Episode 1: Meet the Cast
Dancing with the Stars Official Podcast
Andy Richter returns as host of the Dancing with the Stars Official Podcast for Season 35, introducing the new cast and pros. He's joined by
Key takeaways
- The show is a transformation journey focused on heart and connection, not just technical skill.
- New contestants like Ezra Frecht bring unique energy and gratitude that resonate with audiences.
Main topics
- Season 35 cast introductions
- New pros and contestant dynamics
Notable quotes
"This show is a transformation show masked in rhinestones and fringe because it truly is." – Julianne Hough
Conclusion
The podcast sets an energetic tone for Season 35, highlighting emotional
Transcript preview
Speaker 1 (0:00) I'm back! Did you miss me? I'm here at Good... Emma, not now. I'm here at Good Morning America with a brand new cast of Dancing with the Stars. Are you guys ready to start the show? Guys, I said are you ready to start the show? Speaker 1 (0:29) Hello, everybody. Welcome back to a brand new season of the Dancing with the Stars official podcast sponsored by Paris Baguette. My name's Andy Richter. You might remember me from my improbable run on season 34 last year. Well, I am excited to be back and even more excited to not have to dance. Right now, we're backstage at GMA for this special podcast episode. Next week, we'll be back in L.A. in our brand new studio, which I haven't even seen yet. That's how brand new it is. We've got a packed show today. We'll have the first sit-down interviews with Julia Stiles, Harry Shum Jr., Tatiana Ali, and Paralympian Ezra Frecht, plus so much more, including songs and styles of dances to everything in the premiere. But first, we're breaking down the new season with none other than the hosts of Dancing with the Stars. It's Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough. Hey! Speaker 4 (1:19) Hi, Andy! Hello, friend! It's not like you're coming back. You've never left. You've been here the whole time. I have Speaker 1 (1:27) sort of been around. And we love you for it. We love you for Speaker 6 (1:33) it. Speaker 1 (1:33) They can't get rid Speaker 2 (1:34) of us Speaker 1 (1:34) now. They never turned off my ID. It still lets me into the studio. Well, first up, Alfonso. Yeah, bud. Tatiana's on the show. And now I guess was a surprise. You did not know. I did Speaker 6 (1:47) not know. Did Speaker 1 (1:48) that hurt your feelings? No, because they don't let me know anything. Speaker 6 (1:52) So, yeah, I mean, like, I literally learned it. from social media with all those people who are constantly trying to figure out who's in rehearsal. And I saw something and I went, ooh, wait a minute. Could it be? And then later that day. We were doing promos and they walked me into the makeup room and she was there. And it's so cool to have her on the show. Speaker 1 (2:14) I bet it's got to be really great. I mean, it's just like it's another bright spot in the season. And, you know, I'm sure you pull all kinds of strings to keep her around. I mean, I don't know what strings I have to pull, but, you Speaker 6 (2:26) know. There's no Speaker 1 (2:27) strings, people. And Julianne, who are you looking forward to watching at the risk of offending the people that you don't mention? Oh, correct. You Speaker 4 (2:35) know, I have no, I'm going to get in trouble with whatever I Speaker 1 (2:38) say. Speaker 4 (2:38) Of Speaker 1 (2:39) course. Speaker 4 (2:39) But I'm Switzerland. No, honestly, I think one of the. people that I'm really excited to see is Ezra, specifically with Daniela. Yes. I think that Daniela is such an amazing coach as well. And she's had a lot of challenges with somebody being seven foot something, you know, to, you know, to working with Ezra. I think she's going to enhance everything that he already is. And I think he's game for it. We just had a conversation last night and he's got that energy, but there's, there's just like a gratitude about him that was similar to you. to be honest, where it was, where you were just like so happy to be there. And like the love that you shared, it's like, that's what people fall in love with as well. So I'm so excited to see his ability. their partnership and his heart. I think that's what I'm really excited about. I mean, I don't know, Amber, Tatiana, Giada, I mean, Sarah J. I mean, everybody, you know? And like Taylor Hansen, come on. Mbop, I've been doing that since I was six years old. I can't wait. It's so good. Speaker 1 (3:44) Now you guys, the dance experience versus no dance experience is sort of an ongoing controversy because there isn't like a philosophical difference of this show is supposed to be about people that didn't have any dance experience. No, it's not. Yeah. But then it's also like, yeah, but it also is like an amazing chance to see like, you know, the people from the last season that I was in, the people that were really amazing dancers from the get-go. And I mean, where do you fall on that? I mean, is it good to have a mix of both? It's kind of got it, right? It's Speaker 4 (4:20) a great thing to have it because... Over the last 20 years, I feel like as this show has evolved, we've really been an educator for the audience. And now they know what good dancing looks like, but they want to see good dancing. And so I think that's part of it. And the other part is any dancer who is technical isn't necessarily the best dancer. And I don't even mean on Dancing with the Stars. I mean as a professional dancer watching people dance. Somebody could have the best technique and I don't connect with them. Absolutely. And so this show is actually, I always say this, I'm like, this show is a transformation show masked in rhinestones and fringe because it truly is. It's about... It's about unveiling who you are through the vehicle of dance. Speaker 6 (5:09) Absolutely. You know, I've always said, you know, as someone during my season that was viewed as a person who had dance experience, right? It was, yeah, you might know how to hip hop. You might know ballet. But the moment you get into hole and you're doing a ballroom style, it's starting over and you have to unlearn everything that you know. I was talking with Jenna just yesterday and it's like, She was like, oh my God, this is so much harder than I thought. And I'm like, yes, because you have to unlearn. You've