Season three of Dancing with the Stars premiered on September 12, 2006, on the ABC network.

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. (For example, a team received a score of 25. A total of 207 points were awarded to all nine performers. The team received 12.08% of that total, so that team earned 12.08 points. The couple happens to be Sara & Tony.) The fan vote was handled the same way, with the points based on how much of the total fan vote the star received. (So, in the same example, if the team earned 15% of the total fan vote, their grand total is 27.08 points.)

On November 15, Dallas Cowboys running back Emmitt Smith and Cheryl Burke were crowned the champions, while actor Mario Lopez and Karina Smirnoff finished in second place, and actor Joey Lawrence and Edyta Śliwińska finished in third.

Cast Couples This season featured eleven celebrity contestants. On October 12, 2006, Sara Evans announced her withdrawal from the competition to be with her children after filing for divorce from her husband. In a "final appearance", a pre-taped interview with Evans about her decision was shown on October 17. Willa Ford stated on Headline News' Robin & Company that ABC had invited her to return to the competition, but she declined. At the end of the October 18 results show, it was revealed that there would be no elimination for the week due to Evans' departure. The scores from week 6 carried over to week 7. Celebrity Notability Professional partner Status News anchor & commentator Eliminated 1st Model, actress & reality television personality Eliminated 2ndon September 20, 2006 Film & television actor Eliminated 3rdon September 27, 2006 Film actress & producer Eliminated 4thon October 4, 2006 Pop singer & actress Eliminated 5thon October 11, 2006 Country music singer Withdrewon October 13, 2006 Talk show host Eliminated 6thon October 25, 2006 High School Musical actress Eliminated 7thon November 1, 2006 Television actor Eliminated 8thon November 8, 2006 Television actor & host Runners-upon November 15, 2006 NFL running back Winnerson November 15, 2006 Future appearances Emmitt Smith returned for the All-Stars season, where he was again paired with Cheryl Burke.

Hosts and judges Tom Bergeron and Samantha Harris returned as co-hosts, while Carrie Ann Inaba, Len Goodman, and Bruno Tonioli returned as judges.

Episodes

Scoring chart The highest score each week is indicated in with a dagger (), while the lowest score each week is indicated in with a double-dagger ().

Color key:

+Dancing with the Stars (season 3) - Weekly scores Couple Week 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 6+7 8 9 10 Night 1 Night 2 Emmitt & Cheryl 1st 24 24 24 25 28+29= 82 25+29=54 29+30= 30+30= +29= Mario & Karina 2nd 21 22 29+27=56 28+29= 30+29= 29+30= +30= Joey & Edyta 3rd 21 22 27 2524 29+28= 81 28+26=54 29+30= Monique & Louis 4th 19 26 24 23 27+27=5477 24+29= Jerry & Kym 5th 16 21 22 24+22= Sara & Tony 6th 15 21 25 Willa & Maks 7th2223 22 28 Vivica & Nick 8th 22 24 24 Harry & Ashly 9th 17 2122 Shanna & Jesse 10th1822 Tucker & Elena 11th Notes

Weekly scores Individual judges' scores in the charts below (given in parentheses) are listed in this order from left to right: Carrie Ann Inaba, Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli.

Week 1 Each couple performed either the cha-cha-cha or the foxtrot. Couples are listed in the order they performed. CoupleScoresDanceMusicResult Joey & Edyta 21 (7, 7, 7) Cha-cha-cha "I Like The Way (You Move)" — Body Rockers Safe Sara & Tony 15 (5, 5, 5) Foxtrot "Mandy" — Barry Manilow Safe Tucker & Elena 12 (5, 4, 3) Cha-cha-cha "Dancing In The Street" — David Bowie & Mick Jagger Eliminated Monique & Louis 19 (6, 6, 7) Foxtrot "Baby Love" — The Supremes Safe Emmitt & Cheryl 24 (8, 8, 8) Cha-cha-cha "Son of a Preacher Man" — Dusty Springfield Safe Willa & Maks 22 (7, 7, 8) Foxtrot "True" — Spandau Ballet Bottom three Mario & Karina 26 (9, 8, 9) Cha-cha-cha "Walkin' on the Sun" — Smash Mouth Safe Shanna & Jesse 18 (7, 5, 6) Foxtrot "Saving All My Love For You" — Whitney Houston Bottom three Harry & Ashly 17 (5, 6, 6) Cha-cha-cha "Disco Inferno" — The Trammps Safe Vivica & Nick 22 (6, 8, 8) Foxtrot "I Just Wanna Make Love to You" — Etta James Safe Jerry & Kym 16 (5, 5, 6) Cha-cha-cha "Daddy" — Della Reese Safe

