Season 17 Dancing With the Stars Cast Announced

[edjames]

Just announced:

 

 

Tony Award nominee Valerie Harper, "Glee" actress Amber Riley and Godspell actor Corbin Bleu are among the cast of Season 17 of ABC's "Dancing With the Stars," which will premiere Sept. 16.

 

As previously reported, Harper, who was diagnosed earlier this year with terminal brain cancer, is "getting pretty close to a remission" and, despite her illness, will compete on the reality series. She is paired with dancer Tristan McManus.

 

This season's lineup of stars will perform for the first time on live national television with their professional partners during the two-hour season premiere from 8-10 PM.

 

The new season will transition to a one-night, two-hour format, which will feature "competitive dance, dynamic group performances and musical guests, all while climaxing to a dramatic elimination. Each week viewers can vote for their favorite dancing performance and beginning with the second episode on Monday, September 23, one couple will be eliminated at the end of the show by combining the judges' scores from that night, along with the public votes from the previous week."

 

The cast includes Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi ("Jersey Shore") with dancer Sasha Farber, Harper ("The Mary Tyler Moore Show") with dancer McManus, Elizabeth Berkley ("Saved by the Bell") with dancer Valentin Chmerkovskiy, Riley ("Glee") with dancer Derek Hough, former football player and television personality Keyshawn Johnson with dancer Sharna Burgess, Bleu (In the Heights, Godspell) with dancer Karina Smirnoff, Leah Remini ("The King of Queens") with dancer Tony Dovolani, singer and actress Christina Milian with dancer Mark Ballas, Bill Nye ("Bill Nye the Science Guy") with dancer Tyne Stecklein, Brant Daugherty ("Pretty Little Liars") with dancer Peta Murgatroyd, Jack Osbourne ("Fuse News") with dancer Cheryl Burke and Bill Engvall ("Bounty Hunters") with dancer Emma Slater.

 

OK, any guesses who'll be voted out first????LOL

 

Also, tonight airs a special reunion episode of Mary Tyler Moore Show, with Valerie Harper, on the TVLand Hot In Cleveland show at 10PM...

 

 

ED

[actor61]

This show is so borderline at times. The theory is that the dancers are not professionals but Harper worked for years on Broadway as a chorus dancer (look her up on IBDB), and Elizabeth Berkeley likewise is trained. You can see Harper dancing in the film version of "L'il Abner", and Berkeley in "Showgirls", of course. This happens season after season and the rationale they give is, "I've never done ballroom dancing."

[edjames]

Agreed, after 16 seasons, and very little change in pro-dancers, the show can really make you roll your eyes. Personally, all three judges whould be changed. I am tired of their histrionics, especially Bruno.

Yes, Valerie "was" a trained dancer and she kept in good shape for many years however, I'm sure she hasn't been hoofing it for many a decade.

Once she was a guest on one of the afternoon chat shows. I think it may have been Dinah Shore. Lucille Ball was on the show and the topic turned to Lucy's Broadway turn in Wildcat. Out popped a photo showing Lucy in the show with a young Valerie Harper in the chorus background.

 

Anyway, personally, I wish Valerie all the best and a spot in the top three!!!

 

ED

[unsub2O17]

I never get tired of watching Derek Hough--especially without his shirt on! And in bare feet!

[JT Brooklyn]

Not Again? This Circus has really gotten tired! "The Science Guy" among others....