Dancing with the Stars (American season 13)


Season thirteen of Dancing with the Stars premiered on September 19, 2011. Carrie Ann Inaba, Len Goodman, and Bruno Tonioli returned as the judges, and Tom Bergeron and Brooke Burke Charvet returned as hosts. Twelve couples competed in this season. Starting this season, Alan Dedicoat, the announcer, introduces Harold Wheeler and his band after the introduction of the remaining competitors.
Actor J.R. Martinez won the competition with over 9 million votes. Rob Kardashian and Ricki Lake took second and third places, respectively.

Couples

Overview

Nine professional partners—Derek Hough, Maksim Chmerkovskiy, Cheryl Burke, Tony Dovolani, Mark Ballas, Lacey Schwimmer, Karina Smirnoff, Anna Trebunskaya, and Kym Johnson—returned this season. Maksim's brother, Valentin Chmerkovskiy, made his debut competing as a professional. Peta Murgatroyd and Tristan MacManus, part of season 12's troupe of dancers, also became professional partners for the first time. Louis van Amstel did not compete as a professional, but participated in a new segment called "Ballroom Battles", which would be canceled on November 7. The troupe also returns with three returning troupe members, Teddy Volynets, Kiki Nyemchek, and Oksana Dmytrenko, and 3 new members Sasha Farber, Sharna Burgess, and Dasha Chesnokova. This is also the first season where none of the original pros from season one competed.
The celebrity cast was revealed during an episode of Bachelor Pad on August 28, 2011. The twelve professionals were revealed on August 31, 2011 during Good Morning America. Ryan O'Neal was planning on competing as a celebrity, but did not feel he was up to it after a recent knee surgery and so Carson Kressley stepped in to replace him. O'Neal hopes to compete in a future season.
From the start, controversy erupted over the inclusion of Chaz Bono, the child of famous parents Sonny and Cher. His appearance resulted in backlash from the conservative supporters of the show, who even threatened to boycott due to his transgender status. Despite the criticism, Bono has received strong support from the LGBT community. It was stated in LGBT Weekly that "Bono has become the transgender community's living symbol of hope, strength and defiance against vitriolic hate. When ABC Television announced that Bono would appear on DWTS, he faced vile slurs and death threats from a group of trans-phobic women and men". The controversy did lead producers to hire extra security protection for his time on the show.

Scoring chart

Average score chart

This table only counts for dances scored on a traditional 30-points scale.
Rank by averagePlaceCoupleTotal pointsNumber of dancesAverage
13Ricki & Derek4001526.7
21J.R. & Karina4231626.4
32Rob & Cheryl4021625.1
44Hope & Maksim2791223.3
59Chynna & Tony90422.5
66David & Kym178822.3
710Kristin & Mark65321.7
85Nancy & Tristan2131021.3
98Carson & Anna97519.4
107Chaz & Lacey113618.8
1111Elisabetta & Val36218.0
1212Ron & Peta14114.0

Highest and lowest scoring performances

The best and worst performances in each dance according to the judges' 30-point scale are as follows:
DanceHighest scored dancerHighest scoreLowest scored dancerLowest score
Argentine TangoRicki Lake29Hope Solo24
Cha-cha-chaRicki Lake27Ron Artest14
FoxtrotJ.R. Martinez
Rob Kardashian		26Rob Kardashian
Nancy Grace
Ricki Lake
Hope Solo		24
FreestyleRob Kardashian
J.R. Martinez		30Ricki Lake27
JiveJ.R. Martinez30David Arquette18
Paso DobleRicki Lake27Chaz Bono
Nancy Grace
Hope Solo		21
QuickstepRicki Lake
J.R. Martinez		29Chaz Bono17
RumbaRicki Lake27Chaz Bono18
SambaRicki Lake
J.R. Martinez
Rob Kardashian		30Chaz Bono21
TangoRicki Lake30Chaz Bono19
Viennese WaltzChynna Phillips
J.R. Martinez		22Rob Kardashian16
WaltzJ.R. Martinez30Nancy Grace21

Elisabetta Canalis, Kristin Cavallari, and Carson Kressley did not land on the list.

