Sam Champion revealed that he will be taking on the Viennese waltz during Dancing With The Stars week 2. Sam made his debut with the rest of the DWTS season 31 cast on September 19. His announcement comes hot on the heels of his first live-show dance. Best known to national audiences as the meteorologist on Good Morning America, Sam danced to "Hold Me Closer" during week 1's party song theme.
Despite being a veteran of live TV, Sam has openly admitted to having less dance experience than many current and former DWTS cast members. His first attempt of DWTS season 31 was good enough to land him in a tie for 12th on the leaderboard during week 1, alongside country star Jessie James Decker and The Real Housewives of New Jersey's controversial cast member Teresa Giudice.
In a video report on his longtime broadcast home WABC-TV, Sam thanked fans for voting for him on DWTS and revealed his next dance. Standing in the parking lot of the DWTS studio in front of a large bejeweled swan-shaped vehicle that he called "his rental for the week," Sam stated that he has been informed of both his upcoming dance style and next week's theme. "I'm being told it's a Viennese waltz and it is Elvis week," stated Sam. Only one other competing pair, Selma Blair and Sasha Farber, has so far attempted a waltz.
Sam's week-one Foxtrot to "Hold Me Closer" landed him in the lower half of the DWTS season 31 contestants, and Sam credited the fans for "keep[ing him] in the game." Following this first song-and-style selection, Sam expressed trepidation as to how the combination of Elvis' rock 'n roll sound and the classical waltz style will merge. "So how we're going to put all those things together, I have no idea," Sam said during his "Sam Cam" broadcast video. Of his fans, Sam went on to say, "It wasn't my fancy feet, it wasn't my fantastic footwork, it was you guys" that allowed him to see another week of competition. Sam will face DWTS week 2 and attempt to improve his standing with "the Viennese waltz...whatever that is."
As both a national morning show personality and a staple of the New York television market for over three decades, Sam has more than enough experience in front of the camera to sell even a middling performance. His first dance of DWTS season 31 earned middling critiques from the judges and a score of fives across the board. However, a new and more focused theme could shake up the leaderboard and provide new life for Sam. If he delivers a successful waltz, his trademark catchphrase, "Let's get to the boards," could refer to the dance floor for some time to come.
Dancing With The Stars season 31 streams Mondays at 8 p.m. EDT on Disney+.
Source: WABC-TV