‘Dancing with the Stars’ set to lose showrunner Rob Wade, as he joins Fox in new role
While it may not be getting a ton of attention so far today, there is some big news when it comes to the future of “Dancing with the Stars“: Rob Wade, the most-recent showrunner for the past few seasons (replacing Conrad Green), is going to be moving forward over to a new gig over at Fox.
The network announced today that Wade has been named the President of Alternative Entertainment and Specials, which puts him in charge of the development of any future unscripted / reality hits there. On a macro level, that’s incredibly important given that this is a network that hasn’t had a runaway hit in the space since “MasterChef” first did their spin-off for kids. Even that doesn’t hold a candle to the commercial success of shows like “The Bachelor” (ABC), “The Voice” (NBC), or “Survivor” (CBS). This is a network that hasn’t had a runaway success since “American Idol” was back at its peak.
In a statement, Wade had the following to say about his new job:
“FOX has always been a pioneer in unscripted television, delivering its boldest and most innovative hits … I am thrilled to be given the chance to work with the best talent in the business and hope I can add to that legacy.”
While we’re sure that “Dancing with the Stars” is going to have someone waiting in the wings who is more than qualified to take on the new gig, at the same exact time these are big shoes to fill. Wade helped to remake “Dancing with the Stars” as a show suited for one night a week, and helped to ensure there was interesting casting. One of his biggest contributions in particular was opening up the competition more to places like The Grove, which allowed it to feel like a much larger hit and not just one limited to a particular area. It’s not exactly reasonable for him to be the reality head of one network while working for another, so let’s go ahead and say that he will be missed.
Be sure to share your thoughts right now regarding Wade’s departure, and if there are any other creative changes that you want to see the next “Dancing with the Stars” showrunner make. You can also head over here to see some of the first rumors regarding next season without further delay! (Photo: ABC.)