Dancing with the Stars Season 22 – The Couples Live Blog (Spoilers)

Since the pros were starting to meet their partners today (although we only know of three who have, right now), we figured that we would start revealing the couples as they reveal themselves…or when we find them out. 😉  You gotta know that this is a secret that will be impossible to keep – not when they are starting to rehearse!! It’s gonna get out one way or another, and we’re going to report it!

Anyway, our first confirmed couple is kind of a gimme, as we’ve reported on this woman a couple times and the evidence was pretty strong.

ETA: Couple #2 confirmed! And I gotta say – I’m pretty excited about it.  Will definitely be interesting to see these two work together & grow this season… -Court-

ETA2: Didn’t see this one coming…thoughts? -Court-

ETA3: We’re guessing this is the one that is going to get announced on GMA this morning, given who it is – and I’d say it’s also a bit of an unexpected partnership, given this pro’s track record of fairly young and/or able-bodied, conveniently experienced dancers. -Court-

ETA4: Apologies to those on Twitter I may have confused last night – I myself got confused, and mixed up two different pros’ partners.  I think you’ll see why when the rest of the cast breaks 😉 But yeah, this one was sort of a gimme, but it does help give us a clearer picture of the cast so far… -Court-

ETA5: Saw this name floating around Twitter as a possibility, so I figured I may as well confirm. Rather interesting (and timely) casting, no? -Court-

ETA6: DOUBLE-WHAMMY!!! So E! goes and spoils a name that came completely out of left field…guess what? So will I. 😉 -Court-

ETA7: Since everyone else is reporting on Kim/Sasha, I will go ahead and add – but let me qualify that I only know this through process of elimination, and my sources were unable to confirm with certainty that those two are paired up…hence the **. But as for the other one I’m revealing – this I’m 100% certain of.  And yes – it’s another WHAMMY. 😎 You heard it here FIRST, kids! -Court-

ETA8: Got another one out of left field for you – and I actually kind of wonder if this celeb may have requested his pro.  I don’t have any proof, just a hunch.  -Court-

ETA9: And with this update, I’m fairly certain this is the full cast.  Seen a lot (and gotten pulled into a lot) of speculation on Twitter about Ben Higgins (*eye roll*) being a “last-minute” or “surprise” add with Emma as his partner after The Bachelor wraps on Mar. 14, but honestly guys – all signs seem to be pointing to this being a 12-couple season.  Ditto to the fringe R5 fans that are insisting that Rydel is going to be a “surprise announcement” and be paired with Derek – no more spots left, guys.  Better luck next season…now please move on. -Court-

Couple #1: Paige VanZant and Mark Ballas
Paige is a 5’4″ tall mixed martial artist – very pretty girl and only 21. And you know Mark is an MMA fan. Paige is likely used to hard work and likely wants to win. Marky might have himself a contender here. We’ll have to wait and see.
Paige Instagram
Paige Twitter
Paige Snapchat: paigevanzant

Couple #2: Nyle DiMarco & Peta Murgatroyd
Nyle is 6’2″ and the winner of cycle 22 of America’s Next Top Model.  He’s also completely deaf.  Will be an interesting challenge for Peta, as Nyle will have to have an interpreter present at all times – but from what we hear, he’s super sweet, a VERY hard worker, and a great match for Peta 🙂
Nyle Instagram
Nyle Twitter

Couple #3: Jodie Sweetin & Keo Motsepe
Jodie is 5’6″ and best known as Stephanie Tanner from the ’90s sitcom Full House, and its very recent spinoff, Fuller House.  I had the pleasure of meeting her at Chicago Comic Con last fall, and she had mentioned that she would want Val if she did the show – guess they weren’t able to accommodate that request? Jodie’s got a fair amount of dance experience (and the Full House fanbase) behind her, so I don’t think there’s any excuse for Keo if he can’t get her to at least the midpoint of the competition.
Jodie Instagram
Jodie Twitter

Couple #4: Ginger Zee & Val Chmerkovskiy
Ginger is 5’7″, and the weather anchor on Good Morning America.  She just had a baby back in December. Wikipedia is also telling me she was diagnosed with narcolepsy when she was 21.  Mama Spence was excited when I told her Ginger would be on (she watches GMA every morning), but was puzzled when I told her that Ginger’s partner was Val…she thought Ginger would be better-suited to Artem or Tony. As far as I know – no dance experience.
Ginger Instagram
Ginger Twitter
Ginger Snapchat: gingerzeeabc

