How far would network television go to boost its numbers? Well, “Dancing with the Stars” went as far as to negotiate the terms of convicted felon Anna Sorokin’s — also known as Anna Delvey — house arrest.
The rest of the cast mostly consists of the expected reality television stars, often preferring those with a link to Bachelor Nation and “The Real Housewives.” After all, the show counts on these well-known personalities to bring both the drama and the viewers. The cast ranges from retired athletes and TV actors to more active Olympic medalists and reality stars.
While the show typically features a retired athlete — with the new season spotlighting ex-New England Patriots player Danny Amendola, winner of two Super Bowls — this season triples down on sports star power by adding two Olympic breakout stars to the mix: Stephen Nedoroscik and Ilona Maher. Alongside Amendola, the pommel horse hero and the red-lipped rugby royalty bring a dose of promising athleticism to the otherwise inexperienced cast. And aside from these three decorated athletes, the “Dancing with the Stars” cast also features another highly accomplished athlete: ex-Los Angeles Lakers player and NBA championship ring owner Dwight Howard.
Less decorated — but just as much of a household name — is Joey Graziadei, a tennis coach who competed on the 20th season of “The Bachelorette.” This secured him the role of “The Bachelor” in season 28, where he crossed paths with his current “Dancing with the Stars” competitor, Jenn Tran. Tran’s own debut in Graziadei’s season of “The Bachelor” led to her starring as “The Bachelorette” in season 21 — an experience that left its own trail of drama.
Phaedra Parks, a meme sensation in recent years, rose to fame on “The Real Housewives Of Atlanta,” where she starred for seven seasons. Now, she’s set to make her comeback in the show’s upcoming 16th season.
Beyond the reality TV realm, the cast features television stars Chandler Kinney of the “Pretty Little Liars” franchise, Tori Spelling of “Beverly Hills, 90210” and Reginald VelJohnson of “Family Matters.” Rounding out the lineup is Oscar-nominated actor Eric Roberts, known for “King of the Gypsies” (1978), “Star 80” (1983) and “Runaway Train” (1985).
The show would not be “Dancing with the Stars” without including an obscure, relatively unknown model. This season showcases Brooks Nader, who apparently gained attention for her Baywatch-inspired “Sports Illustrated” swimsuit cover.
While “Dancing with the Stars” casts tend to lean heavily on a mix of athletes, retired TV actors and reality stars, this season breaks new ground by including a contestant still on house arrest.
Sorokin must be the most talked-about cast member of season 33, making waves by sporting an ankle monitor in her cast announcement. Sorokin was the subject of the Emmy-nominated Netflix series “Inventing Anna” and the inspiration for the book “My Friend Anna: The True Story of a Fake Heiress.” Both the show and the book detail the lengths she goes to in order to gain prestige and influence. For context, Sorokin scammed her way up the high society ladder, leading to her conviction on eight charges, which included grand larceny and theft of services. She was sentenced to four to 12 years in prison, fined $24,000 and ordered to pay nearly $200,000 in restitution. However, Sorokin was released on good behavior in February 2021.
While Sorokin’s addition to the cast has certainly captured widespread attention, it also raises questions about “Dancing with the Stars” prioritizing media buzz over ethical considerations in featuring a convicted felon. The strategy certainly has worked in boosting publicity but at the cost of whatever credibility “Dancing with the Stars” may have retained.
