# Dancing with the Stars -- DWTS -- Fall 2015 (Season 21)

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dancing-with-the-stars-dwts-fall-2015-season-21/728758>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [August 24, 2015, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dancing-with-the-stars-dwts-fall-2015-season-21/728758 "2015-08-24T20:49:37Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![FeAudrey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7feea3/32.png) [@FeAudrey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FeAudrey)\
**Post date:** [August 24, 2015, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dancing-with-the-stars-dwts-fall-2015-season-21/728758/1 "2015-08-24T20:49:37Z")

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The _Dancing with the Stars_ Season Twenty-One première will be Monday, September 14th.

And! The results shows are back. First one will be Tuesday, the 22nd, so presumably no elimination the first week.

Most of the pro cast has already been announced. Of last season’s line-up, Sharna, Peta, Witney, Allison, Val, Derek, Mark and Artem will be back, plus Karina, who was off last seaon. That leaves three or four open slots, depending on the celebrity cast size. No word yet on Kym, Emma, Tony, or Keo.

ABC started dribbling out the celebrity cast announcements this morning. First up:

**Bindi Irwin** – daughter of the late “Crocodile Hunter” Steve Irwin; all-around media personality; age 17

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**Author:** ![FeAudrey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7feea3/32.png) [@FeAudrey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FeAudrey)\
**Post date:** [August 25, 2015, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dancing-with-the-stars-dwts-fall-2015-season-21/728758/2 "2015-08-25T22:08:18Z")

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Star #2 is **Victor Espinoza** , the jockey who rode “American Pharoah” to the Triple Crown this year.

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**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\
**Post date:** [August 26, 2015, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dancing-with-the-stars-dwts-fall-2015-season-21/728758/3 "2015-08-26T01:50:43Z")

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I can’t wait. So glad Derek, Val and Mark are in.

Bindi reminds me of a cousin of mine. My cousin was a pretty good dancer. Maybe Bindi will be too.

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**Author:** ![FeAudrey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7feea3/32.png) [@FeAudrey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FeAudrey)\
**Post date:** [August 26, 2015, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dancing-with-the-stars-dwts-fall-2015-season-21/728758/4 "2015-08-26T20:14:35Z")

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We now have this season’s boy-bandsman: **Nick Carter** , of Backstreet Boys.

Wait, wasn’t he already on? No, that was his younger brother, Aaron, who finished fifth in Season Nine (Fall 2009).

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**Author:** ![FeAudrey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7feea3/32.png) [@FeAudrey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FeAudrey)\
**Post date:** [August 27, 2015, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dancing-with-the-stars-dwts-fall-2015-season-21/728758/5 "2015-08-27T14:25:05Z")

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The fourth star is **Hayes Grier**. Like Bethany Mota (Season Nineteen), he is a “social media personality”. Like Nick Carter, he has a brother (Nash) in the same line of work.

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**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\
**Post date:** [August 27, 2015, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dancing-with-the-stars-dwts-fall-2015-season-21/728758/6 "2015-08-27T15:12:02Z")

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I think I’d rather they just give us the whole list.

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**Author:** ![FeAudrey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7feea3/32.png) [@FeAudrey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FeAudrey)\
**Post date:** [August 27, 2015, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dancing-with-the-stars-dwts-fall-2015-season-21/728758/7 "2015-08-27T18:07:51Z")

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> [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](#):
>
> I think I’d rather they just give us the whole list.

I’m not too crazy about it myself, but figured I’d relay whatever is announced.

The full reveal, with celeb-pro pairings, will be on Wednesday, September 2nd, so you can ignore this thread until then without missing anything vital.

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**Author:** ![orderfire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/orderfire/32/10908_2.png) [@orderfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/orderfire)\
**Post date:** [August 27, 2015, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dancing-with-the-stars-dwts-fall-2015-season-21/728758/8 "2015-08-27T19:48:35Z")

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Oh jeebuz. Paula Deen.

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**Author:** ![orderfire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/orderfire/32/10908_2.png) [@orderfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/orderfire)\
**Post date:** [August 27, 2015, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dancing-with-the-stars-dwts-fall-2015-season-21/728758/9 "2015-08-27T20:55:21Z")

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Chaka Kahn…!? WOW.

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**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\
**Post date:** [August 28, 2015, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dancing-with-the-stars-dwts-fall-2015-season-21/728758/10 "2015-08-28T10:34:20Z")

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> [@FeAudrey](#):
>
> I’m not too crazy about it myself, but figured I’d relay whatever is announced.
> 
> The full reveal, with celeb-pro pairings, will be on Wednesday, September 2nd, so you can ignore this thread until then without missing anything vital.

Oh, I didn’t mean you, sorry if that came out wrong.

Chaka Kahn could be fun! Paula Deen doesn’t excite much though.

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**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\
**Post date:** [August 28, 2015, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dancing-with-the-stars-dwts-fall-2015-season-21/728758/11 "2015-08-28T14:15:23Z")

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I won’t watch until Paula Deen isn’t on anymore. That’s apparently where the line is for me. I’m a little annoyed with ABC over that one.

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**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\
**Post date:** [August 28, 2015, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dancing-with-the-stars-dwts-fall-2015-season-21/728758/12 "2015-08-28T14:39:58Z")

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Whether I’d watch with Paula or not depends entirely on who they partner her with. I think they could make it very interesting.

🙂

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**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\
**Post date:** [August 28, 2015, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dancing-with-the-stars-dwts-fall-2015-season-21/728758/13 "2015-08-28T14:49:12Z")

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> [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](#):
>
> Whether I’d watch with Paula or not depends entirely on who they partner her with. I think they could make it very interesting.
> 
> 🙂

Any black lesbians among the pros? 🙂

And… “Social Media Personality”. Perfect description. What has this world come to…?

