Tonya Plank

Author, Dancer and Public Interest Lawyer

DWTS Fall 2008 Season Contestants

August 25, 2008

1) Grammy winner Lance Bass;

2) TV Chef Rocco DiSpirito;

3) Olympic Gold Medalist (just crowned) Misty May Treanor;

4) Gold medalist sprinter Maurice Green;

5) Broadway star and singer Toni Braxton;

6) Reality TV star Kim Kardashian (who seems to have just injured her foot);

7) Hannah Montana star (and youngest ever to be on the show; will be paired with Julianne Hough) Cody Linley;

8) * Actress (fabulous, I might add, and excellent comedian, and the oldest star ever on the show) Cloris Leachman;

9) Actor Ted McGinley (to be paired with new dancer Inna Brayer);

10) “Everything woman” (whatever that means) Brooke Burke;

11) Supposedly more raucous than Adam Carolla, Comedian Jeffrey Ross (who will be paired with Edyta Sliwinska);

12) Footballer Warren Sapp (paired with Kym Johnson, whom the annoyingly ingratiating Good Morning America host kept pronouncing “gorgeous, gorgeous”); and

13) (first time contestants number over 12 btw), the most famous actress in all of daytime, Susan Lucci. After making a big deal of her numerous unsuccessful Emmy nominations, said annoying GMA host pronounced being accepted to DWTS “better than any award.” Yeah, okay…

Anyway, it appears DWTS producers have tried to cover every demographic base conceivable: young Hannah Montana guy should appeal to the teenagers, while Leachman and Lucci older women (though Leachman really should appeal to EVERYONE — for people who may not know her, the woman quite simply rocks). And with the football and Olympic stars they’ve got the sports fans covered. Braxton appeals to Broadway lovers, the reality TV stars to the twenty-something crowd. And, in an attempt at creating nostalgic continuity, McGinley should remind viewers of Steve Guttenberg and Ross, the lovely Carolla.

Best thing about the Good Morning America broadcast by far: the mention of Maks Chmerkovskiy’s return. At least the silly TV talking heads haven’t forgotten the pro dancers make this show.

The new season begins September 22nd, the day after the Emmys in which host Tom Bergeron is apparently nominated for an award in the newly-created category of reality TV show host.

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Tonya
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Viewing 11 Comments

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    ABC certainly has a broad base of "stars". Cloris Leachman from what I know is quite a colorful lady and has done tv to movies, comedy to drama and is quite slim and agile so hopefully it won't be like the guy from Cheers (mailman) who could barely move (sorry). As for Susan Lucci being another old lady for Tony; I have to admit I am shocked the daytime queen who also got great reviews on Broadway by the way, is that old. Still hopefully she and Cloris will surprise everyone.
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    Tinkcrzy1972, I'm sorry, it is my opinion but I've been going through a lot lately. Normally I'm not that mean but because of other things and she rubs me entirely the wrong way I was mean. However, I'm not about to feel sorry for someone like her.
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    I totally forgot about "Unbreak My Heart" and her other songs, Benita -- you're right.

    You guys, here's my HuffPost piece: similar comments there: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tonya-plank/with-...

    I hadn't heard of Kardashian I have to admit (I don't watch a lot of TV unless it's about dance!), but others are excited for Leachman!
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    Katrina,

    Its still just a little rude, don't you think? Would you like it if someone called you that on a blog? I, on occasion, will show my kids something that Tonya has written here. With this kind of language, I can't show them the comments anymore. That makes me sad.
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    Toni Braxton is probably better known for being an R&B singer than anything she has ever done on Broadway. She peaked in the nineties with her hits "Breathe Again" and "Unbreak My Heart". I know a lot of singers try to reinvent themselves on the Great White Way but Toni's appeal on this show is to the people who were her fans in the nineties.
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    Kelly, I can because I can't stand people who are "celebrities" who have done nothing. I can't stand her. *shrugs* my opinion. If Mark's a player, I wouldn't like it either because I can't stand double standards either, but I have never once heard that.

    Barbara, I'm 22. She's 82. I looked at her resume but I have no idea who she is even though I've seen some of the things she's been in. Just me being 22.
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    Katrina, it's clear you don't know who Cloris Leachman is. Besides being a wonderful actress with a range that covers comedy and drama with equal ease, she's a woman with a life-loving spirit that transcends age. I don't have any illusions that she'll go very far in the competition but my guess is that she will add a great deal to the show. She is a force of nature.
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    No offense Katrina, but did you honestly have to call Kim a whore? I have actually met Kim and you know what she's actually a really nice decent human being...really sweet girl. And I know people think she's another Paris, but really she's not. Yes, she has made mistakes, but who hasn't. As for Mark, he is a good guy, but I also hear that he is also known as a player, and I think it's really a shame when there is a double-standard against men vs. women.
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    Here's my thoughts (where are also posted at my blog)
    • Toni Braxton, singer, 40, and season one DWTS champ Alec Mazo
    I love Alec, not sure about Toni though...

    • Lance Bass, singer, 29, and Lacey Schwimmer
    I love Lacey and she's amazing talented so I'm happy for Lance. My Second place choice

    • Ted McGinley, actor, 50, and Inna Brayer
    I have no idea who this is but I his partner I know from being partnered with Pasha (who's another ballroom star)

    • Cloris Leachman, actress, 82, and Corky Ballas
    She lucked out, old broad... Poor Corky. Corky is a freakin' world Latin ballroom champion for crying out loud. To put him with an 82 year old just ridiculous!

    • Warren Sapp, former NFL star, 35, and Kym Johnson
    no idea how this is but I love Kym

    • Rocco DiSpirito, chef, 31, and Karina Smirnoff
    Chef Rocco... Karina's going to have her hands full..

    • Kim Kardashian, TV personality, 27, and reigning DWTS champ Mark Ballas
    POOR MARK! I feel so bad for him... Why stick a whore like her with a good decent guy like him?

    • Maurice Green, Olympic gold medalist track and field star, 34, and two-time DWTS champ Cheryl Burke
    hum... maybe Cheryl will start doping now too?

    • Misty May-Treanor, Olympic gold medalist beach volleyball player, 31, and Maksim Chmerkovskiy
    Yea for Misty May and Maks. I'm putting my hopes on these two.

    • Susan Lucci, Emmy-award winning soap opera actress, 61, and Tony Dovolani
    I hate ABC. Seriously give Tony somebody younger for once.. He keeps getting these old women

    • Jeffrey Ross, 42, comedian, and Edyta Sliwinska
    No idea who this is but ok

    • Cody Linley, 18, actor, and two-time DWTS champ Julianne Hough
    Poor Jules.... I can't stand Disney actors

    • Brooke Burke, 36, TV personality, and Derek Hough
    Yea for Derek.. hopefully though she bring him through.

    I'm sorry but putting an 82 year old (who I don't even know) is ridiculous. that's just asking for trouble. She could have a heart attack, fall and break a bone, who knows what else. I mean I love Corky but come on ABC...
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    I'm excited that Lacey will be on. With all her experience in different forms of dance because of SYTYCD, it will be interesting to see what she brings to the table. I'm least excited about Cloris Leachman. She's 82. I'm sure she's a lovely woman, I just personally don't want to watch her dance. There's not so much to be excited about...
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    Thanks for this information. I always enjoy this program.
 

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