With its highs and lows that make it the people’s favorite show, the popularity of Dancing with the Stars has skyrocketed over the last two seasons. This begs the question: With 20 years of on-air dances, how does the show keep it fresh and why are voting records still being shattered every episode?
For some, the excitement of recognizing a celebrity from childhood makes the show worthwhile. Some nostalgic faces currently on the show include Danielle Fishel (Topanga on Boy Meets World) and Corey Feldman (Mouth in The Goonies), who help draw in the older viewers.
On another note, social media has played an enormous part in opening up the show to a Gen Z audience, thus making Dancing with the Stars a show everyone can watch and enjoy.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Rylee Arnold, the show’s youngest pro dancer, spoke about TikTok’s growing influence on the show, explaining how “TikTok has become literally a part of Dancing with the Stars. I think it’s a perfect way to showcase who these partnerships are, what our relationships are like, what this show is about and the BTS of it all. Because it’s hard to only see a show once a week and get engaged with it. But because we have TikTok, people are able to get into our life to see how it all goes down. And I think [TikTok is] such a cool way to share that.”
In 2022, the median age of viewers was 63.5. However, because of the emphasis on online content — behind the scenes and on the show — the show was able to bring in many more viewers and much younger ones at that. Day-in-the-life videos, as well as people trying to emulate the favorite lifts and tricks of the show, brought a new virality to the show, subsequently drawing in more engagement. Today, the show has become bigger than ever on social media and reaction and recreation videos taking over everyone’s For-You pages.
Additionally, the show’s positive themes provide a breath of fresh air from tense news. In today’s world of turmoil and misunderstanding, maybe everyone just needs a show where every week pros lift up (both figuratively and literally) their partners with kind words and blossoming, newfound, and unlikely, friendships.
Showrunner Conrad Green agrees, telling Variety that “[a]t a time when the country feels so divided, it’s really nice to be able to have something where you can see what everyone has in common. You can see people aspiring to do something positive and work together.”
Another perk of watching the show is that everyone has a say in who wins. Viewer votes, combined with the judges scores, determine who gets to dance next week, adding incentive to tune in on time and support a favorite celebrity.
The final and perhaps most important reason why Dancing with the Stars ratings climb upward every week is the endearing transformation angle. Something magical happens when one watches a ballroom beginner, at the same level as them, get better and better each week, fighting to reach that Mirrorball Trophy.
Whichever way people get hooked into Dancing with the Stars, its fanbase just keeps growing, rapidly gaining popularity while continuing to foster a space for transformation, artistry, and fun.
