Season eight of Dancing with the Stars premiered on Monday, March 9, 2009, on the ABC network.
The show generally followed the format of previous seasons, with thirteen couples, although there were some changes, including two new dances, the Argentine tango and Lindy Hop, and an occasional dance-off between the bottom two couples, in order to determine who would be eliminated.
Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson and Mark Ballas were crowned the champions, while Gilles Marini and Cheryl Burke finished in second place, and Melissa Rycroft and Tony Dovolani finished third.
Cast Couples This season featured thirteen celebrity contestants. This season was originally advertised as the first American season where a husband and wife would compete against each other: rodeo champion Ty Murray and singer-songwriter Jewel. However, Jewel fractured both of her tibiae and was unable to compete. She was replaced by Holly Madison. Murray chose to continue on the show, while Jewel appeared during the season as a special musical guest. Nancy O'Dell, then co-host of Access Hollywood, was also originally announced to be on the show, but was forced to withdraw from the competition due to a torn meniscus, which required surgery. She was replaced by Melissa Rycroft, who had won season 13 of The Bachelor.
Celebrity Notability Professional partner Status Singer-songwriter Eliminated 1ston March 17, 2009 Actress Eliminated 2ndon March 24, 2009 Playboy model & reality television personality Eliminated 3rdon March 31, 2009 Apple co-founder Eliminated 4thon March 31, 2009 Actor & comedian Eliminated 5thon April 7, 2009 Jackass star Eliminated 6thon April 14, 2009 NFL linebacker Eliminated 7thon April 21, 2009 Country singer Eliminated 8thon April 28, 2009 Rapper Eliminated 9thon May 5, 2009 Rodeo cowboy Eliminated 10thon May 12, 2009 The Bachelor contestant Third placeon May 19, 2009 Actor Runners-upon May 19, 2009 Olympic artistic gymnast Winnerson May 19, 2009
Future appearances Shawn Johnson, Gilles Marini, and Melissa Rycroft later competed in the All-Stars season, where Johnson was paired with Derek Hough, Marini was paired with Peta Murgatroyd, and Rycroft remained with Tony Dovolani.
Host and judges The show was again co-hosted by Tom Bergeron and Samantha Harris. Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli and Carrie Ann Inaba returned as judges.
Scoring chart The highest score each week is indicated in with a dagger (), while the lowest score each week is indicated in with a double-dagger ().
Color key:
+Dancing with the Stars (season 8) - Weekly scores Couple Week 1 2 1+2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Night 1 Night 2 Shawn & Mark 1st 23 24 47 25 26 26 28 27+25=52 27+29=56 30+26=56 28+30= +30= Gilles & Cheryl 2nd 26 27 27+28=55 29+27=56 30+30= 30+28= +30= Melissa & Tony 3rd 23 26 49 29 25 27 21+25= 27+30= 28+27=55 29+27= +30= Ty & Chelsie 4th 14 20 34 23 25 21 18 24 24+28=52 25+21= 25+23= Lil' Kim & Derek 5th 21 23 44 25 27 26 26 28+28= 25+27=52 Chuck & Julianne 6th 20 20 40 23 22 23 23 27 26+25=51 Lawrence & Edyta 7th 16 20 36 20 19 20 22 Steve-O & Lacey 8th 17 31 15 15 David & Kym 9th 19 17 36 24 22 22 Steve & Karina 10th 17 Holly & Dmitry 11th 18 18 36 17 16 Denise & Maks12th 18 21 39 16 Belinda & Jonathan13th 17 18 35 Notes
Weekly scores Individual judges scores in charts below (given in parentheses) are listed in this order from left to right: Carrie Ann Inaba, Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli.
Week 1 Each couple performed either the cha-cha-cha or waltz. Couples are listed in the order they performed. CoupleScoresDanceMusic Lil' Kim & Derek 21 (7, 7, 7) Cha-cha-cha "Nasty" — Janet Jackson Belinda & Jonathan 17 (6, 6, 5) Waltz "What the World Needs Now Is Love" — Jackie DeShannon Lawrence & Edyta 16 (6, 5, 5) Cha-cha-cha "Twenty-Five Miles" — Edwin Starr Steve-O & Lacey 17 (6, 5, 6) Waltz "Vito's Waltz" — 101 Strings Orchestra Gilles & Cheryl 24 (8, 8, 8) Cha-cha-cha "Addicted to Love" — Robert Palmer Chuck & Julianne 20 (6, 7, 7) Waltz "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" — Elvis Presley Holly & Dmitry 18 (6, 6, 6) Cha-cha-cha "Just Dance" — Lady Gaga, feat. Colby O'Donis Ty & Chelsie 14 (5, 4, 5) Cha-cha-cha "Train in Vain" — The Clash Shawn & Mark 23 (8, 8, 7) Waltz "It is You (I Have Loved)" — Dana Glover Steve & Karina 13 (5, 4, 4) Cha-cha-cha "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet" — Bachman-Turner Overdrive David & Kym 19 (6, 7, 6) Waltz "You Light Up My Life" — Debby Boone Denise & Maks 18 (6, 6, 6) Cha-cha-cha "Nothin' but a Good Time" — Poison Melissa & Tony 23 (8, 7, 8) Waltz "Moon River" — Andy Williams
Week 2 Each couple performed either the quickstep or salsa. The two couples in the bottom two competed against each other in a dance-off to determine which would also be eliminated. Couples are listed in the order they performed.
