‘Dancing
With the Stars” nixed the idea of putting a chimp on the show after PETA went ape over the possibility.
The chimp was supposed to appear on Tuesday’s live results show as a mock “guest judge” alongside regular judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli and Len Goodman.
“Dancing” host Tom Bergeron even promoted the appearance Monday night, but the show’s producer, Conrad Green, scotched the idea when PETA rattled ABC’s cage and lodged a vociferous complaint.
“I do appreciate your point that showing a chimpanzee on our show may indirectly lead to other chimpanzees being ill-treated in the future,” Green wrote PETA officials, according to a report in Variety.
Instead of the chimp judge, viewers saw a toddler in a suburban backyard ranking the show’s celebrity dancers.