Dancing with the Stars – Season 33 Complete Cast and Winners

Dancing with the Stars, commonly abbreviated as DWTS, stands as one of the most enduring reality competition series on American television. The show pairs celebrity contestants with professional dancers, challenging them to perform choreographed routines across various dance styles. Each week, eliminations reduce the field until a single couple claims the Mirrorball Trophy. The format blends technical skill assessment from a panel of judges with viewer voting, creating a dynamic competition that has captivated audiences since its debut.

Season 33 premiered on September 17, 2024, continuing the show’s tradition of bringing together personalities from entertainment, sports, and reality television. Thirteen celebrity-professional pairs took to the ballroom, representing a diverse mix of backgrounds ranging from professional athletics to reality stardom. The season concluded with Joey Graziadei and Jenna Johnson emerging as champions, securing their place in the show’s competitive history.

What Is Dancing with the Stars?

Dancing with the Stars originated as the American adaptation of the British television series Strictly Come Dancing. The show premiered on ABC in 2005 and quickly established itself as a ratings staple for the network. At its core, the competition celebrates the partnership between celebrities and professional dancers, transforming unfamiliar contestants into capable performers over the course of a season.

Show Format and Rules

Each season follows a consistent elimination-based format. Celebrity contestants are paired with professional dancers—often called “pros”—at the beginning of the season. These pairs perform choreographed routines that typically represent standard ballroom dances such as the waltz and tango, or Latin dances including the salsa, rumba, and cha-cha-cha. Theme nights occasionally introduce specific requirements, such as freestyle routines or dances inspired by particular eras or musical genres.

A panel of judges evaluates each performance, assigning scores based on technique, performance quality, and overall presentation. Simultaneously, viewers cast votes through the ABC app, the official website, or text messaging. The combined judge scores and viewer votes determine which pairs advance and which face elimination. The process continues weekly until a single couple remains standing.

Dancing with the Stars Season 33: Cast, Schedule, and Winners

Season 33 launched on September 17, 2024, airing on ABC with simultaneous streaming availability on Disney+. The 13-couple lineup represented a cross-section of entertainment and sports personalities, each bringing distinct backgrounds and fan bases to the competition.

2024 Cast List

The season featured an eclectic mix of contestants spanning reality television, professional sports, film, and modeling. Each celebrity was paired with a professional dancer who guided them through increasingly challenging choreography as the competition progressed.

The professional dancer roster included notable returns and new additions. Witney Carson came back after taking a season off, while Ezra Sosa made his debut as a professional partner. The troupe—reserve dancers who perform during results shows—included Marcquet Hill, Stephani Sosa, Kailyn Rogers, and Roman Nevinchanyi.

Premiere Date and Episode Schedule

Episodes aired every Tuesday at 8 p.m. Eastern Time on ABC. Live streaming was available through Disney+, allowing viewers with cable alternatives to watch in real time. Those who missed the broadcast could catch new episodes the following day on Hulu.

Latest Eliminations and Winner

The elimination sequence unfolded across several weeks, with a notable double elimination occurring in Week 2. Anna Delvey and Tori Spelling became the first casualties, exiting the competition during that early round. Subsequent weeks saw Eric Roberts and Reginald VelJohnson depart together, followed by Brooks Nader in Week 4 and Phaedra Parks in Week 5.

Joey Graziadei and Jenna Johnson claimed the Mirrorball Trophy, culminating a competition that tested their partnership and performance abilities week after week. The Bachelor alumnus proved a surprisingly adept dancer, connecting with audiences and accumulating strong viewer support alongside Johnson’s professional expertise.

Ilona Maher and Alan Bersten finished as runners-up, with Chandler Kinney and Brandon Armstrong taking third. Stephen Nedoroscik and Rylee Arnold rounded out the top four. Danny Amendola and Witney Carson placed fifth, while Dwight Howard and Jenn Tran withdrew from the competition before its conclusion.

Hosts and Judges of Dancing with the Stars

The presentation of the show relies on two distinct groups: the hosts who guide viewers through each episode and the judges who evaluate the dancing itself. Both roles contribute significantly to the show’s identity and the audience’s experience.

Current Hosts

Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough served as co-hosts for Season 33. Ribeiro, who first gained recognition for his role on the sitcom Family Matters and later won Season 19 of Dancing with the Stars himself, brought both performance expertise and hosting experience to the position. Hough, a professional dancer who competed on the show before transitioning to a judging and hosting role, provided insight drawn from her extensive ballroom background.

Their chemistry and familiarity with the competition’s nuances helped maintain the show’s momentum throughout the season, particularly during elimination announcements and performance introductions.

Judges Panel

The judging panel consisted of three established figures, each bringing distinct perspectives shaped by their backgrounds in dance, performance, and entertainment.

• Carrie Ann Inaba – A dancer, actress, and television personality who has served as a judge since the show’s inception. Her assessments often emphasize emotional connection and stage presence alongside technical execution.
• Derek Hough – Julianne Hough’s brother and a six-time winner of the Mirrorball Trophy himself, Derek Hough offered technical expertise honed through years of competition and subsequent choreography work. He joined the judging panel in Season 26 as a temporary judge and became a permanent fixture later.
• Bruno Tonioli – Known for his energetic commentary and dramatic scoring style, Tonioli drew from his background as a choreographer and judge on Britain’s Got Talent and other international programs. His enthusiasm became a hallmark of the judging experience.

