Las Vegas Weekly

September 18, 2009 · 7:25 AM

The Lion King cast preps for DWTS premiere week

By Robin Leach

The Lion King at Mandalay Bay.

Photo: Tom Donoghue/www.donoghuephotography.com

All eyes will be on Las Vegas heroes Donny Osmond and Chuck “The Iceman” Liddell when they start their run for the disco ball trophy on ABC’s top-rated Dancing With the Stars next week. Season 9 kicks off with an unprecedented three-night premiere starting Monday.

On Monday, Vegas DeLuxe will have a full photo preview of Flamingo headliner Donny and his pro partner Kym Johnson; UFC champion Chuck, who has already dropped 20 pounds from intense rehearsals with partner Anna Trebunskaya; and regular Vegas playgirl Kelly Osbourne -- looking the most glamorous of her life -- with partner Louis Van Amstel.

But Las Vegas will really shine on the Wednesday night results show with the cast of Disney’s The Lion King from our Mandalay Bay. It will be the largest group of performers for one DWTS number as they celebrate with the “Circle of Life.” The cast -- and the amazing animal puppets -- will parade in their stunning costumes for the spectacular production. With 16 stars in the Monday and Tuesday shows, that, too, is the largest number of celebrities in the series to date.

Vegas DeLuxe on Monday night, with appropriate spoiler alerts, will give you the first round of judging scores and again on Tuesday after the live broadcast on the East Coast. We’ll have photos of the dance floor action each morning after the broadcasts and the first eliminations on Wednesday night.

My inside sources tell me that the dark horse in the race for the big win might well be Chuck. We’ll have all those inside secrets and the reason why Chuck has surprised all the professional dancers right here on Monday.

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.

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter HERE.

Follow Vegas DeLuxe on Twitter HERE.

Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter HERE.

Share This