continues to evolve with new faces like Julianne Hough moving from pro to judge to host, the legacy of Len, Carrie Ann, and Bruno remains the gold standard for what a judging panel should be.
To get the most out of the current seasons, pay close attention to the technical critiques Derek Hough gives; he's essentially carrying on the "Head Judge" mantle that Len left behind. If you want to see the original magic, many early clips are available on official archives or YouTube, which highlight just how much the "Three Musketeers" of the ballroom shaped the celebrities we see today.