Las Vegas Sportsbook: Bristol Palin Least Likely to Win DWTS

Via MediaLite: Wynn Las Vegas put out a press release with the odds of winning for each of the new couples on Dancing With the Stars. In last place, at 35:1, Bristol Palin and Mark Balas.

MediaLite makes a good point about why Bristol may not be sent home as early as some think: Sarah Palin’s Facebook Friends could keep her in.

A big part of the elimination process is fan voting. You don’t think Sarah Palin can use the power of her Facebook page to mobilize support for her daughter’s cha-cha?

In third place, the couple I’ll be rooting for: Jennifer Grey and Derek Hough.

The full list of couples and odds follows: Continue reading

Tom DeLay Joins Dancing With the Stars

Too funny. The cast for the upcoming season of Dancing With the Stars was announced today. Making the cut: Former Congressman Tom DeLay.

DWTS will feature its first politician — former Congressman Tom DeLay— on the season's Sept. 21 (8 ET/PT) premiere. DeLay, 62, served as House Majority leader until he was forced to step down following a 2005 Texas grand jury indictment on money laundering charges. Known as “the Hammer” for his dealing with political opponents, the polarizing Republican's legal woes remain unresolved.

“I really am a big fan of the show,” says DeLay, an open supporter of Sara Evans when the country singer competed in Season 3. “I couldn't believe they asked me to do this. It didn't take me five minutes to agree. I've been working out like crazy.”

I wonder if Rod Blagojevich applied. Continue reading

DWTS Finale: Shawn Johnson Wins


[10:00 pm MT: See updates below, Congrats to Shawn Johnson and Mark!]

The winner will be chosen tonight on Dancing With the Stars. My vote: Melissa and then Gilles. Who I think will win: Gilles, but I’m not counting Shawn out because she has been terrific the past few weeks, especially last night. Gilles is really hot, but too often his dancing seems to be more about Cheryl than him. Len pointed it out last night, but I’ve been thinking that for a while.

Melissa is the best dancer of the three, by far I think. Shawn has the gymnast thing going which may make her appear better than she really is. Go Mel!

My pal Jesse Csincsak, former Bachelorette winner, is looking to be on the next season of Dancing With the Stars. I'd think he'd be terrific. As a professional snowboarder, he's certainly got the athletic skills and balance and coordination. Plus, he really looks good (and even better in person than on camera.) So I hope you'll take a few minutes and go sign the petition to help get him on the show. (You can even sign and click the box not to have your name displayed.)

Updates on tonight’s show below: Continue reading

Dancing With The Stars: Final Competition

Melissa Rycroft

It’s the final competition on Dancing With The Stars. All of the three finalists are incredible tonight. My favorite is Melissa, but Shawn and Mark’s free-style was incredible — and Gilles is really good. The judges didn’t love her free-style but they still gave her “9”‘s. So she’s still in the running.

This seems like it will be the closest year ever. Considering Melissa only joined the show four days before it began airing, just getting to the finals is such an accomplishment for her.

Here’s an interview today with Melissa and Tony.