got to actually start over. This is a show about heart. This is a show about giving people who you are, spreading that joy into the world and allowing the audience in. There are a lot of people who can be great dancers and don't let you in. Speaker 1 (5:54) Yeah. Speaker 6 (5:54) Right? That facade that you were just talking about. That won't get you to the finish line. You can be a great dancer. And not always this is the best answer. This is a show about your heart and giving it to our audience and letting them in and letting them go on this ride, Speaker 1 (6:09) this journey with you. Well, now last year, I mean, it was crazy. Half a billion, over half a billion votes cast. Was there a point at which you guys realized like this season is really happening? Like, was there a point at which you can remember? Well, it was, there were points through the season where... Speaker 6 (6:29) We were breaking Nielsen records, right? Where we were the first show in history to start at number one and rise every week. Since Speaker 1 (6:41) the 90s. That's insane. It's wild. And then the Speaker 6 (6:45) votes kept showing the engagement. It's them voting 15, 20, 30, 100 times. That means they're loving it. That means they're... And that's when you started to see those numbers rise. You were watching an audience become more and more engaged in our show, not just about the numbers. Speaker 4 (7:03) And I would say, like, that measurement is one way that I knew, obviously, with, like, the Nielsen ratings and everything and the engagement. But the other way I knew was on set, the social media experience was a whole other show. Yeah. And then, like... the week leading up to the show, hearing from people that in the past had never heard of Dancing with the Stars or had heard about it but it wasn't their thing or like my nieces and my nephews and like hearing people be so excited about it. That like, it was almost like a cyclical thing where it finally like came back around to when we first started. And it was this fresh new thing. So yes, we had the measurement of success, like literally to see it. But then just to feel it in the zeitgeist of what was happening culturally and hearing people talk about it that. weren't talking about it 10 years ago. No, Speaker 1 (8:02) it's Speaker 4 (8:02) still, Speaker 1 (8:02) people, it's a big deal. This is the place to be. It really is. Speaker 4 (8:07) Back in the day it was Speaker 6 (8:08) the Speaker 4 (8:08) water Speaker 6 (8:08) cooler, right? Yeah, Speaker 4 (8:09) the Speaker 6 (8:09) water cooler. And now it's on social media. And Speaker 4 (8:11) that Speaker 6 (8:11) just moved to social media, Speaker 4 (8:12) but that's what was Speaker 1 (8:13) happening. Speaker 4 (8:13) But it's everywhere. Speaker 1 (8:15) Well, go win an Emmy. Right? I've Speaker 4 (8:17) been nominated, Speaker 1 (8:18) and so go get that Emmy. Yes. I think so. And Julianne, you're going to be doing something special in the premiere. Speaker 4 (8:25) I am indeed. This is a Speaker 1 (8:27) night of exclusives. This is a night of exclusives. So Speaker 4 (8:31) I have not choreographed on this show since 2015 when I won my Emmy with my brother when we did Elastic Heart to Sia. And on premiere night, I get to choreograph. for Paris Baguette, and we are doing a number that opening night. And it's really cool. It's based off of this experience that I really had in Paris, and it was this love affair that happened. All night. It was wonderful. This man took me around all of Paris and showed me all the sights. It was very wholesome. We'll put it that way. There was a kiss involved. Okay. But it was Lovers Lock Bridge. I mean, it was like seeing the ballroom dancing outside of the opera theater. It was going up and down the Seine River and the bands playing. It was just this magical night. So when I knew that Paris Baguette was going to be a part of the show and I was going to choreograph this number, I was like, oh, I have to reimagine this. night because it was so magical. And so, yes, I'm very excited and I can't wait for you guys to see it. I can't wait to Speaker 1 (9:32) see it either. And I'm so happy to get to spend another season with you guys. It's really, really going to be fun. And congratulations. Thank you. Congratulations on Speaker 6 (9:40) being part of this forever. Forever, whether you like it or not. Pull me back in. As we all know, I did my season and I never left. I know. Come on with me, buddy. That's what I'm doing. Speaker 1 (9:51) I'm going to just try and get into every shot. Speaker 4 (9:55) That's Derek. Speaker 1 (9:56) Yeah, exactly. I'll do a Derek. Well, thank you so much, guys, for coming. And I'll be seeing you all season. Speaker 4 (10:03) We'll see Speaker 1 (10:03) you. All right. Up next, Harry Shum Jr. and Tatiana Ali will be sitting right here. Speaker 1 (10:16) Our next guests have starred on some of the biggest shows on TV. You know him from Glee and Grey's Anatomy, and you know her from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. It's Harry Shum Jr. and Tatiana Ali. Hello. Hello. Speaker 2 (10:28) Thank Speaker 1 (10:28) you for having us. I'm excited, guys. Yes, I know. It's more and more you get to talk about dancing. Dancing. Oh, yeah. Now, Tatiana, you and Alfonso obviously have a lot of history. Yes. And you guys are still close. Yes. And you had to keep this secret from him. Speaker 5 (10:47) I did. You know, you kind of sign your life away with the show. Yeah, yeah. NDAs and I guess I could, something could happen to me. Anyway, and I also have, I grew up in theater, so I have this kind of like superstition. Like I'm like, okay, let me not say anything until it's time to say something. You know, you never know what's going to happen. Sure, Speaker 1 (11:05) sure. But Speaker 5 (11:05) I held it too long. And then by the time I talked to the producers, when they found out I hadn't said anything to him yet, they were like, shh. Don't say anything. Speaker 1 (11:13) And Harry, I understand you are a big Fresh Prince of Bel-Air fan. And Speaker 2 (11:18) Uncle Phil is like my second dad. And I just like, you know, I'm pinching myself because I grew up watching you guys. I felt like I was growing up, especially with Ashley, like seeing all the... I just miss those sitcoms where it just had always lessons but in a