Already renewed for a 32nd season following last year’s surprise move of the hit series to Disney+ after airing for 30 seasons on ABC, “Dancing with the Stars” will be back this fall with several key changes on the horizon.
First up: Tyra Banks is out as host of the competition series. According to TMZ, Banks plans to pursue her passion as an entrepreneur.
Courtesy of Disney+
Starting with Season 29, Banks replaced perennial host Tom Bergeron as part of ABC’s attempt at diversifying the show’s production in order to gain viewers. After two seasons by herself, Season 19 Mirrorball winner Alfonso Ribeiro stepped in as the show’s co-host. His duties included interviewing the celebrities and their dance partners before and after their televised performances.
According to published reports, Ribeiro will become the show’s new emcee, with veteran pro dancer Julianne Hough stepping in as co-host, assuming Ribeiro’s previous responsibilities. Winning two trophies during her tenure, Hough spent three seasons as a permanent judge on the show and was a judge on “America’s Got Talent” for one season.
Season 31 of “Dancing with the Stars” saw the departures of Len Goodman as the show’s head judge and Cheryl Burke as a dance pro. Goodman had been with the series since it began in 2005. Burke spent 26 seasons on the program, winning the coveted trophy in Seasons 2 and 3.Starting with Season 32, the panel of judges is expected to consist of returning judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli and Derek Hough.
“Dancing with the Stars” was reportedly moved to Disney+ as a key measure for Disney-owned ABC to showcase several “Monday Night Football” games as part of a new pact with the NFL. Additionally, the series had become a money loser in recent years following a fall in ratings during its latter seasons on the network. In addition to football, ABC is looking to invest in new and future long-term programming for its Monday night schedule.