Dancing With the Stars is returning to the ballroom with its familiar cast and crew for its 35th season. The ever-popular competition show revealed its hosts and judges during a Tuesday appearance on Good Morning America, offering viewers the first real look at who would usher in the latest crop of celebrities as they fight it out on the dance floor. Back again this season, Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough will reprise their co-host duties.
The pair has served as hosts for the show since season 32. Ribeiro has won the Mirrorball himself (season 19) and gives a unique perspective as a former contestant turned host. Hough is also a former pro dancer and two-time champion of DWTS, giving her intimate knowledge of the competition.
The pair has great banter and chemistry and are comfortable both making jokes and sharing sincere compliments for the dances. Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough, and Bruno Tonioli are returning to the judging panel. Inaba and Tonioli have been staples for both the first season back in 2005 and across both decades the series has aired, providing that reliable steady voice in two decades of DWTS.
Hough jumped aboard the judges’ panel for a later season and has also become a regular face of DWTS, often bringing expert knowledge about technique plus positive energy and constructive criticism. Hough seemed excited for the upcoming season during the GMA segment and told viewers they will get “everything you love about the show, but with a lot of energy, ” an incredible cast that he’s “so excited for, ” and he’s “ready to get dancing.” The season is set to premiere as a two-night show on Tuesday, September 15th and Wednesday, September 16th, live on ABC and Disney+, before it then makes its way to its normal time slot each Tuesday.
All the celebrities, and their pro partners, are to be announced tomorrow morning on Good Morning America, so we have less than two weeks to try and pick a favorite. Several of the contestants have already been named. reality stars Ciara Miller and Maura Higgins, Savannah Bananas player Jackson Olson and Jimmy Kimmel Live sidekick Guillermo Rodriguez have all been confirmed as part of the cast.
Also joining the troupe of pros will be the brand new pro dancer, who has earned the title as a contestant on the spin off show Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro. Adele Zaikman is a welcome addition to the group of familiar veteran professional dancer that will mentor the celebs. A little bit about the creative aspects of the season was promised by Julianne Hough, when she mentioned that there will be at least one night devoted to totally cool fashion and nothing more was given as a clue.
It is that consistency blended with hints of variety which have developed as one of the strengths of the show. The viewers can always be sure that the established rules and structure, i.e. scoring, eliminations and contestant emotional journey, remain while the addition of a fresh batch of dancers and surprise themes keeps it exciting and relevant. Keeping the same hosting and judging team for a series running for over twenty years is a sign of trust in the show already running successfully. The hosts and judges are characters that fans have got used to and feel comfortable with, and bringing them back together allows a feeling of home while new celebrities begin their first dances.
