DWTS pros and judges react to Disney Plus move

ABC

GLEB SAVCHENKO, BRITT STEWART, PASHA PASHKOV, BRANDON ARMSTRONG

On Friday, April 8, long-running ABC dance competition series Dancing With the Stars was renewed for two seasons — but not on ABC. The show is moving to Disney Plus, which will make it the first live-streamed competitive show in US television history.

We’re not sure if the professional dancers and judges were informed in advance, but they all seemed a little surprised when the news broke.

This is how they reacted:

Judges Carrie Ann Inaba & Derek Hough called ‘Dancing With the Stars’ a ‘game changer’

on InstagramJudge Carrie Ann Inaba posted a lengthy video sharing her excitement at the news and calling the show a “game changer.”

Happy Friday everyone. Have you heard the news? Dancing With the Stars is moving to Disney Plus after 30 seasons on ABC. We’ll still be live. We’ll be the first live-streamed competition show in the United States and we will be featured on Disney Plus, and that’s really exciting,” said Inaba.

She continued, “‘Dancing With the Stars’ has always been a little bit groundbreaking. Not a bit, but you know who knew? ballroom dancing, since when? And it’s been a great honor to be part of this incredible team and it’s so exciting to see how it’s progressing to the next steps and the future. So if you don’t have a Disney Plus subscription, you might want to get one because we’re gonna be live! Yes!”

On her Instagram Stories, she added, “Just wanted to stop by and share the exciting news…this is very exciting. Disney Plus here we come. Let’s go!!!”

Pro-judge-turned Derek Hough had a similar sentiment Instagram post, releasing the quotes from Disney Plus executives, who called the move “a bold next step forward” and “a testament to the proven power of ‘Dancing With the Stars’.” He captioned the post, “DWTS has always been a pioneer. NEW CHAPTER.”

Witney Carson called the move “insane” and congratulated the “Dancing With the Stars” team

Almost all of the current pros (and even a few who weren’t there last season) have responded to the news on their Instagram stories and they all seem super excited.

Keo Motsepe, who was in season 29 but not season 30 and who fans are hoping will return to the show, broke the news and included nine handclapping emojis.

“I love this!” wrote Gleb Savchenko.

“Wow! This is amazing,” Daniella Karagach wrote with heart-eyes and hands-of-praise emojis. Her husband and colleague Pasha Pashkov wrote, “Oh yes!” with hands in praise.

“Wow, that’s crazy! CONGRATULATIONS TEAM,” wrote Witney Carson.

“Yeah, that’s HUGE. Can’t wait for this change!” wrote Brandon Armstrong with a fire emoji.

“Exciting!” wrote Artem Chigvintsev.

“It’s so, so, so exciting! IMPRESSIVE!!!! Hello @disneyplus,” wrote Britt Stewart.

“JASSSSSSSS SOOOO COOL, THE FIRST LIVE STREAM SHOW!!!” wrote Sascha Farber. His wife and colleague Emma Slater added: “DWTS will not be on @disneyplus!!!! wow this is amazing!!! So excited!”

“This is such amazing news!” wrote Alan Bersten. “AWESOME!!! Get your dancing shoes ready!”

“OMG!” wrote Jenna Johnson.

“Wow! New home for DWTS,” wrote former pro Kym Johnson Herjavec.

Season 30 pros Sharna Burgess, Cheryl Burke and Lindsay Arnold haven’t chimed in yet, nor have judges Len Goodman or Bruno Tonioli or current host Tyra Banks (although there is one reports have been part of executive producer Andrew Llinares stepping down means Banks will be replaced). Pro Val Chmerkovskiy hasn’t responded to the news either, but is busy with it the non-profit organization founded by himself, his brother and former “Dancing With the Stars” pro Maksim Chmerkovskiy and their father to send aid to the people of Ukraine, where their family is from.

So far, the only concrete information is that Dancing With the Stars season 31 and season 32 will air live on Disney Plus. There’s no word yet on when Season 31 will premiere other than Fall 2022 — but we don’t know the date, date, time, and schedule, or if Season 32 will air Spring 2023 or either Fall release will be season 31.

CONTINUE READING: ‘Dancing With the Stars’ pro ‘would love to be a judge’ on show