Executive Producer Rob Wade Talks On Dancing With The Stars Season 22
Executive Producer Rob Wade talked with TV Guide about the new season of Dancing With The Stars and what we can expect for theme nights, All Access, and more. He also talks on the unexpected. Read below and let us know what you think…
Some things stay the same
You know the saying, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” right? Much of what makes this season different than the last is simply a return to what’s already worked, and that’s a very good thing. Familiar faces, including judge Len Goodman, who sat out last season, returns to the judge’s chair again this season, and surprise celebrity guest judges will be back too. Edyta Sliwinska, a favorite dancer who took time off to start a family, is back, as is sports anchor Erin Andrews, making her triumphant return since that whopping $55 million settlement for that creepy hotel room stalking ordeal. You won’t see major format changes: You’ll still see, by and large, the same theme nights, including Disney Night, Latin night, Judges Choice and the Switch Up. “We’ve gotten to a format viewers think is fair,” says executive producer Rob Wade, “and they’re comfortable with it, so we don’t want to change it.” Makes sense!
Expect the unexpected
A lot of this will be a surprise, but expect more non-dancing content this season. Wade says DWTS will up the ante in terms of behind-the-scenes content and “editorial pieces” full of humor unscripted moments. “We’re really going to embody the liveliness of the show,” Wade says. Think more variety show than purely dancing competition. “We’re not afraid to rip up rule book up a bit.” To wit, All Access, the post-show, expands this season with more content, including breakdowns, interviews with the cast, and their after-party, streaming right after the TV broadcast ends.
More at TV Guide.
Not sure what I think of the Variety stuff? I just want to see great dancing. We’ll see?
Sorry to be a doomsayer but it just sounds like he’s going less dancing and more nasty Nastia packages for drama. So it will become a full blown reality show with even more scripted characters. Ugh. I hope Derek Hough never sets foot back in that ballroom. I watch to see dancing. If I wanted a reality show I’d watch the Kardashians.
More variety show? I’m dreading it already!
Why am I already getting the feeling that I am going to be using my mute button a lot and/or flipping over to The Voice? How about more dancing, less drama?
Based on the celebs cast for this season, it does seem that they went back to an older formula. I feel like they used social media “stars” to increase viewership, audience, and instagram followers to 1 mill LOL.
The cast is much older and is giving me vibes from earlier seasons. I see a Hines and Kym couple, a Kelly Monaco and Alec/Val couple, a Jennifer Gray vibe…etc. Which doesn’t mean that it is a bad thing…but I feel like you need Maks for the behind the scenes drama lol.
Possible behind the scenes moments/drama:
-Mischa and Artem arguing. Mischa being sensitive, paranoid and Artem drilling her and being the scary Maks.
-Antonio and Sharna possible injury (God forbid) but Antonia does seem kind of aloof to me and Sharna seems hungry for that mirrorball and may try crazy lifts and tricks.
-Ginger and Val fighting because Ginger’s mom/work sched cuts into their practice time for the two dances week…idk lol
But, I am SO glad they are bringing back familiar faces AKA Edyta.
I wonder if Derek and Julianne will do a big performance during Semi finals week as a promotion for their Summer tour. I did see a a pic of a Derek powerpoint or something for possible tour ideas via purederekhough
There’s no summer tour this summer, EmnEm. What you saw Derek working on was *2017*’s 70 city tour…he’s writing the music for it. Or some of the music. That’s about all we know about it too – not sure if Julianne is even involved, but she probably is.
Thank for the clarification! Wow, 70 city tour sounds amazing. I wonder what all the pros will be doing over this summer then?
Variety Show? OK I’ll try to keep an open mind and cross my fingers that it will be a good change. However, more behind-the-scenes content and “editorial pieces” breakdowns,etc.? SIGH that sounds to me like they are cranking up the drama and manipulation machine again. Not that I’m at all surprised. I won’t even ask if it can get worse than last season’s mess because I am seriously afraid of the answer.
Never the less I will to try to just roll my eyes and bite my tongue at the nonsense,and simply enjoy the couples and the dancing. The D still is for DANCING right?
If they’re going to add this stuff, why not add an all access segment or something on ‘here’s what to look for in a “rumba (cucaracha, sliding door, cuban motion)”, “jive (sailor shuffle, pointed toes, balls of feet)”, “cha cha (lock step, new yorker,) ” etc.
They did this one when Kym and Dimitry danced a rumba, they had titles on the screen with step names, and Kym kinda sorta did this in one of the week 2 all access vignettes last season.
EmnEm, all we’ve heard on summer plans for Pros is that Val and Maks are touring.
I wish Rob said something on Derek and if he’ll be back for a special dance(s) or something. Then again, maybe he wants that to be a surprise? I hope so. There is such a big hole now that he is gone.
The pros might be taking a break, I would imagine. Tours are very strenuous. Except Derek – he’ll probably be getting ready for Singin’ in the Rain.
It could be that Rob no longer has any control over Derek and he’s still asking and waiting for a response. 🙂
LOL Heidi! Yeah, maybe that’s it!
Rob Wade, you’re an idiot. I don’t want a variety show, I want a dancing show. I tune in to see the dancing. I don’t want super-abbreviated dances shoehorned in amongst a bunch of vapid editorial pieces, faux “unscripted” moments and pathetic attempts at humor.
I already fast-forward through the judges’ comments and the skybox schtick. With all the additional fluff that looks like they’re going to throw in, I’ll now be able to get through an entire show in about 15 minutes.
What has this guy been smoking??!
I suspect that the “behind the scenes” and “unscripted” content will serve a couple purposes. First, it will provide more “personal” info about the pros, expanding on segments like the pro hometown dances from last season. Second, it will give the producers more opportunities to improve the public image for select pros — Val, Sharna, perhaps Keo. I imagine that the producers want to try to expand the fanbases for existing pros and see this type of content as a method of doing it, instead of relying on the pros individual social media and publicists.
It will be interesting to see how these parts of the show evolve over the season.
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
What makes the show tick is dancing, the relationships between celebs and their pro partner and Tom. It really that simple.
i just wonder how much less dancing there will be. I hope opening pro numbers, dance bumpers aren’t sacrificed too much for this back stage stuff. My jury is really out on this whole concept. I want as much dancing as I can get. Results Shows provided more. But there seems to be no mention of any so far. Just have to wait and see.
“…but expect more non-dancing content this season.”
Nah fam, I’m outta here. Remember the good ol’ days when the celebs did two dances and only had ONE package? Good times, good times. The pros were so much more interesting when they barely appear on the packages too.
I agree Daniel… those were the days as well as Result Shows. Please more dancing and less fillers or dumb stuff.
From the responses here, its obvious that RobeWade does not go by what the loyal fans or viewing audience of the show respect and love about DWTS, the dancing. He has a good mixture of cast too. I’ve always felt DWTS was more than a reality show. It actually made me love dance. Well my favorite’s no longer part of the show so I’m not as invested but I was still planning on watching.
Hopefully, the behind the scenes is more like it was for earlier seasons and not the way its become in the latter seasons.
Like he said, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. 🙂