‘Dancing With The Stars’ Season 33: Judges & Hosts Returning Confirmed

Dancing With The Stars is returning to the ballroom for its 33rd season, bringing back some familiar faces to the delight of fans.

As a new roster of yet-to-be-revealed celebrities gears up to showcase their dance skills with their partners, they will be greeted by co-hosts Julianne Hough and Alfonso Ribeiro. Julianne, a former professional dancer, joins Alfonso, who won the Mirrorball Trophy in season 19.

This isn’t their first time sharing the hosting spotlight. The 52-year-old actor began his hosting duties in 2022 alongside Tyra Banks. However, in season 32, Julianne, the 36-year-old professional dancer, stepped into the co-host role. Their partnership dates back to when Julianne was a judge during the season that Alfonso emerged victorious.

In an interview with Entertainment Tonight in 2023, Alfonso expressed his excitement, saying, “Our chemistry, I think, is going to be fantastic. We’ve known each other for so long. She was a judge on my season.” He continued, “We’ve known each other through the years, and our energy just feels so right. We sat and had lunch, and two-and-a-half hours later, we’re going, ‘I guess we should go home and do stuff.’ And I think that kind of chemistry and friendship is going to come through on the show to the audience.”

While Julianne and Alfonso will cheer on the competitors, the dancers will be critiqued by judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli, and Derek Hough. Derek, a six-time Mirrorball champion, is also Julianne’s brother. This judging trio first joined forces in 2020, navigating the unique challenges of putting on the show during the pandemic.

They previously judged alongside the late Len Goodman, a longtime dance critic and beloved figure in the ballroom community. Len’s legacy is honored this season, with the show’s coveted trophy named ‘The Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy.’ Len’s passing in 2023 at the age of 78 left a lasting impact on the show and its participants, many of whom had been judged by him since they were young dancers.

Excitement continues to build as the competition’s premiere approaches. Set to air on September 17 at 8 PM Eastern Time on ABC and Disney+, fans eagerly anticipate the reveal of this season’s celebrity dancers. The battle for the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy promises to be one of the highlights of the season.

Source: Entertainment Tonight, ABC