Executive producer Conrad Green tells EW what each contestant has in store for audiences.
Season 33 promises to be another unpredictable round of cha-cha-chas, jives, waltzes, foxtrots, and more.
Though, if nothing else, it’s the first season without any major changes in several years.
Danny Amendola and Witney Carson.Andrew Eccles/Disney
This year, it’ll only be the contestants making headlines, for a change.
“What we hit last season was a really good groove,” executive producer Conrad Green tells EW.
“Alfonso [Ribeiro]andJulianne [Hough]are incredible.
Ezra Sosa and Anna Delvey.Andrew Eccles/Disney
We’re plugged into the 21st century fully.”
“It’s very much evolution rather than revolution,” he adds.
We’re trying to tell the story of dance and music in America through a lot of different views.
Jenna Johnson and Joey Graziadei.Andrew Eccles/Disney
If you’re ready to meet the couples, read on for more from Green on what to expect.
“And paired with Witney, they’re going to be dynamite together.
), but Anna Delvey is the first to wear an ankle monitor while competing.
Dwight Howard and Daniella Karagach.Andrew Eccles/Disney
(YouhavewatchedInventing Anna, right?)
She is still currently on home arrest but received special dispensation to participate on the show.
“Once you’ve done your time, you’re encouraged to go out and take legitimate work.
Chandler Kinney and Brandon Armstrong.Andrew Eccles/Disney
The authorities don’t want to stop people being able to work.
“Joey just felt right,” Green says of Graziadei.
“He won so many people over on the show.
Alan Bersten and Ilona Maher.Andrew Eccles/Disney
I think he’ll be really good, as well.
He just felt so charismatic and warm, and that’s what people key into on the show.
He’s a natural for us, to be honest.”
Brooks Nader and Gleb Savchenko.Andrew Eccles/Disney
“He’s like 6' 10” or something.
He says, “For her, this has been a little passion project.
She’s so busy on so many different shows that this is almost like a break.
Stephen Nedoroscik and Rylee Arnold.Andrew Eccles/Disney
Her and Brandon look amazing together.
They just look so healthy.
It’s kind of sickening.”
Phaedra Parks and Val Chmerkovskiy.Andrew Eccles/Disney
They didn’t, but they at least secured two.
Maher became a sensation on the internet for her funny, honest videos.
“We’ve never had a rugby player on the show before.
Eric Roberts and Britt Stewart.Andrew Eccles/Disney
We pick who we think America’s going to fall in love with.
They’re just astonishing together.
We’ve probably got the best looking cast we’ve ever had.
Pasha Pashkov and Tori Spelling.Andrew Eccles/Disney
It is just ludicrous.”
So much so that he was the first cast member to beannounced a few weeks ago.
He also marks the show’s first ever male gymnast contestant.
Sasha Ferber and Jenn Tran.Andrew Eccles/Disney
“He’s so charming ,and he’s really committed and into doing this,” Green says.
“We always like to tick off professions.
She’s such an amazing personality.
Emma Slater and Reginald VelJohnson.Andrew Eccles/Disney
“He’s wanted to do it ever since.
He’ll bring some of that elegance and charming gentleman to the show.
He’s a very warm guy.”
“She is television royalty,” Green says.
“We’ve asked her a number of times.
and I don’t think it ever felt like the right time for her to do it.
She always liked the idea of doing it, but nervous about doing it, as well.
She decided this is the time to take a plunge.
Let’s take on things that are a bit scary.'”
“Last night, I was onstage crying, doing the whole breakup,“she told EW.
It was all just happening and thrown together very, very last minute.”
In fact, she didn’t even meet partner Sasha Farber until she got to the airport.
“He’s nervous,” Green says of VelJohnson being the senior celebrity this season.
Unfortunately, “I can’t say more than that right now,” Green says.
