Season fourteen of Dancing With The Stars began on Monday evening (Monday 19, 2012), though show bosses will already be a little worried after the ratings were announced. The show opener - usually a big draw for ABC - attracted 18.5 million viewers, 4 million less than the Spring 2011 instalment, reports E! Online.
The ratings may have something to do with the underwhelming cast, with fans angry at the lack of A-list talent on show this year. Whereas previous seasons have boasted Kim Kardashian, floyd mayweather Jr and Kirstie Alley, this year's show includes Welsh opera singer Katherine Jenkins and the model WILLIAM LEVY. Dancing with the Stars producer Deena Katz appealed for fans to give the cast a chance, saying, "Everyone just needs to take a beat.It doesn't have to be the biggest name. It's who you fall in love with on the show". It's true that last year's winner J.R Martinez came from relative obscurity to win the show, while big-name favourites were eliminated week by week.
The ratings drop for Dancing with the Stars is no real surprise though, given that the format is becoming dated, especially when going up against fresher shows such as NBC's The Voice.