All the Right Moves
Newsweek Europe|October 18, 2024
PR experts tell Newsweek the winning strategies that keep Dancing With the Stars as popular as ever after 19 years
BILLIE SCHWAB DUNN
All the Right Moves

IT'S IN ITS 33RD SEASON, IS watched by millions and, year after year, attracts a variety of celebrities eager to strut their stuff on the dance floor. But what is it that makes Dancing With the Stars still so popular after almost 20 years on the small screen?

Newsweek spoke to PR experts to discover the strategies that the television show has implemented to keep it so relevant.

This year, celebrities competing for the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy include The Dark Knight actor Eric Roberts, Real Housewives of Atlanta star Phaedra Parks, Olympic rugby star Ilona Maher and many more. Aquila Mendez-Valdez, CEO and founder of Haute in Texas, told Newsweek that there's a clear formula to the selection process.

"To me, Dancing With the Stars has that unique combination of a steady, longstanding brand melded with a fresh crop of celebrities every season," she said. "They've done an exceptional job of selecting their cast every year based on a specific formula: a couple viral sensations, a couple beloved legends and a couple controversial selections that some audience members will be secretly watching in the hopes that they flop.

"The format remains consistent to the point of comforting."

Lauren Richardson, senior PR executive at Marketing Signals in the U.K., agrees. "The show has a knack of choosing celebrities who currently attract widespread media attention and have the ability to grab the audience's attention on and off screen," she said. "Celebrities who are infamous, such as convicted con artist Anna Delvey [aka Sorokin], will bring audiences to the show for different reasons from the shock factor that they're on a prime-time reality show or to see if they fail at the challenge."

Denne historien er fra October 18, 2024-utgaven av Newsweek Europe.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra October 18, 2024-utgaven av Newsweek Europe.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA NEWSWEEK EUROPESe alt
Ray Romano
Newsweek Europe

Ray Romano

THE MAJOR THING ABOUT NETFLIX'S NO GOOD DEED THAT APPEALED TO Ray Romano was that it was unlike anything he'd done before.

time-read
2 mins  |
December 27, 2024
Has J.K. Rowling Won the Culture War?
Newsweek Europe

Has J.K. Rowling Won the Culture War?

After years of backlash over trans issues, the Harry Potter author has received major business backing

time-read
7 mins  |
December 27, 2024
'This Murder Is a Symbol of the Times'
Newsweek Europe

'This Murder Is a Symbol of the Times'

Conservatives and liberals agree on the state of the health care industry following the killing of Brian Thompson

time-read
4 mins  |
December 27, 2024
The Defense Industry's Fight With ESG
Newsweek Europe

The Defense Industry's Fight With ESG

EUROPEAN DEFENSE COMPANIES, ESPECIALLY smaller businesses, are being blocked from investment they sorely need by sustainability rules, a senior NATO official and several industry figures have said.

time-read
9 mins  |
December 27, 2024
Nothin' Lasts Forever
Newsweek Europe

Nothin' Lasts Forever

Taylor Swift's Eras Tour' ends its record-breaking run..

time-read
3 mins  |
December 27, 2024
SPY IN THE SKY
Newsweek Europe

SPY IN THE SKY

CHINA FACES ACCUSATIONS of ESPIONAGE and WEAPONIZING OUTER SPACE as it BUILDS a NEW OBSERVATORY in CHILE critics say WILL BE USED for MILITARY PURPOSES

time-read
10+ mins  |
December 27, 2024
Margo Martindale
Newsweek Europe

Margo Martindale

\"WHO KNEW THAT A BARREL OF MAPLE SYRUP IS WORTH MORE THAN A barrel of oil?\"

time-read
2 mins  |
December 20, 2024
Malala Yousafzai
Newsweek Europe

Malala Yousafzai

\"AFGHANISTAN IS THE ONLY COUNTRY IN THE world where girls are banned from access to education and women are limited from work.\"

time-read
1 min  |
December 20, 2024
In the Eyes of the Law
Newsweek Europe

In the Eyes of the Law

Jude Law is unrecognizable as an FBI agent on the trail of aneo-Naziterrorist group in real-crime drama The Order

time-read
4 mins  |
December 20, 2024
AMERICA'S Most Responsible Companies 2025
Newsweek Europe

AMERICA'S Most Responsible Companies 2025

IN THE FACE OF ISSUES LIKE CLIMATE CHANGE and wage inequality, consumers care about the impact of the businesses they interact with and companies are responding.

time-read
2 mins  |
December 20, 2024