In a nationwide spectacle, Robert Irwin and Witney Carson were crowned “Dancing with the Stars” season 34 champions on Nov. 25. The episode had 9.24 million live viewers, the most for a finale in nine years. Among young audiences, some people are calling it much more than a televised two-step.
“It’s the female Super Bowl,” said Sadie Boggess, a senior psychology major.
It certainly has the components for it. The show is a live, 11-week season, not too different from an NFL season or a 12-game college football season. It follows an elimination structure until the winner is awarded the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy, although there usually isn’t a cooler of Gatorade dumped on their head.
“It’s easily accessible,” said Sophia Garzoli, a senior accounting major. “With sports, you got to have ball knowledge to understand what’s going on. ‘Dancing with the Stars,’ not really. Dance is a universal language.”
Contestants undergo weeks of practice and preparation for their moment in the spotlight, and the physical demands of dancing cannot be overstated.
Instead of 300-pound linemen and Heisman-winning quarterbacks, competitors of “Dancing with the Stars” range from internet celebrities to snake wranglers. Season 34 was headlined by stars including Olympic gymnast Jordan Chiles, wildlife conservationist Irwin, reality star Dylan Efron, social media personality Alix Earle, actress Elaine Hendrix and comedian Andy Richter.
With celebrity appeal, “Dancing with the Stars” has reeled in an audience of young viewers. While winning is largely determined by the judges’ scoring, the audience’s vote adds a compelling element. Viewers suddenly become professional judges in their own right.
“Pointed toes, arms not lifting, it’s the same as baking,” Boggess said. “If you beat an egg too much, it might mess up your muffins.”
But winning is also the product of likability and self-marketing. Social media becomes a weapon against opponents and the key to on-screen success.
“With these shows, yes it’s about technique, but it’s also about your connection with the celebrity and the joy they bring you,” Boggess said.
“Dancing with the Stars” provides an on-screen product that is impossible to look away from. The appeal for watching your favorite celebrity tango was best described by Garzoli: “I feel like everyone would want to see, for example, how Lebron James dances.”
