I do think that's broadly what happened but I understood that Jodie Sweetin had to turn the show down, despite wanting to do it, because it clashed with shooting for Fuller House. I didn't have the impression that that was 'last minute' though. Of course they may have known for a while and just couldn't find anyone for Val.

If Val got cut in favor of Artem do you think and his brother would be quiet about it publically? My guess is no. Based on history NO!

I'm sure they'd both have plenty to say about it, but it would never happen - some pros being more equal than others 😒.

I really think TPTB have created a monster by letting some of the pros become bigger than the show. You have celebs calling the casting shots, knowing that certain pros will get them further; you have pro dancers with egos that need to be massaged; and you have fanwarz between entrenched factions turning what should be a fun show into a bitter feud.

Tail wagging the dog 😏.

This may be true but it blows my mind. I can't wrap my head around Paula Deen wanting Louis van Amstel. She's 5'5" and let's face it, heavy. Having a slim short partner is going to make her look much bigger. Tony would make more sense and I would figure Artem would be a dream come true - the new hottie on the block (though he's not that big a guy either but surely bigger than Louis.)

These are proven Machiavellian producers - I also can't imagine them giving that much power to a celebrity, letting them have their choice of pros as a "demand", unless that person was a huge "get". Sadly, maybe Paula is, due to her racist scandal, but that brings me back to why an otherwise pretty shrewd woman, building a financial boon of an empire out of her little Georgia kitchen, would want to be paired with a shrimp of a guy, probably 5'6", who makes her look enormous.

They also called up Louis to be on the show last season and he was pretty sure he would be. What a strange coincidence that after several years off the show, he's back because of her request, and nothing to do with them alerting him last season to be ready.

If you follow Val on twitter, you'll know he dint knew his partner for quite a time whereas some of the other celebs even started rehearsing then. Val's partner Jodie and Allison's partner Maurice Benard backed out...and the makers were still looking for replacements but probably couldn't find any.

Then Peta's injury happened..and Allison who was still waiting for her partner got paired up with Peta's partner Andy Grammer. They were still short of 1 celeb, thus they decided to rope in Alek last minute and paired him with Lindsay. That's how Lindsay became a pro this season, even though she was suppose to be in the troupe. To keep Val on the show, they had to pair him with Artem's partner Tamar (as they obviously can't pair him with a Paula/Chaka/Kim as he wouldn't last long enough with 'em). Bindi-Derek, Alexa-Mark already started rehearsing ..so Tamar was the only one they could pair Val with. This season was pretty messed ..thus lots of last minute changes had to happen.

So who's replacing Len? No-one? From what I can see it will be the usual 3 plus guest judges and Len making an appearance maybe at some stage.

For all the talk of falling ratings on page 1, the ratings have held pretty steady over recent seasons. Last season it was beating The Voice in head 2 head,

However, Len is a big loss. The English pantomime villain bringing some sanity to the madness of the show.

Val's partner was never Jodie there is video of her talking to a fan saying that she would love to do the show and couldn't possibly do the show this season due to fuller house just after the pro announcement on the 20th it could have been Shay though who was heavily rumoured but no matter what happened tptb could have found someone for Artem, they have had a YouTuber before and someone who makes vines this season also traditionally females are easier to find then males and DWTS has a shorter season in the winter as well so they have no excuse.

The reason for the guest judges is that they want Len back for the spring season don't know why they can't have different judges and even different pros for the spring and winter seasons. DWTS isn't in any danger re ratings unless it falls out of the top 10 which it never has sytycd is in a more dangerous position.

Brittany is back in the troupe I wish they would make up their minds tbh

Gutted that Artem won't be a pro this season. I thought he had earned his stripes doing the trio paso with Rumer and Val. If that wasn't enough to get a fan base stateside God knows what it would take. He was due someone young with potential this time round.
Alternatively Tony should have been a judge this season and Artem have his slot.
I know none of the names bar Chaka and Bindi.
Derek and Val and Mark are all long overdue older duffers. That would be a shot in the arm for interesting viewing.
The signing of the soldier hero is bizarre. I cannot understand how both Strictly and DWTS seem to struggle so much with sign ups. Yes, there is a lot of time commitment/£ needed but surely more people want to take advantage of learning a new skill with primetime publicity? Is it viewed as desperate/a stigma? Don't know US slebs that well but why couldn't they get someone like Daphne off Frasier or an ex-Cosby show star or golden girl? Is there really no interest?
Whilst it seems wrong to me, same as the Charleston/AT choreographers on Strictly do not always get full credit, Louis did say the American pros can get help externally so...much as it seems Allison is as out of her depth with ballroom as Anton is with his latin bless, it IS inspired that she has Andy because Peta can do the choreo (Andy asked for her originally as his pro) and Allison can execute it flawlessly.

promo shots of the pairings

Please tell me that picture of Victor and Karina is an optical illusion. Please.

He is on a lean, but will still be a good 2-3 inches shorter than Karina...a first I think?

He's 5'2" She's 5'5 should have been give to Witney or Brittany

Look at the heels she's wearing though

And for the time being at least, Artem appears not to be in the troupe - just dancing in opening numbers. What a mess.

Total mess how could they not find one female celeb in the whole of America i will never know. Sacking Brittany after she did the tour as well as last season to replace her with a contemporary dancer only to bring her back - nightmare, they seem to have no idea what they are doing

Does anybody know which dances each couple is doing week 1 yet?

Paula and Tamar have been seen rehearsing in hold, so both likely have a Foxtrot.

Gary has been seen in photos doing New Yorker's, so likely a Cha-cha.

Bindi has Jive as per an EW video.

And lastly, pure conjecture, but I would like to think Chaka will Cha-cha to 'I'm Every Woman'...

And Alek has the Foxtrot (Paula mentioned 'Waltzing' but that might just be her being vague).

She said she was looking forward most to performing a Waltz with Louis. She didn't specify that was her first dance - mind you the only reason I think she has Foxtrot is all her photos from Louis and her thus far have been her in hold - but I could be totally off and she could have Cha-cha...or even...dare I say...a Jive? I have to say I can't wait to see her dance!

Rehearsal footage at DWTS studio for tomorrow's flash dance on Hollywood Boulevard - this is Louis' channel and you can see Paula, Louis, Anna and Mr. Busey practicing their moves for tomorrow.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnY3gKSFdfQ

I've just realised we've never actually seen Keo choreograph a Ballroom. Lolo and Charlotte were both sacked off after an all Latin run (well, Lolo went after one dance but Charlotte managed to dance Ballroom for three rounds...)

I thought it was a shame Charlotte didn't get to do one Ballroom, she really didn't get the full experience, and who knows? She might've been a Ballroom girl (alright, probably not 10s quality, but she might've managed an 8 or two).

This is season 21, you get an 8 or two just for not being sick on Carrie Ann's shoes.

Last season was an improvement in terms of actual doing ballroom dances compare to other seasons Derek nearly won with Amy after doing two ballroom dances. Not all the contestant get the full experience on dwts even if they reach the latter stages for example in season 18 there was one paso and that was Charlie's. Chris would have been in the same boat as Charlotte if he had left as early as she did as he didn't get a ballroom dance until week 5. Now there is a debate that could be had on whether some of the dances on dwts are actual ballroom dances because with dwts the dances are not always what they say on the tin tbh.