Alfonso Ribeiro Promises 'DWTS' Season 32 Will Honor Len Goodman's Legacy: 'There Won't Be a Dry Eye'

Alfonso Ribeiro (left) and Len Goodman.Photo:ABC/Art Streiber; Eric McCandless/ABC via Getty

ABC/Art Streiber; Eric McCandless/ABC via Getty

Alfonso RibeiroassuresDancing with the Starsfans that the upcoming season will honor the late Head JudgeLen Goodmanfive months after hisdeath.

While speaking to PEOPLE after theseason 32 casting announcementlast week, the 51-year-old host revealed how he, new co-hostJulianne Hough, and the professional dancers plan to honor theballroom judge’s legacyin the first season since Goodman died of bone cancer at age 78.

“I can guarantee you thatevery one of those proswill be making sure that the routines are still designed for Len,” Riberio explained. “I know I’ve talked to a few of them and they will be putting in specific steps that Len used to love, just to make sure that the content is still there for Len.”

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Airalum also assured fans that the show is “looking at doing something” to honor Goodman further and “there won’t be a dry eye in the house” when that moment comes.

“It’ll be amazing. I mean, he was the best,” he added.

Alfonso Ribeiro and Tyra Banks hosting ‘Dancing with the Stars’.Andrew Eccles/abc

Goodman’s manager, Jackie Gills, confirmed the professional dancer and judge’s death on April 22.

Len Goodman on ‘Dancing with the Stars’.Eric McCandless via Getty Images

Shortly after the news of Goodman’s death,DWTSprosMaksim Chmerkovskiyand his brotherValrecalled their strong bondwith the head judge.

“Len Goodman had that type of authority in the dance world and he earned that authority,” Val toldEntertainment Tonight. “Not just on camera but behind the scenes for 50 years of being in competitive ballroom dancing, so we know Len from those days.”

“And then to have been introduced to Len on camera in front of millions of people, he felt like family,” he continued. “He felt like a granddad to us, our dance granddad and yeah, we’ll miss him. I think the show will be very different without him.”

Len Goodman on ‘Dancing with the Stars’.Adam Taylor/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images

Mak also reflected on how Goodman impacted the dance competition show.

“Just looking back at whatever I look at that was significant for me, he was there in some way or form. I felt close to him as a person, but I felt close to the idea of Len Goodman…. I think Len was the anchor that held all three of them down through some periods of time,” he said referring to Goodman and his fellow judgesCarrie Ann InabaandBruno Tonioli.

He continued, “But the character of Len Goodman is what made the show a big part of what made the show stick around, stay and he developed that character for other countries. They all try to find a Len Goodman and it’s hard because they can’t, really.”

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Season 32 ofDancing with the Starspremieres Sept. 26 on ABC and will stream on Disney+ and Hulu.

source: people.com