The Season 32 debut was put in doubt after actor Matt Walsh stepped away due to the WGA strike
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ABC has decided to premiere “Dancing With the Stars” Season 32 as originally scheduled on Tuesday, the network announced Monday.
The debut of the show, which will air at 8 p.m. ET and simulcast live on Disney+ and be available Wednesday on Hulu, was put in doubt after “Veep” actor Matt Walsh — who’s also a member of the writers’ guild — rethought his involvement after learning it was being picketed by WGA.
A rep for Walsh said he will also be on the dance floor: “With the hopeful resolution and vote with the WGA, ‘Dancing With the Stars’ would no longer be a struck show, therefore all cast would be able to return. This includes WGA member Matt Walsh,” a statement shared with TheWrap on Monday read.
Last week, Walsh said, “I am taking a pause from ‘Dancing With the Stars’ until an agreement is made with the WGA.” He also stated he was initially under the impression that the reality show was not considered “struck work” and walked out of rehearsals when he learned otherwise.
On Sunday, the WGA reached a tentative deal with the AMPTP, which has yet to be ratified by guild members.
While SAG-AFTRA remains on strike, they have reassured the other actors on the series, including Jamie Lynn Spears, Alyson Hannigan and Mira Sorvino, that they were not crossing the picket line by participating in the show.
“The majority of our members on ‘Dancing With the Stars’ had contractual obligations to the show prior to the strike. Many are under option agreements that require them to return to the show if the producer exercises their option, which the producer has done,” the guild’s statement read.
“Our members are also subject to a ‘No Strike Clause’ in the Network Code Collective Bargaining Agreement,” the statement continued. “This means our performers agree not to strike during the term of the Collective Bargaining Agreement and to show up to work during this term (the Network Code runs through June 30, 2024.) By not showing up to work, our performers can be held in breach of contract and the Union is prohibited from advising them not to work.”
The post ‘Dancing With the Stars’ Will Premiere on Tuesday as Scheduled appeared first on TheWrap.