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**Author:** ![FeAudrey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7feea3/32.png) [@FeAudrey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FeAudrey)\
**Post date:** [August 28, 2015, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dancing-with-the-stars-dwts-fall-2015-season-21/728758/14 "2015-08-28T15:18:56Z")

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Officially announced by ABC:

**Chaka Khan** (singer)

(married couple) **Carlos Pena, Jr.** (singer/actor) and **Alexa Vega** (actress)

The show-runners tried casting a married couple before, in Season Eight – Ty Murray, who finished fourth, and Jewel, who dropped out due to injury before the season started (they have since broken up). You might also count ice dancing partners Charlie White (5th) and Meryl Davis (winner!) from Season Eighteen.

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**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\
**Post date:** [August 28, 2015, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dancing-with-the-stars-dwts-fall-2015-season-21/728758/15 "2015-08-28T16:43:51Z")

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> [@FeAudrey](#):
>
> And! The results shows are back.

I’m glad to hear it. I know some think it’s just a bunch of filler, but I like to see the performances from guest dance troupes and ‘feature’ performances by some of the regular pros. And it just makes more sense to use judges’ scores and audience votes from the same performance to determine who stays or goes. (I presume they’ll go back to doing it that way.)

> [@](#):
>
> Most of the pro cast has already been announced. Of last season’s line-up, Sharna, Peta, Witney, Allison, Val, Derek, Mark and Artem will be back,

Glad to see all of these back! Well, mostly. Mark is often annoying, but he does come up with some entertaining routines. Artem is kinda ho-hum. The rest are great!

> [@](#):
>
> plus Karina, who was off last seaon.

She was missed last season–glad to see her back.

> [@](#):
>
> That leaves three or four open slots, depending on the celebrity cast size. No word yet on Kym, Emma, Tony, or Keo.

I love Emma’s barely-there outfits and Tony is always solid, so I hope there is room for them. I usually like Kym, but the whole showmance thing with her and the Shark Tank guy last season nauseated me.

The celebrities listed so far… mostly ‘meh.’ I was a ‘Crocodile Hunter’ watcher for a while, so I might root for Bindi. I know of Alexa Vega from ‘Spy Kids.’

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**Author:** ![orderfire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/orderfire/32/10908_2.png) [@orderfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/orderfire)\
**Post date:** [August 28, 2015, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dancing-with-the-stars-dwts-fall-2015-season-21/728758/16 "2015-08-28T18:25:23Z")

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> [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](#):
>
> Whether I’d watch with Paula or not depends entirely on who they partner her with. I think they could make it very interesting.
> 
> 🙂

I predict they pair her with Tony. They almost always stick him with someone who needs a lot of propping up and emotional hand holding.

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**Author:** ![FeAudrey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7feea3/32.png) [@FeAudrey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FeAudrey)\
**Post date:** [August 31, 2015, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dancing-with-the-stars-dwts-fall-2015-season-21/728758/17 "2015-08-31T16:34:18Z")

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#8 is singer-songwriter **Andy Grammer**. He said that his pro was supposed to have been Peta, but that she may miss the season due to her unhealed foot/ankle injury.

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**Author:** ![RachelChristine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7ab992/32.png) [@RachelChristine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RachelChristine)\
**Post date:** [September 2, 2015, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dancing-with-the-stars-dwts-fall-2015-season-21/728758/18 "2015-09-02T14:31:15Z")

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It looks like some good and some weird, as usual. Gary Bussey? Paula Deen? But I’m kinda excited about Bindi Irwin, the jockey, and Chaka Khan (because that’s hilarious). The singers have some possibility and some fodder. I don’t know anything about Toni Braxton’s sister. I think the husband/wife thing could be interesting but I don’t know who he is, so we will see. I’m trying not to ore-judge the army guy (especially as my husband is AGR for the Guard), but he has this fresh news story, and Noah did well last year, so I just wonder how that will play out.

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**Author:** ![FeAudrey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7feea3/32.png) [@FeAudrey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FeAudrey)\
**Post date:** [September 2, 2015, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dancing-with-the-stars-dwts-fall-2015-season-21/728758/19 "2015-09-02T14:44:50Z")

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Here’s the full list, per Wikipedia:

Tamar Braxton…R&B singer, host & reality television star…Valentin Chmerkovskiy  
Paula Deen…Celebrity chef & entrepreneur…Louis van Amstel  
Bindi Irwin…Wildlife conservationist, presenter & actress…Derek Hough  
Chaka Khan…Grammy–winning R&B & funk singer…Keo Motsepe  
Alexa PenaVega…Film & television actress…Mark Ballas  
Kim Zolciak…Reality television star…Tony Dovolani

Gary Busey…Academy Award–nominated actor…Anna Trebunskaya  
Nick Carter…Backstreet Boys singer…Sharna Burgess  
Victor Espinoza…Triple Crown–winning jockey…Karina Smirnoff  
Andy Grammer…Singer–songwriter…Allison Holker  
Hayes Grier…Vine & social media personality…Emma Slater  
Carlos PenaVega…Big Time Rush singer & actor…Witney Carson  
Alek Skarlatos…Legion of Honour recipient & soldier…Lindsay Arnold

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**Author:** ![stillownedbysetters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/41988e/32.png) [@stillownedbysetters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stillownedbysetters)\
**Post date:** [September 2, 2015, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dancing-with-the-stars-dwts-fall-2015-season-21/728758/20 "2015-09-02T16:15:54Z")

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Anna is really taking one for the team, isn’t she? Although, she is a fiery red head and she may take absolutely no crap from Busey. That would be amusing to watch.

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