Due to an injury, Steve-O was unable to dance on the live show, so his rehearsal footage was shown and scored instead. CoupleScoresDanceMusicResult Holly & Dmitry 18 (6, 6, 6) Quickstep "We Are in Love" — Harry Connick Jr. Safe David & Kym 17 (6, 5, 6) Salsa "El Cumbanchero" — Angel Meléndez and the 911 Mambo Orchestra Safe Denise & Maks 21 (7, 7, 7) Quickstep "We Go Together" — from Grease Safe Belinda & Jonathan 18 (6, 6, 6) Salsa "Higher" — Gloria Estefan Bottom two Ty & Chelsie 20 (7, 6, 7) Quickstep "Life Is a Highway" — Rascal Flatts Safe Shawn & Mark 24 (8, 8, 8) Salsa "Las Muchachas" — Johnny Pacheco Safe Steve & Karina 17 (6, 5, 6) Quickstep "Oh, Boy!" — Buddy Holly Bottom two Chuck & Julianne 20 (6, 7, 7) Salsa "Say Hey (I Love You)" — Michael Franti & Spearhead Safe Lawrence & Edyta 20 (7, 6, 7) Quickstep "As Long as I'm Singing" — The Brian Setzer Orchestra Safe Steve-O & Lacey 14 (5, 4, 5) Salsa "Cobrastyle" — Teddybears Safe Lil' Kim & Derek 23 (8, 7, 8) Quickstep "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" — Marilyn Monroe Safe Melissa & Tony 26 (9, 8, 9) Salsa "The Cup of Life" — Ricky Martin Safe Gilles & Cheryl 27 (9, 9, 9) Quickstep "Kryptonite" — 3 Doors Down Safe +Dance-offCoupleScoresDanceMusicResult Belinda & Jonathan 17 (5, 6, 6) Salsa "Higher" — Gloria Estefan Eliminated Steve & Karina 17 (6, 5, 6) Quickstep "Oh, Boy!" — Buddy Holly Safe
Week 3 Each couple performed either the foxtrot or samba. The two couples in the bottom two competed against each other in a dance-off to determine which would also be eliminated. Couples are listed in the order they performed.
CoupleScoresDanceMusicResult Denise & Maks 16 (5, 6, 5) Samba "Take a Picture" — Filter Bottom two Chuck & Julianne 23 (8, 7, 8) Foxtrot "All I Want To Do" — Sugarland Safe Holly & Dmitry 17 (5, 6, 6) Samba "Bananza (Belly Dancer)" — Akon Bottom two Steve-O & Lacey 15 (5, 5, 5) Foxtrot "I'm Yours" — Jason Mraz Safe Lawrence & Edyta 20 (7, 6, 7) Samba "I Can't Get Next To You" — The Temptations Safe Shawn & Mark 27 (9, 9, 9) Foxtrot "More Than This" — Norah Jones Safe Gilles & Cheryl 27 (9, 9, 9) Samba "El Matador" — Los Fabulosos Cadillacs Safe David & Kym 24 (8, 8, 8) Foxtrot "Come Rain or Come Shine" — Natalie Cole Safe Steve & Karina 10 (4, 3, 3) Samba "Jump in the Line (Shake, Senora)" — Harry Belafonte Safe Melissa & Tony 27 (9, 9, 9) Foxtrot "Recipe for Love" — Harry Connick Jr. Safe Lil' Kim & Derek 25 (8, 8, 9) Samba "Remedio P'al Corazon" — Alberto Plaza Safe Ty & Chelsie 23 (8, 8, 7) Foxtrot "Come Dance with Me" — Frank Sinatra Safe +Dance-offCoupleScoresDanceMusicResult Holly & Dmitry 18 (6, 6, 6) Samba "Bananza (Belly Dancer)" — Akon Safe Denise & Maks 20 (6, 7, 7) Samba "Take a Picture" — Filter Eliminated
Week 4 Each couple performed either the Argentine tango or Lindy Hop. Two couples were eliminated at the end of the night. Couples are listed in the order they performed.
