Guillermo is trading the parking lot for the ballroom. Jimmy Kimmel Live! sidekick Guillermo Rodriguez has officially joined the celebrity cast of Dancing with the Stars Season 35, with the announcement made in delightfully theatrical fashion on Wednesday night’s episode of the late-night show.
The Announcement
Kimmel teased early in the show that he would be revealing one of the new DWTS contestants, and when the moment came, a curtain rose to reveal Rodriguez himself in a flashy blue outfit. “This September, Guillermo will become the first ever parking lot security guard to dance with the stars,” Kimmel joked, before adding, “Don’t lose a single adorable pound, okay? Do you promise?” Rodriguez, ever the good sport, replied: “I promise. If I lose five pounds, I’m gonna gain 10 pounds right away.”
From Security Guard to Star
Rodriguez’s story is one of late night’s great fairy tales. Discovered while working as a security guard in the parking lot of the show’s Hollywood studio, he has spent more than 23 years becoming one of the most beloved personalities on television, appearing nightly alongside Kimmel and starring in iconic segments from the Oscars red carpet to cross-country road trips and NBA Finals appearances. A U.S. citizen since 2005, Guillermo has long been the heart of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, and now he gets his shot at the Mirrorball Trophy.
The Season 35 Cast So Far
Rodriguez joins previously announced contestants Maura Higgins of The Traitors and Love Island fame, Summer House star Ciara Miller, and Savannah Bananas standout Jackson Olson. According to Deadline, the full celebrity cast and their professional dance partners will be revealed September 2 on Good Morning America.
Season 35 arrives this fall airing live on ABC and Disney+, with episodes streaming next day on Hulu. The show is riding serious momentum: Season 34, won by Robert Irwin, delivered the franchise’s biggest finale audience in a decade and finished as the No. 1 entertainment series among adults 18-49 for the second straight year.
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