'Dancing with the Stars': same show, different platform
Dancing with the Stars switched from ABC to Disney+, but withheld the integrity of its family-friendly show through the move. Photo by SIMRAH AHMAD, staff photographer
“Disney Week” is a notorious theme that "Dancing with the Stars" has kept up with for several seasons. However, they gave this theme a whole new meaning by moving from ABC, their host network for the past 30 seasons, to Disney+ for their 31st season.
The show’s season introduction started by panning past ABC’s studio and onto the Disney studio where the audience was met by a group of returning pro dancers who did the cha-cha-cha into the iconic ballroom. The show was just as one would remember it from ABC, but with a fresh flair for Disney+, which is geared toward a younger audience.
“Other than (a new host and young cast member), I feel like I haven't noticed too much of a difference with it being on Disney," said Jaelyn Duran, a senior business administration major.
Zack Lowhurst, a junior creative producing major, has watched the show off and on for the past couple years and told The Panther he was initially intrigued as to why they were moving such a well established show on ABC to a platform that has a younger, new-aged audience.
“I feel like it's being moved to a platform that caters to a demographic that isn't the same as 'Dancing with the Stars' target audience,” Lowhurst said.
However, Disney+ is also for families to crowd around and watch classic Disney films, Lowhurst said. So, perhaps "Dancing with the Stars" is leaning into their family-friendly image.
“Disney+ is also a family-oriented, family-based platform, and I think 'Dancing with the Stars' and competition shows, in general, are family-oriented shows." Lowhurst said. "So I can't say whether or not it is a smart move or not. I think it has potential."
With Disney+ first and foremost being a brand of larger than life, "Dancing with the Stars" is also grasping onto to the magical aesthetic that the show has withheld for several years now with its over the top themes, costumes and dance numbers.
“I did notice that within like the first five minutes of watching (‘Dancing with the Stars’), they mentioned Disney+ and then they brought in this huge dance number,” said senior communication studies major Hannah Nazari. “It just felt more extravagant than usual and bigger than usual because Disney has money so it's very theatrical this year.”
Although the show might not have had to change too much in order to fit into the stream of Disney+ content, there are a couple new additions to the show. Last season Tyra Banks was brought on as a host after Tom Burgeron and Erin Andrews were dropped from the show. With just one host, the skybox was taken away and Banks facilitated all interviews at ground level followed by scores.
This season, the show brought back the classic skybox format along with previous guest host and season 19 winner Alfonso Riviera, who now conducts interviews in the skybox and gauges contestants' reactions to scores while Banks is on the floor to facilitate judging, contestant correspondence and small talk after the performances.
Duran said she enjoys this old school "Dancing with the Stars" format because not only does it bring back a familiar form, but it has created a great hosting dynamic.
“Tyra is there to get them on stage and introduce them, and then Alfonso is there to bring the energy back and bring that excitement in the interview,” Duran said. “I like how they have two separate interviews (with Banks and Riviera).”
One other new addition to the ballroom is TikTok sensation and new contestant Charli D’Amelio. She is the first TikToker to ever take on the competition along with her mom, Heidi D’Amelio. Duran said bringing such a trendy star who currently has 147.6 million followers on TikTok might bring in a younger audience.
“I think they'll probably start bringing in more contestants who are younger, more known in the social media realm rather than actors and all these people who were known years ago,” Duran said. “I think Charli will bring in people that are younger and she will make them want to watch it.”
Although a Generation Z icon is on the show this season, the show did not disappoint the millennials, as Vinny Guadagnino from “The Jersey Shore,” who is also Duran's favorite contestant, was brought on. Baby boomers were given Cheryl Ladd, a former Charlie’s Angel. However, Jason Lewis, a 2003 pop culture staple as Samantha Jones' love interest, was voted off on week one, so perhaps the viewers are skewing younger.
“It’s really hard to vote from the basement where I have one of my classes because there is no service, and I want to vote for (Vinny Guadagnino) because I love Jersey Shore,” Duran said.
In this ever-evolving world where every show is at the push of a button on your phone, there is always a chance for a new audience to find "Dancing with the Stars." In fact, Nazari only started watching "Dancing with the Stars" during lockdown with her roommates and got so hooked on it that she went back to watch older seasons.
“We both have this huge thing for James from 'Big Time Rush,'” Nazari said. “He was in a season years and years ago, so we went and found that season and watched it, so I've seen a few seasons but out of order and in different years just for specific people.”
Only time will tell how "Dancing with the Stars" fairs on Disney+. Luckily, on this new platform, people like Nazari can easily watch their favorite episodes over and over again, even if the watching experience cable brings is slowly becoming a thing of the past as younger audiences want everything now.