Time really does fly! It’s been twelve years since Dancing with the Stars last graced our screens with an All-Stars season, specifically Dancing With The Stars 15, and fans are clamoring for another dose of high-stakes ballroom brilliance. Back in 2012, Season 15 brought together thirteen fan-favorite celebrities for a second shot at the coveted Mirrorball Trophy. Now, with seventeen seasons of dazzling dances and dramatic eliminations since then, the pool of talent is overflowing, making it the perfect moment for a new All-Stars season packed with winners, robbed contenders, and redemption-seeking stars. Lace up those dancing shoes and grab your judging paddles – the audience is ready for the return of the All-Stars!
As a cornerstone of ABC’s reality TV empire, Dancing with the Stars has navigated a rollercoaster of highs and lows. From its temporary shift to Disney+ to the hosting changes – Tyra Banks’ arrival after Tom Bergeron’s departure, Alfonso Ribeiro stepping in as co-host and then solo host, and Julianne Hough joining Ribeiro – the show has constantly evolved. We also bid farewell to the irreplaceable Len Goodman, whose legacy is now honored by the Mirrorball Trophy’s namesake. Yet, through all these changes, the star power of the celebrity contestants has remained a constant draw.
With countless celebrities having taken to the dance floor over 32 seasons, the question of another All-Stars season, a follow-up to Dancing with the Stars 15, has lingered in viewers’ minds. After Season 15, former ABC Entertainment Chairman Paul Lee suggested another All-Stars edition was unlikely, believing viewers enjoyed “bad dancing as much as they like to see good dancing.” However, times have changed. Viewer preferences evolve, and nostalgia for past seasons, particularly landmark seasons like Dancing with the Stars 15, is stronger than ever. Even former pro and current judge Derek Hough has voiced his desire for an All-Winners season. While assembling a cast of solely winners might be challenging, the idea of an All-Stars season, echoing the excitement of Dancing with the Stars Season 15, featuring returning winners, deserving finalists, and fan favorites, feels increasingly viable and incredibly appealing.
Crafting the Perfect All-Stars Cast: Lessons from Dancing with the Stars 15
Casting is the magic ingredient for any successful show, and an All-Stars season of Dancing with the Stars, much like the memorable Dancing with the Stars Season 15, demands a strategic approach. To recapture the All-Star magic, producers need to curate a blend of contestants from different eras of the show – past and present winners, finalists who were arguably robbed of victory, and unforgettable personalities. While Derek Hough’s All-Winner concept is intriguing, a more diverse cast, similar to the mix in Dancing with the Stars 15, is likely to create more compelling dynamics and storylines.
The crossover appeal between Dancing with the Stars and The Bachelor/ Bachelorette franchises is undeniable. Therefore, including a Bachelorette winner in an All-Stars season is almost a given. Hannah Brown, Season 28 winner, fits this bill perfectly. Drawing parallels with Dancing with the Stars 15, which saw Bachelorette alum Melissa Rycroft clinch the Mirrorball, Hannah Brown could continue this trend. Partnered with Alan Bersten in her original season, Brown demonstrated consistent improvement, overcoming initial low scores to capture the audience’s hearts and votes.
Another potentially controversial yet captivating returnee could be Bobby Bones, winner of Season 27 with Sharna Burgess. His victory sparked debate, making his return in an All-Stars setting, perhaps even against finalists from his season like Evanna Lynch and Milo Manheim, a compelling narrative. This echoes the competitive spirit of Dancing with the Stars 15, where contrasting dance styles and fanbases clashed. Such rivalries are gold for reality TV, fueling viewer engagement and discussions.
Beyond winners and controversies, heartwarming stories are crucial. Rumer Willis, Season 20 champion, presents a deeply resonant narrative. Given her father Bruce Willis’s health challenges, Rumer’s return to dance could be incredibly cathartic for her and deeply moving for audiences. Production could highlight and support her journey, creating an emotional connection with viewers. If Rumer were to return, a reunion with her partner Val Chmerkovskiy would be a fan dream, mirroring the partner pairings that added nostalgia to Dancing with the Stars 15.
