Stephen Nedoroscik Jokes About Carrie Ann Inaba Meowing on DWTS

Just like Us, Stephen Nedoroscik was nearly speechless at Carrie Ann Inaba’s reaction to his and Rylee Arnold’s Halloween Nightmares routine on Dancing With the Stars.

“What an experience,” Stephen, 26, quipped to Us Weekly exclusively following the Tuesday, October 29 live show. Carrie Ann, 56, was dressed like a cheetah for the night, so it was no surprise that she played the part — getting up on her desk and meowing like a cat at the dancers before giving them their first 10 of the season.

“I mean, that was the most iconic thing ever,” Rylee told Us. “I’m so happy. That 10 meant so much to both of us.”

The professional dancer continued, “That was my first 10 as a pro. So glad that I got to do that with Stephen and so proud of him that he did that. You freaking did that.”

The duo performed a contemporary routine to “I Ran (So Far Away)” by Hidden Citizens, receiving a score of 28 out of 30.

Rylee made her DWTS debut last year, during the show’s 32nd season, and was paired with reality star Harry Jowsey.

Rylee’s older sister Lindsay Arnold, who was previously a DWTS pro, also reacted to the pair’s first-ever 10. (Lindsay competed in 10 seasons of the show and won a mirrorball trophy with Jordan Fisher in 2017.)

“POV: witnessing your baby sis get her first 10 on Dancing With the Stars,” she captioned a TikTok video on Tuesday. While Lindsay, 30, isn’t on the show this time around, she has been supporting Rylee every week. (Lindsay and Rylee have two other sisters, Brynley Arnold McGinnis and Jensen Arnold Hill.)

Rylee, meanwhile, told Us last month that she tried “so hard” to get her sister to return to the competition. (Lindsay announced her DWTS hiatus in August 2023, to continue being a mother to children Sage, 3, and June, 17 months.)

“I think there is probably a future with Dancing With the Stars and Lindsay,” Rylee teased after the season 33 cast was announced in September. “I think that it will happen one of these days, but it wasn’t this year.”

She continued, “It’s sad, but I think it should happen eventually.”

Dancing With the Stars airs simultaneously on ABC and Disney+ Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET. You can stream episodes on Disney+ the next day.