'Dancing with the Stars' returning for landmark 30th season

Tuesday afternoon, Dancing with the Stars announced it will return for a 30th season on ABC this fall: 

Tyra Banks will again serve as host, according to Entertainment Weekly, while the returning judges will be Len Goodman, Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli and Derek Hough. EW also added that DWTS ranked "No. 1 in its two-hour time slot among adults" aged 18 to 49 years old last fall.

In Season 29, former Bachelor-contestant-turned-Bachelorette-lead Kaitlyn Bristowe claimed the coveted Mirrorball Trophy alongside Artem Chigvintsev. The 35-year-old beat out rapper Nelly and MTV Catfish host Nev Schulman. It marked the second-straight season that a Bachelor/Bachelorette alum was crowned champion—Hannah Brown won Season 28.

Last season was Banks' first as host, replacing Tom Bergeron and Erin Andrews.  


DWTS executive producer explained why during an ABC panel last September (h/t US Weekly): "I think any show like this that has been on many, many seasons needs to continue to evolve. I think changing the host was all about evolution. It was about making the show feel fresh, making it feel new [and] kind of make it reach out—maybe to a new audience as well, as well as the audience that’s been there for years."

The transition wasn't without bumps, though: 

Goodman's presence on Season 30 will be especially welcomed, considering the panel's staple was absent last season—stuck in England due to COVID-19 traveling restrictions. Hough stepped in, returning to the ballroom where he previously won the competition six times as a professional dancer before exiting after Season 23.

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