Couples' highest and lowest scoring dances

According to the traditional 30-point scale:
CouplesHighest scoring dancesLowest scoring dances
J.R. & KarinaWaltz, Instant Jive, Freestyle & Instant Samba Viennese Waltz & Jive
Rob & CherylFreestyle & Instant Samba Viennese Waltz
Ricki & DerekSamba & Tango Viennese Waltz
Hope & MaksQuickstep Jive
Nancy & TristanFoxtrot & Tango Cha-cha-cha
David & KymTango Viennese Waltz & Jive
Chaz & LaceyPaso Doble & Samba Cha-cha-cha & Quickstep
Carson & AnnaTango Cha-cha-cha
Chynna & TonyRumba Jive & Tango
Kristin & MarkSamba Cha-cha-cha
Elisabetta & ValQuickstep Cha-cha-cha
Ron & PetaCha-cha-cha Cha-cha-cha

Weekly scores and songs

Unless indicated otherwise, individual judges scores in the charts below are listed in this order from left to right: Carrie Ann Inaba, Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli.

Week 1

;Running order
CoupleScoreDanceMusicResult

Ron & Peta		14 Cha-cha-cha"Krazy"—Pitbull feat. Lil JonEliminated
Rob & Cheryl16 Viennese Waltz"Lake Michigan"—Rogue WaveSafe
Kristin & Mark19 Cha-cha-cha"Dynamite"—Taio CruzSafe
Chynna & Tony22 Viennese Waltz"If I Ain't Got You"—Alicia KeysSafe
Nancy & Tristan16 Cha-cha-cha"Cry Baby"—Cee Lo GreenLast to be called safe
David & Kym18 Viennese Waltz"Somebody to Love"—QueenSafe
Elisabetta & Val15 Cha-cha-cha"Last Friday Night "—Katy PerrySafe
Hope & Maks21 Viennese Waltz"Satellite"—Dave Matthews BandSafe
Carson & Anna17 Cha-cha-cha"Moves Like Jagger"—Maroon 5 feat. Christina AguileraSafe
J.R. & Karina22 Viennese Waltz"Breakaway"—Kelly ClarksonSafe
Ricki & Derek23 Viennese Waltz"This Year's Love"—David GraySafe
Chaz & Lacey17 Cha-cha-cha"Dancing in the Street"—Martha & the VandellasSafe

Week 2

;Running order
CoupleScoreDanceMusicResult
Hope & Maks19 Jive"Girlfriend"—Avril LavigneSafe
Kristin & Mark22 Quickstep"Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" from Gentlemen Prefer BlondesSafe
David & Kym18 Jive"Runaway Baby"—Bruno MarsBottom two
Elisabetta & Val21 Quickstep"Don't Get Me Wrong"—The PretendersEliminated
Rob & Cheryl21 Jive"Surfin' Safari"—The Beach BoysSafe
Carson & Anna18 Quickstep"Walkin' Back to Happiness"—Helen ShapiroSafe
Ricki & Derek23 Jive"Hey Ya!"—OutKastSafe
Chaz & Lacey17 Quickstep"Love Is All Around"—Joan Jett & the BlackheartsSafe
Chynna & Tony21 Jive"The Boy Does Nothing"—Alesha DixonSafe
Nancy & Tristan21 Quickstep"It Don't Mean a Thing "—Duke EllingtonSafe
J.R. & Karina22 Jive"Jump, Jive, an' Wail"—The Brian Setzer OrchestraSafe

Week 3: Most Memorable Year Week

;Running order
CoupleScoreDanceMusicResult
Rob & Cheryl24 Foxtrot"Fly Me to the Moon"—Frank SinatraSafe
Chynna & Tony26 Rumba"Hold On"—Wilson PhillipsSafe
Chaz & Lacey18 Rumba"Laugh at Me"—Sonny BonoSafe
Kristin & Mark24 Samba"Crazy in Love"—Beyoncé ft. Jay-ZEliminated
Carson & Anna23 Tango"It's My Life"—No DoubtSafe
J.R. & Karina26 Rumba"If You're Reading This"—Tim McGrawSafe
Nancy & Tristan21 Waltz"Moon River"—Andy WilliamsSafe
Ricki & Derek27 Rumba"Gravity"—Sara BareillesSafe
Hope & Maks24 Cha-cha-cha"Tonight "—Enrique IglesiasLast to be called safe
David & Kym24 Rumba"O-o-h Child"—Five StairstepsSafe

Week 4: Movie Week

;Running order
CoupleScoreDanceMusicMovieResult
Chynna & Tony21 Tango""'Eliminated
David & Kym23 Paso Doble"The Raiders March"Raiders of the Lost ArkSafe
Carson & Anna20 Viennese Waltz""'Safe
Nancy & Tristan21 Paso Doble"Flash's Theme"Flash GordonSafe
Hope & Maks24 Foxtrot"You've Got a Friend in Me"Toy StorySafe
Rob & Cheryl24 Paso Doble"Theme from Superman"SupermanLast to be called safe
Ricki & Derek29 Tango"The Murder"'Psycho'Safe
Chaz & Lacey21 Paso Doble"Gonna Fly Now"RockySafe
J.R. & Karina26 Foxtrot"The Pink Panther Theme"The Pink PantherSafe

