Executive Producer Rob Wade Teases More On Dancing With The Stars Season 20
TV Guide talked with Executive Producer Rob Wade about the new season of Dancing With The Stars. He has SIX teases for us. Let us know what you think in comments. Read on….
In addition to the weekly shows, there’s also a standalone 10th anniversary special in the works that will air as its own event sometime in May, according to Wade. But what can viewers expect from the 20th season? Extra behind-the-scenes rehearsal footage, for one thing, and possibly the return of results shows.
1. The return of results shows: Since switching to a single-night format in Season 17, Dancing has crammed its performances and eliminations into one two-hour block on Mondays. That will continue for the majority of Season 20, but Wade says it’s likely the Tuesday results show will be resurrected once the competition gets into the quarterfinals and semifinals, so that the audience can feel more of a sense of ownership over the results. “With the audience voting and the judges voting on the dance, and then seeing the result on the next night, I think you need the satisfaction of that influence,” Wade says. “So I’m hoping that we’ll get a couple results shows towards the end of the run.”
2. No guest judges: In addition to permanent judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Julianne Hough and Bruno Tonioli, Season 19 featured a rotating cast of fourth judges (including Kevin Hart and one of this season’s competitors, Redfoo) to fill in for Len Goodman, who was shuttling back and forth between the United States and England for Strictly Come Dancing. That won’t be the case this time around, according to Wade. “We’re not going to be doing guest judges this season, because we’ve got Len here the whole time,” Wade assures. (Goodman has said that Season 20 will be his last.)
3. Live-streamed rehearsals: If two hours a week of Dancing isn’t enough for you, this season, fans will get the opportunity to actually watch the pairs as they rehearse Tuesdays through Saturdays, via the show’s “All Access” page. It’s part of the show’s continued efforts to expand its digital footprint (see also: live Twitter polls during the episodes). “It just means you can check in with your favorite couples throughout the week,” Wade says. “We’re hoping to do three or four hours a day, every day throughout the season.” Check the weekly rehearsal schedule and stream here.
4. New theme nights: While Season 20 will see the return of many longstanding theme nights (Disney Night, Latin Night, America’s Choice), some new ones will also be thrown into the mix. “I think we want to do a Spring Break week,” Wade teases. “This is a spring season. This is really a countdown to the summer for people. I think subconsciously, viewers kind of realize that when we get to the final it’ll be a couple of days from Memorial Day and we’ll be back into summer.” Get your bathing suits ready!
5. More involvement from the judges: It’s Dancing with the Stars tradition for the judges to mentor the finalists, and Wade wants to take that a step further this season. Might we see the judges actually participating in some ofthe routines? “I wouldn’t rule anything out,” Wade says. “I’d love to try to involve them as much as we can in the storytelling of the show.”
6. Play at home! This season, Dancing will strive to educate viewers as well as entertain them. “This is, after all, a game,” Wade posits. “If you like, you can play at home.” To that end, producers and the judges will place more of an emphasis on what’s expected from a routine from a technical standpoint. “Actually informing people as to what the dances are and what they should look like and what the judges are looking for – all of those things are really important and we’re trying to push those in,” Wade explains.
To read the full article, see TV Guide.
I am loving the idea of the judges being a part of the routines. Too fun! I am loving the All Access rehearsals too. I’m also glad there won’t be any guest judges. Good job, Mr. Wade!
And bring on the “10th Anniversary Special” too. Please bring back everyone you can…including Edyta, Karina, Cheryl, Gleb, Tristan, etc.
Best parts of this: the return of Disney Night and the fact we won’t have any guest judges this season.
Such great news! 😀
I was skeptical of Rob Wade at first last season but I think he has done a great job bringing new energy and life to the show.
I wan’t Classical Week
Point number 6 has been a long time coming, that’s for sure.
I think it’s a great idea to incorporate the fans into the All-Access rehearsals throughout the season. I love that idea.
And no guest judges this season. I can handle that!
I think Rob Wade has done a splendid job with the show. Keep up the good work.
I think Rob Wade has gone all out to make this 10th Anniversary of DWTS unforgettable!! All 6 points above is no doubt going to make this the best season ever.
I especially am happy for Disney Night, Latin night, American’s Choice plus some new ones thrown in with them. The only thing I don’t like is the “Twitter” voting; because not all viewers use Twitter, so no all will be able to participate.
So happy their will be NO Guest judges. But, sorry to read it’s Len’s last season on America’s DWTS.
I love the “results” night and happy to read it will return towards the last half or so of the season.
The Live-Stream All Access rehearsals have been an awesome addition this season. It has given the viewers an opportunity to get to know the celebrities.
The judges working more with the celebrities and explaining to us what the look for and even showing us is going to be awesome.
Not bad, Mr. Wade, not bad at all. I believe he’ll deliver decently on Points 1-5. However, I’m a cynic. So I’ll take a wait and see attitude on Point #6.
The educating as well as entertaining part sounds plausible. That’s pretty easy to do. The true test well be having the judges put more of an emphasis on what’s expected from a routine from a technical standpoint. We’ll see if they apply that across the board instead of conveniently closing the rule book for some pros and getting out the magnifying glass for others. Also, while I fully expect to hear Len give Noah/Sharna the “we have to judge you the same as all the others” speech, I better not hear any of the 3 Stooges mention a lack of pointed foot.
@Tony – TOTALLY agree with you!!! So glad that the audience will be able to be educated more on content. 🙂
Way to go Rob Wade. Maybe you do listen. I love results shows being back towards the end, no guest judges, all access rehearsals, disney week, and educating the audience. (what we’ve all been saying they need to do for seasons!) I could like polls as well, pending they don’t mess with the show.
I don’t like spring break week at all and I’m skeptical about judges involvement, but hopefully they won’t be too bad.
I like what I am reading so far, especially no guest judges, more audience participation,Disney night and watching rehearsals. I have been watching since day 1 of DWTS and you are losing many older viewers because it has lost some of the beautiful ballroom feeling, hopefully some of it will return.
When you do the Special, that are so many old favorites some of us want to see: Julianne of course, Edyta and Alec, Karina and Cheryl, Gleb and Tristan, Chelsie and Anna T. It would be nice to see a real ballroom atmosphere and have these incredible dancers performing.
Hi R.Wade- (producer). Why would your “committee” really not renew a contract for a lovely dancer like Karina? Is there anyway possible that she and Slavik can make an appearance on DWTS – by dance song, “Gotcha?” Chelsea is also a good dancer and not back on your show maybe as Karina’s replacement? I do like the show and watch because there’s nothing else too interesting to watch in that time slot. Glad Tony and Val are still there. Concern.
To Wade only. Thanks.