‘Dancing with the Stars’ rankings: Can Melissa Rycroft spoil Shawn Johnson’s fun?
This is another strange week when it comes to “Dancing with the Stars” rankings. Thanks largely in part to the presidential election for the second time this season, we now have another article with exactly the same amount of contenders listed here. However, the one difference here is that two stars will be leaving the ballroom on Tuesday versus one, which has been the case for every other results show.
So does this change the criteria of our rankings at all? Sure. While we judged the rankings last week with fan followings more in mind, judges’ scores are going to have more of a bearing than ever since there is so little breathing room for contestants to skate by.
7. Kirstie Alley and Maksim Chmerkovskiy (last week: 7) – They may not like it, but Kirstie and Maks have a very high chance of going home this week. Even though their fanbase may save them from getting the lowest combined total, they could have the second-lowest and still go home. Considering their scores at the moment, that is going to make things harder for them than ever.
6. Apolo Anton Ohno and Karina Smirnoff (6) – Typically, being in the bottom two has a tendency to inspire fanbases to vote, but the non-elimination hurts Apolo this past week in that regard. He really needs to have the dance of his life Monday, since otherwise, it really could be hard to see him still around given the number of strong men with large followings in the competition.
5. Kelly Monaco and Val Chermkovskiy (5) – It hasn’t been the best two weeks for Kelly and Val, and we worry about the weight of Kelly’s schedule on her in between “General Hospital” and the long rehearsals. We think that Kelly will skate by this week, but it’s not going to be easy.
4. Gilles Marini and Peta Mugatroyd (3) – We worry about Gilles this week in a big way. His last two dances have not lived up to his sensational Bollywood routine and silly dance-waving “Gangnam Style” party, and he could therefore become a victim of fans becoming too comfortable he will stay safe. Gilles could actually go home this week, though for now we’re saying that the possibility is slim.
3. Melissa Rycroft and Tony Dovolani (4) – Time and time again, we have written Melissa off as someone with a small fanbase, but she’s never been in danger of leaving the competition. Not only that, but her win in the dance marathon is probably going to resonate well with viewers.
2. Emmitt Smith and Cheryl Burke (2) – It’s hard to keep saying the same thing about Emmitt, but it is just so true: he’s not the best dancer in the competition, but he brings something beyond that in attitude. He’s the closest thing the show has to an everyman as a retired athlete, and he also has an enormous fanbase. He’s good for a while.
1. Shawn Johnson and Derek Hough / Mark Ballas (1) – While having alternating partners due to Derek’s injury could be harmful to Shawn’s rehearsals, the truth is that she and Mark know each other well already thanks to their first season together. Plus, this has managed to bring her even more attention, and thus a possibly sympathy vote to already go along with some of the craziest performances ever on the show.