On September 2, 2025, ABC announced what could be the greatest Dancing With the Stars cast in the series’ 20-year history. Well, that, or the DWTS season 34 cast was just deliberately calibrated to appeal to a specifically millennial and reality TV–obsessive demographic, of which I am one.
The full cast includes: Olympic gymnast and gold medalist Jordan Chiles, NBA player Baron Davis, Dylan Efron of The Traitors and being-Zac’s-brother fame, Danielle Fishel—a.k.a. Topanga from Boy Meets World—Elaine Hendrix—a.k.a. Meredith Blake from The Parent Trap—Corey Feldman, Andy Richter, Pentatonix singer Scott Hoying, and Fifth Harmony singer Lauren Jauregui. Before the official announcement on Good Morning America, a few of the contestants had already been revealed, including Robert Irwin, son of the Crocodile Hunter and brother of season 21 winner Bindi, podcaster Alix Earle, and Hilaria Baldwin. Additionally, while it’s rare to see two stars of the same reality show in a single DWTS cast, this year will feature both Jen Affleck and Whitney Leavitt from The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.
For once, I recognize nearly every single name on this list. Only one of the competitors has an “Allegations” tab on their Wikipedia page (I checked). And there is not one aging politician attempting to overcome a recent scandal. Instead, we’re getting an ideal balance of athletes, minor pop stars, and nostalgia bait, with a hefty mix of villains and fan favorites from reality TV, who will surely be bringing their interpersonal dramas onto the dance floor with them. With a few exceptions, this cast is rife with petty grudges and trivial scandals that make for perfect competition-show fodder. How will Baldwin, whose Spanish accent micro-scandal remains a pop culture touchstone, pronounce—and dance—the Paso Doble? Will Earle reference her rival podcasting Alex—Alex Cooper—in the heat of competition?
