It's OFFICIAL - another N Sync alumni will be among the 13 contestants for the fall season ABC's Emmy-nominated smash Dancing With The Stars.
The full list of 13 and their partners:
Former 'N Syncer Lance Bass; pro partner Lacey Schwimmer
Keeping Up With the Kardashians star and socialite/boutique owner Kim Kardashian; pro partner Mark Ballas
Grammy winner Toni Braxton, who just cut her Vegas show short due to heart problems; pro partner Alec Mazo
Retired NFL defensive lineman Warren Sapp; pro partner Kym Johnson
Toast of Beijing and one-half of Team USA's two-time Olympic gold medalist beach volleyball team, Misty May-Treanor; pro partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy
All My Children resident daytime diva Susan Lucci; pro partner Tony Dovolani
Celebrity chef Rocco DiSpirito; pro partner Karina Smirnoff
Rock Star host and onetime E! personality Brooke Burke; pro partner Derek Hough
Gold medalist sprinter for Team USA in the Athens and Sydney Olympics Maurice Greene; pro partner Cheryl Burke
Up-and-coming Disney tween heartthrob and Hannah Montana costar Cody Linley; pro partner Julianne Hough
Sitcom utility player Ted McGinley (Hope & Faith, Sports Night, Married…With Children); pro partner Inna Brayer
Veteran Oscar-winning actress and recent Roast of Bob Saget scene-stealer Cloris Leachman; pro partner Corky Ballas
Comedian Jeffrey Ross; pro partner Edyta Sliwinska
Kardashian missed this morning's announcement; she called in to ABC's Good Morning America this morning to confirm that she was rushed to a New York emergency room Sunday night after slicing her foot open on a broken mirror in her hotel room. But she will go on with the show.
Hannah Montana co-star Linley will be the show's youngest contestant ever at age 18; Leachman is the oldest at 82.
Linley is partnered with Julianne Hough; rumors she would take a sabbatical from the show to focus on her recently launched country singing career had been making the rounds since last spring.She herself had said that that part of her life was behind her and that she was focused on launching her country career - her self-titled debut album is one of the biggest selling country cd's of the year.
The most notable new addition on the pro side is Corky Ballas, teamed with Leachman. Ballas is the father of Mark and was the live-in dance coach for his son and the Houghs back in London.
The celebs met with their pro partners last week and have already begun a grueling practice schedule in anticipation of their three-night premiere, Sept. 22-24.
As with last season, two couples will be eliminated during the first week of competition.
The Jonas Brothers (AAAGGGGGHHHH!!! Can't you EVER get away from these guys?) and Jesse McCartney will perform on the first results show Sept. 24.
On the selections, well, I've been saying we need a celebrity chef, but Rocco wasn't who I was hoping for - I was pushing for Tyler Florence or Mario Batali. And once again, they've ignored my suggestion to bring in an extreme sports star - skateboarder Bucky Lasek or snowboarders Mason Aguierre or Michael Goldschmidt come to mind.
We'll have full coverage of this year's competition every week on Subject:CINEMA this fall, so don't miss it!
