Dancing With the Stars Adds Savannah Bananas Player Jackson Olson to Season 35 Cast

Savannah Bananas second baseman and internet personality Jackson Olson has been added to the celebrity lineup for Season 35 of Dancing With the Stars, TheWrap reported Tuesday.

The Details

Olson is the third celebrity contestant announced for the upcoming season, following Ciara Miller and Maura Higgins, who were unveiled at Hulu's Get Real event in Los Angeles. TheWrap, citing its own reporting, said Olson's casting brings a sports-and-social-media crossover to the ballroom competition series.

The full cast of celebrities and their professional dance partners will be announced on Good Morning America on Sept. 2, according to TheWrap.

TheWrap reported that Dancing With the Stars will simulcast live this fall across ABC and Disney+, with next-day streaming available on Hulu on Tuesdays at 8 p.m.

Olson's casting is linked to a broader partnership between Disney and the Savannah Bananas. TheWrap noted that Disney+ will stream the Banana Bowl and that a 25-game package will be distributed across Disney platforms.

Context

Dancing With the Stars remains a ratings force for ABC. TheWrap reported that Season 34 finished as the No. 1 entertainment series among adults 18-49 for the second consecutive year, citing Nielsen data.

Ari Goldman, ABC's senior vice president of content strategy and scheduling, told TheWrap that the show's production team has 'innovated immensely in the social media space, both from a casting perspective and a lot of the social and marketing tactics involved with the show.' Goldman added, 'I think you're going to see the same type of approach this season with the amazing work that's been done on TikTok and across social platforms.'

ABC's official Dancing With the Stars show page was active at the time of reporting, corroborating that the franchise is preparing its fall season return on the network. The Savannah Bananas official website also confirmed the organization Olson represents.

What's Next

The complete Season 35 cast announcement is scheduled for Sept. 2 on Good Morning America. The season will air live on ABC and Disney+ this fall, with streaming on Hulu the following day.