'Dancing with the Stars' Finds Its Groove Again with Season 33
On how I fell back in step with the reality show, the influence of TikTok on it, and who could take home the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy in Season 33
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Dancing with the Stars is halfway through Season 33 (!), and I can’t miss a single episode. It’s become appointment TV for me every single Tuesday night.
As soon as the episode ends and heads into a new episode of ABC’s new drama, High Potential (I have lots of good things to write about that, too, at some point!), I’m already anticipating what’s next — what songs and dances the teams will choose. My best friend and I will text, send voice notes, or FaceTime during the live shows to share whether we agree or disagree with the panel of judges. I already know who I want to win and who I believe will be the final five couples to compete for the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy in the finale.
I kept trying to think of the last time I watched a Dancing with the Stars season week in and week out. Over the years, I have jumped in and out when celebrities I like competed, like Amber Riley with Derek Hough in Season 17 or Jordan Fisher with Lindsay Arnold in Season 25. I also remember rooting for Bindi Irwin with Derek Hough in Season 21 and Milo Manheim with Witney Carson in Season 27. I still think about many dances throughout the years, like Jana Kramer and Gleb Savchenko’s Argentine Tango to Selena Gomez’s “Hands to Myself” in Season 23.
But I wasn’t glued to my TV during those seasons for whatever reason, likely life getting in the way as I navigated high school and college. I don’t remember why I stopped adamantly watching Dancing with the Stars. I know there was a time when I did. It was something my family watched together when I was younger.
Then, you could call a toll-free number to vote (Now, there are so many ways to vote — texting, ABC’s website, Facebook). The show aired two times a week, with performances in the first and eliminations in the second episode. ABC downsized Dancing with the Stars to one night a week with Season 17 in 2013. It went back to two episodes a week halfway through Season 20 in 2015 but returned to one episode per week the following season. The professionals have changed over the years. I know that I’m still hoping that Sharna Burgess will make her return after being a professional on Dancing with the Stars Seasons 16-27 and 29-30.
The Hough siblings, Derek and Julianne, have had some of the most noticeable evolutions within the series. Julianne was a pro on Seasons 4-8, won 2 Mirrorball Trophies, and returned as a co-host alongside Alfonso Ribeiro in Season 32. Derek was a pro on Seasons 5-11 and 13-21, as well as Season 23. He won six times during that run, with his lowest placing being 6th with Marilu Henner in his final season as a professional. Those winning odds exceed any other pro.
Then, Len Goodman, who served as a judge from 2005-2022, left the series in Season 31. He sadly passed away in 2022, and Dancing with the Stars memorialized him by renaming the trophy to the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy. Many of the show’s professionals — some returning only for this — honored Goodman with a breathtaking waltz to Henry Mancini’s “Moon River” in Season 32’s “Most Memorable Year.” That tribute is what drew me back to Dancing with the Stars.
It was the nostalgia of seeing some of the pros from when I was eight years old watching this show, but it was also the power of that dance. It made me remember why I love it, even though I am not the best dancer.
Dance is a powerful medium. It tells stories. It’s a form of expression. It is a vulnerable exercise that benefits the heart. The University of Sydney recently concluded, “A structured dance program of at least six weeks’ duration can significantly improve psychological and cognitive health outcomes equivalent to other forms of structured exercise interventions, finds new research from Australian researchers.”
(This dance also unlocked my obsession with the Step Up franchise, which has been quieter since Step Up: All In was released in 2014. Though, it does burn a little brighter whenever Ryan Guzman almost dances on 9-1-1.)
When I was younger, Dancing with the Stars was a fun reality show I watched with my parents. As an adult, I appreciate it for many other reasons. I see the transformations that happen throughout the season. I see the celebrities and professionals work together (more often than not) to have breakthroughs that shine on the dance floor. I watch the teams bond during rehearsals and express that connection through impeccable chemistry. Throughout it all, the celebrities and pros (usually) bear their souls and talent on and off the dance floor.
With that broader understanding of why the show works for me, I was excited to watch Season 33. I recognized a lot more of the celebrities than I did when I was younger — Zombies and Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin star Chandler Kinney, Paris Olympics medal-winning athletes Ilona Maher and Nedoroscik, Family Matters star Reginald VelJohnson, and ex-Bachelor Joey Graziadei to name a few.
