Breaking: “Dancing With the Stars” Confirms Premiere Date Amid WGA Strike Pressure
In a surprising turn of events, less than 24 hours after the Writers Guild of America (WGA) reached a tentative deal to end the 146-day strike, ABC has confirmed that “Dancing With the Stars” will proceed with its planned premiere date. The highly-anticipated Season 32 of the popular dance competition show is now officially set to premiere on Tuesday, September 26. What’s even more intriguing is that it will be simulcast live on Disney+.
The decision to move forward with the premiere didn’t come without its fair share of drama and controversies. Over the past few days, “Dancing With the Stars” found itself under the spotlight as WGA members began picketing the show’s rehearsals. The aim was clear: either delay the show or persuade celebrities to bow out due to the ongoing strike.
Amid this backlash, one cast member, “Veep” actor Matt Walsh, initially announced his pause in participation to stand in solidarity with the striking writers. However, in a surprising twist, Variety has learned that he will now be returning to the dance floor. It’s important to note that Walsh is not only a WGA member but also a member of SAG-AFTRA and the DGA.
A spokesperson for Walsh explained, “With the hopeful resolution and vote with the WGA, ‘Dancing with the Stars’ would no longer be a struck show, therefore all cast would be able to return. This includes WGA member Matt Walsh.”
Although the WGA has made strides toward ending the strike, SAG-AFTRA is still in the midst of its own labor action. Nevertheless, SAG-AFTRA has publicly backed the cast of “Dancing With the Stars,” stating that members participating in the show are not in violation of union rules.
This support stems from the fact that the performers on “DWTS,” which encompasses celebrity cast members, hosts, judges, and professional dancers, are all cleared to work under SAG-AFTRA’s “Network Code” agreement. This agreement, ratified in 2022, remains in effect until June 2024 and is not part of the current strike. Consequently, the hosts, judges, and professional dancers are all members of SAG-AFTRA, and a significant portion of the celebrity lineup for Season 32 also belong to the union.
“Dancing With the Stars” is a unique case, as it falls under the WGA’s purview due to employing a single WGA writer. Had the show moved forward without this writer before the WGA reached a deal, the writer would have been rehired once the strike concluded. However, it’s important to highlight that the final vote on the WGA deal takes place on Tuesday, and WGA members have been strictly instructed not to return to work until the strike order against the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) is officially lifted.
The decision to move ahead with “Dancing With the Stars” Season 32 carries significant weight, as the show employs around 500 staff members. Keeping this large team employed during the strike was a paramount concern.
For ABC, “Dancing With the Stars” is a linchpin of its fall schedule, particularly in a season dominated by unscripted programming due to production setbacks caused by the strike. With the network’s strike-impacted lineup, “Dancing With the Stars” becomes an even more critical addition. ABC recently bolstered its offerings by including more Monday Night Football games this fall.
It’s worth noting that “Dancing With the Stars” was not the only unscripted show to face WGA backlash in the final week of the strike. Various talk shows, including “The Drew Barrymore Show,” “The Talk,” and “The Jennifer Hudson Show,” chose to postpone their fall premieres after being targeted by the WGA. These shows are yet to announce their new return dates as the strike’s official end looms.
In a somewhat reminiscent situation, during the 2007-2008 writers strike, “Dancing With the Stars” continued production and rehired its WGA writer once the strike concluded. This precedent adds another layer of intrigue to the show’s decision to proceed with its premiere amidst the recent labor strife.
Stay tuned for further developments as “Dancing With the Stars” Season 32 gears up for an exciting and possibly controversial return to television screens.
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