Judge Bruno Tonioli has been with “Dancing With the Stars” since the very beginning. After over 30 seasons, fans can’t imagine the judges’ table without him.
However, DWTS wasn’t always very popular. In fact, Tonioli admits it was hard to get the series off the ground at first. Thankfully, the right people believed in the project.
In a new interview, Bruno Tonioli shared the secrets behind making “Dancing With the Stars” the staple of reality television that audiences know today.
Bruno Tonioli Remembers the Rough Journey in Getting DWTS on ABC
GettyThe idea for “Dancing With the Stars” started bouncing around ABC’s executive offices in the early 2000s. At the time, few believed the concept would actually work.
“It was May 2005, and at the time… Andrea Wong was running ABC, and Bob Iger was working there as well, and I know the story. It is a long story. They told me the story. And everybody was saying, ‘This is never gonna work. They’re crazy,’” Bruno Tonioli recalled while speaking with PEOPLE. He noted that Andrea Wong eventually approved the show.
The judges originally consisted of Bruno Tonioli, Carrie Ann Inaba, and the late Len Goodman. Derek Hough filled in for Goodman during the pandemic. After his passing, Hough became the new head judge.
Although viewers weren’t quite sure what to make of “Dancing With the Stars” at first, it quickly found its stride.
“Next year, we were up there with ‘American Idol.’ I could not believe it,” the long-serving judge shared his disbelief.
As the show approaches its 35th season, Bruno Tonioli believes the heart behind the show is what keeps fans coming back for more.
“The reason it lasted, and it still is, is because it is a show that has a beating heart. It’s not fake. We really do it because we love it,” the judge insisted.
While not every tweak works out for the best, Tonioli also knows that some change is necessary to keep the series alive. They accept feedback and consistently work to produce better content for fans.
“And…we always push the bar. We always make it better. And the audience really responds to that,” he continued. “We are really there 100%…We are there with our hearts beating. I think people get that. They get the truth.”
The Judge Teases Fans About Season 35
There are still many months left before DWTS season 35 hits ABC. But Bruno Tonioli is very excited and couldn’t wait to give fans a sneak peek.
“On the Red Carpet” caught up with the Italian judge to get his thoughts on the fall premiere.
“All right people, next season of ‘Dancing With the Stars.’ Hotter. Glitzier. More glamorous, more spectacular, more entertaining than ever. We love you, we do it for you. Please keep watching!” Tonioli excitedly told the reporter.
So far, three celebrity contestants have been confirmed for season 35. Savannah Bananas player Jackson Olson will compete for the Mirrorball trophy alongside reality stars Maura Higgins and Ciara Miller.
“Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro” kicks off on Monday, July 13, on ABC. In the fall, DWTS season 35 premieres on the network.
