'Dancing With the Stars' 2014: Karina Smirnoff Ready To Replace Len Goodman As Permanent Judge Next Season? [POLL, VIDEO]
With Len Goodman revealing that he may step down from his judging post on Dancing With the Stars, one of the pro dancers has thrown their hat in the ring as a potential replacement.
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Karina Smirnoff, who has competed on 15 seasons of Dancing With the Stars, thinks she might have what it takes to be a permanent judge, telling OK! Magazine that she might be interested.
"There is a job opening," Smirnoff quipped. "I'm going to send them my resume." On a more serious note, she said, "Len is the only judge out of the three that actually grew up in the ballroom world. We have Carrie Ann [Inaba] who knows performance and lifts and Bruno [Tonioli] obviously has judging qualities but Len is the ballroom person. I think we definitely need a ballroom person because it is a ballroom show. But, yeah, I'm totally going to campaign for that job now."
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She also has an idea for the pro dancer eliminated the week before to come back and be a guest judge the next week.
"Our criticism is going to be very constructive because this is our job. This is what we do best," she said. "I think it's a great idea. I would've loved to do it this season they just didn't let me."
Smirnoff was eliminated with her celebrity partner Sean Avery during the surprise double elimination in Week 2. This was the dancer's worst placement ever. She came in second place with Corbin Bleu the season before and won with J.R. Martinez during Season 11.
In the mean time, Goodman has not actually confirmed that he is leaving Dancing With the Stars, but an announcement will likely be made this summer either way. Considering Goodman explicitly said that he might not be returning during the Season 18 finale, it seems that he is leaning more towards leaving than staying.
Dancing With the Stars Season 19 premieres in fall 2014 on ABC, though then network has not yet announced a premiere date. It will be returning to its regular Mondays at 8 p.m. timeslot.
