Dancing with the Stars Spin Offs
Most shows that are successful, eventually wind up with a few spin offs or shows that try to copy the show itself with just a few changes and Dancing with the Stars isn't any different. While most of the spin offs have not fared well, every season brings a new idea and thought for a spin-off of this popular show.
The first spin off actually involved two of the judges from the actual show. Bruno Tonioli and Carrie Ann Inaba set off to make a spin off. Basically, each of these people would take a group of dancers who had auditioned from around the country and try to make them a star. Drew Lackey hosted the show, and they started with 14 contestants, it was soon slimmed down to 12. They were then divided into two teams, and each was to work with one of the judges. The show never managed a fan base, and more people watched the first show, then the season finale.
Several other spin offs were attempted with Dancing with the Stars, but they were actually spin offs from the show in London, Strictly Come Dancing, the British version, and most of them have also failed. But don't be surprised if you see more British versions of Dancing with the Stars spinning off and trying for a popularity vote. Many spin offs of other popular shows have worked just fine, so don't be shocked if the format is finally put together to make a spin off of this show just as popular.
The show with the two judges actually goes on tour every year, and although they are not great hosts, they've been active enough to keep their show going on.
Originally, Dances with Stars took its format from a British show by the name of Dance X. This particular show is very popular in the United Kingdom, but just doesn't have quite the fan base of Dancing with the Stars. The show was never marketed heavily, and they only had auditions for contestants in three different locations, and this seemed to be the reason for its lack of popularity. The contestants themselves and the area they live in has a big pull for the popularity vote.
The eventual ending of the different spin offs of Dancing with the Stars, allows room for completely new approaches to the show to actually grab audience interest. This show is extremely flexible, and has a large amount of format freedom so don't be surprised if you see more spin offs. Viewer loyalty has allowed Dancing with the Stars to remain at the forefront of many TV and cable guides. Whether a spin off will garner the same loyalty is yet to be seen, but there's no doubt, the Dancing with the Stars is here to stay.
