It’s only the second week of the season, but there are already some slight upsets flying around the set of “Dancing With the Stars.” After Monday night’s episode resulted in a great deal of parity among the dancers, there was no clear frontrunner nor obvious choice for a dismissal, so when Kathy Ireland was given the boot, it wasn’t especially shocking. Debi Mazar narrowly avoided elimination, a little surprising considering she scored higher than the likes of Chuck Liddell and Kelly Osbourne. What’s more amazing: Tom DeLay has clearly emerged as a sentimental favorite among viewers despite his checkered past. (Also, he’s not a very good dancer.)

Guest judge Baz Luhrmann (director of such dance-heavy films as “Moulin Rouge!” and “Strictly Ballroom”) didn’t bring a whole lot to the table (though he did bring Mya back out for this week’s encore performance, which was well worth seeing a second time). The only other standout this week was Aaron Carter, who backed up his cocky statements about winning with a head-turning performance with partner Karina Smirnoff. That dance also featured a supremely bizarre cameo from a handful of Muppets (including Animal on drums!), which combined with Lady Gaga’s interest in Kermit the Frog and Weezer’s upcoming cover of “The Rainbow Connection” means that everybody’s favorite felt friends are having quite a pop culture moment at the end of 2009. 

Carter, Mya and (oddly) Donny Osmond remain the favorites, with Mazar and snowboarder Louie Vito seemingly on the chopping block next week. The Newsroom favorite remains Liddell (especially considering how hilarious he looks when dressed for the ballroom), but Carter emerged as the new frontrunner — and he clearly has the determination and focus to get him to the end.  [Source]