On this page
A pro's authority, broadcast returns.
A former pro behind the hosting desk and a return to broadcast: the format's third act opened with more clarity than its second.
Twelve episodes, a simulcast era begins.
Season thirty-two introduced Julianne Hough as co-host alongside Alfonso Ribeiro. Hough's background as a professional dancer and former DWTS champion gave the hosting desk a different kind of authority — someone who had stood on the competition floor and knew what the format demanded. The season also simulcast on Disney+ and ABC, returning the show to broadcast. Twelve competitive episodes gave the new hosting team a full run to settle into the rhythm.
The #28 slot.
Slot #28 of 34 in the Dancing with the Stars Editor's Canon. Season thirty-two introduced Julianne Hough as co-host — a former professional dancer and two-time champion who arrived with direct competitive experience that celebrity hosts cannot replicate. That appointment changed the hosting dynamic in a concrete way. The season also simulcast on Disney+ and ABC, returning the show to broadcast after a year as a streaming exclusive. Alfonso Ribeiro continued at the desk. Twelve competitive episodes gave the new team a full run to establish their rhythm. The hosting appointment and the broadcast return together make this the simulcast era's most editorially distinct entry.