By: Jacob Elyachar
Attention Ballroom Fanatics!
Dancing with the Stars revealed their all-star cast today! So who will be returning to the ballroom and which fan-favorites are rallying for your votes to secure the final All-Star spot?
Drew Lachey and Cheryl Burke are one of the best couples in “Dancing with the Stars” history. Could they be bring their magic to win another mirror ball trophy? (Photo property of ABC and BBC Worldwide)
Kelly Monaco: The General Hospital actress hopes to nag a second Mirror Ball trophy when she returns to the dance floor in September. It is unknown if she will be reuniting with her original partner: Alec Mazo or will be paired with a new pro.
Drew Lachey: Cheryl Burke’s ballroom dominance started when she teamed with the 98 Degrees singer in the show’s second season. He thrilled audiences with his Paso Doble and Freestyle and remains one of the show’s favorite champions. Could he walk away with another win? Not if Cheryl’s former partners have their say.
Emmitt Smith: The Dallas Cowboy superstar’s win with Cheryl Burke began an athlete-winning streak that lasted for four seasons. But one problem that could be foreseen is that he might be with Burke this time around. Karina Smirnoff or missing-in-action professional partner Edyta Sliwinska could be the key to his return to ballroom glory if Burke is either partnered with Lachey or Gilles Marini.
Gilles Marini: One of Dancing’s many heartthrobs will be back for another try for another shot for the Mirror Ball Trophy. While he lost the first round to fellow season eight competitor Shawn Johnson, Gilles’ powerful performances and appeal will make him an early contender during the first part of the season.
Shawn Johnson: Gilles’s fellow season eight competitor who won their season in 2009 is back to snag another Mirror Ball trophy. Like some of her rivals, she may or may not be working with her original pro: two-time champion Mark Ballas. If Mark is unable to help her on her journey to ballroom glory, Val Chmerkovskiy or Dmitry Chaplin could be a potential partner.
Melissa Rycroft: Rycroft’s public humiliation on the Bachelor: After the Rose Ceremony turned into one of the greatest comebacks on reality television as she stepped in at the very last second for injured entertainment host Nancy O’Dell. While Rycroft and her professional partner Tony Dovolani came in third place, she may have a tough time adjusting to the overcrowded favorites field.
Is the second time a charm for Joey Fatone and Kym Johnson to win the Mirror Ball trophy? Viewers will have to find out when “Dancing with the Stars: All-Stars” airs in September. (Photo property of ABC and BBC Worldwide.)
Joey Fatone: The former *NSYNC member took the ballroom by storm with his partner: Kym Johnson in season four through his incredible routines that transported viewers to the Star Wars galaxy to Zorro’s world. While he lost to Apolo Ohno, Fatone continued to work with the show from appearing with Melissa Rycroft in a Stars of Dance performance to being part of the show’s troupe in Las Vegas.
Apolo Ohno: The Olympic gold medalist won his season through his amazing routines with his partner: two-time champion Julianne Hough. Now that Julianne is a bonifide movie star, will viewers be able to see Julianne gun for her third trophy with Ohno or will another champion grab Hough from Ohno and head to back on the road to ballroom glory?
Helio Castroneves: Dancing’s producers might pair Hough with her season five partner who sped past powerful competitors Sabrina Bryan and Mel B and became the first race car driver to win the Mirror Ball Trophy. However if Julianne is unavailable, they might want to try to pair him up with either Lacey Schwimmer or bring back Ashly DelGrosso-Costa to dance with Helio.
Bristol Palin: Viewers were not happy to learn that Sarah Palin’s daughter will be returning to the ballroom. While making it to the finals of her season, Bristol showed no progression as a dancer and could be marked for early elimination by the fans because a majority of them would have rather seen Mya, Mel B, Stacy Keibler or Audrina Patridge dance again.
Pamela Anderson: The legendary Baywatch babe made waves on the tenth season with her partner Daiman Whitewood and now she is back to seduce fans into giving her the Mirror Ball Trophy. But will she be reunite with Whitewood? Viewers will have to tune in to find out.
Kirstie Alley: One of the biggest names that performed on the 12th season of the ABC ballroom show was the Cheers and Veronica’s Closet actress. Viewers watched her and Maks Chmerkovskiy blossom each week and saw her weight-loss transformation right before their eyes. Can Kirstie steal the Mirror Ball trophy away from the competition?
Will fans rally to vote Sabrina Bryan in for “DWTS’s” all-star season? (Photo property of ABC and BBC Worldwide)
The final star: For the first time in the show’s history, viewers will choose the final dancer to join the cast. The candidates have astonished fans with their routines and are very beloved members of the DWTS family. However, only one person can join in the competition. Will it be season 11 runner-up Kyle Massey, season 13 participant Carson Kressley or one of DWTS’ favorite females: season five’s Sabrina Bryan?
To vote for the stars and to learn about the upcoming season, head to the show’s Web site: http://beta.abc.go.com/shows/dancing-with-the-stars/cast-announcement
