Mark Ballas Steps Up to Acting

Two-time Dancing With the Stars pro champ Mark Ballas reunites with two former contestants — his Season 9 partner, Melissa Joan Hart, and Season 3's Joey Lawrence — to compete for laughs on their new sitcom, Melissa & Joey (8/7c, ABC Family). We got in step with him.

TV Guide Magazine: Who do you play?
Ballas: Myself, actually. I'm supposed to be dancing with Melissa, but due to an unfortunate event, I end up with Joey instead. It's pretty funny!

TV Guide Magazine: Do you have any plans to do more acting?
Ballas: At the moment, I'm focusing on my music [Ballas has an EP, Waiting for Patience, available on iTunes and Amazon, plus an album in the works] and Dancing With the Stars.

TV Guide Magazine: Speaking of... who's your biggest threat this season?
Ballas: I'm assuming Brandy and Jennifer Grey are going to be pretty good.

TV Guide Magazine: And how is your current partner, Bristol Palin?
Ballas: It has been cool to bring her out of her shell — she's the prime example of what this show is all about. I'm really proud of her!

Subscribe to TV Guide Magazine now!