![](\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/authoring\/authoring-images\/2026\/06\/08\/USAT\/90451948007-20260607-ent-tonyawards-mark-ballas-jean-ballas-00-00-37-23-still-001.jpg?crop=1079,607,x0,y384\"\/)
<\/p>\n![\"play\"](\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/appservices\/universal-web\/universal\/icons\/icon-play-alt-white.svg\"){kind=icon}
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n‘DWTS’ spin-off judges are Mark Ballas and his mom<\/p>\n
Mark Ballas and BC Jean joke about Mark and his mom, Shirley Ballas, judging together on the new spin-off “Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
A familiar face from “Jimmy Kimmel Live!<\/a>” is the latest celebrity to join the cast of “Dancing with the Stars<\/a>” Season 35.<\/p>\n Jimmy Kimmel<\/a>‘s beloved sidekick Guillermo Rodriguez<\/a>, 55, will make his way from the late-night stage to the dance floor in the upcoming fall s<\/span>eason, ABC revealed on June 17.<\/p>\n Kimmel announced Rodriguez on the talk show, and Rodriguez dashed onto the stage in salsa attire, confirming he is ready for the challenge.<\/p>\n “This is going to be so great. Don’t lose a single adorable pound. Okay, do you promise?” Kimmel jokingly told Guillermo.<\/p>\n “I promise if I lose five pounds I’m going to gain ten pounds,” Guillermo replied, before Kimmel wished him luck.<\/p>\n Rodriguez, better known by his first name, joined Kimmel’s talk show in 2003 and has remained a staple since. He initially worked as a security guard in the show’s parking lot and is now featured every night alongside Kimmel, serving as a correspondent on the Oscars red carpet and regularly participating in other comedy bits.<\/p>\n The Mexican native, who became a United States citizen in 2005, launched his own hot sauce brand Guillermo\u2019s Salsa in January.<\/p>\n The dancing competition series concluded Season 34 in November, with wildlife\u00a0conservationist\u00a0Robert Irwin\u00a0and pro partner Witney Carson<\/a>\u00a0taking home the Mirrorball trophy. Irwin is now set to host the franchise’s new spinoff, “Dancing with the Stars<\/a>: The Next Pro,” premiering July 13.<\/p>\n The talk show personality and comedian is the latest addition to the upcoming season, joining “Summer House<\/a>” star\u00a0Ciara Miller<\/a>\u00a0and “Love Island” favorite\u00a0Maura Higgins<\/a> \u2013 both of whom also appeared on “The Traitors<\/a>” \u2013 as well as Savannah Bananas<\/a>‘ Jackson Olson.<\/p>\n The full cast, including the pros, will be announced Sept. 2 on “Good Morning America.”<\/p>\n Olson’s casting was recently confirmed at the May 12 Disney Upfronts, sparking excitement among fans. Following the news, his girlfriend Maggie Sajak<\/a>, the daughter of former “Wheel of Fortune<\/a>” host\u00a0Pat Sajak<\/a>, wrote on her\u00a0Instagram Story<\/a>\u00a0that she is “beyond proud” of the exhibition baseball team’s second baseman.<\/p>\n “The dance floor better get ready,” she added.<\/p>\n Higgins and Miller also received positive reactions when they became the\u00a0first two cast members announced\u00a0for Hulu’s “Get Real House” on April 12. Higgins, who attended the event in person, revealed that she had “DWTS” on her vision board, noting, “I manifested it real hard.”<\/p>\n \u201cIt’s the one show I really want to do. This is the last show I want to do as a contestant,” she explained, adding that she \u201cturned down anything that would jeopardize \u2018Dancing with the Stars\u2019 in America,\u201d including the Irish version of \u201cDWTS\u201d and the UK\u2019s \u201cStrictly Come Dancing.\u201d<\/p>\nGuillermo joins three other confirmed celebrities for new season<\/h2>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/authoring\/authoring-images\/2026\/04\/23\/USAT\/89746171007-181908-fm-2-5978.jpg?crop=2999,1687,x0,y156\"\/)
<\/p>\n