Quick Hitting Dancing with the Stars News, Interviews and Rumors

Looks like I was right about my prediction that Mark Ballas Jr will be with Shawn Johnson. Check out these pictures of Mark and Shawn at their first Dancing with the Stars practice:
Shawn Johnson practices for Dancing With the Stars      Shawn Johnson practices for Dancing With the Stars
 

A Night For Change Benefit

Maks also talked about Shawn Johnson being on the show along with pleading the fifth about Julianne Hough paired with Chuck Wicks:

TVGuide.com: What sort of unique challenges face Shawn Johnson, who is just 4-foot-10?
Chmerkovskiy: I actually think her main challenge is that she’s so young [age 17] in a big girl’s world, so to speak. Her challenge will be to spice things up if the judges say that she’s too quiet and calm. But we all saw her at the Olympics — she’s amazing and focused and determined. A very hard worker.

TVGuide.com: She could break into a tumbling pass in the middle of a Paso Doble!
Chmerkovskiy: Oh, she could do a cha-cha on her hands! We’re kind of guessing that she’ll be paired up with Mark [Ballas], and he’s crazy with the [choreography].

TVGuide.com: Some are speculating that dancing as a team could be tough on Julianne Hough and Chuck Wicks, her country singer-boyfriend. But I think if DWTS has shown us anything, it’s that it cultivates romance. They could come out of this stronger.
Chmerkovskiy: I don’t want to start the season with a usual Maks rant, so I’m going to plead the fifth on that pairing!

Maks is great. Probably the best interview on the show. Anyone have a connection with Maks? I’d love to interview him for this blog.

Maks told People these 2 little nuggets:

“Planning the proposal was the most nerve-wracking thing of my life,” Chmerkovskiy, 29, tells People magazine.

The couple plans to wed in late 2009 and Chmerkovskiy said the they definitely are looking forward to starting a family. “Our kids would be rock stars,” he told People. “They’re going to be like royalty.”

Finally, check out this short video from the Dancing with the Stars tour finale in Philly. Derek (and other dancers) pulls a lucky fan out of the crowd for a little spin spin and dip on the dance floor.