The new season of Dancing with the Stars is fast-approaching, and the cast will be officially announced Tuesday, September 4 on Good Morning America. But TMZ is already reporting several of the potential dancers this season, and they’re quite impressive.
The list, which is not confirmed and may be nothing but idle rumors, includes stars of The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Jersey Shore, Glee, The Voice and not one, but TWO Saved by the Bell alumnae. If these rumors turn out to be true, this could be the most star-filled season ever.
Most interesting on the list is 74-year-old Emmy winner Valerie Harper, who played Rhoda on The Mary Tyler Moore Show and her own spin-off. What’s amazing and hard to believe about this rumor is that in March she was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer and was only given three months to live. Harper is rumored to be partnered with Tristan MacManus.
Harper is following in the footsteps of another Mary Tyler Moore alum, Cloris Leachman, who also appeared on Dancing with the Stars. Similarly, after Jersey Shore‘s The Situation’s disastrous turn on the dance floor, rumor has it that new mom Snooki will be fist-pumping her way through season 17.
One of the bigger names TMZ is reporting is Amber Riley, one of the original stars of Glee who was released as a series regular this season. Landing a star of such a high-profile current hit series is quite large for Dancing with the Stars.
Speaking of current shows, DWTS may be playing dirty against its time slot competitor The Voice by scooping up its leftovers. The show’s recently ousted social media correspondent Christina Milian is on the list of potential DWTS stars. If you don’t watch The Voice, Milian was the Brooke Burke Charvet of that show.
Finally, TMZ is saying that there will be two former Saved by the Bell stars showing up this season. Elizabeth Berkley, who played nerdy feminist and “so excited” Jessie Spano, and Leah Remini, who showed up during the summer beach season as the beach resort owner’s daughter, Stacey Carosi, are both allegedly going to be on DWTS this season.
Berkley is also quite infamous for starring in the film Showgirls and she hosted Bravo’s dance competition Step It Up and Dance, both of which could give her a big advantage.
Remini may be best known for starring on The King of Queens. She recently made headlines after leaving the Church of Scientology and criticizing its leader.
UPDATE: As for the men, early rumors include ‘N Sync’s J.C. Chasez, a judge from America’s Best Dance Crew, and he would be the third member of ‘N Sync to appear on DWTS following Joey Fatone and Lance Bass. There’s also Jack Osbourne (his sister Kelly was a finalist on season 9) and High School Musical star Corbin Bleu. If most of these names are accurate, this is certainly one of the most famous and talented casts the show has ever put together.
What do you think of these rumored ladies on Dancing with the Stars season 17? Do Valerie Harper, Snooki, Amber Riley, Christina Milian, Elizabeth Berkley and Leah Remini make up the most impressive roster of women yet? Which ones do you hope are true and which ones do you want to be false?
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(Image courtesy of FOX)
Senior Writer, BuddyTV
John watches nearly every show on TV, but he specializes in sci-fi/fantasy like The Vampire Diaries, Supernatural and True Blood. However, he can also be found writing about everything from Survivor and Glee to One Tree Hill and Smallville.
