Las Vegas Weekly

August 31, 2009 · 11:32 AM

Photo Gallery: DWTS pics of Donny & Kym, Chuck and Kelly

By Robin Leach

Kym Johnson and Donny Osmond.

Photo: ABC TV

As promised, here are the first official portrait photos of Flamingo headliner Donny Osmond with his Dancing With the Stars partner Kym Johnson. They are already the 4-1 favorites to win the Season 9 contest, according to Steve Wynn’s race book odds-maker Johnny Avello. The top-rated ABC series gets underway with a two-hour broadcast on Sept. 21.

Johnny gives our hometown hero, MMA star and UFC Hall of Famer Chuck Liddell a 50-1 shot with his partner Anna Trebunskaya. The odds-maker doesn’t think much of Las Vegas regular Kelly Osbourne, either. The singer and reality TV star’s chances with Louis Van Amstel are 28-1.

Johnny thinks the other top five contenders will be pop star Aaron Carter with Karina Smirnoff (5-1); singer Mya with Dmitry Chaplin (7-1); actor Ashley Hamilton with Edyta Sliwinska (8-1); and model Joanna Krupa with Derek Hough at 10-1. Our pro dancing pal Maksim Chmerkovskiy from Le Reve at the Wynn is partnered with Entourage star Debi Mazar and are an 18-1 pick.

I’m surprised that Johnny tipped my friend supermodel Kathy Ireland partnered with Tony Dovolani at only 25-1 odds. My bet is that they’ll place higher, but I don’t disagree with Johnny that Donny, who turns 52 this December, will out dance and out dazzle the field. After all, he has been tripping the light fantastic since he started in showbiz at age 5, appearing on The Andy Williams Show, and his fan club has legions of loyal followers! Remember Donny also performs a dance-off with sister Marie, who finished third on Season 5 of DTWS, every night in their Flamingo show. Doubtless she’ll be giving him her insider tips for success -- and a strong warning about not fainting!

Photo: ABC TV

Anna Trebunskaya and Chuck Liddell.

Donny filmed the show’s opening sequences last week and has begun grueling six-hour rehearsal days. He’ll continue that strenuous schedule during the run of the series, with filmed sequences capturing him at the Flamingo and at our friend Tony Delgado’s dance studio in Summerlin.

Season 9 of DWTS will feature three two-hour back-to-back shows of double eliminations to cut the 16 couples down to a more manageable size. My bet is that you will see former House Majority leader Tom DeLay, despite being partnered with two-time champion Cheryl Burke, ousted early!

Photo: ABC TV

Kelly Osbourne and Louis Van Amstel.

Be sure to follow Vegas DeLuxe nightly once DWTS gets underway as we will report live the same night of each broadcast during the run of the new shows as we have done in past seasons!

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

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Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter HERE.

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