The ballroom is heating up again. Dancing With the Stars Season 35 kicks off with a two-night premiere event starting Tuesday, and according to Rolling Stone, this year's format splits the competition: night one features male celebrities and their pro partners, night two brings the women, with a double elimination spread across both nights.
Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough return as hosts, with the judging panel, Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli, and Derek Hough, back to deliver verdicts. The celebrity roster includes actor Harry Shum Jr., Oscar-nominated Julia Stiles, figure skater Amber Glenn, reality TV personality Tyler Cameron, Real Housewives cast member Ciara Miller, and celebrity chef Giada De Laurentiis.
Each contestant will dance to a Number One hit from the year they were born, Lenny Kravitz's "Are You Gonna Go My Way," Santana's "Smooth," Dolly Parton's "9 to 5." The songs tie the performances to the contestants' generational identity.
The casting reflects a shift in the show's approach. DWTS has cycled through actors, athletes, and reality stars for years with mixed results. Pairing Julia Stiles, a legitimate Hollywood name, with reality TV personalities and an Olympic athlete suggests the show is aiming for broader cultural reach.
The two-night structure creates consecutive nights of must-watch television. Tuesday's men's round generates social media debate all Wednesday, then fans vote on the women's side while recaps from night one still circulate online.
Tune in Tuesday and Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET on ABC, or stream live on Disney+ and the following day on Hulu. DirecTV and Fubo both offer free trials for live viewing.
Robert Irwin is hosting an after-party on Wednesday night, extending the entertainment window beyond the main broadcast.
