500 episodes of anything is a lot. But 500 episodes of people in increasingly ludicrous costumes attempting the tango? That’s a milestone worthy of some genuine fanfare. And apparently, viewers agreed. “Dancing With the Stars,” in its celebratory 500th episode, pirouetted its way to the top of Tuesday night’s ratings, leaving the competition in the dust.
The episode, which aired Tuesday, November 12, scored a 0.71 rating in the coveted Adults 18-49 demographic, easily winning the night for entertainment programming. More impressively, it drew a season-high 5.13 million viewers, a substantial 15% jump from the previous week. This wasn’t just a win; it was a full-blown ballroom blitz.
The victory was particularly sweet against its long-time rival, NBC’s “The Voice.” “Dancing With the Stars” trounced “The Voice” by a whopping 29% in total viewers, the largest margin in nine years. That’s not just winning the dance-off; that’s taking home the championship trophy, the mirror ball, and probably a few stray sequins for good measure.
This ratings surge propelled ABC to a network win for the night in the Adults 18-49 demo, clocking in with a 0.56 rating. It seems the combination of nostalgia, tribute performances, and the sheer spectacle of 500 episodes was enough to lure viewers away from other options and back to the ballroom.
While some might scoff at the staying power of a show like “Dancing With the Stars,” these numbers tell a different story. The show’s 500th episode wasn’t just a celebration of the past; it was a testament to its current appeal, proving that, even after all these years, it still has the moves to capture an audience.
“Dancing With the Stars” also dominated several other key demographics, including Women 18-34, Women 18-49, Teens 12-17, and Adults 25-54.
