DWTS

Dancing with the Stars (DWTS) is an American reality competition television series that pairs celebrities with professional ballroom dancers. Each week, the couples perform choreographed routines in styles such as cha-cha, foxtrot, tango, and paso doble, and are scored by a panel of expert judges. Viewer votes combine with judges' scores to determine which couples advance and which are eliminated. The last couple standing wins the Mirrorball Trophy.

The show premiered on June 1, 2005, on ABC as the American adaptation of the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing. Produced by BBC Studios Los Angeles, it quickly became one of ABC's highest-rated programs. Over its first 20 years, more than 400 celebrities have competed, ranging from actors and athletes to social media personalities and reality stars. The format has been licensed to over 50 countries worldwide.

DWTS has evolved with the television landscape. After 17 years on ABC, its 31st season premiered exclusively on Disney+ in 2022. From season 32 onward, episodes air simultaneously on ABC and Disney+, with streaming available the next day on Disney+ and Hulu. The show has won multiple Primetime Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Reality Competition Program. [edit]

The origins of Dancing with the Stars trace back to the British series Strictly Come Dancing, which premiered on BBC One in 2004. ABC licensed the format and brought it to American audiences the following year. The first season featured six celebrity contestants and a modest production scale, but its combination of glamour, athleticism, and personal transformation struck a chord. The premiere drew nearly 14 million viewers, and by season 2 the show had doubled its audience.

Throughout the late 2000s and early 2010s, DWTS was a ratings juggernaut, regularly pulling 15 to 20 million viewers per episode. The show introduced ballroom dancing to a mainstream audience and made household names of professional dancers like Derek Hough, Julianne Hough, and Cheryl Burke. In 2012, the show experimented with an All-Stars season (season 15), bringing back former contestants. Other themed seasons included a dedicated athletes season (season 26) and a junior version, Dancing with the Stars: Juniors, which aired in 2018.

The show's most significant structural change came in 2020, when longtime hosts Tom Bergeron and Erin Andrews were replaced by Tyra Banks. Bergeron had hosted since the first episode. In 2022, the series moved exclusively to Disney+ for season 31, marking its first departure from broadcast television. The following year, it returned to a hybrid model, airing on both ABC and Disney+. Head judge Len Goodman, a fixture since season 1, died in April 2023 at age 78; the show honored him with a tribute episode later that year. [edit]

Dancing with the Stars brought ballroom dancing into American living rooms, transforming a niche art form into a mainstream entertainment staple. The show introduced millions to dances like the paso doble, Viennese waltz, and Argentine tango, and sparked a surge in adult dance classes across the country. Professional dancers who were once unknown to the general public became celebrities in their own right: Derek Hough went on to star in films and serve as a judge on other shows, while Julianne Hough built a career in music and acting.

The show also served as a powerful platform for personal reinvention. Athletes like Emmitt Smith and Kristi Yamaguchi showed new facets of their personalities. Contestants with disabilities, such as deaf actor Nyle DiMarco, demonstrated that dance is accessible to everyone. The format's global reach, with adaptations in over 50 countries, means its influence extends far beyond the United States. At its peak, DWTS was a ratings powerhouse that commanded water-cooler conversation, and even as viewership declined, it remained a reliable anchor for ABC's fall lineup for nearly two decades. [edit]

The most significant controversy in the show's history occurred after season 27 in 2018, when radio personality Bobby Bones won the Mirrorball Trophy over Milo Manheim, who had consistently earned higher judges' scores. Many viewers accused the voting system of being manipulated by Bones' large fan base, and the result was widely criticized as undeserved. The backlash prompted ABC to issue a statement reaffirming the integrity of the voting process.

The 2020 departure of longtime hosts Tom Bergeron and Erin Andrews, replaced by Tyra Banks, was met with disappointment from many fans. Bergeron had hosted since the premiere and was considered the show's steady hand. Banks' hosting style received mixed reviews, and the show's ratings declined further. Additionally, the death of head judge Len Goodman in 2023 left a void; his dry wit and technical expertise had anchored the judging panel for 18 years. [edit]