CoupleScoresDanceMusicResult David & Kym 22 (8, 7, 7) Lindy Hop "Bandstand Boogie" — Barry Manilow Safe Lil' Kim & Derek 27 (9, 8, 10) Argentine tango "Taquito Militar" — Conjunto Tipico Del Tango Safe Chuck & Julianne 22 (8, 7, 7) Lindy Hop "Summertime Blues" — Brian Setzer Safe Lawrence & Edyta 19 (7, 5, 7) Argentine tango "Suite Punta Del Este" — Ástor Piazzolla Safe Ty & Chelsie 25 (9, 8, 8) Lindy Hop "You and Me and the Bottle Makes 3 Tonight (Baby)" — Big Bad Voodoo Daddy Safe Steve & Karina 12 (4, 4, 4) Argentine tango "Cité Tango" — Gotan Project Eliminated Melissa & Tony 29 (10, 9, 10) Lindy Hop "Brown Derby Jump" — Cherry Poppin' Daddies Safe Holly & Dmitry 16 (5, 6, 5) Argentine tango "Libertango" — Bond Eliminated Steve-O & Lacey 15 (5, 5, 5) Lindy Hop "Dance Little Sister" — The Rolling Stones Bottom three Gilles & Cheryl Argentine tango "Assassin's Tango" — John Powell Safe Shawn & Mark 25 (8, 8, 9) Lindy Hop "Ready Teddy" — Little Richard Safe
Week 5 Each couple performed either the paso doble or Viennese waltz. The two couples in the bottom two competed against each other in a dance-off to determine which would also be eliminated. Couples are listed in the order they performed.
CoupleScoresDanceMusicResult Chuck & Julianne 23 (7, 8, 8) Viennese waltz "Feels Like Today" — Rascal Flatts Safe Lawrence & Edyta 20 (6, 7, 7) Paso doble "Granada" — Agustín Lara Bottom two Shawn & Mark 26 (9, 8, 9) Viennese waltz "Ordinary Day" — Vanessa Carlton Safe Melissa & Tony 25 (8, 8, 9) Paso doble "Poker Face" — Lady Gaga Safe David & Kym 22 (7, 8, 7) Viennese waltz "I Put a Spell on You" — Screamin' Jay Hawkins Bottom two Gilles & Cheryl 29 (10, 9, 10) Paso doble "Habanera" — Charlotte Church Safe Steve-O & Lacey 18 (6, 6, 6) Viennese waltz "Complainte de la Butte" — Rufus Wainwright Safe Ty & Chelsie 21 (7, 7, 7) Paso doble "Barracuda" — Heart Safe Lil' Kim & Derek 26 (9, 8, 9) Viennese waltz "I'll Be" — Edwin McCain Safe +Dance-offCoupleScoresDanceMusicResult David & Kym 24 (8, 8, 8) Viennese waltz "I Put a Spell on You" — Screamin' Jay Hawkins Eliminated Lawrence & Edyta 20 (6, 7, 7) Paso doble "Granada" — Agustín Lara Safe
Week 6 Each couple performed either the jive or rumba. Couples are listed in the order they performed.
CoupleScoresDanceMusicResult Ty & Chelsie 18 (6, 6, 6) Jive "The Girl's Gone Wild" — Travis Tritt Safe Shawn & Mark 26 (8, 9, 9) Rumba "Slow Dancing in a Burning Room" — John Mayer Safe Lawrence & Edyta 22 (7, 7, 8) Jive "Ain't That Peculiar" — Marvin Gaye Safe Melissa & Tony 27 (9, 9, 9) Rumba "If I Were a Boy" — Beyoncé Safe Lil' Kim & Derek 28 (10, 8, 10) Jive "Jailhouse Rock" — Elvis Presley Safe Steve-O & Lacey 16 (7, 4, 5) Rumba "Fall for You" — Secondhand Serenade Eliminated Gilles & Cheryl 26 (9, 8, 9) Jive "Dance, Dance" — Fall Out Boy Safe Chuck & Julianne 23 (8, 7, 8) Rumba "She Will Be Loved" — Maroon 5 Safe
Week 7 Each couple performed one unlearned dance, and they all participated in a group swing dance. Couples are listed in the order they performed.
CoupleScoresDanceMusicResult Melissa & Tony 29 (10, 9, 10) Argentine tango "Mi Confesión" — Gotan Project Safe Lawrence & Edyta 21 (7, 7, 7) Waltz "Open Arms" — Journey Eliminated Lil' Kim & Derek 26 (9, 8, 9) Rumba "Lost Without U" — Robin Thicke Safe Chuck & Julianne 27 (9, 9, 9) Samba "Bailá, Bailá" — Angela Via, feat. Joe Budden Safe Ty & Chelsie 24 (8, 8, 8) Waltz "Strawberry Wine" — Deana Carter Safe Shawn & Mark 28 (9, 9, 10) Cha-cha-cha "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)" — Michael Jackson Safe Gilles & Cheryl 27 (9, 9, 9) Viennese waltz "I Go to Sleep" — The Pretenders Safe Chuck & JulianneGilles & CherylLawrence & EdytaLil' Kim & DerekMelissa & TonyShawn & MarkTy & Chelsie No scoresreceived GroupSwing "The Clapping Song" — Shirley Ellis
Week 8 Each couple performed one unlearned dance, plus participated in a group dance. Couples are listed in the order they performed.
Due to an injury, Melissa Rycroft was unable to perform her jive or participate in the team dance on the live show. Lacey Schwimmer filled in for her on the team dance, while Rycroft's rehearsal footage for her jive was shown and scored instead.