Honestly, if you thought you knew what to expect from Season 33, you probably weren't paying attention to the casting rumors. This year, abc dancing with the stars 2024 didn't just lean into the glitz; it dove headfirst into a pool of controversy, Olympic fever, and some of the weirdest scoring gaps we've seen in years. It was messy. It was loud. It was exactly what network TV needed to stay relevant in an era where everyone is just scrolling TikTok anyway.
The show kicked off in September with a cast that felt like a fever dream. You had a literal "con artist" in sparkles, an NBA legend who towers over everyone, and a Rugby sevens star who became the internet's collective crush overnight. It wasn't just about the dancing. It was about the spectacle.
The Cast That Broke the Internet
Let's talk about Anna Delvey. Or Anna Sorokin. Whatever she’s going by this week. Seeing a convicted felon wearing a bedazzled ankle monitor while attempting a Cha-cha-cha is something I never thought I’d see on family-friendly ABC. The backlash was immediate. Fans were furious that a "criminal" was getting a platform, but let's be real—the ratings loved it. She didn't last long, though. Her exit was as frosty as her personality, famously saying she took "nothing" away from the experience. Brutal.
Then there was Ilona Maher. Talk about a shift in energy. Coming off the Paris Olympics, Maher brought a level of raw, unfiltered "realness" that the show usually tries to polish away. She wasn’t the most graceful, sure. But seeing a professional athlete grapple with the vulnerability of being "dainty" was probably the most relatable arc of the season.
The full roster for abc dancing with the stars 2024 was a wild mix:
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- Danny Amendola (NFL star) with Witney Carson—who finally came back after a hiatus!
- Joey Graziadei (The Bachelor) with Jenna Johnson.
- Stephen Nedoroscik (The "Pommel Horse Guy") with Rylee Arnold.
- Jenn Tran (The Bachelorette) with Sasha Farber.
- Dwight Howard (NBA) with Daniella Karagach.
- Brooks Nader (Model) with Gleb Savchenko.
- Reginald VelJohnson (Family Matters legend) with Emma Slater.
- Eric Roberts (Actor) with Britt Stewart.
- Tori Spelling (90210) with Pasha Pashkov.
- Phaedra Parks (Real Housewives) with Val Chmerkovskiy.
Why the Judging Felt Different This Time
The trio of Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli, and Derek Hough is usually a well-oiled machine. But in 2024, the tension was palpable. Derek is becoming the "tough" judge, which is funny considering he started as the golden boy pro. He was stickling for technique—heels down, frames tight, no "daylight" between partners. Meanwhile, Bruno was still... well, Bruno. Falling off his chair and shouting about passion.
The real controversy started around Disney Night and Dedication Night. It felt like some contestants were getting "pity points" for their backstories rather than their footwork. When you have someone like Stephen Nedoroscik—who is basically a human centrifuge—struggling with the fluidity of a Rumba, the judges were split. Do you reward the effort or the execution?
The fans weren't happy either. Social media was a war zone every Tuesday night. People were screaming about "robbed" contestants, especially when some of the technically better dancers started falling into the bottom two because their "voter base" wasn't as aggressive as the Bachelor Nation fans.
The Production Pivot and the "Oscars of Dance"
ABC really stepped up the production value for abc dancing with the stars 2024. They leaned heavily into the "live" aspect on Disney+ and ABC simultaneously. This wasn't just a broadcast; it was an event. The themed nights felt more like mini-movies. 100 Years of Disney, Hair Metal Night (which was surprisingly awesome), and the emotional rollercoaster of Dedication Night.
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The 500th episode was the crown jewel. It celebrated the legacy of the show while forcing the current couples to recreate "iconic" dances from past seasons. Trying to live up to a Derek Hough or a Mark Ballas routine is a nightmare for a celebrity who just learned what a "box step" is three weeks ago.
The Rylee Arnold Factor
We have to talk about Rylee. Last year, she was the "new kid." This year, she’s a titan. Her partnership with Stephen Nedoroscik was pure gold. They tapped into that "nerdy-cool" vibe that resonated with Gen Z. It’s a smart move by the producers. They know they need younger eyes on the screen, and Rylee’s TikTok game is basically a masterclass in marketing. Every week, they were trending before the show even started.
How to Actually Win Dancing with the Stars
If you've watched this show long enough, you know it's rarely about being the best dancer. It's about the "Journey." If you start off too good, the audience gets bored. They want to see you struggle. They want to see you cry in the rehearsal footage.
In abc dancing with the stars 2024, the winners understood the assignment. You need three things:
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- A "moment." A dance that makes everyone forget you’re a celebrity and makes them see you as a "dancer."
- A Pro with a following. Partners like Daniella Karagach or Val Chmerkovskiy bring their own massive fanbases.
- Vulnerability. You can't just be a stoic athlete. You have to talk about your insecurities.
Dwight Howard is a great example. He’s massive. Putting him next to Daniella is a visual gag in itself, but he actually worked. He didn't just stand there and let her dance around him. He moved. He showed a side of himself that wasn't the "goofy NBA guy." That’s how you get votes.
What Most People Miss About the Voting
Everyone thinks the judges' scores are the end-all-be-all. Nope. It’s a 50/50 split. You could be at the bottom of the leaderboard and still stay if your fans are clicking "vote" ten times on the website and ten times via text. This is why "The Bachelor" contestants always go far. Their fans are trained like soldiers to vote for their own.
The 2024 season saw some of the highest voting volumes in the show's history. It’s proof that despite all the "linear TV is dying" talk, people still love the communal experience of a live competition.
Actionable Takeaways for the Super-Fan
If you’re looking to get the most out of the next cycle or catch up on what made this year special, keep these points in mind:
- Watch the "rehearsal packages" closely. They are edited for a reason. If a celebrity is getting a "villain edit" or a "frustrated edit," they are likely on the chopping block.
- Follow the Pros on social media. Most of the real drama happens on Instagram Stories and TikTok behind the scenes, not on the ABC broadcast.
- Don't ignore the "mid-tier" dancers. The front-runners often plateau, but the people in 4th or 5th place in week five are the ones who usually surge during the semi-finals.
- Check the official ABC site for the specific voting windows. They change slightly during double-elimination weeks, and missing that 5-minute window can get your favorite kicked off.
The legacy of abc dancing with the stars 2024 isn't just about who took home the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy. It's about how the show managed to reinvent its own chaos for a new generation. It proved that you can mix a specialized athlete, a reality star, and a controversial public figure and still come out with something that feels like "Must-See TV." It was loud, it was occasionally cringey, and it was undeniably entertaining.