Week 2 Each couple performed either the mambo or the quickstep. Couples are listed in the order they performed. CoupleScoresDanceMusicResult Willa & Maks 23 (7, 8, 8) Mambo "Get Busy" — Sean Paul Bottom two Harry & Ashly 21 (7, 7, 7) Quickstep "Lust for Life" — Iggy Pop Safe Monique & Louis 26 (9, 8, 9) Mambo "Bop to the Top" — Ashley Tisdale & Lucas Grabeel Safe Mario & Karina 21 (7, 6, 8) Quickstep "Do Your Thing" — Basement Jaxx Safe Shanna & Jesse 22 (8, 7, 7) Mambo "Jump" — Kris Kross Eliminated Jerry & Kym 19 (7, 6, 6) Quickstep "Sing, Sing, Sing" — The Andrews Sisters Safe Vivica & Nick 24 (8, 8, 8) Mambo "Betece" — Africando All Stars Safe Joey & Edyta 29 (10, 9, 10) Quickstep "I Got Rhythm" — Ella Fitzgerald Safe Sara & Tony 21 (7, 7, 7) Mambo "Papa Loves Mambo" — Perry Como Safe Emmitt & Cheryl 24 (8, 8, 8) Quickstep "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" — KT Tunstall Safe

Week 3 Each couple performed either the jive or the tango. Couples are listed in the order they performed. CoupleScoresDanceMusicResult Emmitt & Cheryl 19 (7, 6, 6) Tango "Simply Irresistible" — Robert Palmer Safe Monique & Louis 27 (9, 9, 9) Jive "The Heat Is On" — Glenn Frey Safe Harry & Ashly 22 (7, 8, 7) Tango "Santa Maria (Del Buen Ayre)" — Gotan Project Eliminated Willa & Maks 22 (7, 7, 8) Jive "SOS" — Rihanna Safe Jerry & Kym 21 (7, 7, 7) Tango "Hernando's Hideaway" — Ella Fitzgerald Bottom two Sara & Tony 25 (8, 9, 8) Jive "These Boots Are Made For Walkin'" — Nancy Sinatra Safe Mario & Karina 22 (8, 6, 8) Tango "What You Waiting For" — Gwen Stefani Safe Vivica & Nick 27 (9, 9, 9) Tango "Hey Sexy Lady" — Shaggy Safe Joey & Edyta 22 (8, 6, 8) Jive "Blue Suede Shoes" — Elvis Presley Safe

Week 4 Each couple performed either the paso doble or the waltz. Couples are listed in the order they performed. CoupleScoresDanceMusicResult 24 (8, 8, 8) Waltz "If I Were A Painting" — Kenny Rogers Bottom two Emmitt & Cheryl 24 (8, 8, 8) Paso doble "España cañí" — Erich Kunzel Safe Willa & Maks 28 (9, 9, 10) Waltz "You Light Up My Life" — Debby Boone Safe Sara & Tony 20 (6, 7, 7) Paso doble "The Phantom of the Opera" — from The Phantom of the Opera Safe Jerry & Kym 22 (7, 7, 8) Waltz "Tennessee Waltz" — Patti Page Safe Vivica & Nick 24 (8, 8, 8) Paso doble "It's My Life" — Bon Jovi Eliminated Joey & Edyta 27 (9, 9, 9) Waltz "Take It to the Limit" — The Eagles Safe Mario & Karina Paso doble "Canción del Mariachi" — Los Lobos & Antonio Banderas Safe

Week 5 Each couple performed either the rumba or the samba. Couples are listed in the order they performed. CoupleScoresDanceMusicResult Joey & Edyta 25 (8, 8, 9) Samba "Freedom! '90" — George Michael Safe Willa & Maks 27 (9, 9, 9) Rumba "Every Breath You Take" — The Police Eliminated Sara & Tony 24 (8, 8, 8) Samba "I Wish" — Stevie Wonder Safe Mario & Karina 27 (9, 9, 9) Rumba "The Way You Look Tonight" — Michael Bublé Safe Jerry & Kym 24 (8, 8, 8) Samba "Eso Beso" — Paul Anka Bottom two Monique & Louis 27 (9, 9, 9) Rumba "So Nice" — Bebel Gilberto Safe Emmitt & Cheryl 27 (9, 9, 9) Samba "Cha Cha" — Chelo Safe

