First of all, please forgive me – like Heidi, I am having a very, VERY hard time getting excited about anything DWTS-related right now…especially in light of some of the names I’m hearing in the mix as rumors…zzzzz…
Anywho, ET announced the 15 pros that would be returning this season:
Brandon Armstrong
Lindsay Arnold
Alan Bersten
Sharna Burgess
Cheryl Burke
Witney Carson
Artem Chigvintsev
Val Chmerkovskiy
Sasha Farber
Jenna Johnson
Daniella Karagach
Pasha Pashkov
Gleb Savchenko
Emma Slater
Britt Stewart
Noticeably absent pros from last season’s roster? Peta, whose anti-vaxxer status likely disqualified her, as ABC/Disney is mandating vaccines for most employees; and Keo, who probably had the misfortune of being too tall for this season’s crop of male-partnered female celebs…at least I hope that’s the reason…
…back after a one-season absence are Lindsay & Witney, with bebes in tow; I think they likely owe their return to Peta’s refusal to get vaccinated and JoJo’s same-sex partnership opening up an additional slot for a female pro this season. Absent those circumstances, I tend to think TPTB would have just kept the same roster as last season for the sake of ease, as both Witney & Lindsay reside permanently in Utah and had to temporarily relocate back to LA to do the show this season.
Thoughts? I don’t have a ton, other than Sharna possibly being paired with JoJo for the simple reason that she strikes me as being one of the more open-minded pros that would embrace such a challenge. Like the situation with Chaz Bono 10 years ago (a season that Chelsie curiously sat out), I think TPTB would quietly avoid saddling one of the LDS girls with a potential conflict of interest; Cheryl would probably be open to it, but last I heard she was struggling with severe tendonitis and I get the impression that JoJo is going to be an energetic and talented partner that could go far. If anyone other than Brandon or Pasha gets Sunisa, I’m going to be irked, because by my count they’re the only two who haven’t gotten an Olympian yet AND they aren’t lazy and likely to phone this season in on lame choreo (looking at YOU, Gleb).
What do you guys think?