“Take it From Me” is a TODAY series where experts use their wisdom to explain trends or make recommendations within their fields. In this edition, Derek Hough shares the impact social media has on “Dancing With the Stars.”
“Dancing With the Stars” has evolved over the 21 years it’s been on the air, but the addition of social media has taken it to another level.
Derek Hough, current Season 35 judge, tells TODAY.com that having an online community “has been a huge engine and why the show is so unbelievably popular again.”
“DWTS” has seen a rise in ratings week to week, especially after Dedication Night, which scored 7.36 million viewers, according to ABC. The episode was a season high and the show’s best non-finale episode in six years.
And then there’s the discourse on the social platforms that keep the show a trending topic. However, Hough says, being so popular on social media “comes at a cost.”
“It comes with the negativity, and that’s always been there,” the dancer says, first touching on the judges’ role to deliver constructive criticism.
“The judges (are in) an unpopular position out of the gate because you’re never going to make everybody happy,” he says. “You either overscore somebody or you underscore somebody.”
He understands that viewers will rarely say, “I agree with that.”
“We accept that. We understand that. That’s the judges’ role. We’re like the vinegar in the salad dressing,” he adds.
Hough, though, believes social media takes a toll when you’re the one competing.
“But with the pros and the celebrities, who are working so hard, they’re putting themselves out there. They’re already terrified and vulnerable,” he says, noting that the backlash they receive online “breaks my heart.”
He knows from personal experience. Before he was sitting at the judges table, Hough was a pro for 17 seasons. He’s won a record-breaking six Mirrorball trophies.
“I’ve been a part of the show, where the show has been such a beautiful and positive place,” he reflects. “And here’s the thing, there’s still discourse on the show and we might critique somebody and say something, whatever it is, but it’s within the context of the show.”
“But then it’s the outside stuff that can get a little noisy,” he says.
He believes the negativity impacts the celebrities more than the pros, who have the opportunity to compete multiple seasons.
“But for the celebrities, this is their one shot,” Hough, also a Mucinex Recharge brand ambassador, says. “And I always want them to have a great experience and a positive experience, even if we’re critiquing them, even if they’re not getting the scores they want.”
Hough isn’t the only one who has strong opinions about how social media has impacted “DWTS.” Current pro Brandon Armstrong previously told TODAY.com that the inclusion of Instagram and TikTok has done a “180 on my job.”
He said that while he originally got hired because of his dance, choreography and teaching skills, “Nowadays, it’s your social media presence” that is also a factor.
“Your ability to be on social media is 50% of the battle because if you can’t generate a fan base and generate votes, it really doesn’t matter how good of a dancer you are, because that’s only 50% of the equation,” he says.
There are no requirements, he said, on how much content the competing couples are expected to produce. Though, he believes it does help when you need the votes to stay another week.
“Ultimately, what it takes to win is you have to have the vote,” Armstrong said. “You have to have the backing of the people that watch the show.”
And for that, they turn to social media.