Week 6 Each couple performed one unlearned dance, plus a group disco dance. Due to Sara Evans' withdraw from the competition, there was no elimination at the end of the night. Couples are listed in the order they performed. CoupleScoresDanceMusicResult Mario & Karina 28 (9, 9, 10) Mambo "Ran Kan Kan" — Tito Puente Safe Monique & Louis 23 (9, 7, 7) Samba "ABC" — The Jackson 5 Safe Joey & Edyta 24 (8, 8, 8) Rumba "Father Figure" — George Michael Bottom two Emmitt & Cheryl 25 (8, 8, 9) Jive "Lewis Boogie Blues" — T-Bone Burnett Safe Jerry & Kym 18 (7, 6, 5) Paso doble "Habañera" — Charlotte Church Bottom two Emmitt & CherylJerry & KymJoey & EdytaMario & KarinaMonique & Louis No scoresreceived GroupDisco"Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough" — Michael Jackson

Week 7 Each couple performed two unlearned dances. Couples are listed in the order they performed. CoupleScoresDanceMusicResultJerry & Kym 24 (8, 8, 8) Foxtrot "My Way" — Frank SinatraEliminated 22 (7, 8, 7) Mambo "Annie, I'm Not Your Daddy" — Kid Creole and the CoconutsMonique & Louis 27 (9, 9, 9) Quickstep "Luck Be a Lady" — Frank SinatraBottom two 27 (9, 9, 9) Paso doble "The Reflex" — Duran DuranEmmitt & Cheryl 28 (10, 9, 9) Waltz "Hushabye Mountain" — from Chitty Chitty Bang BangSafe 29 (10, 10, 9) Mambo "Que Bueno Baila Usted" — Oscar D'LeónMario & Karina 29 (10, 9, 10) Foxtrot "I Wanna Be Loved By You" — Marilyn MonroeSafe 27 (9, 9, 9) Jive "Shake a Tail Feather" — Ray Charles & The Blues BrothersJoey & Edyta 29 (10, 9, 10) Foxtrot "Singin' in the Rain" — Gene KellySafe 28 (9, 9, 10) Mambo "Mambo No. 5" — Lou Bega

Week 8: Halloween Week Each couple performed two dances. Couples are listed in the order they performed. CoupleScoresDanceMusicResultJoey & Edyta 28 (10, 9, 9) Tango "The Addams Family Theme" — from The Addams FamilySafe 26 (9, 8, 9) Paso doble "Sympathy for the Devil" — The Rolling StonesMario & Karina 28 (9, 9, 10) Waltz "Dark Waltz" — Hayley WestenraSafe 29 (10, 9, 10) Samba "Superstition" — Stevie WonderMonique & Louis 24 (8, 8, 8) Tango "Somebody's Watching Me" — RockwellEliminated 29 (9, 10, 10) Cha-cha-cha "Ghostbusters" — Ray Parker Jr.Emmitt & Cheryl 25 (8, 8, 9) Foxtrot "Witchcraft" — Frank SinatraSafe 29 (9, 10, 10) Rumba "Spooky" — Dusty Springfield

Week 9 Each couple performed two dances. Couples are listed in the order they performed. CoupleScoresDanceMusicResultMario & Karina 30 (10, 10, 10) Tango "Whatever Lola Wants" — Gwen VerdonSafe 29 (10, 9, 10) Cha-cha-cha "Bad" — Michael JacksonEmmitt & Cheryl 29 (9, 10, 10) Waltz "At This Moment" — Billy Vera & The BeatersSafe 30 (10, 10, 10) Cha-cha-cha "Dance to the Music" — Sly & The Family StoneJoey & Edyta 29 (9, 10, 10) Quickstep "42nd Street" — Lee Roy ReamsEliminated 30 (10, 10, 10) Rumba "Eternal Flame" — The Bangles

Week 10 Each couple performed three dances: the samba, their favorite dance of the season, and their freestyle routine. Couples are listed in the order they performed. CoupleScoresDanceMusicResultEmmitt & Cheryl Samba "Sir Duke" — Stevie WonderWinners 30 (10, 10, 10) Mambo "Que Bueno Baila Usted" — Oscar D'León 29 (10, 10, 9) Freestyle "U Can't Touch This" — MC HammerMario & Karina 29 (10, 9, 10) Samba "Sir Duke" — Stevie WonderRunners-up 30 (10, 10, 10) Paso doble "Canción del Mariachi" — Los Lobos & Antonio Banderas 30 (10, 10, 10) Freestyle "It Takes Two" — Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock

Dance chart The couples performed the following each week: Week 1: One unlearned dance (cha-cha-cha or foxtrot) Week 2: One unlearned dance (mambo or quickstep) Week 3: One unlearned dance (jive or tango) Week 4: One unlearned dance (paso doble or waltz) Week 5: One unlearned dance (rumba or samba) Week 6: One unlearned dance & disco group dance Week 7: Two unlearned dances Week 8: Two unlearned dances Week 9: One unlearned dance & redemption dance Week 10 (Night 1): Samba & favorite dance of the season Week 10 (Night 2): Freestyle

Color key: