Tyra Banks has faced widespread criticism since taking over hosting "Dancing With The Stars" from Tom Bergeron and Erin Andrews and now a judge from the show is weighing in on the matter. Speaking amid reports that the dance competition's ratings were tanking, Derek Hough told Fox News that Banks was doing a good job filling Bergeron's shoes.
"I think she's doing great," he said. "I think that one, you can't really compare the two. I think they're so different. You know what I mean? It's completely different approaches and different styles. And I think she's doing a great job. I think coming into a show that's been on for 29 seasons, that's a huge undertaking."
Last week it emerged that ratings for "DWTS" had plummeted since Banks joined as host. Things got off to a good start when over 8.1 million households tuned in for the Season 29 premiere on Sept.14, but within a week, ratings dropped to 6.8 million and have been declining ever since. Fans have blamed Banks for the low ratings, but Hough defended the supermodel.
"There's a lot of expectation there. But I think she's doing a wonderful job," he said. "And the live aspect and the fun and the flow and the energy, there's so much to the show and there are so many moving parts. I applaud her, and I think she's doing a great job."
Hough added that he was proud of what "DWTS" has achieved over the years.
"And I have to say, too, that the show itself, you can frame it differently, you can decorate it differently with different things, but the heart of the show will always remain, which is the journey of the celebrity and the pro together and how they sort of tackle this challenge of ballroom and Latin dancing," he explained. "It's pretty wild, but it's been a ride so far."
Zoe Papadakis ✉
Zoe Papadakis is a Newsmax writer based in South Africa with two decades of experience specializing in media and entertainment. She has been in the news industry as a reporter, writer and editor for newspapers, magazine and websites.
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