Just how will reality and talent competition series look in the face of COVID-10?  Well, on Wednesday ABC Entertainment President, Karey Burke commented on plans for Clare Crawley’s season of The Bachelorette and the upcoming season of Dancing with the Stars.

Of note: The Bachelorette will be produced in quarantine with the cast and crew not allowed to come in and out of the production while the show is filmed.

Burke shared with Deadline: “I have seen the plan, it is very thoughtful and is being vetted now at the studio level and guilds. I do believe that the show will be able to come together and go into production in July.”

As for the upcoming season of Dancing with the Stars, Burke was enthusiastic noting they have also presented changes to her and they have the advantage of also being in foreign territories were the shows airs their internaitonal versions:  “I have seen the presentation from the Dancing with the Stars producers on how we are planning to produce this show, post-COVID and with the health regulations in place because they have the advantage of making it in other territories and I am blown away by the ingenuity and the care which they are producing it, “We are bringing all of those innovations to the American broadcast. I’m really confident in their plan.”

Kaitlyn Bristowe, a former ‘Bachelorette” was announced as the first celebrity contestant for the new season of DWTS, when ever that makes it to air.

No airdates have been set for either show, but ABC unveiled its 2020-21 prime-time schedule with Season 29 of’ Dancing” airing on Mondays at 8/7c in its usual timeslot, while Season 16 of The Bachelorette will now air on Tuesday nights at 8/7c.

So, how do you think the new seasons of The Bachelorette and Dancing with the Stars will look with safety protocols in place and mandatory? Comment below.

It was the most emotional semi-finals in the history of ABC’s Dancing with the Stars.  Five couples were in the running and by the end of the two-hour broadcast on Monday night, one would be eliminated.

But no one expected it to go the way it did in a shocking and heartbreaking turn of events.  Considered by many the top frontrunner to take the Mirror Ball Trophy, former Dawson’s Creek star, James Van Der Beek, announced in tears during the broadcast that his wife, Kimberly who was pregnancy with their sixth child, miscarried over the weekend.

But things got even more painful from there.  In an attempt to make the finals next week each duo had to perform a “redemption dance” chosen by the judges as the worst dance from their season, followed by a new routine.

Van Der Beek and his pro partner, Emma Slater performed a Cha-Cha which did not go over well with the judges, causing them by the end of the night to be the lowest scoring couple on the leaderboard.  But it was before his second dance that Van Der Beek shared the news of his his wife’s miscarriage.  He then danced an emotional tango in her honor.

At the end of the episode after three couples were saved it, was between Ally Brooke and Sasha Farber being eliminated … or James and Emma  The judges had to make the horrific decision of who would stay and compete and who would be sent home.

Photo: ABC

Across the board the judges chose Ally and Sasha.  What followed was pure shock in the audience.  Then, Ally Brooke broke town in tears pleasing for the judges and the producers to give her spot to Van Der Beek in the finals

“Can I give it to James, please?” Brooke expressed through her tears.  Van Der Beek would not allow her to do that and the show went off the air with co-host Erin Andrews, judge Carrie Ann Inaba and the viewers in America, in sadness.

Van Der Beek took to his Twitter account to thank those who supported him and his family during their difficult time following the loss of their unborn child: “Wrecked. Devastated. In shock. That’s how we’re feeling right now after the soul we thought were going to welcome into our family has taken a short cut to whatever lies beyond this life. There are no words… thank you everyone for the love & support. It’s exactly what we need.”

So, what did you think of the turn of events that saw James Van Der Beek exit Dancing with the Stars on the heels of the news of his wife’s miscarriage? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.

In a shocker on Monday night’s Dancing with the Stars, former NFL all-star Ray Lewis and his pro partner, Cheryl Burke, were no longer competing for the Mirror Ball trophy

At the top of the show, host Tom Bergeron revealed that “an old injury flared up” for Lewis, which is why he wasn’t able to dance and appear in the opening number. Cue the taped video package: where it illustrated that Lewis tore three tendons in his foot and would need to undergo surgery.  Lewis revealed that he first tore a tendon in his foot in a football game in 2010, and never thought he’d have to ever deal with the medical issue again.

Prior to the show last night, both Burke and Lewis had posted cryptic messages on social media.  Lewis shared: “Don’t get me wrong — I understand the grind — the effort and commitment it takes is unparalleled,  But when you finally level up what else will be left? Did you cut off your friends and family or sacrifice your mental health. Make time for what matters. Take care of yourself. Mind, Body, and Spirit. #NoExcuses.”

Photo: ABC

While Burke shared an image of herself alone backstage expressing: “Deep thought courtesy of upcoming live show.”

Former DWTS champion Rashad Jennings stepped in last minute to dance a Cha Cha with Burke to the Beatles’ “Twist and Shout.”

Lewis then shared after the show: “Not the ending I had hoped or worked for but that mirror ball wasn’t in the plans for me. I can’t say thank you enough for the support and love. Injuries have never stopped me before and certainly not now. I’ll be back doing the squirrel dance soon enough.”

Burke hopes she can still be part of the season telling US: “ I’d actually love to be a mentor to these couples. We all need guidance.  We all need a third eye. What we did for Juniors in a way, I’d be there for anyone who wants help or anyone who wants someone to watch their dance and give an opinion. I’d also like to help out with the music department a little bit.”

So, what do you think about Lewis and Burke’s exit? Should Cheryl somehow be able to get back in the competition with a different celeb? Comment below.