'Dancing With the Stars' odds-on faves
"Dancing with the Stars" hosts Tom Bergeron and Brooke Burke-Charvet announce the season 16 cast live on "Good Morning America" on ABC. Credit: ABC
Putting a disappointing "All-Star" season in its rearview mirror ball trophy, "Dancing With the Stars" reboots Monday (ABC/7 at 8) with a back-to-the-future edition. Who will win the 16th edition? Come on -- admit it: You care. So do I, and with that, let's go to the handicaps:
Zendaya (partnered with Valentin Chmerkovskiy) With just one name, who does she think she is? (Full name is Zendaya Coleman.) She has the advantage of youth (16), personality and experience (a handful of music videos). As Rocky Blue from Disney Channel's "Shake It Up," she's also an in-house star -- and the younger ones usually do well here. Odds of winning: 10-1
D.L. Hughley (Cheryl Burke) "DWTS" wouldn't partner Hughley with Burke (nor would she agree) if he were a stiff. But the former ABC sitcom star and onetime King of Comedy has turned into a professional commentator (recent book: "I Want You to Shut the ---- Up: How the Audacity of Dopes Is Ruining America"), and they tend to polarize viewers, especially older ones. Odds: 45-1
Sean Lowe (Peta Murgatroyd) What would "DWTS" be without another "Bachelor" contestant. He was a hit there, will be a hit here. But a winner? No way. Odds: 10-1
Victor Ortiz (Lindsay Arnold) For his sake, let's hope ABC doesn't show replays of his 22 wins by KO. Professional boxers -- no matter how compelling their story -- cannot win this show: They won't get the viewer votes. But he'll still be very good. Odds: 14-1
Kellie Pickler (Derek Hough) Two words: "Derek" and "Hough." He's the only superstar of "DWTS" fame and, for that reason alone, Pickler is already a front-runner. Nice, self-deprecating personality, too. She could win. (But won't). Odds: 5-1
Ingo Rademacher (Kym Johnson) Jax of "General Hospital," and another in-house star. Just seems like a long shot. (But I hear he's a good surfer!) Odds: 50-1
Aly Raisman (Mark Ballas) Captain of U.S. Women's Gymnastics team at the 2012 Summer Olympics; individual gold on the floor. Great pairing with Ballas for TV purposes: she's 5'3"; he's 5'6". She's your 16th season winner. Odds: 1-1
Lisa Vanderpump (Gleb Savchenko). Star of "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" will not win "DWTS" and, more to the point, should not win either, just on principle alone. Odds: 500,000-1
