Dancing's latest cast has fewer big toes, lotsa little feet
02/28/12 09:12 AM
By ED BARK
Dancing with the Stars still has legs. This will be the show's 14th edition, after all.
Still, the cast announced Tuesday on ABC's Good Morning America looks like the weakest-kneed ever. You know they're not knocking your door down anymore when Jack Wagner makes the cut.
And when Dancing re-launches on Monday, March 19th, it will be in the cross-hairs of NBC's The Voice, which lately has surpassed Fox's American Idol as prime-time's most popular singing competition.
ABC describes the latest grouping as "stunning," which is its prerogative. But can anyone in America identify all of the following? Namely, Gavin DeGraw, Roshon Fegan, Katherine Jenkins and William Levy.
At least four of Dancing's returning pros -- Maksim Chmerkovskiy, Cheryl Burke, Derek Hough and Kym Johnson -- are appreciably better known. And that's in large part what the show is still banking on these days.
There are some known quantities. Gladys Knight, Martina Navratilova, Melissa Gilbert and Jaleel "Urkel" White are among the 12 new celebrity hoofers. The other entrants are Maria Menounos, Sherri Shepherd and Donald Driver.
Donald of course is a personal favorite of your friendly content provider and longtime Wisconsin-bred Green Bay Packer fan. But objectively speaking, he's probably the show's least known pro football player ever. And he's paired with Peta Murgatroyd, who's got to be the least known pro dancer in the field. Don't discount his bubbly personality, though. And his potentially smooth moves.
Despite all the cooing from GMA co-host Robin Roberts, Dancing has achieved the seeming impossible by making even the cast of NBC's latest Celebrity Apprentice look good. Oh for the days of even Donny Osmond, Bristol Palin, Tom DeLay and Cloris Leachman. Once more, here's the field, with pro partners attached:
Gavin DeGraw (singer) and Karina Smirnoff
Donald Driver (athlete) and Peta Murgatroyd
Roshon Fegan (singer/actor) and Chelsia Hightower
Melissa Gilbert (actress) and Maksim Chmerkovskiy
Katherine Jenkins (singer) and Mark Ballas
Gladys Knight (singer) and Tristan McManus
William Levy (actor) and Cheryl Burke
Maria Menounos (host) and Derek Hough
Martina Navratilova (athlete) and Tony Dovolani
Sherri Shepherd (host) and Val Chmerkovskiy
Jack Wagner (actor) and Anna Trebunskaya
Jaleel White (actor) and Kym Johnson