Dancing with the Stars is a staple of American reality TV. It has all of the aspects of good, eye-pulling television. It’s a talent show, so it’s fun to watch what the contestants bring to the table. The contestants themselves are celebrities, so it’s fantastic to see which of these famous people has what it takes to outdance their competition.
Of course, with all of these big personalities and egos in one place, there is going to be drama. All this comes together to create the phenomena that is Dancing with the Stars. However, just because there’s celebrities, doesn’t mean everyone is popular. So, here are ten contestants, five that went too soon and five that needed to get lost.
Come Back: Evander Holyfield
Evander Holyfield was a boxer who came on Dancing with the Stars’ very first season. Unfortunately, he didn’t last long, being eliminated in the second week of the competition. However, he gave the show everything he had and everything he did, Evander did it with brimming enthusiasm. In fact, he improved massively in his second performance!
Evander was learning from his partner and if he wasn’t eliminated, who knows how much better he would have gotten? After all, boxing has many precise, dance-like movements, with another week or two to adapt, these skills would have owned the dance floor.
Get Lost: Kate Gosselin
You might recognize this name from the show Jon and Kate Plus 8 (later shortened to Kate Plus 8 after she divorced her husband). This mother of eight had already made a name in reality T.V. with her loud, abrasive, and aggressive personality. This caused her to clash with her partner and instructor constantly and their lack of chemistry was all too apparent on the stage. Even the most energetic and popping of songs couldn’t get this woman to be anything but stiff as a board. The judges disapproved of her every time and somehow she managed to stay for five weeks!
Come Back: Kyle Massey
This familiar face was one of the leading characters in the popular Disney channel show That’s So Raven and Kyle Massey managed to carve out a leading role on Dancing with the Stars as well. He went all the way to the end, getting second place and missing the win by a hair. Kyle had the moves, the personality, and the drive to win but it just wasn’t in the cards this time around. Even though he was around for the entire season, Kyle is one of those people that you just can’t get enough of so it would be wonderful if one day he competed on the big stage once again.
Get Lost: Michael Bolton
This singer and songwriter decided to try his hand at a different sort of performance in 2010 when he competed on Dancing with the Stars. He was only around for two weeks but even that was too long. Originally performing hard rock and heavy metal back in the 70s and 80s he put his best attempt forward at a jive, a dancing style from the 40s and 50s. It was a massive flop, being panned by the judges as the worst jive they’ve ever seen. Adding to the cringe factor, he took the criticism as a personal attack and demanded an apology from the panel. Sorry Michael Bolton, stick to singing soft rock and some of the other contestants will show you how to do a real jive.
Come Back: Tommy Chong
Tommy Chong competed on the show during season 19. One of the most astonishing things about his performances and his presence was his age; a startling 76 years old. This is a very intense competition and has sent much younger contestants packing with injuries ranging from minor to severe. Not to mention how he was clearly loving every minute of it and putting all of his effort into every routine. He came in fifth place and while it would be an absolute treat to see him grace the stage again with his positive energy and fantastic skills, it’s been seven years; that would put him at 83-years old. Still, if any one could do it, it’d be Tommy Chong.
Get Lost: Mike ‘The Situation’ Sorrentino
Jersey Shore was one of those shows that you either loved or hated. The same thing could be said for the majority of people that appeared on the show as well, including The Situation. This is a man made for T.V.; all bravado, all showmanship, all the time. However, all of that seemed to fly out the window in his four week stay on Dancing with the Stars. His wardrobe choices were questionable and the pairing of dance with music (particularly the foxtrot paired with Boom Boom Pow) were just insane! Its divine intervention, or rigging for ratings, that kept him on so long.
Come Back: Sara Evans
Sara Evans is a country singer that made her bid to be the best in season three of Dancing with the Stars. She was doing alright, learning from her partner and improving steadily with each week. The judges were never crazy about Sara but the fans adored her. Week after week after week, they voted to have her stay. In the end, she came up in sixth place. However, her appeal to the fans didn’t wear out and the judges didn’t vote her out. Sara left the stage to be with her family during the proceedings of her divorce. A noble sacrifice to be sure and if she ever tries again, who knows what the outcome would be.
Get Lost: Tucker Carlson
Tucker Carlson’s stint on Dancing with the Stars was so short, if you blinked, you missed it. Which in this case, close your eyes and keep them shut! How a conservative Fox News anchor got on this show is a mystery that might never be solved. His infamous “dance” involved him mostly sitting in a chair on stage doing small, rigid movements that would be insulting to call dancing while his partner carried the whole show around him. Who thought that was a good idea? The judges gave him extremely harsh reviews and sent him packing. Stick to your day job Tucker!
Come Back: Chuck Wicks
When making the pairs for the competitions, the producers of the show examine both the stars and the pros and try to put people together who can work well and have chemistry. At the end of the day though, the two are generally strangers, with the pros knowing the stars the same way the audience does.
However, when Chuck Wicks performed in season eight, his partner was also his girlfriend at the time. This allowed a different set of rules and boundaries for the couple’s routines. The chemistry was realer, deeper, and the result was sultry, sexy, and burlesque. They didn’t go to the top, but what they put on display was something rarely seen.
Get Lost: Tom DeLay
Just like our last competitor, you can’t help but find yourself wondering, “Why on Earth are you here?!” The show has three catagories of contestants that they choose to bring on the show: Those who want to learn how to dance, those who love watching, and those who are trendy at the time. Tom DeLay, a stanch, conservative Republican, falls squarely into that third category. At the time of his appearance, he was rising out of a boiling pot full of controversy, as many politicians usually try to do. He was on the show for three weeks before having to leave due to injury. Frankly, he should have left sooner. Everyone remembers his creepy, over the top dance to “Wild Thing”. It’s so hard to watch.
