Strike Ends, Stars Align for DWTS Season 32 Premiere

ABC has confirmed its plans to proceed with the premiering of Dancing with the Stars' 32nd season on September 26, a decision spurred by the tentative agreement reached between the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and the studios on Sunday evening. The reality competition will feature its full celebrity cast, following a brief suspension of involvement from dual SAG-AFTRA and WGA member, Matt Walsh, known for his role in Veep.

In a statement released Monday, a representative for Walsh said, "With the hopeful resolution and vote with the WGA, Dancing with the Stars would no longer be a struck show therefore all cast would be able to return. This includes WGA member Matt Walsh.”

The network had initially prepared to postpone the return of DWTS last Thursday after a number of its celebrity participants, including Walsh, Alyson Hannigan, and Mira Sorvino, faced pressure from striking WGA members. Rehearsals for DWTS, which is a WGA signatory program typically employing one writer for the host's talking points, were repeatedly targeted by WGA picketers last week.

The continued protests at DWTS halted just yesterday, a few short hours prior to the announcement of the WGA-AMPTP agreement. The picketers, a group of approximately thirty-five writers, proceeded to picket the show at TV City where show producers had been preparing for Tuesday's live season opener.

Subsequent to the tentative agreement with the studios, all WGA picketing came to an end on Sunday night. As DWTS falls under the category of variety shows, it is covered by SAG-AFTRA National Code of Fair Practice for Network Television Broadcasting, separate to the unsuccessful film and TV collective bargaining agreement negotiated between SAG-AFTRA and the AMPTP in the spring and early summer resulting in the current actors strike.

Due to these circumstances, ABC is permitted to produce DWTS and SAG-AFTRA members are allowed to participate. SAG-AFTRA supported actors appearing on the show last week, asserting that they are not breaking strike rules and are obligated to work. This season marks the return of DWTS to ABC; the previous season aired on Disney+. The new season will simultaneously be broadcast live on Disney+ and will subsequently be available on Hulu.

Now, onto the fun part where we crack open the pop culture fortune cookie. This situation wreaks of Hollywood Drama, with a capital D, doesn't it? It's almost like a script for Telenovela, I'm surprised we didn't get any weeping and declarations of eternal solidarity from Walsh on his 'pause'.

On a serious note, this negotiation between WGA and studios has been as dance in itself. But less graceful pasodoble and more passionate Argentine tango, with a bit of wrestling thrown in for good measure. And isn't the timing just pitch perfect? A resolution coming hours before the picket lines formed outside the Dancing with the Stars rehearsals - it does make one wonder whether this has more drama behind the screen than on.

It goes to show that in Hollywood, the show must go on and strike or no strike, DWTS is waltzing its way back onto our screens, whether we're ready to fox trot or not. Let's just say, we're all excited to see how Walsh, Hannigan, and Sorvino perform, not just on the dance floor, but against the backdrop of this industry tension. Popcorn, anyone?