2024-09-17 21:15:03
When “Dancing with the Stars” premieres tonight, a few familiar New England faces will set out on their quest for the mirrorball trophy.
Ilona Maher, an Olympic rugby player from Vermont, Stephen Nedoroscik, an Olympic gymnast from Massachusetts and Danny Amendola, a former New England Patriots player, will all be gracing the dance floor tonight on the competition show’s newest season.
“Bachelorette” star Jenn Tran, who lived in Boston, is also competing on the show.
The stars are paired with professional ballroom dancers and will learn new dances each week to advance. The celebrity with the lowest score is eliminated.
Here’s how you can watch tonight’s episode.
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.
How to watch ‘Dancing with the Stars’ tonight
“Dancing with the Stars” kicks off tonight with a two hour premiere beginning at 8 p.m. EST.
The show is available to watch live on ABC and Disney+. It will also be available for next day streaming on Hulu.
Who is Ilona Maher?
Ilona Maher, an Olympian from New England, is competing on this season of “Dancing with the Stars.”
Maher is from Burlington, Vermont, and a graduate of Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Connecticut, where she played rugby and studied nursing.
The 28-year-old is a professional rugby sevens player, and this summer she won a bronze medal at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
She is known for her social media presence, where she has gone viral for promoting body positivity and empowerment.
Maher said in an interview with USA Today earlier this month that “DWTS” is a “cool rite of passage.”
“So many of my Olympic idols, from Simone Biles to Suni Lee, did ‘Dancing.’ And it’s a new skill that gets me out of my comfort zone,” Maher said.
Who is Stephen Nedoroscik?
Stephen Nedoroscik is an Olympic gymnast from Worcester, Massachusetts, who is competing on this season of “Dancing with the Stars.”
Nedoroscik won two bronze medals at the 2024 Olympics in Paris, including one in the team all-around event and one in his speciality, pommel horse.
The 25-year-old went viral online for his performance at the Olympics.
The gymnast also has two eye conditions, strabismus and coloboma, that impair his vision, causing him to wear glasses.
As for the glasses on “DWTS,” Nedoroscik said he is looking forward to getting creative.
“Maybe we can do a gadget (to) keep them on,” Nedoroscik said on “Good Morning America” in August. “Maybe a new pair of glasses, match the theme.”
Who is Danny Amendola?
Danny Amendola is a retired NFL wide receiver who played for the New England Patriots for five seasons. He won two Super Bowls with the team.
After his time in New England, he played for the Miami Dolphins, Detroit Lions and Houston Texans before announcing his retirement in 2022.
Since retiring from the NFL, the 38-year-old was a coaching assistant for the Las Vegas Raiders for one season. He also appeared on the military training show “Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test” in 2023.
He is originally from The Woodlands, Texas.