Together, the judges evaluated each performance using a 30-point scale, with individual scores from each panelist combining to determine the cumulative judge score. Their feedback, delivered through weekly critiques, helped audiences understand the strengths and weaknesses of each couple’s efforts.

How to Watch Dancing with the Stars

Accessing Dancing with the Stars has become increasingly flexible, with multiple viewing options accommodating different audience preferences and subscription situations.

Live TV and Streaming Options

For viewers with traditional cable or satellite subscriptions, ABC remains the primary broadcast network. Episodes air live at 8 p.m. ET on Tuesdays, allowing real-time viewing and participation in voting.

Disney+ offers live streaming of new episodes for subscribers, making it the primary option for cord-cutters seeking real-time access. This platform proved particularly valuable for viewers without traditional television subscriptions who still wanted to follow the competition as it unfolded.

Hulu provides next-day streaming, suitable for those comfortable watching episodes after their initial broadcast. Both Disney+ and Hulu are owned by The Walt Disney Company, which also holds ownership of ABC, explaining the interconnected distribution strategy.

Past seasons remain available on these streaming platforms, enabling newcomers to explore previous competitions and familiarize themselves with the show’s history. The official ABC website also offers clips and supplementary content, though full episodes typically require authentication through a cable provider.

Complete List of Dancing with the Stars Winners

Dancing with the Stars has crowned 33 champions since its 2005 premiere. While comprehensive records for all seasons are available through dedicated fan databases and entertainment archives, Season 33 added Joey Graziadei and Jenna Johnson to the roster of victors.

Winners by Season

The complete historical record includes a diverse array of celebrity winners, ranging from professional athletes to reality television personalities to established actors. Val Chmerkovskiy, who competed in Season 33 alongside Phaedra Parks, previously won the competition three times before this appearance.

For those seeking a comprehensive chronology of all 33 winners, dedicated fan sites and entertainment databases maintain detailed records. The Wikipedia entry for Dancing with the Stars includes a continuously updated table documenting each season’s champion, runner-up, and third-place finishers.

Key Dates: Dancing with the Stars Season 33

The competition unfolded across a defined period, with each milestone marking progression through the elimination structure.

1. September 17, 2024 – Season 33 premiere, 13 couples perform opening routines
2. Week 2 – Double elimination removes Anna Delvey and Tori Spelling from competition
3. Week 3 – Second double elimination exits Eric Roberts and Reginald VelJohnson
4. Week 4 – Brooks Nader eliminated, competition narrows to final pairs
5. Week 5 – Phaedra Parks becomes final pre-finale elimination
6. Finale – Joey Graziadei and Jenna Johnson crowned Season 33 champions

What We Know and What Remains Unclear

The available information establishes several facts with confidence, while certain details remain less definitive or undisclosed.

This distinction between confirmed and speculative information helps maintain accuracy when discussing the season’s progression and outcomes.

Cultural Impact and Audience Reception

Dancing with the Stars occupies a unique position in American reality television, maintaining relevance across nearly two decades of broadcast. The show’s longevity reflects its ability to adapt while preserving core elements that initially attracted viewers.

Season 33 continued traditions established by predecessors, including the integration of contestants from diverse entertainment backgrounds. The presence of Olympic athletes Ilona Maher and Stephen Nedoroscik, alongside Bachelor franchise alumni Joey Graziadei and Jenn Tran, demonstrated the show’s ongoing appeal to viewers who follow reality programming and sports coverage. To learn more about the competition’s format and history, explore our comprehensive guide to what Dancing with the Stars is.

The partnership format—requiring genuine collaboration between celebrity and professional dancer—creates narrative threads that extend beyond individual performances. Audiences invest in these relationships, following the ups and downs of preparation and competition throughout each season.

Sources and Official Statements

Coverage of Dancing with the Stars Season 33 drew from multiple official and journalistic sources.

The official ABC press materials confirmed casting announcements, broadcast schedules, and elimination outcomes throughout the season.

Local ABC affiliates and entertainment news outlets provided comprehensive coverage of the premiere, cast announcement, and final results.

Fan-maintained resources such as the Dancing with the Stars Wiki documented detailed casting information, elimination sequences, and professional dancer histories.

Summary: Dancing with the Stars Season 33

Dancing with the Stars Season 33 delivered another cycle of celebrity dance competition, concluding with Joey Graziadei and Jenna Johnson claiming victory after weeks of performances and eliminations. The season featured 13 celebrity-professional pairs representing entertainment, sports, and reality television backgrounds. Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough hosted, while Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough, and Bruno Tonioli provided judging commentary. Episodes aired Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC, with live streaming available on Disney+ and next-day access through Hulu. For those interested in related entertainment coverage, check out our guide to how to watch Dancing with the Stars and explore other viewing options. Additional information about the cast, including the celebrities and their professional partners, is available through official sources.

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