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Andy Richter <\/strong>got real about his reasons for joining Dancing with the Stars. The comedian admitted he was looking for a payday when he joined the ABC celebrity ballroom competition alongside pro dancer Emma Slater.<\/strong><\/p>\n In his introductory package on the Season 34 premiere, Richter, 58, noted he\u2019s managed to be \u201cdance-avoidant\u201d throughout his career. \u201cThe time is up on that, I guess,\u201d Conan O\u2019Brien\u2019s<\/strong> longtime sidekick cracked.<\/p>\n He told Slater his biggest worry was his “legs holding up,\u201d but he added that he was \u201cnot afraid\u201d to look like an idiot on TV. “I don\u2019t think I\u2019m gonna be the best dancer here, but I know how important it is to sell it,\u201d Richter said. \u201cSo, I don\u2019t mind peacocking.\u201d<\/p>\n After dancing a Cha Cha with Slater, Richter received a score of 9 out of 20 from judges Bruno Tonioli <\/strong>and Derek Hough.<\/strong><\/p>\n In the skybox, host Julianne Hough<\/strong> asked him what made him \u201ctake the plunge\u201d to join Dancing With the Stars.<\/p>\n \u201cPaycheck,\u201d Richter admitted. \u201cBut also, I\u2019m the oldest one here and I knew would be good for me. And it has, and it\u2019s wonderful.\u201d<\/p>\n The DWTS paycheck is nothing to sneeze at. According to Variety<\/a>, the starting salary for DWTS celebrities is $125,000, and they get more pay the longer they compete on the show.<\/p>\n \ud83e\udea9<\/strong>SIGN UP for our Dancing with the Stars newsletter to get access to exclusive news, interviews, songs, recaps & more<\/strong><\/a>\ud83e\udea9<\/strong><\/p>\n Ahead of his ballroom debut, Richter told The Wrap<\/a> it was just another job. \u201cIt\u2019s just a regular job\u2026 but not a regular job at all,\u201d the comedian said. \u201cI had all summer to be nervous about it, but also to start doing cardio again and stretching. But it\u2019s been great. … I\u2019ve got to get the steps down, \u2019cause then I can slice the ham real thick.\u201d<\/p>\n After performing his premiere night Cha Cha, Richter posted an Instagram Reel<\/a> to thank fans for their support\u2014and, hopefully, their votes. (While no one went home on Night 1, two contestants will be eliminated next week.)<\/p>\n \u201cI just want to thank you all for being so nice and for being so kind and so supportive after what Emma and I did tonight on the premiere of Dancing With the Stars,\u201d he said. \u201cYou guys have just been so kind and I really, really do appreciate it\u2026 and I hope to stick around in this thing for a while, and I hope to keep having fun doing it.<\/p>\n View the original article<\/a> to see embedded media.<\/strong><\/p>\n This story was originally reported by Parade<\/a> on Sep 17, 2025, where it first appeared in the News<\/a> section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.<\/a><\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n