The third season of Dancing With the Stars premiered on September 12, 2006 and ended November 15, 2006. The number of couples expanded from ten the previous season to 11.
For this season, the scoring system was changed. Fan vote only counted for 25% of the total score and scoring was now translated directly from percentages rather than into ordinals. The judges scores were added up, and each performer was given points based on the percentage of the total points distributed among all performers. The fan vote was handled the same way, with the points based on how much of the total fan vote the star received.
The results shows of this season featured the Slim Fast Dance Challenge, where Tysonia Sichinga and Christian Perry illustrated how exercise such as dancing could aid weight loss. Unfortunately, Tysonia wound up gaining 5 pounds from what she said, “too much Slim Fast”.
- Episode 1 Episode 301 Season Premiere. The contestants are introduced. The men performed the Cha Cha and the women performed the Foxtrot.
- Episode 2 Episode 301A The first team of dancers is eliminated. The professional dancer perform a group choreographed Mambo. Tom Jones performs “It’s Not Unusual” and “She’s A Lady.” Tucker Carlson is the first…
- Episode 3 Episode 302 The men danced the Quickstep and the women danced the Mambo.
- Episode 4 Episode 302A Shanna Moakler and Jesse DeSoto are eliminated. Julio Iglesias performs "Singing "I Want to Know What Love Is" as Chmerkovskiy and Cheryl Burke perform the Ramba. The professional dancers perform…
- Episode 5 Episode 303 The dancers compete to the Jive and the Tango.
- Episode 6 Episode 303A Harry Hamlin and Ashly DelGrosso are eliminated. The Scissor Sisters perform "I Don't Feel Like Dancin'." The professional dancers performing a group paso doble to the music of tenor Vittorio…
- Episode 7 Episode 304 The contestants get to choose between the Paso Doble and the Waltz.
- Episode 8 Episode 304A Vivica A. Fox is eliminated. The Los Lonely Boys perform "My Way." Tony Dovolani and Elena Grinenko dance to Nick Lachey performance of "I Can’t Hate You Anymore."
- Episode 9 Episode 305 The remaining teams perform the Samba and the Rumba in tribute to Carnivale.
- Episode 10 Episode 305A Willa Ford and Maksim Chmerkovskiy are eliminated. Edyta Sliwinska and Kym Johnson dance to Rod Stewart singing "Hot Legs." He also performs "Fooled Around And Fell In Love." The professional…
- Episode 11 Episode 306 The remaining dancers compete to a ballroom dance style they have not yet attempted. All remaining teams also participate in a Group Freestyle Dance. Sara Evans addresses her withdrawal from…
- Episode 12 Episode 306A No one is eliminated this week because of Sara Evan's dropping out. Lionel Richie performs classic hit "All Night Long" and "I Call It Love" from his new album.
- Episode 13 Episode 307 In Week 7, the show was split into two rounds: a Ballroom round, followed by a Latin round. The scores from both of tonight's rounds were added to the judges'…
- Episode 14 Episode 307A The seventh team is eliminated, leaving only the top four to compete next week. Martina McBride is the live musical performance this evening.
- Episode 15 Episode 308 This is the eight round of the competition. The remaining four teams will compete by dancing one ballroom style dance and one Latin dance. They will repeat the same two…
- Episode 16 Episode 308A Monique Coleman and Louis van Amstel are eliminated, leaving the Final Three who are Joey & Edyta Sliwinska, Mario Lopez & Karina Smirnoff, and Emmitt Smith & Cheryl Burke, to…
- Episode 17 Episode 309 This is the semifinal round. The remaining three contestants dance to their favorite ballroom style and then a Latin dance.
- Episode 18 Episode 309A The last dancer is eliminated before the winner is announced next week. The remaining two will compete next week for the title. The Pet Shop Boys performed "West End Girls."
- Episode 19 Episode 310 The remaining two dance couples compete for the trophy. Emmitt and Mario will compete by performing three dances each. The first is their favorite routine from earlier in the season…
- Episode 20 Episode 310A Tonight is filled with special dance performances. The eliminated celebrities return for one last spin around the dance floor. The winner is announced.