Kimmel's Star Dances
Jimmy Kimmel Live! Sidekick Guillermo Rodriguez Officially Joins Dancing With the Stars Season 35
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The show’s production details: “Dancing With the Stars” Season 35 is produced in front of a live audience by BBC Studios.
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Rodriguez’s late-night origins were emphasized, including that he was “discovered in the parking lot” as an ABC lot security guard before becoming a longtime on-camera presence; his pranks/sketches “have gone viral,” including “cross-country road trips” and antics tied to the Oscars red carpet.
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The network framed Season 35 after strong performance from Season 34, reporting “the show’s best finale in 10 years,” along with “72 million votes for the finale” and “nearly half a billion votes overall.”
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ABC’s press-release rationale (via reporting) included a specific selection justification: Rodriguez’s “unique connection to pop culture and entertainment,” and he’s described as best known for “Guillermo’s Guide to Love” on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, where he has worked since 2012.
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Additional confirmation from TMZ: “production sources” said Rodriguez “has signed on to compete in Season 35” and will be “hitting the ballroom this fall.”
Guillermo Rodriguez, the beloved sidekick on *Jimmy Kimmel Live!*, has officially signed on to compete in *Dancing With the Stars* Season 35, TMZ confirmed on June 17, citing production sources. The announcement was made live on *Jimmy Kimmel Live!* that same night, with Rodriguez appearing in a colorful, ruffle-sleeved costume to mark the occasion.
Rodriguez joins a cast that already includes reality stars Maura Higgins and Ciara Miller, plus Savannah Bananas athlete Jackson Olson. The full celebrity and professional dancer pairings will be revealed on *Good Morning America* on September 2. Season 35 premieres in September on ABC and Disney+, with next-day streaming on Hulu.
From Parking Lot Security Guard to the Ballroom
Rodriguez's story is one of the more unlikely in late-night history. He was working as a security guard on the ABC lot when he was "discovered" and folded into *Jimmy Kimmel Live!*, where he has been a fixture for more than 23 years, according to TheWrap. He is best known for "Guillermo's Guide to Love" and viral red-carpet segments at the Oscars.
ABC framed his casting around his "unique connection to pop culture and entertainment," iHeart Radio reported. His pranks and sketches — including cross-country road trips and Hollywood red-carpet ambushes — have racked up millions of views online. He is listed as both a producer/director and on-air personality for the show.
Season 35 Builds on DWTS' Best Year in a Decade
ABC is betting big on Season 35 after a record-breaking Season 34. The finale drew 9.24 million total viewers across ABC and Disney+, according to The Futon Critic. Fans cast a staggering 72 million votes for the finale alone — more than double the prior year's 32 million — and nearly half a billion votes across the full season.
The show also posted a 2.15 rating among adults 18-49, its best in 10 years, and a 2.55 rating among adults 18-34, its best in 14 years, TheWrap reported. Social interactions during the finale hit 6.9 million — a 109% jump over the seasonal average, according to Variety Australia.
Rodriguez Follows Andy Richter's Loveable Underdog Playbook
The casting mirrors a deliberate strategy. In Season 34, Conan O'Brien's sidekick Andy Richter competed and became a fan favorite despite limited technical dance skill, nearly reaching the semifinals, according to Primetimer. Producers appear to be chasing that same "everyman" energy with Rodriguez.
The Season 35 cast also reflects a push for corporate synergy. Maura Higgins and Ciara Miller both starred on *The Traitors US*, a Hulu hit. Jackson Olson comes from the Savannah Bananas, whose "Banana Bowl" streams on Disney+ starting October 2026, TheWrap noted. Rodriguez ties the loop back to ABC's own late-night lineup.
What to Expect When Season 35 Kicks Off in September
Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough return as co-hosts. Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli, and Derek Hough stay on as judges. The show airs live on ABC and Disney+ simultaneously — its fourth season using that model — with episodes available next day on Hulu, according to iHeart Radio.
A new spin-off, *Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro*, hosted by Season 34 winner Robert Irwin, is set to premiere July 13. It will determine which new professional dancer joins the Season 35 roster, Primetimer reported. The full cast reveal on *Good Morning America* is set for September 2.
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