“Dancing with the Stars” season 33 has revived a show previously on its last legs trucc

Before this most recent season, I was in second grade the last time I tuned in to “Dancing with the Stars.” The ballroom dancing competition show used to be a primetime staple of the late 2000s and early 2010s television catalog, gradually declining in popularity and viewership—even leaving ABC and going straight to streaming for a season—up until this year. A series of smart and risky casting decisions have hooked a surge of viewers back in for season 33, bringing the largest live voting numbers of the series’ history.

This year’s cast members include/included—as the majority of the contestants have been eliminated by the time of publication—four professional athletes, two leading persons of “The Bachelor” franchise, three actors, a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model and most notably, a convicted felon. Con artist Anna Delvey, notably described by the show as a “fashionista and entrepreneur”—and yes, she did dance while wearing her ankle monitor—was a highly controversial choice that likely brought in the majority of the show’s new viewers, including myself. However, like many, I kept watching the show long after Delvey’s Week 2 elimination.

Many of the other celebrity contestants were also shockingly relevant for a show that hasn’t pulled anyone of note in years. Rugby player Ilona Maher and gymnast Steven Nedoroscik—you may know him as “Mr. Pommel Horse”—were everywhere on TikTok this summer during the Paris Olympics. Both Bachelor Joey Graziadei and Bachelorette Jenn Tran’s seasons’ aired this year, and the latter had a sympathy-inspiring viral moment when she was forced to relive her breakup on live television. Plus, some of the lesser-known cast members have grown on me despite their lack of notoriety. Former Disney star Chandler Kinney is a sweetheart and probably the best dancer of the season, and professional athletes Danny Amendola and Dwight Howard have come back from a slow start to reveal personality-packed routines.

Apart from its star-studded cast, I was surprised to find how much I enjoy “Dancing with the Stars” as a program. Compared to other competition reality shows where the judges are celebrities with little technical knowledge, the “Dancing with the Stars” panel comprises former professional dancers and choreographers who actually know their stuff. I’m surprisingly learning about ballroom dancing technique by watching the show—I know to look for whether the contestant is keeping a strong frame and their elbows up, and that the quickstep is the fastest dance and the rumba is the slowest.

“Dancing with the Stars” also has a level of camp—perhaps due to its 2000s roots or the inability to edit out any mistakes in its live broadcast—that makes the show incredibly entertaining. First and foremost, host and former “Footloose” leading lady Julianne Hough is kind of a freak. She has an eerily fixed smile and says the weirdest things during her live interviews, at one point stumbling over and repeating the phrase “beautiful Black woman” to contestant Phaedra Parks. Judge Bruno Tonioli is similarly unhinged—in every episode he wears a shirt, often sheer, unbuttoned all the way to his navel and stands on top of his chair for each critique he gives. If he really likes a particular dance, he’ll take off his blazer and throw it on the floor during his segment. Host Alfonso Ribeiro and judge Carrie Ann Inaba are relatively normal but have had their moments as well. For instance, Inaba gave out five tens during the Halloween episode, most of which were not echoed by the other two judges. This unpredictability of the show’s permanent cast keeps you on your toes and makes for a more interesting viewing experience.

For its endearing cast, technical know-how and unmatched quirkiness, I would highly recommend that anyone interested check out “Dancing with the Stars.” You can catch the show live Tuesdays at 8 p.m. EST/7 p.m. CST  on ABC and Disney+ and the next day on Hulu.