Dancing with the Stars: New season cast assessment
Who has a chance to win the trophy on the upcoming season of Dancing with the Stars? It’s time for some too-early predictions.
Dancing with the Stars has been running for 27 seasons, counting the Athletes version that ran this spring for about a month. In that time, production has managed to put together some astonishingly good casts.
This season’s cast … well, suffice it to say that the Culturess editorial staff had a hard time even identifying most of the celebrities on here, with a few very notable exceptions who, by default, will be at the top of this list.
There’s always potential for surprises, but we just don’t know about this season. Let’s get into it, shall we?
The bottom tier
Comprised of people who might not be as well-known to the core audience of DWTS, the bottom tier of celebrities probably won’t last too long unless they really show that they have some dancing talent.
DANCING WITH THE STARS – ÒDancing with the StarsÓ is waltzing its way into its upcoming season, and the new celebrity cast is adding some glitzy bling to their wardrobe, breaking in their dancing shoes and readying themselves for their first dance on the ballroom floor, as the season kicks off MONDAY, SEPT. 24 (8:00-10:00 p.m. EDT), on The ABC Television Network. (ABC/Craig Sjodin)
WITNEY CARSON, MILO MANHEIM
Milo Manheim
Just looking at this Disney Channel star makes me feel old. Although Witney Carson is a popular dancer on the show, Disney Channel stars never seem to last too long on DWTS.
DANCING WITH THE STARS – ÒDancing with the StarsÓ is waltzing its way into its upcoming season, and the new celebrity cast is adding some glitzy bling to their wardrobe, breaking in their dancing shoes and readying themselves for their first dance on the ballroom floor, as the season kicks off MONDAY, SEPT. 24 (8:00-10:00 p.m. EDT), on The ABC Television Network. (ABC/Craig Sjodin)
BRANDON ARMSTRONG, TINASHE
Tinashe
I want this pairing to do well, not because I’m a Tinashe fan, but because Brandon Armstrong has moved up from the troupe to the main cast. But Tinashe’s not necessarily well-known (probably prompting this appearance). But she does have some dancing experience, though not necessarily ballroom.
DANCING WITH THE STARS – ÒDancing with the StarsÓ is waltzing its way into its upcoming season, and the new celebrity cast is adding some glitzy bling to their wardrobe, breaking in their dancing shoes and readying themselves for their first dance on the ballroom floor, as the season kicks off MONDAY, SEPT. 24 (8:00-10:00 p.m. EDT), on The ABC Television Network. (ABC/Craig Sjodin)
EMMA SLATER, JOHN SCHNEIDER
John Schneider
Well, we know what his opening song will be: The Dukes of Hazzard theme song. Although he’s also a country artist, we don’t know if that translates to rhythm.
The middle tier
These could be awful; they could go ridiculously far; we have no idea.
DANCING WITH THE STARS – ÒDancing with the StarsÓ is waltzing its way into its upcoming season, and the new celebrity cast is adding some glitzy bling to their wardrobe, breaking in their dancing shoes and readying themselves for their first dance on the ballroom floor, as the season kicks off MONDAY, SEPT. 24 (8:00-10:00 p.m. EDT), on The ABC Television Network. (ABC/Craig Sjodin)
BOBBY BONES, SHARNA BURGESS
Bobby Bones
Country music, judging by how many awards shows air, is pretty popular, and Bobby Bones is tied in with country music. Additionally, he has Sharna Burgess as a partner. We know she can take mediocre dancers deep into the competition.
DANCING WITH THE STARS – ÒDancing with the StarsÓ is waltzing its way into its upcoming season, and the new celebrity cast is adding some glitzy bling to their wardrobe, breaking in their dancing shoes and readying themselves for their first dance on the ballroom floor, as the season kicks off MONDAY, SEPT. 24 (8:00-10:00 p.m. EDT), on The ABC Television Network. (ABC/Craig Sjodin)
JUAN PABLO DI PACE, CHERYL BURKE
Juan Pablo Di Pace
He’s on Fuller House, and although you can make your arguments about its quality, it is still quite popular, and he looks like he could surprise with his dancing skills. Maybe we’re just being caught up in the smile though.
