Disney knows no bounds when it comes to promoting ABC and ESPN’s Super Bowl coverage this year. And that includes one of their longest-running entertainment franchises, Dancing with the Stars, welcoming the man who will call the game, Joe Buck.
But don’t think Buck will be putting on his dancing shoes; he won’t be joining the field of performers this season. Instead, ABC announced he’ll join the show as a guest judge alongside Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough, and Bruno Tonioli.
Buck will join the show for the competition’s Super Bowl night on October 13.
If you’re wondering how a dance show will pay homage to a football game, the contestants won’t be re-enacting famous plays or touchdown celebrations. That’s probably a good thing for Joe Buck, since we don’t want him suffering flashbacks from anyone trying to pay homage to Randy Moss. Instead, they’ll dance to songs from past Super Bowl halftime performances.
Incredibly, Dancing with the Stars is in its 35th season in primetime on ABC. The show has consistently had sports ties in the past, with Erin Andrews serving as a co-host for a number of years and various athletes regularly competing (and sometimes winning) on the show. That could happen again this year, as Olympic figure skating gold medalist Amber Glenn is one of the leading contenders.
Disney and ESPN are going all-out to promote the Super Bowl’s return to the company’s platforms. It was announced this week that the big game will stream on Disney+ for the first time. ESPN has a year-long campaign built around its first-time Super Bowl simulcast. And once the game finally arrives next February, there will be plenty of Disney tie-ins. Will that include reciprocating the favor by letting Bruno Tonioli be a guest commentator for a quarter of the Super Bowl? We’ll have to wait and see on that one.