Derek Hough Returns to DWTS as Judge and Other Changes to The Show’s Format

I love how people are all surprised he’s coming back as a judge. Hello?? He’s a logical choice to replace Len, who appears to be stuck in London. Wish I was stuck in London. 🙂 There are worse things…like being a pro who ISN’T friends with Derek right now. 😀 Seriously, though….those folks don’t have to worry, Derek isn’t likely to behave how they themselves would behave. 😉 And you know how rare it is that DWTS poaches from another “Big 4” network?? Times must be tough…

BIG NEWS @DancingABC FANS! @derekhough is coming back to #DWTS…this time as a judge! https://t.co/D2rAdUTzWb #DancingOnGMA pic.twitter.com/ydn0kCBo4M

— Good Morning America (@GMA) September 8, 2020

Deadline also reports on other changes to how the show is produced to keep everyone safe:

The judges’ desk will be widened to maintain eight feet between each judge and dancers will be asked to stand at a distance of at least eight feet from the judges during the judging process.

The rehearsal dance studio has been equipped with remote cameras rather than in person camera crews as in previous seasons.

There will also be no audience for the show, which will still be produced and aired live, or band, and the team at BBC Studios have redesigned the studio as a result. Llinares said, “What we didn’t want to have in the ballroom was loads of empty seats, we wanted it to look like there was a purpose to it so we’re redesigning the ballroom. We’re going to put in some extra screens, it’s going to look like the show was always designed to look this way.”

Seriously, the music was canned half the time anyway.

Gone also are backing dancers and big set pieces – there will be no dance routines with cars or castles in order to cut down on the number of people needed to put together the production.

The sky lounge has been removed from the set so the celebrities will practice social distancing while watching the other celebrities’ dance from the second floor balcony.

Is this where I say “I told you so?” 🙂

The dancers, both the celebrities and pro dancers, will be tested five times a week. “The central premise of the show is two people who are in very close proximity with each other. They as a couple on the show will stay as a pod – they won’t come in to contact with the other couples to the point that we’ve got three set of married pro dancers and they will be living separately for as long as they’re in the competition,” he added.

You can read the entire article at the link above.

Tyra Banks Talks to Extra about DWTS Season 29 and Derek Hough

Geezus, this constant need to chase a younger audience. They’ve been doing it for years and it always makes the show WORSE instead of better. I don’t know what makes them think that Tyra and her “pixie dust” is going to be an improvement.

.@tyrabanks dishes on some changes in store for #DWTS and confirms the return of @derekhough!

Full interview: https://t.co/YRzWXkaIeK pic.twitter.com/5g7XM7EPOR

— ExtraTV (@extratv) September 4, 2020

She also spoke to ET and all but confirmed that Len is going to be staying in England and they’re not sure how they’re going to use him. That sure leaves a big hole for someone like Derek to step into!

“Carrie Ann is definitely back, and Bruno, who I can’t wait to vibe with because he is just as crazy as I am,” Banks, 46, confirmed to ET. “At the moment, we’re trying to figure out how to incorporate Len Goodman because he is in England and there’s all these travel restrictions because of COVID-19. So we’re trying to figure that out.”

And if this doesn’t scare you about this season, nothing will…

Banks, who previously was a judge for shows like America’s Next Top Model, added that having to sit back and simply watch the dances isn’t going to be an easy feat.

“That’s going to be the hardest thing in the world. I’m not a professional dancer but I still know performance and I know it well,” she explained. “So to have to hold back and not be able to [critique], like, that’s not my role. My role is to be the cheerleader, to be the champ, to be that ringmaster and to be, I call it, the hype-man DJ. To keep the room pumped.”

Banks joked, however, that she “might have to cuss out a judge every now and then” though.

I have a feeling I’m going to be screaming at my TV A LOT “You’re a model fer god’s sake, shut the hell up!!” She goes on to say this about Derek…which makes it sound like he’ll be neither judge NOR pro….either that or she’s dumb, not realizing he’s been a judge for four season on a far superior show.

“Yeah, Derek is coming back in a very interesting way,” Banks shared, playing coy. “I am very excited about that because I know Derek and he’s fun. But you just gonna have to wait and see how he’s coming back. You’ll know next week!”

Hough’s official role will be revealed next Tuesday during Good Morning America.