Kate Flannery found herself in the bottom two for the first time on Halloween Night on “Dancing with the Stars.” Fortunately, the judges treated her with a save over Karamo, and so she still has a shot at becoming the show’s oldest female champ.
Jennifer Grey is the current record holder, winning Season 11 with Derek Hough at 50 at the beginning of this decade in 2010. Flannery is 55, so she’d more than edge out Grey. The “Office” star is the oldest contestant left; the other women — Lauren Alaina, Ally Brooke and Hannah Brown — are in their 20s, and the men — Kel Mitchell, Sean Spicer and James Van Der Beek — are in their 40s.
Needless to say, “Dancing” has been far kinder to younger folks. Most people win in their 20s and 30s, and there have been three female teen champs. Last season, Milo Manheim, then 17, was trying to become the first male teen champ. No woman has won in her 40s, while Season 19 champ Alfonso Ribeiro, then 43, is the sole male champ in his 40s. Donny Osmond is the oldest male winner and oldest winner overall, claiming the Mirrorball at 51 in Season 9.
Flannery, who’s in fifth place in our odds, would be the definition of an underdog win. Few probably expected her to last this far when the cast was announced, and then she was paired with a new pro, Pasha Pashkov. But Pashkov has proven to be one of the best new pros in a very long time, while Flannery has emerged as a delightful, proficient dancer you cannot help but root for.
But as we saw from last week, she still needs people to vote for her to make “Dancing” history, so get in there. (That’s what she said.)
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