Why Isn’t ‘Dance Moms’ On Tonight? Lifetime Delays Season 7 Episode

Don’t expect to get your “Dance Moms” fix this evening. Lifetime has delayed the release of Season 7, episode 23 of the competition series.

Instead of airing the next installment of “Dance Moms” come Tuesday, Sept. 26, network viewers will be treated to two movies, according to the official schedule for Lifetime. “Jumping the Broom” will premiere at 6 p.m. EDT followed by “Hitch” at 8 p.m. The night won’t be completely “Dance Moms” free, though. Lifetime will re-air the latest episode, “Ashlee’s Big Decision Part 2,” at 11 p.m.

When asked to comment on the reason for the episode delay, Lifetime did not give International Business Times a clear response, though they did confirm the series will return from its brief hiatus on Tuesday, Oct. 3.

Next week will see the premiere of episode 23, “There’s a New Team in Town - Part 1.” Following Nia Sioux, Kendall Vertes, Camryn Bridges and Kalani Hilliker’s official leave from Abby Lee Miller’s group, the foursome will team up with their former teammate Chloe Lukasiak to form The Irreplaceables.

With Abby no longer in the picture -- she’ll remain at the ALDC to teach her remaining four team members -- their weekly number will be choreographed by Aisha Francis, who previously appeared on the show. However, their reunion may not be what they expected. Lifetime’s summary has revealed the older girls will compete a “mature routine” that will “causes an uproar from Abby and her minions.”

A sneak peek of the installment shows the moms and the Irreplaceables excited about their new adventure. But change won’t be easy. Aisha tells the girls they will need to break away from what they’re used to by performing an old-school, burlesque number in high heels, a number which Abby and her young girls won’t be able to compete with.

“It can be really powerful if you really attack it the right way,” Aisha says.

The moms, however, are nervous to compete against Abby. Kira Girard mentions the girls have never won against their former, fearless leader and Holly states the team has pressure to prove they can be successful on their own.

Like their mothers, the dancers are also unsure about the new choreography. “This isn’t quite what I expected when I thought of dancing with my friends again,” Chloe tells the cameras. “It’s a lot going on this week. I definitely feel very off and not in my zone.”

The sneak peek also shows what life is like back at the ALDC. While Ashlee Allen is confident her and her daughter Brynn Rumfallo’s return to Abby’s team was the right choice, she’s quickly proved wrong. Abby is seen refusing to film and gets upset when the cameras enter her office bedroom.

“This week we’re competing against the kids that left and already Abby is out of her mind, screaming in the back room. Maybe this is more than Abby can handle,” Ashlee says.

When Abby later emerges she tells the cameras she’s “emotional” about some of her longtime students leaving her, but is hopeful about the future of her group. “This is the end of something incredible that we all shared together but I know its time for a new beginning,” Abby says.

Following the Oct. 3 episode at 9 p.m. EDT, Lifetime will also release a sneak peek of episode 24, “There’s a New Team in Town - Part 2.” Fans can catch the extended preview starting at 10:02 p.m. EDT. The preview will be followed by an encore airing of episode 23.

The Season 7 finale of “Dance Moms” will air on Oct. 31.