Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough, co-hosts of the ABC dance competition television series 'Dancing With the Stars', are pictured during a promotional photo shoot. (Photo credit: ABC/Art Streiber)

Television

ABC Moves Forward With ‘Dancing With the Stars’ Premiere After Writers Reach Tentative Deal With Studios

Trevor Decker

Published

September 25, 2023

NOTE: This article is 2 years old and may not include the most recent information.

The ABC network has decided to move forward with airing the season premiere of its hit reality show “Dancing With the Stars” on Tuesday as originally scheduled. This comes after the Writers Guild of America (WGA) announced on Sunday that it had reached a tentative deal with the major studios and streamers on a new contract, which would resolve the historic Hollywood writer strike.

Last week, ABC was considering delaying the season 32 premiere of “Dancing With the Stars” due to the ongoing strike. WGA writers had been picketing outside the show’s rehearsal spaces, and contestant Matt Walsh stated he would “pause” his participation in solidarity.

However, with the news that the WGA struck a tentative agreement with the studios and streamers, ABC now feels confident enough to stick to its original plan and debut the new celebrity dance competition on September 26. The network confirmed on Monday that the show would air as scheduled, live on both ABC and Disney+.

Even though it’s an unscripted show, “Dancing With the Stars” employs writers who are part of the WGA to script certain host comments. The union had targeted the show during the strike seeking improved deals with studios.

The tentative contract still needs to be ratified by WGA members before it takes effect. The WGA has suspended picketing, but writers have not yet returned to work. Only after the agreement is approved and the strike officially called off, can normal Hollywood operations resume.

So while ABC’s decision to broadcast “Dancing With the Stars” is based on the tentative deal between the WGA and studios, there remains a possibility of future impacts depending on the outcome of the WGA membership vote. However, for now, fans can look forward to the sparkly season premiere on Tuesday night as originally planned.CopyRetry

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Trevor Decker

Owner / Writer at Trevor Decker News

I've been passionately covering the entertainment industry, from television and movies to the latest in music, independently under the Trevor Decker News banner since 2015.