“Dancing with the Stars” is different from other reality shows. That’s true.
That’s the message winner-turned-host Alfonso Ribeiro sends when he talks about the competition series.
“We’re creating a safe space, where celebrities can open up about their true feelings,” said Ribeiro, who will be at the helm for season 31 starting in 2022. “We all watch reality shows, but we know it’s not reality. We know it’s scripted. We’re having[DWTS]do it live so it can’t be manipulated. Part of my job that I feel is important is making sure that every time a celebrity or a professional comes in, they come up to me after their routine and I give them space to open up and express what they’re feeling in the moment. ”
Ribeiro first appeared as a contestant in Season 19 of 2014 and ultimately won the Mirror Ball with partner Whitney Carson. (She won again this year with Robert Irwin as her partner.)
Twelve years later, Ribeiro has no intention of competing again. “That means someone else has to host, but I love what I do,” he says. “It’s fun to dance every once in a while, like the opening number or dancing with[co-host]Julianne Hough here and there. I like that.”
Season 34, which aired on ABC in the fall, was the most-watched season in years, which Ribeiro attributes in part to social media.
“Years ago, we had water cooler moments. Now, because those water cooler moments happen to be on social media, people are talking about the show and connecting with the show. It’s building this groundswell of connection,” he says. “Julian and I also try to make sure everyone knows that they’re not alone, that they’re not alone. We’re with them, going through it with them, experiencing joy with them. We’re there for the heartache and the heartbreak, and that’s what it should be for me.”
But as online conversations increase, so do negative opinions. This season, it was actually on display for women who are frequently bullied in the comments sections on the show, but Ribeiro isn’t convinced she has the answer as to why.
“I think this is more of a social question than a ‘Dancing with the Stars’ question. Why are we so mean to each other? Why are we so tribal today? The goal of our show is not to be tribal. We’re inclusive to everyone,” he says. “I’ve said to some professionals and celebrities, ‘Look, this is just noise. It’s not real unless you read it. Don’t let it affect you. You don’t have to tolerate it.'”
Showrunner Conrad Greene led the competition series from its debut in 2004 until Season 18 in 2014, when he stepped down. When he returned for Season 31 in 2022, there were visible changes. Ribeiro said Green was “trying to bring the heart back to the show. And is it there?”
Some of that heart was on display during season 34 when they celebrated the show’s 20th anniversary. The November episode saw host Tom Bergeron return as a guest judge. The appearance marked his first return to the ballroom since being laid off in 2022.
“It was the greatest thing in the world. Tom was the one who invited me to host ‘America’s Funniest Home Videos,’ so we’ve always had a relationship of respect, love and mutual respect,” Ribeiro says. “When we decided to bring him back, they asked me if I was okay with it. I was more than okay. This is his home. We literally spent almost every moment together that week. I made sure he felt all the love he deserved to be back in the ballroom.”
