Anna Delvey Jokes the 'Government' Will Be Rooting for Her Ahead ofDWTSPremiere (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Theseason 33 cast ofDancing with the Starsis ready to give their all on the dance floor.In PEOPLE’s exclusive featurette ahead of the season premiere on Tuesday, Sept. 17, each member of the star-studded cast shares how they’re feeling ahead of their ballroom debut — andAnna Delveyweighs in onthe controversy around her participationthis season.Co-hostsAlfonso RibeiroandJulianne Houghkick off the featurette, as Ribeiro teases a “fantastic season” with “more incredible dancing [and] most importantly, incredible stories.“Hough agrees. “People don’t wanna see perfection. People wanna see a journey. The more vulnerable and authentic you can be, the more you’re gonna connect with the audience.“Pretty Little Liars: Summer SchoolstarChandler Kinneykicks off the contestants' line-up, as she practices some moves with her partnerBrandon Armstrongand says she’s “excited for the magical moments” to come on the dance floor.Eric Robertsis next up, and touts the show as “the biggest entertainment show that’s ever lived,” before admitting, “I am honored and I am flattered and I am scared to death.” He’s paired withBritt Stewart.Danny Amendola and Witney Carson on ‘Dancing with the Stars’.ABCFormer NFL wide receiverDanny Amendola, who is partnered with returning proWitney Carson, reveals how he reacted when he was invited to join this season: “Man, I gotta learn how to dance. Quick.“Amendola, 38, and Carson, 30, are also working on a handshake for the season — but fingers crossed their ballroom chops are better than their handshake recall.SupermodelBrooks Naderis looking forward to fans “getting to know” her better this season, as she teases that the audience will “get to see how crazy and wild and spicy and insane I am — in a good way, I hope.“She and her partnerGleb Savchenkohave also got their eyes on the prize. “I did hear that a model has never wonDancing with the Stars, so I’d love to change that,” Nader, 27, says.Brooks Nader and Gleb Savchenko on ‘Dancing with the Stars’.ABCJoey Graziadeiis feeling the heat, too, as he acknowledges that hisBachelorfranchise predecessors — likeCharity Lawson— “have not only done well, but they have won.” So, he’s working on trying not to “suck at dancing.“He’s also not sure how many people are gonna be cheering for him and his partnerJenna Johnson, but he knowshis fiancé Kelsey Andersonwill certainly be leading the charge of his fan club.Tori Spelling, who is partnered withPasha Pashkov, is taking a different approach to the competition. “I know I’m not gonna be the best dancer. I’m thinking, if they go for the story, they go for the song, they go for the sets and the wardrobe and the hair and all of that that we create — they won’t look at my feet. That’s my strategy.“Tori Spelling in PEOPLE’s exclusive ‘Dancing with the Stars’ season 33 featurette.ABCJenn Tran, meanwhile, is looking to shock audiences withSasha Farber— as she has been doing over the last month since her time onThe Bachelorettecame to an end.“My dancing this season is going to be as jaw-dropping asmy finale onThe Bachelorette,” she teases. “I’m really just gonna put it all out there.“Olympian Stephen Nedoroscik, who is paired withRylee Arnold, knows what the audience wants — and he’s gonna give it to them.“My pre-performance ritual is to tilt my head back and do my breathing exercises, close my eyes and calm down. I’ll definitely be doing that before every show,” he says, beforepracticing the ritual that made him go viral at the Olympics. “And then as I close my eyes, I’m also visualizing the entire performance.“Olympian Stephen Nedoroscik on ‘Dancing with the Stars’.ABCDancing with the Starsso far has been eye-opening for fellow OlympianIlona Maher, who says there’s “a lot more sparkles in preparing forDWTSthan there is for the Olympics, but that’s okay,” whileReginald VelJohnsonwants the audience to know he’s not here to mess around.VelJohnson, who is paired withEmma Slater, says he wants people watching to think, “‘He can still do it. Oh wow, look at him, he can still do it.’ Show these youngsters who can move.“Phaedra Parksis also not there to make friends. “Don’t let the sweet, Bratz doll face fool you,“Val Chmerkovskiy’s partner says. “I came to get the ball — the Mirror Ball. So it is mine.“Anna Delvey in PEOPLE’s exclusive ‘Dancing with the Stars’ featurette.ABCDwight Howard, though, is ready to have some fun, as he delivers a hilarious address right to the camera before declaring that he andDaniella Karagach, nicknamed “double D,” are “coming for you.“Delvey, 33, closes out the featurette as she lists off who she’s hoping will be rooting for her and partnerEzra Sosa, including “all my friends,Kelly Cutrone,my fashion production team, and hopefully everybody else.“Plus, she’s hoping “the government” will be cheering for her in the end, too.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Dancing with the Starsseason 33 premieres Tuesday, Sept. 17 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

Theseason 33 cast ofDancing with the Starsis ready to give their all on the dance floor.

