Disney Adds Jackson Olson to DWTS Season 35, Streaming 25 Savannah Bananas Games

Q: By benching its #1 series, is ABC pioneering a new network strategy or risking the biggest fumble of the season?

ABC is making a calculated bet, not an obvious blunder. The key fact is that “High Potential” is not being shelved because it is weak; it is being held because it is strong. The series is ABC’s top performer, with about 13.24 million viewers and a 2.31 adults 18-49 rating, and it already proved it can break out in midseason. ABC’s argument is that a winter launch gives it cleaner, uninterrupted runs and bigger promotional lift from events such as the College Football Playoff, the Grammys and the Oscars. There is evidence this strategy can work. ABC says midseason launches helped “Will Trent” and “The Rookie,” both of which became reliable performers outside the crowded fall window. FOX is also using a similar play for 2026-27, holding several established animated hits for midseason to create a stronger second wave. That suggests ABC is not inventing the tactic, but it is leaning into a broader broadcast strategy more aggressively. The risk is real. Fall is where networks usually showcase their biggest brands, and taking the No. 1 show off the board could weaken ABC’s immediate momentum and confuse casual viewers. If promotion slips or the long wait cools audience enthusiasm, the move could backfire. Still, the available evidence favors ABC’s logic. With every scripted series renewed, a stable fall lineup, and a proven midseason track record, this looks less like a fumble than a deliberate attempt to dominate more of the broadcast calendar rather than just the fall.

3 articles · Updated · tvline.com · May 12

Jackson Olson, a Savannah Bananas second baseman and social media personality, will compete on "Dancing With the Stars" Season 35 this fall after Disney unveiled the move at its upfront presentation.
The casting is part of an expanded Disney-Savannah Bananas partnership that also gives Disney+ and the ESPN app exclusive streaming rights to 25 upcoming games.
Select Banana Ball matchups will also air on ESPN and ABC, and the Banana Bowl championship game is set to stream live on Disney+ in October.
Olson is the third Season 35 contestant announced after Maura Higgins and Ciara Miller, with the full cast due Sept. 2 on "Good Morning America."