As Dancing with the Stars enters its 28th season, the competition is heating up and fans are eager to see who will emerge as the winner. With millions of viewers tuning in for each episode, we’ve analyzed the performances and indicators so far to bring you our early predictions for the Dancing With The Stars finalists.
Who Will Dethrone Last Year’s Winner?
Bobby Bones has held the Mirrorball trophy for almost a full year, but a new crop of contestants is ready to take it from him. Part of the excitement of the show is trying to guess who that will be. While we all have our favorites, the unpredictable nature of the competition means anything can happen at any time. It’s still anyone’s guess who will ultimately win, but there are a few contestants who seem to have the best odds of making it to the finals.
Meet the 12 Celebrity Dancers
The 28th season features a diverse and lively group of contestants, including former White House press secretary Sean Spicer, who is perhaps the most animated and excited member of the group this season. Hannah Brown from The Bachelorette, James Van Der Beek of Dawson’s Creek, and Ally Brook of Fifth Harmony are also competing, along with Ray Lewis, Karamo Brown, Kel Mitchell, Lamar Odom, Sailor Brinkley-Cook (replacing her mother Christie Brinkley), and Lauren Alaina. The success of these competitors depends greatly upon the performance of their celebrity dance partners.
Pairing Up the Celebrities and Their Dance Partners
At the season premiere, we learned who would be paired together. In case you missed it, here are the pairings: Mary Wilson with Brandon Armstrong, Hannah Brown with Alan Bersten, Karamo Brown with Jenna Johnson, Sailor Brinkley-Cook with Val Chmerkovskiy, Ally Brooke with Sasha Farber, Kate Flannery with Pasha Pashkov, Ray Lewis with Cheryl Burke, James Van Der Beek with Emma Slater, and Lauren Alaina with Gleb Savchenko. Additionally, Kel Mitchell is paired with Witney Carson, Lamar Odom with Peta Murgatroyd, and Sean Spicer with Lindsay Arnold. Each contestant has their own fan base at home, but how might that impact the outcome of the competition?
Best Odds for Making It to the Finals
Although we’re not yet at the elimination rounds, they’re fast approaching. Based on the first week’s performances, we predict a few pairs will rise to the top. Emma Slater and James Van Der Beek, who Tangoed their way into a strong start, seem likely to make it to the finals. Van Der Beek is a natural-born dancer, and their performance was stellar.
- Brandon Armstrong and Mary Wilson of The Supremes delivered an elegant Foxtrot performance. We’re placing this graceful duo high on the list for making it to the finals.
- Alan Bersten and Hannah Brown performed a decent Cha-Cha, despite a few missteps. With good choreography and energy, they stand a good chance of making it to the finals if they continue to improve.
- Sasha Farber and Ally Brooke also did a rendition of the Cha-Cha. Ally, previously labeled as the worst dancer in Fifth Harmony, is out to prove them wrong. If she can control her energy, they might stand a chance.
- Gleb Savchenko and Lauren Alaina have a strong chance, as Gleb was a finalist in season 23. Their performance wasn’t perfect, but with continued improvement, they could deliver a more polished performance next time.
- Val Chmerkovskiy and Sailor Brinkley-Cook didn’t have much time to practice, which may work against them. However, Val is a two-time champion, so they shouldn’t be counted out just yet.
- Witney Carson and Kel Mitchell started their Tango well, but Mitchell’s timing was noticeably off later in the routine. Despite this, they received decent scores from two of the judges.
- Jenna Johnson and Karamo Brown didn’t deliver as well as everyone had hoped. Their performance was somewhat lackluster, and they’ll need to step it up to stay in contention for the finals.
- Cheryl Burke and Ray Lewis didn’t deliver a perfect performance either, but it was fun to watch. Ray’s personality can make you overlook a few mistakes, but he’ll need to improve if he wants to advance in the competition.
- Pasha Pashkov and Kate Flannery played it safe on the dance floor, but Kate has had trouble finishing her moves. Like Ray, her personality shines, but she’ll need to tighten up her techniques to make it to the finals.
- Lindsay Arnold and Sean Spicer had fun on the dance floor, but Sean isn’t the best dancer. It would be surprising if he advances far in the competition, as his dancing isn’t quite finalist quality.
- Peta Murgatroyd and Lamar Odom were somewhat mismatched in terms of physical stature. Odom seemed to enjoy himself and is improving, but he needs to boost his confidence. We don’t see him making it to the finals unless something changes drastically and quickly.
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