DWTS Season 22

Here is the latest ABC Press Release for the new season:


ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars” Returns With a Special Two-Hour Season Premiere on March 21



“Episode 2201” – “Dancing with the Stars” is back with an all-new celebrity cast ready to hit the ballroom floor. The competition begins with the two-hour season premiere, live, MONDAY, MARCH 21 (8:00-10:01 p.m. EDT) on the ABC Television Network. The premiere episode will kick off with an exciting and dynamic opening number, featuring all of the celebrities and dancers, along with returning head judge Len Goodman. The night continues with each couple dancing a cha cha, fox trot, jive, tango or quickstep, vying for America’s vote for the first time. No couples will be eliminated on week 1, and they will all advance to week 2 of the competition.

Each Couple Will Dance to the Following Songs:


Mischa Barton & Artem Chigvintsev – tango – “In the Night” by The Weeknd

Antonio Brown & Sharna Burgess – quickstep – “Bad Man” by Pitbull

Nyle DiMarco & Peta Murgatroyd – cha cha – “Cake by the Ocean”by DNCE

Kim Fields & Sasha Farber – cha cha – “Sax” by Fleur East

Doug Flutie & Karina Smirnoff – fox trot – “Sweet Caroline”by Neil Diamond

Marla Maples & Tony Dovolani -quickstep – “Sparkling Diamonds”from “Moulin Rouge” soundtrack

Von Miller & Witney Carson – fox trot – “My House” by Flo Rida

Wanya Morris & Lindsay Arnold – cha cha – “Motownphilly”by Boyz II Men

Geraldo Rivera & Edyta Sliwinska – cha cha – “Treasure” by Bruno Mars

Jodie Sweetin & Keo Motsepe – tango – “Confident” by Demi Lovato

Paige VanZant & Mark Ballas – fox trot – “Ain’t Got Far To Go” by Jess Glynne

Ginger Zee & Valentin Chmerkovskiy – jive – “Move” from the musical “Dreamgirls”

Hosted by two-time Emmy Award-winning host Tom Bergeron and Erin Andrews (sports host and “Dancing with the Stars” season 10 finalist), “Dancing with the Stars” is the hit series in which celebrities perform choreographed dance routines which are judged by a panel of renowned ballroom experts including head judge, Len Goodman, dancers/choreographers Bruno Tonioli and Carrie Ann Inaba.

“Dancing with the Stars” is produced by BBC Worldwide Productions. Rob Wade and Ashley Edens-Shaffer are executive producers. Alex Rudzinski directs. “Dancing with the Stars” is broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC’s selected HDTV format, with 5.1 channel surround sound. This program carries a TV-PG, L parental guideline.

About BBC Worldwide Productions 

BBC Worldwide Productions is a key business division under BBC Worldwide North America – part of BBC Worldwide, the main commercial arm and wholly-owned subsidiary of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) – which operates in the U.S. and Canada.  Based in Los Angeles, BBC Worldwide Productions primarily develops and produces scripted and unscripted projects based on BBC formats/brands for cable and broadcast networks, as well as digital platforms. The production company is producer of the ratings juggernaut “Dancing with the Stars” (ABC), “Getting On” (HBO), “Top Gear” (HISTORY), “You’re Back in the Room” (working title – FOX) and the upcoming limited series, “The Night Of” (HBO). 

ABC Media Relations 

George Zaralidis
(818) 460-7920
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Amber Brockman
(818) 460-7093
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Nate Reeves
(818) 460-6422
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Jeff Fordis
(818) 460-6676
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BBC Worldwide Productions 

Susana Voets
(310) 228-1620
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Tara Taghizadeh
(310) 228-1610
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“Dancing with the Stars” 

Melanie Pritchett
(713) 306-1472
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Downloadable HD video clips will be posted to [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] every Monday approximately 9:00 p.m. PDT.

Photography will be available at [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] or at (818) 460-6611.

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Twitter: @DancingABC, #DWTS 

Instagram: @DancingABC

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Thanks, SLA.  I think this was one of the best first nights ever.  The only one that I thought was really bad was Geraldo Rivera, and he was mostly just stiff rather than a Master P or Kenny Mayne kind of terrible.  I wish they had given Edyta a better partner after her being gone from the show for so long.  But it's possible Geraldo is popular enough that he'll get some fan support for a couple of weeks anyway.  Doug Flutie was also kind of stiff, but he's got a nice personality, he looked like he was enjoying himself, and I think he's got some potential there.  I felt bad for Mischa - I didn't think she was as bad as Len was making it sound.  She wasn't great, but she wasn't awful either.  She may be one of those who's too much in her head, though. 

I was very surprised at Nyle.  He can really move.  I wonder though how well he'll be able to continue to learn as the time gets shorter and shorter.  It's one thing to have several weeks to learn Peta's signals and learn to follow her.  Can it be done in a couple of days?  I hope so.  He seemed like a sweet guy and (shallow alert) he's nice to look at.  I just hope if he does start to struggle, the judges will score him more honestly than they usually do with differently-abled contestants. 

I thought most of them did okay.  A few I really enjoyed were Paige (although I hope we don't have to see her beating people up or see her bloody face every week - no thanks, show!), Wanya, Antonio and Von.  Jodie looks to have real potential, but I'm worried about her being with Keo.  Still not convinced he's a good teacher.  Ginger Zee could get annoying with the whole - look, I'm a new mom thing - but hopefully the show will tone that down now that they've made their point.  And I'll only want to see Marla go quickly if we have to hear the name Trump every week.  Otherwise, Tony looks happy to finally get someone with some potential and who isn't 70.

I'm really looking forward to this season.  It seems like a good group of nice people with some real potential.  Should be fun!