Couple #5: Antonio Brown & Sharna Burgess
Antonio is 5’10” and a wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Known for an endzone dance he’s dubbed the “Billy Biggle Wiggle”, and got fined for awkwardly humping a goal post during the Steelers/Colts game last season (that’s how I knew his name). Already been a rumor for a good week now, since he started following Sharna & DancingABC on Twitter.  Since then, the Steeler Nation has erupted with excitement, and Antonio has been anything but subtle about his participation on social media 😛
Antonio Instagram
Antonio Twitter
Antonio Snapchat: ab84official

Couple #6: Marla Maples & Tony Dovolani
Marla is 5’8″ and best known as the former Mrs. Donald Trump #2 – she’s also an actress and TV personality. From what I understand, she & Tony have known each other for awhile, and he’s tried to convince her MULTIPLE times to do the show – and I guess this season, she finally said yes.  She recently moved back to NYC from L.A.
Marla Instagram
Marla Twitter

Couple #7: Mischa Barton & Artem Chigvintsev
Mischa is a 5’9″ actress probably best remembered for playing Marissa Cooper on the FOX series The O.C. from 2003-2007.  I had heard she had gone through some rough stuff after leaving the show, and as far as I know, she hasn’t really done a whole lot of acting since then…maybe this will be a nice comeback for her? She’s gorgeous and I think she & Artem will make another pretty pair this season 🙂
Mischa Instagram
Mischa Twitter

Couple #8: Von Miller & Witney Carson
Von is a strapping 6’3″ and a linebacker for the Denver Broncos – he’s also the current Superbowl MVP 😎 , and probably poses the biggest threat to Antonio running away with that MBT.  Like Antonio, he’s a bit of a colorful personality – he’s known for wacky wardrobe choices, interesting end zone dances…oh, and he also loves chickens.  No, seriously – the first thing my sister (who lives in Denver) told me when I called to tell her Von would be on the show was “Lol, his college degree is in poultry science.  And he has a chicken tattoo.” So aside from this being the first season with more than 1 NFL player – Von is basically every bit as charismatic as Antonio, and is also from the team that won the most recent Superbowl.  Steeler Nation, you worried yet? Cause you probably should be. 😉
Von Instagram
Von Twitter
Von Snapchat: millerlite40

Couple #9: Kim Fields & Sasha Farber**
At 5’0″, Kim is this season’s shortest celeb, and is an actress/singer/director best remember for playing Tootie Ramsey on The Facts of Life and Regine Hunter on Living Single. She’s also currently one of the Real Housewives of Atlanta – and is by far the classiest and most tolerable of the bunch, IMO. I actually think she & Sasha are probably the most well-matched pairing this season – both physically and in terms of personality.
Kim Instagram
Kim Twitter

Couple #10: Doug Flutie & Karina Smirnoff
PLOT TWIST!!! There’s actually THREE NFL players in this season’s cast, and 5’10” Doug is our Hall of Famer and probably the sentimental favorite amongst the three. He’s notable for his college career at Boston College, his stint playing for the CFL, and for playing for several NFL teams (the Bears, the Bills, the Patriots, and the Chargers) before retiring and working as a sportscaster for NBC.  Doug has a daughter that is currently an NFL cheerleader for the San Diego Chargers, and his son, Doug Jr., suffers from autism – which inspired him to start the Flutie Foundation for autism in his honor. Not sure that he’s necessarily going to pose a threat, skill-wise, to Antonio or Von, but I think he could potentially bogart some votes.  Will be interesting, for sure…
Doug Instagram
Doug Twitter

Couple #11: Geraldo Rivera & Edyta Sliwinska
At 5’9″, talk show host/reporter/author Geraldo is the shortest male celeb so far this season – which makes me wonder if he perhaps requested the 5’7″ Edyta.  He was the runner-up on Celebrity Apprentice last year, and now appears on The Five on the Fox News Channel.  Given that this season is so chock full o’ both talent and popularity, I’m not sure Geraldo’s going to have a ton of staying power…but I guess we’ll see!
Geraldo Twitter

Couple #12: Someone from Boyz II Men & Lindsay Arnold
Well, since the only sources for height I can find on the interwebs are all fan-run sites, I’m gonna have to go by what I’ve seen with my own eyes – and when I saw them in concert 2.5 years ago, I remember that Wanya & Nathan are definitely under 6′ (5’10″ish) and Shawn might be 6’1″…ish.  Another pretty damn good get for the cast, if you ask me – this season may have the strongest castings of any cast since I started writing here at Pure in season 9.
Boyz II Men Instagram
Boyz II Men Twitter