“Dancing with the Stars” premiered its 33rd season on ABC Sept. 17, kicking off another season of placing celebrities out of their comfort zones and seeing who can rise to the occasion of becoming a dancer —and who falls short.
What I love about the show is that there is always someone to root for, whether it’s a professional athlete, influencer, actor or in a bizarre spin this season, a convicted felon. Viewers feel they have a personal stake in the outcome, as the winner is determined by a combination of the judge’s scores and live voting.
Thirteen pairs of celebrities and professional dancers are competing for the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy, named after the long-time host and prominent figure in the dancing world, who passed away in April 2023.
Perhaps the most unexpected member cast this season was convicted felon Anna Delvey, who performed her dance wearing a bedazzled ankle monitor. Delvey was convicted on eight counts of theft in 2019 while pretending to be a German heiress. During an interview in the episode Delvey said that she believes this is an opportunity to change people’s opinions on her.
This is her partner Ezra Sosa’s first season as one of the dance pros and it seems he is having to work extra to motivate her. “I feel happy that I don’t have to do this dance again,” Sosa told host Julianne Hough after receiving their combined score of 18, tying them for eighth.
I believe she will be an early elimination because what she lacks in dancing ability she likely won’t make up for with viewer votes.
Increasingly more celebrities and dance pros are using social media to advertise the show and encourage people to vote for them. This is a great opportunity for fans to get extra content in between the weekly episodes, and to get more of a behind the scenes look at filming.
One of the contestants who frequently posts Tiktoks in between rehearsals is Ilona Maher, Quinnipiac University alum and Olympic medalist. She often ropes her fellow competitors into filming lip syncs and skits.
Despite Maher’s outgoing personality that she regularly showcases to her 2.4 million fans on Tiktok, she appeared nervous during her dance, more so than fans or judges expected.
Dancing with professional partner Alan Bersten, the pair scored 18 out of 30 on their cha-cha to Shania Twain’s “Man! I Feel Like A Woman!” tying for eighth out of 13.
I too, was disappointed in Maher’s lack of energy but it is important to give her the benefit of doubt as she tries a new sport. One of the hallmarks of “Dancing with the Stars,” is its ability to put transform celebrities into dancers.
Also competing on the show from the 2024 Paris Olympics is Stephen Nedoroscik. He captured America’s hearts competing in the Pommel Horse to win an individual bronze medal and clinch the all-around bronze medal for U.S. men’s gymnastics.
He is partnered with 19-year-old Rylee Arnold, who debuted last season as a pro, making her the youngest professional this season. In the world of dance youth can be an advantage, and Rylee showed this by choreographing a fast-paced jive to Queen’s “Don’t Stop Me Now,” which ended with each of them in splits.
Each of the three professional dancers turned judges — Derek Hough, Bruno Tonioli and Carrie Anne Inaba — were feeling the energy and awarded them sevens, tying them for third place with a score of 21.
The oldest competitor this season is actor Reginald VelJohnson, 72, who is for famous portraying the main character on the sitcom “Family Matters,” for nine seasons. VelJohnson’s age was also showing, and not in a good way, as he pretty much stood in the same spot the entire time while partner Emma Slater danced around him.
“That was the most compact salsa I’ve ever seen,” joked Derek Hough afterward. He awarded the pair a five out of 10 on the dance, as did Tonioli. Inaba, who is sometimes known for being more sympathetic than her fellow judges, gave them a six, making their combined score 16.
Ending the night at the top of the leaderboard was actor Chandler Kinney and her partner Brandon Armstrong. Their tango — an ambitious first dance due to its highly detailed nature — to a slowed rendition of Chappell Roan’s “HOT TO GO,” had Tonioli ripping his suit jacket off and telling her it was one of the best tangos he has seen on the show.
Kinney mentions dance being her “first love” as a child before acting, and although this is her first time trying ballroom dancing it appears she may already have a leg up on the competition, earning 23 points on her first performance.
Other celebrity competitors this season include two of ABC’s “The Bachelor” alums, Joey Graziadei and Jenn Trann; former professional athletes Danny Amendola and Dwight Howard; actors Eric Roberts and Tori Spelling; reality TV star Phaedra Parks; and model Brooks Nader.
While none of the celebrities were eliminated this round, the next episode airing Sept. 24 is set to feature a double elimination.
