“Dancing with the Stars” returns for its 33rd season on Tuesday, September 17, but there’s a significant change of plans for the show’s schedule two weeks later, and you can thank good ol’ US politics. The vice presidential debate between Governor Tim Walz and Senator J.D. Vance, to be presented by CBS news, is slated for Tuesday, October 1, when “DWTS” would normally air. To avoid the conflict, the celebrity dance competition series is giving us a double dose the next week.
“DWTS” is scrapping that October 1 installment and instead will present a special two-night event on Monday, October 7, and Tuesday, October 8. But what will this mean for the competition? For starters, it means the celebrity contestants will have to dance twice in one week during just their third week on the show, an artistic and athletic challenge that might separate the top contenders from the rest of the field. Time will tell if there will be an elimination on each night, or perhaps a double elimination on night two.
As of this writing only one celeb has been officially announced for season 33 of “DWTS”: two-time Olympic gymnastics bronze medalist Stephen Nedoroscik, who specializes in the pommel horse and inspired memes across the world when he helped Team USA make the podium for the first time in more than a decade. We don’t know yet if ABC will capitalize on the political season by casting any political figures. But if you’re like me, you’re dreading the prospect. I still have nightmares of Sean Spicer, the press secretary for the Donald Trump administration whose dancing was almost as bad as the misinformation he spread on behalf of his boss. “DWTS” has also included politicos like Texas governor Rick Perry, U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay and right-wing commentator Tucker Carlson.
This year we can at least rule out Walz and Vance as potential cast members. They’ll be busy.
