Mirrorball Mania
November 18, 2024
Writer: Brooke Edelman
Editor: Lexie Meltzer
Tuesdays: last weekend feels like ages ago, and next weekend is a mile away. The high of the weekend subsides, while excitement for the next begins to brew. But, it’s Tuesday–which means one thing: Dancing with the Stars!
8pm on Tuesday is a sacred time in my house. Simmering down from our weekly taco Tuesday, baked goods are in the oven, pajamas are on, and everyone has reserved the rest of their night to text their votes to 21523.
My friends and I are no ballroom dancers, but a fly on the wall may think differently. Watching the couples’ packages before they go on the floor piques our excitement about what we saw on TikTok or Instagram that week about the couple’s lives. We watch in awe as the dancers take the stage, clapping with joy for a dance that may have even brought us to tears, critiquing if one’s arms aren’t straight enough, or if this was their last dance and it’s finally their time to go home. We disagree with the judges who didn’t give a ten to the perfect dance, and make our own leaderboard on the whiteboard in our living room. We’ve had our predictions locked in since the premiere, and watch slowly as some of our favorite couples head home.
Dancing with the Stars took my friends' hearts last year, ultimately igniting our obsession. But, it’s taken the nation by storm as well. I can’t find myself scrolling through any app without commentary about the latest show: Derek was too harsh, Illona didn’t deserve that low of a score, and we need an entirely separate show for seniors so we can give our favorites like Reggie VelJohnson a true chance. You can guarantee that the TikTok Brooks and Gleb just made was already sent in my chat, and we are always aware of the latest show drama.
I’ve watched as fans unite all over social media, rooting for their favorite couples, sharing their opinions, and investing in the show week after week. While it’s brought fans across the country together, it’s also united my friends–it is the perfect prize to look forward to after what seems like an endless lecture or a day spent studying.
We’ve hosted watch parties, bake-offs, introduced friends to the show for the first time, and reenacted the trending dance moves from the week. Most notably, we have consistently shown up for each other every single week. Tuesdays have been designated for digging into homemade pumpkin bread or the take-home Blank Slate bought timely before the show’s kick-off, jaw droppings at an incredible dance, and squeezing each other’s hand when they announce the bottom two.
Since 2005, this show has provided its viewers with 33 seasons of competition, drama, and entertainment, and 33 stars took home the Mirrorball Trophy. Since 2023, it’s given us 2 seasons full of memories. Tuesdays are meant for the mania behind the Mirrorball Trophy–the laughs, the screams, the cries, the competitiveness in the ballroom, and the chaos from our couch.