DANCING WITH THE STARS – ÒDancing with the StarsÓ is waltzing its way into its upcoming season, and the new celebrity cast is adding some glitzy bling to their wardrobe, breaking in their dancing shoes and readying themselves for their first dance on the ballroom floor, as the season kicks off MONDAY, SEPT. 24 (8:00-10:00 p.m. EDT), on The ABC Television Network. (ABC/Craig Sjodin)
NANCY MCKEON, VAL CHMERKOVSKIY
Nancy McKeon
Thanks to Sharareh Drury for giving me The Facts of Life. Val Chmerkovskiy is still one of the best pros on the show, and there’s some lingering nostalgic love for the ’80s TV show, too.
DANCING WITH THE STARS – ÒDancing with the StarsÓ is waltzing its way into its upcoming season, and the new celebrity cast is adding some glitzy bling to their wardrobe, breaking in their dancing shoes and readying themselves for their first dance on the ballroom floor, as the season kicks off MONDAY, SEPT. 24 (8:00-10:00 p.m. EDT), on The ABC Television Network. (ABC/Craig Sjodin)
ALEXIS REN, ALAN BERSTEN
Alexis Ren
Alexis Ren has, as the ABC press release so kindly pointed out, a lot of followers on Instagram and a recent appearance in Sports Illustrated‘s swimsuit issue. If she can motivate her fanbase, she’ll do well. It’s just a matter of motivating that fanbase.
The top tier
Comprised of the people we know, and the people we guess will do well. Let’s get into it.
DANCING WITH THE STARS – ÒDancing with the StarsÓ is waltzing its way into its upcoming season, and the new celebrity cast is adding some glitzy bling to their wardrobe, breaking in their dancing shoes and readying themselves for their first dance on the ballroom floor, as the season kicks off MONDAY, SEPT. 24 (8:00-10:00 p.m. EDT), on The ABC Television Network. (ABC/Craig Sjodin)
DANELLE UMSTEAD, ARTEM CHIGVINTSEV
Danelle Umstead
Danelle Umstead is a Paralympian. In seasons past, athletes with inspiring stories like this (Amy Purdy comes to mind) have gone far, but Purdy also had Derek Hough before he jumped ship for World of Dance. Artem Chigvintsev is a good pro, but not necessarily top-tier.
DANCING WITH THE STARS – ÒDancing with the StarsÓ is waltzing its way into its upcoming season, and the new celebrity cast is adding some glitzy bling to their wardrobe, breaking in their dancing shoes and readying themselves for their first dance on the ballroom floor, as the season kicks off MONDAY, SEPT. 24 (8:00-10:00 p.m. EDT), on The ABC Television Network. (ABC/Craig Sjodin)
LINDSAY ARNOLD, DEMARCUS WARE
DeMarcus Ware
DeMarcus Ware may have retired last year, but NFL fans have long memories. Moreover, he’s best known as a Dallas Cowboy, and that team has a fanbase that runs deep. He’s got a great partner in Lindsay, and if he’s kept in shape, he could take to dancing really easily.
DANCING WITH THE STARS – ÒDancing with the StarsÓ is waltzing its way into its upcoming season, and the new celebrity cast is adding some glitzy bling to their wardrobe, breaking in their dancing shoes and readying themselves for their first dance on the ballroom floor, as the season kicks off MONDAY, SEPT. 24 (8:00-10:00 p.m. EDT), on The ABC Television Network. (ABC/Craig Sjodin)
KEO MOTSEPE, EVANNA LYNCH
Evanna Lynch
There are still people who don’t know anything about Harry Potter, but by being on the show, Evanna Lynch will probably draw the fans in, so long as she can dance well enough to keep them there. Keo Motsepe’s underrated as a pro, and he could finally get a trophy.
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DWTS returns Sept. 24.