Dancing with the Stars Season 33 Schedule: Vice Presidential Debate

Dancing with the Stars returns for its 33rd season on Tuesday, September 17, but two weeks later, there is a major change of plan for the show’s schedule, and one can thank good old US politics. The vice presidential debate between Governor Tim Walz and Senator JD Vancepresented by CBS News, is scheduled for Tuesday, October 1, when “DWTS” normally airs. To avoid the conflict, the celebrity dance competition series is giving us a double dose next week.

“DWTS” is scrapping the Oct. 1 episode and instead presenting a special two-night event on Monday, Oct. 7 and Tuesday, Oct. 8. But what does this mean for the competition? First of all, it means that the celebrity contestants will have to dance twice in one week in their third week on the show, an artistic and athletic challenge that could separate the top contenders from the rest of the field. Time will tell if there will be an elimination each night, or perhaps a double elimination on the second night.

At this point, only one celebrity has been officially announced for the 33rd season of “DWTS”: the two-time Olympic bronze medalist in gymnastics Stephen Nedoroscikwho specializes in pommel horse riding and inspired memes around the world when he helped Team USA get to the podium for the first time in over a decade. We don’t yet know if ABC will capitalize on the political season by hiring political figures. But if you’re like me, you dread the prospect. I still have nightmares about Sean Spicerthe press spokesman of the Donald Trump government, whose dancing was almost as bad as the misinformation he spread on behalf of his boss. “DWTS” has also targeted politicians like the governor of Texas Rick PerryMajority Leader in the US House of Representatives Tom DeLay and right-wing commentator Tucker Carlson.

This year we can at least rule out Walz and Vance as possible performers. They’ll be busy.