ABC's Dancing with the Stars will air a special Super Bowl-themed episode on Tuesday, October 13, featuring guest judge Joe Buck. The event arrives as the production faces internal turmoil following the week-long suspension of professional dancer Valentin Chmerkovskiy.
Joe Buck and the October 13 Super Bowl Special
The upcoming broadcast, scheduled for 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern Time on ABC, will feature 11 dancing duos performing tracks associated with the Super Bowl's most iconic halftime shows. According to the source, the production aims to bridge the gap between professional dance and American football by bringing in Joe Buck, a veteran commentator known for his work with Monday Night Football, to provide a sports-centric perspective on the judging panel.
This crossover strategy reflects a broader trend in reality television where networks leverage high-profile sports personalities to attract a more diverse demographic. By integrating Joe Buck's expertise in broadcast commentary, ABC is attempting to transform a standard competition episode into a cultural event that mirrors the spectaclle of the NFL championship.
Valentin Chmerkovskiy's suspension over the 2022 Oscars post
The festive atmosphere is complicated by the absence of professional dancer Valentin Chmerkovskiy, who has been suspended for one week. As the report says, BBC Studios enforced the disciplinary action after Chmerkovskiy shared a social media post referencing the infamous 2022 Oscars incident where Will Smith slapped Chris Rock. BBC Studios stated that the post was inappropriate and violated the values and standards expected of those associated with the program.
The suspension follows a period of heightened tension between Chmerkovskiy and judge Carrie Ann Inaba. Inaba had previously criticized the dancer for executing an illegal lift during a three-minute samba routine , a clash that contributed to the current friction within the production. While Chmerkovskiy has expressed a desire to resolve these issues with Inaba and his colleagues, he will only be present via a virtual "thank you" message to the fans and judges during the October 13 episode.
Jenna Dewan's 'Unchained Melody' tribute to Nancy Lee Bursch
Amidst the controversy, the episode will feature high-stakes emotional performances, most notably from Jenna Dewan and her partner Alan Bersten. The duo is set to perform a Viennese Waltz to the song "Unchained Melody" by the Righteous Brothers as a tribute to Dewan's mother, Nancy Lee Bursch. This focus on "dedication night" storytelling is designed to provide a soulful counterpoint to the high-energy Super Bowl theme.
Other notable performances include routines by Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Johnson, as well as a tribute from Tatyana Ali dedicated to a late co-star. These personal narratives are a staple of the Dancing with the Stars format, often serving as the primary driver for viewer engagement and voting patterns.
The unconfirmed rumor of a Will Smith appearance
While the production has confirmed the guest judge and the theme, one major detail remains speculative: the potential appearance of Will Smith. Given that Valentin Chmerkovskiy's suspension was triggered by a post about Smith's 2022 Oscars behavior, a guest appearance by the actor would create a volatile narrative arc for the episode. However, the source notes that this rumor has yet to be confirmed by ABC or the production team .
The lack of confirmation leaves several questions unanswered regarding how the show intends to handle the intersection of the Chmerkovskiy scandal and the Super Bowl celebration. It remains unclear whether BBC Studios will address the suspension on-air or if the broadcast will strictly adhere to the "game-time" celebration theme to avoid further social media controversy.
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