Dancing With the Stars made a compelling case for Emmy recognition Sunday.
The long-running competition series filled the Dolby Theatre with Television Academy members for its FYC event, delivering an electrifying, nearly hour-long showcase from its pro dancers before transitioning into a lively panel discussion that doubled as a passionate pitch for the show’s legacy — and its future.
After 34 seasons, 128 nominations, and 21 wins, the ABC mainstay has yet to take home the top prize for Best Reality Competition Series — and hasn’t even been nominated in the category since 2016. That absence was top of mind for pro dancer Val Chmerkovskiy, who didn’t mince words about the oversight.
“I am appalled at the fact that we have never [won],” Chmerkovskiy said. “Our departments have, and rightfully so, but as a live two-hour show that puts up incredible content for 20 years now, I think it’s time that we give credit where it’s due.”
The panel — moderated by Ariana Madix — featured panelists Alfonso Ribeiro, Derek Hough, Witney Carson, Chmerkovskiy, and Season 34 contestants Robert Irwin, Jordan Chiles, and Andy Richter.
Together, they painted a picture of a series that’s more than just ballroom — one that blends live television spectacle, emotional storytelling, and a rare sense of connection in today’s fragmented media landscape.
Host Alfonso Ribeiro on the show’s scale and connection
“When you’ve been a fan from literally the first season and then you’re standing here 20 years later, it’s amazing to see what this show has become. No other show in history has done some of the things this show has done.
I look at it as an energetic flow — you’re taking the audience through highs and lows, through emotion, through energy. My job is to create that bridge between every performance so it all feels connected.
And it really comes down to connection. It’s connection to the audience, connection to each other, connection to the music, the dance, the story. That’s what people fall in love with, even when they don’t fully understand why.”
Derek Hough on vulnerability and why the show stands apart
“There’s nothing quite more vulnerable than going out there and dancing. You expose yourself — who you are — in so many different ways, and that’s why people connect. Because it’s real.
There’s no reality show that’s more real than Dancing With the Stars in that way. The tears, the heartbreak, the triumphs — all of that is genuine.
And what makes it special is that everybody behind the scenes loves it. From the camera operators to wardrobe to production — they don’t show up to do a job, they show up because it’s their passion. That energy translates onto the screen.”
Val Chmerkovskiy on purpose, legacy — and the Emmy push
“We pursued dance long before it was cool, long before there was something like Dancing With the Stars at the end of the tunnel. So to be here now, on this stage, it’s surreal.
This show gave us the ability to be something more — to connect to people, to be a positive influence, to have an impact beyond just performing.
In a world where everything is becoming more digital, dance is still about human connection — about touch, about presence. And to see people gravitate toward that, to see it go viral, to see it resonate… that means something.
That’s why I’m so passionate about this moment. This show deserves that recognition.”
Witney Carson on growing up with the show
“This was always the dream for dancers — Dancing With the Stars was it. I remember being 11 years old watching and voting, and then getting that call at 18… it was everything.
I’ve grown up on this show. I got married, I have kids now, and what’s so special is how it connects generations. It used to be, ‘My grandma loves you,’ and now it’s, ‘My daughter loves you.’
You’re making core memories with your families, and I think that’s why it keeps evolving and growing. It’s not just about the dance — it’s about what people feel when they watch it together.”
Jordan Chiles on the grind behind the live show
“I didn’t realize how much goes into a show day. You’re there earlier than anyone should be awake, and it’s nonstop — rehearsals, camera blocking, group numbers, hair and makeup — and sometimes I had school on top of that.
But there are so many people helping you through the day — the PAs, wardrobe, backstage, everyone running around making it happen.
And what really stuck with me was seeing how much the pros give. Some of them have kids, they have families, and they’re still giving everything to this. That made me want to match that energy and really understand my own ‘why’ while I was on the show.”
Robert Irwin on storytelling and transformation
“What the pros do every season is incredible — their dedication to a craft that’s centered around bringing people joy. That’s inspiring on its own.
But what really surprised me was the storytelling. I didn’t realize how much you can say through dance — how you can create something that resonates with people beyond just the performance.
Dancing With the Stars is about so much more than dance. It’s about taking people on a journey, reaching through the screen, and making them feel something. That was a gift that changed my life in so many ways.”
Andy Richter on overcoming fear and finding possibility
“I came into this absolutely terrified that I was going to make an ass of myself. I had stress dreams every night before it started — I didn’t think I could do it.
And then I met my partner, and everything changed. It became fun. It became something that pushed me in ways I didn’t expect.
I was dealing with real physical issues — I needed a hip replacement — and still, I was rehearsing four hours a day, seven days a week.
What it did was change how I see myself. I stopped thinking in terms of limitations and started thinking in terms of possibilities. And that’s something I heard from so many other contestants too. That’s what this show does.”
Season 35 of Dancing With the Stars premieres this fall on ABC and Disney+. Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough are set to return as hosts, with judges expected to include Derek Hough, Carrie Ann Inaba, and Bruno Tonioli.
A new spinoff, Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro, hosted by Season 34 champion Robert Irwin, will premiere July 13. The series follows 12 up-and-coming dancers training to earn a spot as a pro on Season 35 of the flagship show.
