Las Vegas Weekly

October 20, 2009 · 11:09 AM

DWTS Photo Gallery: Donny’s at the top of the leaderboard

By Robin Leach

Donny Osmond and Kym Johnson do an Argentine Tango on Dancing With the Stars.

Photo: Adam Larkey/ABC TV

Will Donny Osmond now make it into the final three on ABC’s Dancing With the Stars? The man is a modern miracle! On Dec. 9, the Flamingo headliner turns 52, and yet here he is confidently and smoothly tackling daily five-hour rehearsals for DWTS -- and on top of that still performing four shows per week at the Flamingo. So far, we haven’t really heard any complaints from him about body aches and pains except for some black-and-blue bruising!

Tonight, Donny and pro partner Kym Johnson will reprise their top-winning Argentine Tango routine that nearly won them three perfect 10s. At 29 points, it was the highest tally this season. If only chief judge Len Goodman hadn’t lopped one solely because he’s the show’s curmudgeon! Click HERE for our spoiler alert story we posted right after the East Coast broadcast.

It swept Donny ahead of front-runner Mya and partner Dmitry Chaplin and shook up his pack of potential rivals. It looked until last night as if he’d do battle against Natalie Coughlin with Alec Mazo or Melissa Joan Hart with Mark Ballas for the third spot. However, they slipped badly and now both face possible elimination tonight, along with shaggy-haired skateboard champ Louie Vito. Even though NFL star Michael Irvin scored one point below them -- at 21 -- the judges complimented him on amazing progress, and his fan base could just save him yet again from elimination. If not, then he’ll be ousted. My money is on Louie to be sent packing.

After last night’s voting and in advance of tonight’s elimination, the picture of the potential final three is becoming a little clearer. Hopefully Derek Hough’s flu bug will depart as fast as it arrived so he can dance again -- then with a bit of luck, Las Vegas will be well represented in the finals again -- but it’s anybody’s guess if our city will produce the actual winner again.

First on tonight’s results show will be the all-pro tribute to Michael Jackson by the show’s 16 dancers. Click HERE for our preview yesterday, and enjoy the official trailer of This Is It, which hits theaters next week:

Four of the dancers talked about Michael’s influence on their lives:

Cheryl Burke said, “Michael Jackson and his music are an inspiration to every dancer. As a performer, he was such an innovator that to be able to choreograph part of this tribute to him is an honor.”

Derek said, “Michael Jackson is the reason why I started to dance. I find it hard not to incorporate some element of Michael Jackson into any dance I do. His style and inspiration is forever engraved in my soul.”

Maks said, “Michael Jackson was my absolute idol and inspiration. It’s extremely important for me to do a great job with this routine. I love the song I’m choreographing to, and all of us in my portion are having a blast dancing the number.”

Mark said, “Michael Jackson is the reason I do what a do. He has been a life-long idol and inspiration of mine. There will never be anyone or anything like him again -- simply the best.”

Photo: Adam Larkey/ABC TV

Kelly Osbourne and Louis Van Amstel.

So with last night’s major change in the top rankings -- and the bottom standings -- of the remaining 10 couples, it certainly looks as if the final three will be Donny, Mya and model Joanna Krupa with either Las Vegas Academy graduate Derek or our Le Reve choreographer Maks if he has to stand in for flu-stricken Derek. Last night, Mya scored 27, and Joanna still grabbed 24 dancing without her regular partner. We’ll see if I’m right as we tick closer to the November finals. When we get down to that time, I’ll make the final predictions.

Meantime, Donny will be safe tonight, along with our other Las Vegas favorite Kelly Osbourne, who scored 24 with Louis Van Amstel. We’ll have the real-time action as another couple faces the chopping block tonight and then photos with the ousted dance team tomorrow.

Photo: Adam Larkey/ABC TV

Anna Demidova and Michael Irvin do the Paso Doble on Dancing With the Stars.

On tonight’s show, Norah Jones will sing “It’s Gonna Be” from her fourth studio album The Fall, to be released Nov. 17. Additionally, she’ll perform her hit “Come Away with Me” from the eight-time Grammy Award-winning debut album. Anna Trebunskaya and Jonathan Roberts will dance to that song.

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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