The ballroom lights are back on for the 34th season of Dancing With The Stars, but what should’ve been a celebratory milestone for the show’s 20th anniversary is already being clouded by controversy.
The season premiere opened without longtime judge Carrie Ann Inaba, who was sidelined due to illness. That left Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli to hold down the scoring panel alone. Fans missed Inaba’s signature commentary, but she’ll be back in her seat tonight as all three judges reunite.
Despite the hiccup, the premiere drew some of the strongest ratings in recent DWTS history—a good sign considering insiders say this season was viewed internally as a “make-or-break” moment for the franchise.
Still, the celebratory mood has been undercut by whispers that the show could be in trouble thanks to one cast member’s off-camera behavior.
A Contestant Casting Shadow Over the Season
DWTS is no stranger to polarizing stars—ever since soap actress Kelly Monaco won Season 1, the casting has often leaned into personalities who bring as much drama as dance.
This year’s lineup includes athletes, social media influencers, and reality stars meant to draw in a younger demographic.
On the dance floor, Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Whitney Leavitt impressed with a 15 out of 20 for her Tango with partner Mark Ballas, tying conservationist Robert Irwin for the night’s highest score. Meanwhile, comedian Andy Richter and actor Corey Feldman landed at the bottom with 9 out of 20.
But it’s Feldman’s behavior backstage that has industry insiders worried. Before the premiere, the Stand By Me actor reportedly delayed rehearsals due to other commitments—a lack of preparation that critics say was obvious during his first performance.
“He’s a loose cannon and doesn’t want to do the work, and it’s had a knockdown effect on the other cast,” one insider told Star magazine.
According to reports, tensions have only escalated since then, raising questions about whether Feldman could derail the season altogether.
A Season Packed with Themes
Even with the behind-the-scenes chaos, ABC has lined up a series of flashy theme nights to keep fans hooked. Season 33 champ Joey Graziadei revealed on the official DWTS podcast (which he now hosts) that tonight’s episode will be One Hit Wonder Night.
From there, the season will roll out a mix of nostalgic and playful themes, including:
Week 3: TikTok Night
Week 4: Disney Night (celebrating Disneyland’s 70th anniversary)
Week 5: Dedication Night
Week 6: Wicked Night
Week 7: Halloween Night
Week 8: Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Night
Week 9: 20th Birthday Party Night
Week 10: Prince Night
Week 11: A three-hour finale
Co-hosts Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough praised the high premiere ratings on the podcast, noting that it could help propel the season forward.
But with insider chatter about low confidence behind the scenes, fans are left wondering: will dazzling performances and nostalgic theme nights be enough to save Dancing With The Stars from its most dramatic season yet?
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