I couldn’t anticipate how impressive this group of celebrities would be — from their innate musicality or history with dance to their desire to learn and appreciate the art. It’s been a real joy to watch, especially VelJohnson’s partnership with Emma Slater. Admittedly, I don’t watch The Bachelorette (Yet! Never say never!). I’ve heard that Jenn Tran wasn’t treated the best, so seeing her regain her confidence on the ballroom floor is rewarding.
Most of all, seeing the TikToks that have come out of this season has been exciting. Per my previous post, I’m trying to spend less time on social media, but I try to give myself a few minutes to catch up on the DWTS TikToks that week.
This cast has so much fun with one another. The cast, including some pros who have already been eliminated but remain a part of the dance company, posted a studio tour set to trending audio. Maher, whom I adore, has become quite the leader on the TikTok front, even poking fun at herself after her vulnerable display during “Hair Metal Week.” But pro Ezra Sosa also delivers incredible TikToks.
Really, none of them are worth missing, so I suggest following everyone. After all, there are still a few more weeks left in this year’s competition, and “Dedication Night” leaves a lot of pairings on an equal playing field — five tied at 32 points.
That emotional episode is also the one that inspired this post. It helps that its vibes are vastly better than the episode prior because the guest judge is better. Dancing with the Stars going from Gene Simmons’ odd (to say the very least) scores to Mark Ballas as special guest judge changes the energy in the ballroom.
I’d love to see Ballas as a permanent judge (Shirley Ballas, an English ballroom dancer and Mark’s mother, is the Head Judge of BBC One’s Strictly Come Dancing, on which DWTS is based) because he knows how to deliver compliments and critiques, having been a pro for Seasons 5-22, Season 25, and Season 31 and won three times. His expertise is invaluable to the competition. Plus, his friendship with Derek Hough is beautiful to watch, too. Hough even told Us Weekly that he’d like Ballas to stick around: “I’m absolutely here for it. I think Mark has a lot to offer. He has a lot of wisdom and insight and experience.”
Regardless, seeing Derek break the 5 paddle (I still can’t believe Simmons gave her a 5!) after Phaedra Parks’s vast improvements still makes me want to clap. The same is true after seeing Maher get back up stronger after last week’s wobbles.
But I keep coming back to two of the dances from that night — Danny Amendola & Witney Carson’s contemporary number in dedication to his late coach Mike Leach and Derek Hough & Hayley Erbert Hough’s contemporary routine to “Beautiful Things (Acoustic)” by Benson Boone that marked Erbert’s return to the dance floor after undergoing emergency brain surgery in December 2023.
Danny Amendola continues to amaze me during this competition. His weekly improvement is equally as noticeable as his growing enjoyment of dance. From the beginning, I thought Amendola was the underdog in this competition — I have the texts with my best friend to prove it. I could see him winning the whole thing.
Even if he doesn’t, I am confident Danny & Witney will be in the Final 5. Who will join them in Season 33’s finales? My guesses are Jenna & Joey, Jenn & Sasha, Ilona & Alan, and Chandler & Brandon. But, really, there are so many strong pairings this season that anyone could wind up in that finale.
But as fun as it is to look ahead and imagine who will be holding up that Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy this year, “Dedication Night” reminds me to slow down and appreciate this competition — the weekly progress among the contestants, the banter between the judges, and the truly phenomenal turns along the way. The only thing that could make me stop thinking about Danny & Witney’s dance was Derek & Hayley’s moving routine. I think I’ve shown it to everyone I know since Tuesday. It’s incredible choreography, but Hayley Erbert Hough’s determination and fighting spirit are what make the moves memorable.
Knowing that there was a chance that she wouldn’t live, let alone walk or dance again, it is truly a miracle to watch her in her element on that ballroom floor with the man she loves. Saying it feels special to witness is an understatement.
It’s a prime example of why I’m eager to tune into Dancing with the Stars every week. Of course, Derek & Hayley’s dance is deeply personal, and their choreography is outstanding because of their careers and chemistry. But that dance tells a story. The commentary beforehand provides insight and sets a tone, but the dance is capable of saying so much. So, yes, I’m rooting for Danny & Witney to win Season 33, but I’m mostly looking forward to seeing this group of celebs and pros continue to express themselves on the ballroom floor.
Until next time,
💌 Shelby