‘Dancing With The Stars’ Season 29: Every Change We Know So Far

Season 29 of “Dancing With the Stars” may be the one that has the biggest changes yet, after years of the show changing certain aspects as it tries to keep things fresh after 15 years.

After Season 28 of the ABC show saw big changes including the ending of the dance troupe and an overhaul to the voting system that saw the judges making the final decision on who to save from the fans’ Bottom Two competitors, it appears Season 29 is prepared to be even bigger when it comes to making things different. From changes that could be made due to COVID-19 to changes in who fans will see on camera, here is everything we know so far about the changes to Season 29 of “Dancing With the Stars.”

One Less Pro Will Be Participating

While news that fan-favorite pros are sitting a season out is usually not something anyone wants to hear, Lindsay Arnold’s reason for not coming back for Season 29 is because of a happy occasion—she is pregnant with her first child. She and husband Samuel Cusick revealed the news in May that they were expecting—and she is due to give birth in November, the same month the finale would likely air if the season airs on a usual schedule.

New Host

This week, fans were stunned to learn that ABC had fired longtime cohosts Tom Bergeron and Erin Andrews, only to announce they had replaced them with Tyra Banks, who would be taking on hosting duties solo and would also get Executive Producer credit as well. Outside of a different “Creative direction” cited in a statement by ABC and BBC Studios, no reason for the change was given, but Banks, during her reveal on “Good Morning America,” hinted that some big changes were in store with her hiring.

“OK, let’s just keep this real: It is going to be so next level,” she said. “We’re doing all this crazy stuff, taking it into the next level, but still keeping the stuff that we know America loves. But you need to get ready because it’s going to be different.”

As for Bergeron, he seems to be taking his firing in stride and took to Twitter to joke about Banks being the new host, pointing out something they have in common.

Potentially Virtual Judges

Because of COVID-19, the show needs to change some things up in order to film safely. One way that could happen would be having the judges appear in a virtual capacity—which could also be the only way to guarantee Len Goodman might participate, as he has previously stated he may not be able to travel to Los Angeles to judge live.

“I like going over there because it’s ten weeks of being in the sun and I only work one day a week,” he told The Sun. “But of course, there’s this lockdown thing at the moment with only Americans being able to fly in to America or if you’ve got a green card. I haven’t got either of those so who knows. It might all come good but if it doesn’t, it doesn’t.”

Likely No Live Audience

Because capacity limits for indoor spaces are still in place due to the ongoing Pandemic, live audiences are still not allowed to be present for show tapings—and that will likely be in place for “DWTS” as well. However, it is believed that the show could still find a way to make the situation work, with judge Bruno Tonioli saying that if the same aura could be present that comes from having a live audience, then there wouldn’t be a problem.

“If you can recreate the sense of excitement, I’m sure it’s possible,” he said.

“Dancing With the Stars” is set to return to ABC this Fall, though a specific premiere date has not been set.