‘Dancing With the Stars’ Premiere is on Pointe

The 34th season of “Dancing with the Stars” premiered Sept. 16, marking the show’s 20th year on the air — and the end of seasonal depression.

The reality dance competition, which pairs B and C-list stars with professional ballroom dancers to learn and compete in various styles of ballroom, has evolved in the decades since its 2005 premiere.

The series has had its share of highs and lows — Tyra Banks’ irksome hosting performance, Zendaya’s upsetting loss, excessive showmances and the inclusion of former White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer, to name a few. Despite its stumbles, the series continues to be a mainstay in pop culture.

However, this season feels different. 

Aside from a few recognizable faces like Danielle Fishel, who played Topanga Lawrence in “Boy Meets World,” the remainder of the contestants don’t possess the star power to compel audiences to devote their Tuesdays to the show.

An influx of new viewership has led to a high turnout on the show’s voting system. As this season is posed to be the series’s biggest yet — the premiere marking their highest single episode vote count with 21 million voters — the show risks alienating its long-time viewers as this new wave of TikTok fans can sway the outcome.

Despite all potential reservations and excluding the cringy comments made by judge Derek Hough — like unpromptedly admitting Fishel was his childhood crush in front of his pregnant wife — the premiere excelled.

Gripping performances from the 14 celebrity contestants revealed promising potential for a season of heated competition.

For the first time, there was no clear weak link among the pairings as seemingly half the cast could win the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy based on their week one performances alone. 

Here’s a breakdown of the potential frontrunners. 

Predictions

Actress Elaine Hendrix, best known for playing Meredith Blake in 1998’s “The Parent Trap,” gave a theatrical and lively performance with her partner, season 28 winner Alan Bernsten. 

The former dancer opened up about the bike accident that forced her into retirement from the professional dance world. Her performance defied viewer and judge expectations with elegant movement. 

Hendrix isn’t the only star this season with prior dance experience. Entrepreneur Hilaria Baldwin, singer Lauren Jauregui and Whitney Leavitt of “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” have all danced professionally. 

Their performances and prior knowledge of the craft make them the strongest dancers. However, a contestant already knowing how to get down defeats the purpose of the show — celebrities learning how to dance.

Another major contender is social media star Alix Earle. Not only is she partnered with three-time winner Valentin Chmerkovskiy, but she has a massive following whose votes could carry her to the end.

While her cha-cha to Britney Spears’ “Circus” stood out, Earle appeared stiff at times. Nonetheless, her movement shows promise for growth.

The last — and perhaps strongest — performance of the night belonged to Robert Irwin, son of famed wildlife conservationist Steve Irwin. Irwin, paired with season 19 winner Witney Carson, performed an electrifying jive to Steppenwolf’s “Born to Be Wild.”

Irwin seemed enthusiastic and energetic as he jumped and flipped over Carson’s head, hitting every move sharply in the fast-paced dance style and leading him to tie with Leavitt for first place on this week’s leaderboard.

Irwin, who said he wanted to compete on the show after seeing his sister, Bindi, win the series with former pro and current judge Derek Hough, is clearly gunning for the Mirroball Trophy.

While six competitors stuck out, this season is gearing up to be the closest in DWTS history — every star seemingly capable of reaching the final based on talent, charisma and online support.

“Dancing with the Stars” airs live Tuesdays on ABC and streams on Disney+ starting at 7 p.m. CST.