Several Dancing with the Stars favorites are unlikely to return for season 24. Derek Hough has moved on to World of Dance and will be performing with his sister Julianne in a dancing tour. Maksim Chmerkovskiy and Peta Murgatroyd will likely be caring for their new baby boy and too busy to join a new season. There might be one returning face however. People.com reports that Tony Dovolani could be coming back to Dancing with the Stars

Why Carrie Ann Inaba Thinks Bruno Mars Is Perfect for Dancing with the Stars>>> Tony was a regular professional dancer on the show since season 2. Yet in season 23 he sat out the competition and it was unclear when, if ever, he would return. Tony talked about his exit when reunited with his DWTS season 7 partner, soap star Susan Lucci, in an interview with Hallmark’s Home & Family.


When asked why he left the show Tony answered, “It was time to take a little bit of a break. My sister actually went through breast cancer. She beat it. She went through a couple weeks of chemo and six weeks of radiation, so it was a long one. Unfortunately, my aunt was not so lucky. So I had a few misfortunes happen in our family. But we are at the other side of it, which I’m really happy.”

Given his family’s relative stability now Tony was asked if he would be interested in returning. “I miss Dancing, of course I love the show and of course I might do another season,” he teased. 

It is not a confirmation. But usually the second a DWTS professional says they might do another season, they are going to do a season. It would be very surprising, then, if Tony is not in the line-up for season 24. If not season 24, he should be back for season 25.

But what do you think? Would you like see Tony return to the show? Did you miss him during season 22? Is there a dancer you would like to see return more than Tony? Should Dancing with the Stars try to find new professionals rather than bring back old ones?


Dancing with the Stars season 24 will premiere Monday, March 20 at 8/7c on ABC. Want more news? Like our Facebook page!


(Image courtesy of ABC)

Derek Stauffer

Contributing Writer, BuddyTV

Derek is a Philadelphia based writer and unabashed TV and comic book junkie. The time he doesn’t spend over analyzing all things nerdy he is working on his resume to be the liaison to the Justice League.