What a rollercoaster day for Dancing With the Stars. On Thursday, ABC executives were considering delaying the Sept. 26 start of the new season after striking writers started picketing the production. This news was followed by an announcement from Matt Walsh, an actor from Veep, who decided to “pause” his involvement with the show until an agreement is made with the Writers Guild of America (WGA). In an Instagram post, Walsh explained that he joined the show under the impression that it was not a WGA show and fell under a different agreement. However, after being informed by his union, he walked out of his rehearsal.
Hours later, SAG-AFTRA issued a statement clarifying that its members who are working on Dancing With the Stars, including actors like Mira Sorvino, Alyson Hannigan, Xochitl Gomez, and Jamie Lynn Spears, are not violating its strike rules. The union stated that these actors are working under the Network Code agreement, which is a non-struck contract. They are required to fulfill their contractual obligations and are supported by SAG-AFTRA.
Amidst all the drama, DWTS pro Gleb Savchencko attended the Elizabeth Taylor Ball to End AIDS at the Beverly Hills Hotel. He expressed his surprise and confusion about the situation, stating that as an unscripted reality competition show, DWTS does not have any WGA writers. He couldn’t understand how one tweet could cause so much commotion.
Savchenko expressed his hope that ABC can find a resolution because it would be unfair to many people involved, including his partner Mira Sorvino, who is also an actor. He emphasized that they have a lot of actors on the cast for this season and it is important to figure things out before the premiere in four days.
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Regarding Sorvino’s situation, Savchenko acknowledged that she is in a difficult position. While she is supportive of the strike, she is legally allowed to continue on the show and is not breaking any rules. However, they are all hoping for a resolution so that they can continue with the season as planned.
The new season of DWTS is scheduled to have a two-and-a-half-hour premiere on Sept. 26 on ABC and will also be simulcast on Disney+. This season marks a return to ABC after exclusively streaming on Disney+ last season.
In conclusion, the day was filled with ups and downs for Dancing With the Stars. The consideration of delaying the season start, the withdrawal of Matt Walsh, and the clarification from SAG-AFTRA created a whirlwind of emotions. Gleb Savchencko and Mira Sorvino remain hopeful for a resolution, as they, along with many others, are looking forward to the premiere. It remains to be seen how ABC will handle the situation and ensure that the show goes on smoothly. Fans eagerly await the new season and hope that the behind-the-scenes conflicts can be resolved amicably.