In PEOPLE’s exclusive featurette ahead of the season premiere on Tuesday, Sept. 17, each member of the star-studded cast shares how they’re feeling ahead of their ballroom debut — andAnna Delveyweighs in onthe controversy around her participationthis season.

Co-hostsAlfonso RibeiroandJulianne Houghkick off the featurette, as Ribeiro teases a “fantastic season” with “more incredible dancing [and] most importantly, incredible stories.”

Hough agrees. “People don’t wanna see perfection. People wanna see a journey. The more vulnerable and authentic you can be, the more you’re gonna connect with the audience.”

Pretty Little Liars: Summer SchoolstarChandler Kinneykicks off the contestants' line-up, as she practices some moves with her partnerBrandon Armstrongand says she’s “excited for the magical moments” to come on the dance floor.

Eric Robertsis next up, and touts the show as “the biggest entertainment show that’s ever lived,” before admitting, “I am honored and I am flattered and I am scared to death.” He’s paired withBritt Stewart.

Danny Amendola and Witney Carson on ‘Dancing with the Stars’.ABC

ABC

Former NFL wide receiverDanny Amendola, who is partnered with returning proWitney Carson, reveals how he reacted when he was invited to join this season: “Man, I gotta learn how to dance. Quick.”

Amendola, 38, and Carson, 30, are also working on a handshake for the season — but fingers crossed their ballroom chops are better than their handshake recall.

SupermodelBrooks Naderis looking forward to fans “getting to know” her better this season, as she teases that the audience will “get to see how crazy and wild and spicy and insane I am — in a good way, I hope.”

She and her partnerGleb Savchenkohave also got their eyes on the prize. “I did hear that a model has never wonDancing with the Stars, so I’d love to change that,” Nader, 27, says.

Brooks Nader and Gleb Savchenko on ‘Dancing with the Stars’.ABC

Joey Graziadeiis feeling the heat, too, as he acknowledges that hisBachelorfranchise predecessors — likeCharity Lawson— “have not only done well, but they have won.” So, he’s working on trying not to “suck at dancing.”

He’s also not sure how many people are gonna be cheering for him and his partnerJenna Johnson, but he knowshis fiancé Kelsey Andersonwill certainly be leading the charge of his fan club.

Tori Spelling, who is partnered withPasha Pashkov, is taking a different approach to the competition. “I know I’m not gonna be the best dancer. I’m thinking, if they go for the story, they go for the song, they go for the sets and the wardrobe and the hair and all of that that we create — they won’t look at my feet. That’s my strategy.”

Tori Spelling in PEOPLE’s exclusive ‘Dancing with the Stars’ season 33 featurette.ABC

Jenn Tran, meanwhile, is looking to shock audiences withSasha Farber— as she has been doing over the last month since her time onThe Bachelorettecame to an end.

“My dancing this season is going to be as jaw-dropping asmy finale onThe Bachelorette,” she teases. “I’m really just gonna put it all out there.”

Olympian Stephen Nedoroscik, who is paired withRylee Arnold, knows what the audience wants — and he’s gonna give it to them.

“My pre-performance ritual is to tilt my head back and do my breathing exercises, close my eyes and calm down. I’ll definitely be doing that before every show,” he says, beforepracticing the ritual that made him go viral at the Olympics. “And then as I close my eyes, I’m also visualizing the entire performance.”

Olympian Stephen Nedoroscik on ‘Dancing with the Stars’.ABC

Dancing with the Starsso far has been eye-opening for fellow OlympianIlona Maher, who says there’s “a lot more sparkles in preparing forDWTSthan there is for the Olympics, but that’s okay,” whileReginald VelJohnsonwants the audience to know he’s not here to mess around.

VelJohnson, who is paired withEmma Slater, says he wants people watching to think, “‘He can still do it. Oh wow, look at him, he can still do it.’ Show these youngsters who can move.”

Phaedra Parksis also not there to make friends. “Don’t let the sweet, Bratz doll face fool you,“Val Chmerkovskiy’s partner says. “I came to get the ball — the Mirror Ball. So it is mine.”

Anna Delvey in PEOPLE’s exclusive ‘Dancing with the Stars’ featurette.ABC

Dwight Howard, though, is ready to have some fun, as he delivers a hilarious address right to the camera before declaring that he andDaniella Karagach, nicknamed “double D,” are “coming for you.”

Delvey, 33, closes out the featurette as she lists off who she’s hoping will be rooting for her and partnerEzra Sosa, including “all my friends,Kelly Cutrone,my fashion production team, and hopefully everybody else.”

Plus, she’s hoping “the government” will be cheering for her in the end, too.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Dancing with the Starsseason 33 premieres Tuesday, Sept. 17 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

source: people.com