History of DWTS:
Dancing with the Stars(DWTS) is an American dance contest television series, first premiered on ABC on June 1, 2005. It’s the US version of the UK series named “Strictly Come Dancing” and one iteration of the Dancing with the Stars franchise. Tom Bergeron first hosted the show from its inception until 2019. Lisa Canning was co-host in the first season of DWTS. Moreover, Samantha co-hosted seasons two to nine, Brooke Burke-Charvet in seasons ten to seventeen, and Erin Andrews from season eighteen twenty-eight. The show was renewed for its twenty-ninth season, which was premiered on September 14, 2020, with the addition of a new host Tyra Banks, replacing Bergeron.
The arrangement of the show consists of a celebrity paired with a trained dancer. All the couple performs and competes against the others for judges’ points and audience votes. A couple having the bottom-most extremes and crowd votes will get killed each week until just the boss move pair remains.
Some facts about the stars:
The director of the show, Deena Katz, has a desire list of guests she would love to see, and she told ABC News in 2016 that one person who’s noble on that list is prior US President Bill Clinton. She also went on to say that she’s asked him to come on the show several times. During an appearance on “The Rachael Ray Show,” the former president confirmed that the show has led out to him in the past.
Former First Lady and prior presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and former First Lady Michelle Obama have further been asked to show off their dance skills on the famous show. Laurie Hernandez was the youngest contestant to win DWTS Mirrorball Trophy. Donny Osmond is the adored DWTS champion. All contestants get a base salary for competing, but the winner can reportedly win up to $295,000. Bindi reportedly had to prove her father died to get paid for the show.
Derek Hough acquired a record of six titles between 2007 to 2016. But two of his most significant wins came during seasons where he didn’t take home the Mirrorball. He won an Emmy for his quickstep with acrobat Shawn Johnson on season 15 and another for a routine performed with sister, Julianne, during the season-20 finale.
400th episode:
The 400th episode was the season opening of the twenty-fourth season. Tom Bergeron mentioned the milestone; however, no particular dances took place.
10th Anniversary Special:
On the 28th of April, 2015, throughout season 20, a special pre-recorded episode was displayed as the 10th anniversary special with multiple former and professional dancers returning to the ballroom. Several stars presented and reflected on their time on the show. Patti LaBelle, Amber Riley, and Lil’ Kim performed LaBelle’s “Lady Marmalade.” The show closed with the enormous number of people dancing in the show’s history as stars, pros, hosts, and also the judges were all out on the dance floor.
So, what’s new in season 29?
Little did we know, Dancing With the Stars followers, that when Season 28 ended last November, people also said goodbye to a version of the show we’ve known and loved for many years. There will be a bunch of new celebrities.
The show made some notable changes throughout the competition’s hiatus: America’s Next Top Model vet Tyra Banks is now hosting, taking on the duties of both Tom Bergeron and Erin Andrews (who were let go in July). Derek Hough, who won the Mirrorball six times, is now behind the judges’ table, sitting in the chair typically occupied by Len Goodman (who can’t participate this year due to coronavirus travel restrictions).
Additionally, the global pandemic has changed things inside the ballroom, too. There are no studio attendees this time around — though some phantom cheers and boos are coming from somewhere — and contestants now watch each other perform from socially distanced spots in the rafters instead of the SkyBox.
Dancing With the Stars returned Monday night, with a lot of new faces and significant changes! With Tyra Banks hosting, Derek Hough behind the judges’ table, and an eclectic cast of contestants, the fans followed along for the whole two-hour season 29 première to break down all the dances and the most surprising moments.
In the first season after the start of the coronavirus outbreak, fans saw a brand new ballroom and a novel, safety-focused production that was quite a bit different from anything we’ve seen before. Meantime, longtime host, Len Goodman will not be in the studio this season — as he’s currently in London amid the pandemic — but joined remotely to lend his ballroom expertise.
This season also emphasizes an impressive cast of many new celebs who will hit the dance floor to take on routines they’ve never tried before. The new field of stars includes Cheer’s Monica Aldama, prominent cat activist Carole Baskin, Bachelorette Kaitlyn Bristowe, NFL star Vernon Davis, Disney channel star Skai Jackson, Anne Heche, Backstreet Boys’ AJ McLean, Nelly, Catfish host Nev Schulman, reality star Chrishell Stause, Olympian Johnny Weir, NBA pro-Charles Oakley, and Jesse Metcalfe.
Numerous individuals thought the move rivalry arrangement’s future was in danger until ABC Entertainment president Karey Burke told Deadline at the 2020 Winter TCA Press Tour that she expected it would return. Cheryl had even suggested the possibility of a virtual season of Dancing With the Stars if coronavirus is still running this fall.
The dancing show is return with some new & old cast of celebrities. Each week, these celebrities will leave their comfort zones and experience hours of grueling rehearsals to master modern dance styles and choreography, which will be judged by a panel of ballroom experts, as well as voted upon by viewers. In the end, only one dancing star will take home the Mirrorball trophy.
How has COVID-19 changed rules for DWTS?
Following the manual issued by the Industry-Wide Labor-Management Safety Committee Task Force in June, the set will be broken up into zones to minimize contact. The dancers will not come within 8 feet of anyone other than their partner onset and at the rehearsals. Furthermore, judges will also sit 8 feet apart. Dancers will be tested at least five times each week and must complete daily health screenings before they can access the set. Each and every celebrity involved with the show has relocated to Los Angeles, “Dancing With the Stars” is filmed for the season’s duration to eliminate any travel.
Don’t expect to see any large group opening numbers this season, though production is looking for new ways for couples to dance together while observing social distancing strict rules. Instead of a live band, pre-recorded tracks will play in the ballroom. Special air filters, which a “Dancing With the Stars” representative said, are equivalent to operating rooms and placed in critical locations.
Although the celebrities will be able to watch their co-stars perform, it will be from a second-floor balcony. The sky lounge has been discarded from the set. All the dancers will get the COVID test every two days or five days a week. All the dancers have to live alone, even the married ones. There won’t be a camera crew in rehearsals. There will not be voting or elimination in week 1.
2 Replies to “(DWTS) Dancing with the Stars Season 29, first episode to be aired on 22nd of September, 2020”