Dancing with the Stars has also made strides in representation. An All-Stars season offers the perfect platform to welcome back groundbreaking contestants like Jojo Siwa (Season 30) and Shangela (Season 31), both of whom made history and generated viral moments with their same-sex partnerships. These pairings brought fresh energy to the show, akin to the excitement surrounding the All-Star concept introduced in Dancing with the Stars 15.
In the age of viral sensations, Ariana Madix from Vanderpump Rules is an ideal All-Star. Her participation in Season 32 during “Scandoval” mania was a ratings boon. Her strong performance with Pasha Pashkov demonstrated genuine talent and a newfound passion for performance, further solidified by her Broadway stint in Chicago. Pitting her against fellow Season 32 finalist Jason Mraz and Danielle Karagach in an All-Stars showdown would be a treat for viewers, creating a season packed with contemporary stars and echoing the star power of Dancing with the Stars 15.
One of the unique charms of Dancing with the Stars is its ability to elevate celebrities from various niches into mainstream stars. James Hinchcliffe, an IndyCar driver from Season 23, exemplifies this. His exceptional dance ability earned him runner-up status and broadened his fanbase. His return, potentially with Sharna Burgess, would satisfy the athlete quota and offer a chance for a well-deserved victory. Similarly, Willow Shields ( The Hunger Games) and Riker Lynch ( R5), both from Season 20, represented the younger demographic. Their return after nearly a decade would showcase their growth and appeal to both original fans and a new generation, much like how Dancing with the Stars 15 aimed to reconnect with its original audience while attracting new viewers.
Reuniting Pro Vets for an Unmissable All-Stars Season
For seasoned Dancing with the Stars professionals, a regular season might not always be enough incentive to return, especially when other career opportunities beckon. However, an All-Stars season, a high-prestige event reminiscent of Dancing with the Stars 15, offering a shot at glory with beloved past partners, could be the perfect lure to bring back iconic pros. Imagine the excitement of seeing Maks Chmerkovskiy back on the dance floor!
Maksim Chmerkovskiy, last seen in Season 25, is a fan favorite known for his passionate performances and strong opinions. Pairing him with a celebrity partner who was eliminated too early in their original season would be a compelling storyline. Heather Morris ( Glee, Season 24) or Brandy Norwood (Season 11), both shockingly eliminated in their respective seasons, would be ideal partners for Maks, offering them – and him – a chance at redemption, a theme central to the All-Stars concept explored in Dancing with the Stars 15.
Cheryl Burke, another beloved veteran pro with a rollercoaster DWTS journey, having won her first two seasons, needs a partner who narrowly missed victory to entice her back. Juan Pablo Di Pace (Season 27) or Cody Rigsby (Season 30) fit this description. Juan Pablo was a frontrunner who surprisingly didn’t reach the finals, and Cody showed immense potential. A reunion with Cheryl could finally lead them to the Mirrorball.
Mark Ballas, who returned after a hiatus to win Season 31 with Charli D’Amelio, is indispensable for an All-Stars season. Pairing him with Paige VanZant, his Season 22 partner who was runner-up, could be magic. Paige, a strong dancer but lacking fan votes against Nyle DiMarco, deserves another chance, and a reunion with Mark is the way to make it happen.
An All-Stars season wouldn’t be complete without blonde bombshell pros Witney Carson and Lindsay Arnold. Both have only one victory each and would be hungry for another. Witney could reunite with Milo Manheimer, Frankie Muniz (Season 25), or Kel Mitchell (Season 28). Lindsay could team up again with Wanya Morris (Boys II Men, Season 22). These pairings would not only excite fans but also create a sense of nostalgia, mirroring the celebratory atmosphere of Dancing with the Stars 15.
ABC and Disney+, are you listening? The potential for a second All-Stars season, building upon the legacy of Dancing with the Stars 15, is immense. Dancing with the Stars has captivated audiences for years by bringing the world of dance to their living rooms through celebrities. Much has changed since the original All-Stars season, Dancing with the Stars 15, making a second edition not just desirable but necessary to revitalize the franchise and remind viewers why they fell in love with the show in the first place. While an All-Winners season might be logistically challenging, a carefully curated All-Stars season, drawing inspiration from the successful formula of Dancing with the Stars 15, is precisely what the show needs to reignite its sparkle.
Dancing With The Stars season 32 is available to stream on Disney+.
