Filled with tears, questionable dancing at times, and elaborate production, ABC’s Dancing with the Stars is a highlight for many as the fall season rolls around. This year in particular the show has become a phenomenon in the mainstream media, which is mainly due to the influence of social media and a great cast. Despite this, the question still remains: what makes this show so addicting, and how did it grow to this year’s level of insanity?
For those unfamiliar with the show’s format, the premise of the show is to pair celebrities who have never danced before with professional level ballroom dancers in a weekly competition. Each couple is scored on a scale of one to ten, but the public can also vote to save their favorite couple from elimination. The competition lasts several months, and each episode can be up to two hours long.
Given the relatively simple format, Dancing with the Stars strength lies in a few different elements, starting with production. From the second you tune in to an episode, you’re bombarded with a loud, latin-esque theme song, discoballs everywhere, sweeping shots of a star-studded ballroom, and confetti at least twice. It’s slightly overwhelming, but does a great job of keeping you engaged.
In addition to the production, the recurring cast of the show is a huge help in drawing people to Dancing with the Stars. Unlike other dance competition shows or reality TV, which feature a rotating cast each season, many of the professionals on Dancing with the Stars have been a part of the show for decades. They offer a sense of familiarity and complexity that gives fans more reason to talk about the show. For example, senior pro dancers like Mark Ballas, Valentin Chmerkovskiy, and Whitney Carson are clearly better choreographers than others and get better celebrity partners. Younger pros, on the other hand, like Rylee Arnold and Ezra Sosa give fans the talking point of who’s going to be the ‘next Whiteny’ or ‘next Val’. The show knows this, and they draw on these differing skill levels — often featuring these younger pro dancers in extra numbers, thus giving fans more to discuss.
These elements are pretty standard for any season of the show, but Season 34 has a few other strengths as well, the first of which being the cast of celebrities. As of November 10, the remaining contestants are Andy Richter, Robert Irwin, Whitney Levitt, Dylan Efron, Jordan Chiles, Elaine Hendrix, and Alix Earle. Although some are more well known than others, the range in fame and age is one strength of the cast. Social media personalities like Alix Earle and Robert Irwin can draw in Gen Z audience members while people like Andy Richter can draw in an older crowd (for example my 40 year old stepdad, who had never watched an episode before he heard Richter was on).
One thing that stands out about the cast this season is their charisma. From sweet middle-aged women like Hendrix to young, energetic Irwin to funny, elderly Richter, the cast is diverse in a way that keeps the audience charmed. This does even better on their social media pages than it does on TV, which leads into another strength of the show: their social media presence.
The Devil works hard, but the social media managing team of Dancing with the Stars works harder. What seems like every other minute, they are keeping fans updated on rehearsals, screenings, costumes, music choices, and everything in between.
Moreover, fans take to social media to air out any drama or shocking eliminations from previous efforts, giving Dancing with the Stars more reason to keep posting. This year in particular, the show relies on audience members taking to social media in a rage to keep ratings high. Since the premiere on September 16, there has been lots of controversy regarding score inflation, unfair pairings, and outrageous fan voting.
For example, Mark Ballas is paired with Whitney Levitt (of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives), who has a degree in dance — an obvious advantage over other contestants. Fans were also pretty divided on Andy Richter, who was clearly the worst dancer on the show. However, fans kept him in for weeks, with many taking to social media to advocate valiantly for Richter or to argue he should have been the first one eliminated. Carrie Anne Inaba (one of the three judges) also offers fans a fair amount of ragebait, as she fluctuates from over-complimenting the contestants to giving them lower scores like 6’s and 7’s.
Many other reality TV shows or dance shows can take notes on how Dancing with the Stars handles their production and engagement of viewers. In this age of social media, large channels like ABC need to adapt to reach younger audiences, and Dancing with the Stars found a way. Paired with the charismatic cast, the show continues to be a smashing success. Only time will tell if they’re able to keep up the growth they’re experiencing now. The final episode of Season 34 will premiere on November 25, 2025.