On Sept. 14, “Dancing with the Stars” premiered its 29th season. The show cast 15 new celebrities to compete for the Mirror Ball trophy.
After being cut from the show last season, professional dancer Artem Chigvintsev returns this season.
The pairs of contestants this season include Vernon Davis and Peta Murgatroyd, Skai Jackson and Alan Bersten, Nelly and Daniella Karagach, Nev Schulman and Jenna Johnson, Chrishell Stause and Gleb Savchenko, and Carole Baskin and Pasha Pashkov.
Another addition to “Dancing With The Stars” is a new host, Tyra Banks. Banks follows the footsteps of former 15-year host Tom Bergeron.
“Honestly, I don’t think Tyra Banks is as good a host as Tom Bergeron and Erin Andrews,” said senior Carlie Rivera. “I miss having two hosts because the dynamic was so much better. When Tyra asks the contestants and professionals questions, it just seems so scripted. It’s kind of cringe-worthy.”
The judges this season are Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough, and Bruno Tonioli.
“I’m a fan of Derek Hough and I think he’s a great judge,” said Rivera. “It’s nice to have a younger person on the judging panel. During the first episode, he made a TikTok reference and stuff like that definitely appeals to the younger crowd.”
Many shows, including “Dancing with the Stars,” have had to make significant changes due to COVID-19. Changes to the show include the new makeover of the ballroom, the judges sitting six feet apart, and the lack of a live audience.
Carole Baskin is one of the contestants on the show this season despite only rising to fame this year due to her appearance in the Netflix documentary series “Tiger King,” which was released in March.
“I have absolutely zero dance experience,” said Baskin on the show. “I need to get into tip top cat fighting shape.”
Speaking of her dancing partner, Baskin said, “I wanted someone who was tiger tough and bobcat strong, and Pasha is that.”
Baskin and Pashkov took the stage on the premiere of the show, performing the Paso Doble dance to “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor. Pashkov appeared in a cage with tigers. Baskin wore a neon pink number with tiger stripes down the sides and Pasha wore tiger striped pants.
“I feel that this season is purely for promotion. They are really capitalizing on Carole. For example, incorporating in her costumes a tiger theme (which nobody else has a costume based on their career) and having her dance to the ‘Eye of the Tiger.’ She could be doing this to promote the new CBS ‘Tiger King’ miniseries they are creating, and ABC is obviously using her for views,” said senior Maria Serpiento.
Serpiento also discussed the range of dancers this season. “I do appreciate that it is not all athletes and that they also have dancers that are all different ages!” she said.
“Dancing with the Stars” airs Monday nights at 8 p.m. on ABC.
