Dancing with the Stars 2010 Lineup Review: Is Evan Lysacek the DWTS Season 10 Favorite?

The Dancing with the Stars 2010 lineup is out, and 11 brand new celebrities are set to cha cha, samba and waltz their way toward the Mirrorball Trophy. Evan Lysacek, the 24-year-old reigning World and Olympic men's figure skating champion, will join forces with pro dancer Anna Trebunskaya and test his moves off the ice. Is Lysacek the celebrity ringer of DWTS season 10? Let's take a look at the evidence.

First off, Evan Lysacek won his Olympic gold medal not just because he outskated the competition, but because he out-danced the competition. He used his artistry and elegance to defeat Evgeni Plushenko, the pre-event favorite, despite Plushenko's powerful arsenal of jumps. In addition, and perhaps more pointedly, there's no other man included in the Dancing with the Stars 2010 lineup who boasts an Olympic gold medal in what essentially amounts to dancing on skates, so that's a huge check mark in Lysacek's favor.

Second, by all accounts, Evan Lysacek is a serious workhorse. During the Olympic Games broadcasts, commentator Scott Hamilton repeatedly remarked on Lysacek's strong work ethic, and on the number of hours the skater spends practicing his moves. Fresh off an Olympic training regimen, he may be the best prepared of those included in the Dancing with the Stars 2010 lineup to deal with the rigors of ballroom and Latin dance training.

Third, gold medal-winning Olympians have historically excelled on DWTS. Gymnast Shawn Johnson won Dancing with the Stars season 8 with partner Mark Ballas. Figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi, also paired with Ballas, took the season 6 title. Yamaguchi was, in fact, so dominant during her tenure on the DWTS that it was hard to imagine anyone else winning the title. The terms "Olympian" and "Dancing with the Stars" go together like peanut butter and jelly, and as the sole Olympian on the Dancing with the Stars 2010 lineup list, Lysacek has a leg up on the competition.

Finally, there's the age factor. Of the celebs included in the Dancing with the Stars 2010 lineup, Lysacek, at 24, is the youngest of the bunch. All My Children star Aiden Turner is two years older at 26, and the rest of the cast -- with the notable exception of 80-year old Buzz Aldrin -- falls between the ages of 31 (Nicole Scherzinger and Erin Andrews) and 42 (Pamela Anderson). The age advantage may prove itself a small one, but it's still there lurking in the background.

Whether or not Evan Lysacek will be the DWTS season 10 ringer remains to be seen, but from where I sit, the chances of him adding a shiny, sparkly trophy to his medal haul are looking pretty darn good.

The rest of the Dancing with the Stars 2010 lineup:

Pamela Anderson, 42, model/actress/activist and former Baywatch Babe
Chad Ochocinco, 32, NFL star / Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver
Buzz Aldrin, 80, astronaut and moonwalker
Aiden Turner, 26, All My Children soap actor
Erin Andrews, 31, sportscaster
Shannen Doherty, 38, 90210 actress and ex-wife of DWTS season 9 contestant Ashley Hamilton
Niecy Nash, 40, comedian and actress
Nicole Scherziner, 31, member of the Pussycat Dolls
Kate Gosselin, 34, star of TLC reality show Jon & Kate Plus 8
Jake Pavelka, 32, the most recent star of The Bachelor

Sources:

The Bachelor: On the Wings of Love Finale, March 1, 2010, ABC

NBC Olympic Figure Skating Coverage, February 2010