'Legendary' is back with a new rule change to save ballroom competitors. While some judges 'liked it,' others 'hated' it.
- Season three of the ballroom competition "Legendary" features a new rule.
- This season allows any judge to save a house from elimination once.
Season three of HBO Max's "Legendary" brings back the intense ballroom competition with a new twist that allows judges to save at least one house, or a collection of dancers, from elimination. Still, the judges of the series are split on if they enjoy the new addition.
Each judge — iconic ballroom performer Leiomy Maldonado, celebrity stylist Law Roach, and actresses Keke Palmer and Jameela Jamil — gets to utilize what's called a "gag flag" that can be used to save a house they believe is deserving of another chance at winning despite receiving a poor performance score. The contestants from each house are judged on different dance styles, including voguing, duck walking, catwalking, among other moves. At the end of the season, one house will win the crown and $100,000.
"I liked it. I thought it was cool," Roach told Insider of the addition of the "gag flag." "It reminded us of "American Idol" and those other shows where people deserve it, get a second chance, or get to go on in the competition."
Meanwhile, Maldonado said, "I hated it. I want the girls to work hard, but that 'gag flag' just gives them an extra chance. I'm like, nah."
Just like on "America's Next Model" and "Project Runway," "Legendary" also has a rotating line-up of celebrity guest judges, including Kelly Rowland, Leslie Jones, Dominique Jackson, Issa Rae, Anitta, and Bob The Drag Queen.
Along with being judged on the dance floor, the dancers are also expected to have an appropriate amount of knowledge about the history of ballroom culture to incorporate into their routines.
"Ballroom is a journey," Maldonado told Insider. "You have to be a part of it. You can't just learn about it one day and think that the next day you're ready for it."
Season three of "Legendary" is now streaming on HBO Max.