On this page
01The take
The Tyra Debut.
A host debut and a pandemic-altered format in the same season — the show found its footing under the most difficult production conditions it had faced.
02The shape of the season
A rhythm worth tracking.
Season twenty-nine carried two disruptions at once. The COVID-19 pandemic removed the live studio audience the format depends on for vote-energy and atmosphere, and a complete host replacement — Tyra Banks arriving after 28 seasons of Tom Bergeron — changed the desk dynamic from the first episode. Banks brought a different energy and her debut generated real viewer discussion. The competitive cast delivered a workable season; the format ran at reduced atmosphere throughout.
03Where it sits in the canon
The #32 slot.
Slot #32 of 34 in the Dancing with the Stars Editor's Canon. The seasons on either side show what I ranked it against.
No spoilers. Every page is reviewed before it goes live.
06Also appears in