U.S.WEEKEND INTERVIEW
Val Chmerkovskiy Hit With One-Week Suspension on 'Dancing With The…
Val Chmerkovskiy will sit out a week of the ballroom competition; viewers get a week without him, and the sequins keep going.
At a glance
- First reported by TODAY.com: “Val Chmerkovskiy Hit With One-Week Suspension on ‘Dancing With The Stars’”.
- Covered on BBN on Sunday, October 18, 2026, at 6:11 AM ET on Weekend Edition, by Hank Ledger.
The real story
The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.
What BBN said about it

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorVal Chmerkovskiy has been hit with a one-week suspension from Dancing With The Stars.

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorWith us is Lyle Osterhaut, an inmate at a minimum-security facility in Connecticut. Lyle, how does a week sound to you?
Lyle OsterhautA week. Hank, I've had sandwiches that lasted longer than that. I'm not saying that's what I'm in for, but it was one boat.

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorSo you'd call it light?
Lyle OsterhautYes. Where I am, a week is a long weekend with fewer sequins. Nobody even takes your shoes.
Lyle OsterhautOkay, two boats, but the second one was borrowed.

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorHe's still allowed back after the week. The show goes on, and the contestants keep dancing.
Lyle OsterhautI hold up my commissary menu every week and nobody suspends me from anything. That's what a real consequence looks like.
Lyle OsterhautThree boats, if we're counting.

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorWe weren't counting the boats.
Lyle OsterhautYou should. Four, actually. The point is a real sentence has paperwork, and a week with no hearing is basically a nap.

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorSo what would you tell Val?
Lyle OsterhautStretch. Drink water. Do not, under any circumstances, say the word marina. I mean, five boats would be crazy.

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorLyle, you said one boat, and you're now at five. Thank you for the expertise, and the boats are noted.

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorBrock, tell us something with fewer boats in it.
From the archive: everything BBN aired on Sunday, October 18, 2026 · the U.S. archive · all months