Week 5: 80s Week

Each couple dances to a song that came out in the 1980s.
;Running order
CoupleScoreDanceMusicResult
Hope & Maks24 Tango"Livin' on a Prayer"—Bon JoviLast to be called safe
Carson & Anna19 Jive"Wake Me Up Before You Go Go"—Wham!Eliminated
Nancy & Tristan22 Rumba"True"—Spandau BalletSafe
J.R. & Karina28 Samba"Conga"—Gloria EstefanSafe
Rob & Cheryl25 Rumba"Hello"—Lionel RichieSafe
Chaz & Lacey21 Samba"Get Down on It"—Kool & the GangSafe
David & Kym25 Tango"Tainted Love"—Soft CellSafe
Ricki & Derek24 Foxtrot"Easy Lover"—Phillip Bailey and Phil CollinsSafe

Week 6: Broadway Week

;Running order

Week 7: Halloween Week

;Running order

Week 8: Instant Choreography Week

;Running order
CoupleScoreDanceMusicResult
Rob & Cheryl27 Quickstep"Take On Me"—A-haLast to be called safe
Rob & Cheryl24 Instant Jive"Maneater"—Hall & OatesLast to be called safe
Hope & Maks27 Quickstep"Valerie"—Mark Ronson featuring Amy WinehouseSafe
Hope & Maks25 Instant Jive"The Best Damn Thing"—Avril LavigneSafe
Ricki & Derek28 Waltz" A Natural Woman"—Aretha FranklinSafe
Ricki & Derek24 Instant Jive"Land of a Thousand Dances"—Wilson PickettSafe
Nancy & Tristan24 Tango"The Naughty Lady of Shady Lane"—The Ames BrothersEliminated
Nancy & Tristan20 Instant Jive"Upside Down"—Paloma FaithEliminated
J.R. & Karina30 Waltz"What the World Needs Now"—Burt BacharachSafe
J.R. & Karina30 Instant Jive"Tutti Frutti"—Little RichardSafe

Week 9: Semifinals

;Running order

Week 10: Finale

;Running order
CoupleScoreDanceMusicAssistant judge
Ricki & Derek27 Cha-cha-cha"Yeah 3x"—Chris BrownCarrie Ann Inaba
Ricki & Derek27 Freestyle"Can't Touch It"—Ricki-Lee CoulterCarrie Ann Inaba
Rob & Cheryl27 Waltz"It Is You "—Dana GloverBruno Tonioli
Rob & Cheryl30 Freestyle"Minnie the Moocher"—Cab CallowayBruno Tonioli
J.R. & Karina24 Cha-cha-cha"Let's Get Loud"—Jennifer LopezLen Goodman
J.R. & Karina30 Freestyle"Whine Up"—Kat DeLunaLen Goodman

;Running order
CoupleScoreDanceMusicResult
Ricki & Derek30Tango"Theme from Psycho"—Bernard HermannThird place
Rob & Cheryl26Foxtrot"Fly Me to the Moon"—Frank SinatraSafe
J.R. & Karina28Jive"Jump, Jive, an' Wail"—The Brian Setzer OrchestraSafe
J.R. & Karina30 Instant Samba"Shake Your Bon-Bon"—Ricky MartinWinner
Rob & Cheryl30 Instant Samba"Shake Your Bon-Bon"—Ricky MartinRunner-up

Dance chart

The celebrities and professional partners danced one of these routines for each corresponding week:

Dance troupe

The dance troupe consists of six dancers, plus the first eliminated male and female pros, who this season were Val Chmerkovskiy and Peta Murgatroyd. They are also sometimes joined by pros from other seasons.
DateDanceSong
September 20, 2011Jive"Watch Me Move"—Fefe Dobson
October 4, 2011Viennese Waltz"Gone with the Wind" Theme
October 11, 2011Paso Doble
Foxtrot		"Cowboy/Star Wars" Theme
"Butch Cassidy" Theme
October 17, 2011Rumba
Samba
Cha-cha-cha		"Eternal Flame"
"Walk Like an Egyptian"
"Manic Monday"
October 18, 2011Cha-cha-cha"Like a Virgin" / "Like a Prayer"
November 8, 2011Foxtrot"More"—Andrea Bocelli

U.S. Nielsen ratings

Broadcast

Season 13 premiered September 19, 2011 on ABC airing on Monday at 8:00 PM. The performance show was two hours each Monday from 8:00–10:00. The results show was each Tuesday from 9:00–10:00. The season finale aired Tuesday November 22, 2011.