Alfonso Ribeiro and Witney Carson to Win Dancing With the Stars Season 19?

Alfonso Ribeiro and Witney Carson to Win Dancing With the Stars Season 19?
Zachary Stieber
9/18/2014
Updated:
7/18/2015

Alfonso Ribeiro and Witney Carson appear to be frontrunners in Dancing With the Stars 2014, or season 19.

Ribeiro is best known for his role in “Fresh Prince of Bel Air,” but stunned the audience and the judges with a breakout performance on the first night of the new season this week.

Showing he has a sense of humor, Ribeiro started to do his classic “Carlton” dance before shaking his head and diving into the routine with Carson.

Ribeiro earned high praise from the judges, with the 42-year-old and his 20-year-old professional dance partner being told by judge Len Goodman that “without question” their dance was the best of the night.

“The Prince of Bel-Air? You’re the King of the night!” added new judge and pro dancer Julianne Hough.

Ribeiro and Carson earned a 36 score out of 40, the best for the night.

“I totally agree with the judges. It’s so neat that Alfonso is the surprise celebrity standout of the season. I knew that he had his signature move, but I expected him to rely on his Fresh Prince jig and to woo over America with his goofiness and charm — not his downright talent!” analyzed Hollywood Life

“Backstage at rehearsal, Alfonso told Witney that his main goal is to lose weight and she bounced back, saying that her main motive is to win! And you know what? I think they just might!”

Indeed, Ribeiro earned the top spot in odds given by betting company Bovada, coming in at 3/1--ahead of his other prime male contenders Jonathan Bennett and Antonio Sabato Jr., and the bevy of beautiful women on the show this season, including Janel Parrish, Sadie Robertson, and Bethany Mota.

After the odds were updated following the first performance, Ribeiro was still in the top spot with an even better chance--3/2.

Robertson jumped to second with 3/1 and Mota jumped into third with 7/1.

Lea Thompson, the “Back to the Future” star, and one of the biggest surprises along with Ribeiro, leaped into fourth place with 15/2 odds while Parrish fell back into fifth at 8/1.

Bennett (10/1), Randy Couture (15/1), Tavis Smiley (15/1), and Sabato (25/1) rounded out the middle.

Tommy Chong (33/1), Betsey Johnson (100/1), and Michael Waltrip (100/1) remained at the bottom.

Lolo Jones, along with her partner Kep Motsepe, were eliminated in the first week, with Johnson nearly getting the boot.