"Dancing with the Stars" cast: Ranking the Season 14 competitors
The cast of the 14th season was announced Tuesday morning, and included a pair of former child stars, two TV personalities, three singers and a Green Bay Packers player.
The new season kicks off on March 19, but until that day approaches, we have to wonder - who has the best shot at winning? We used our knowledge of past seasons and champions to make some early (and very unscientific) predictions:
Pictures: "Dancing with the Stars" Season 14
Timeline: Highlights of past "DWTS" seasons
Fan Favorites: Jaleel White, Melissa Gilbert and Jack Wagner will all spark memories for "Dancing" viewers - White as Steve Urkel on "Family Matters," Gilbert from her days on "Little House on the Prairie" and Wagner from soaps including "Melrose Place." You can't discount already having viewers in your corner - Jennifer Grey has a mirrorball trophy because of it, and Ricki Lake made it to the final three last season.
Needs to Make a Strong First Impression: Welsh mezzo-soprano Katherine Jenkins is one of the least recognizable names on the list. If she doesn't impress judges and fans straight off the bat, the classical singer probably won't be around for long.
The same goes for William Levy, who has starred in telenovelas and played Jennifer Lopez's love interest in her music video for "I'm Into Love." The Cuban actor will have to make sure viewers know who he is, and - more importantly - want to vote for him.
The Disney Factor: Roshon Fegan, take note - Kyle Massey wasn't well known outside the Disney Channel circuit before his "DWTS" stint, but his charm and dancing skills propelled him to second place. Same thing happened with Chelsea Kane last season. Fegan will have to build a similar following if he wants to become a contender.
Athletes' Advantage: We've always said to keep an eye on the athletes on this show - they are used to training hard and know how their bodies move. Green Bay Packers wide receiver Donald Driver is surely thinking about Hines Ward, who danced his way to victory in Season 12.
The Age Factor: Martina Navratilova and Gladys Knight. Yes, we just explained the athletes' advantage above. But age must be considered too - and there's a chance that former tennis star Navratilova, now 55, may not be able to keep up with the younger stars. Same goes for the 67-year-old music legend.
This isn't a hard-and-fast rule, of course, but statistics are not in their favor - out of 13 "DWTS" seasons, there have been just two "older" champions: Donnie Osmond and Grey.
Could Go Either Way: Maria Menounos and Sherri Shephard are already well-known to TV watchers from their respective co-hosting gigs on "Extra" and "The View," but whether that will translate into viewers' votes remains to be seen - Wendy Williams only made it to the second week of competition, but Nancy Grace was propelled into last season's final five.
Gavin DeGraw is another one we're unsure about. The singer will have fans of his music eagerly voting, but he has to win over the judges and other viewers too. DeGraw also has a slew of cross-country tour dates coming up, so he'll have to fit in practices while he's on the road.
Who do you think will win this season of "Dancing with the Stars"? Vote in our poll and share your thoughts in the comments.
