On Tuesday’s Good Morning America, ABC officially revealed the 12 celebrities and their professional partners who will compete on Dancing with the Stars season 22. While several stars were announced ahead of time and nearly all of the names had been spoiled online, it was the first chance to get them all together.
The new cast of DWTS features three NFL players, three TV actresses from the ’80s, ’90s and 2000s, a deaf model, a weather girl, a UFC fighter, a singer, a FOX News reporter and one of Donald Trump’s ex-wives.
It’s also a big season for the pros as Derek Hough is taking time off to focus on his upcoming Broadway show. In facts, five of the pros from last season are not returning, making way for the returns of Edyta Sliwinska, Sasha Farber, Peta Murgatroyd and Artem Chigvintsev to the ballroom.
Here’s the complete list of stars and their partners for Dancing with the Stars season 22.
–Fuller House star Jodie Sweetin with Keo Motsepe
–The O.C. star Mischa Barton with Artem Chigvintsev
–Good Morning America meteorologist Ginger Zee with Val Chmerkovskiy
-UFC fighter Paige VanZant and Mark Ballas
–Facts of Life and Real Housewives of Atlanta star Kim Fields with Sasha Farber
-Donald Trump’s ex-wife Marla Maples with Tony Dovolani
-Deaf America’s Next Top Model winner Nyle DiMarco with Peta Murgatroyd
-FOX News contributor Geraldo Rivera with Edyta Sliwinska
-Boyz II Men member Wanya Morris with Lindsay Arnold
-Super Bowl 50 MVP Von Miller with Witney Carson
-Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown with Sharna Burgess
-Retired NFL quarterback Doug Flutie with Karina Smirnoff
It’s definitely a more mature cast than in recent years. For the first time in the past five seasons, there are no teenagers in the competition, with 21-year-old Paige VanZant as the youngest. In fact, Von Miller, Antonio Brown and Nyle DiMarco are the only other contestants under 30. By comparison, last season featured five stars under 30 (including two teenagers) while season 20 starred six contestants under 30.
DWTS is also continuing its trend of senior citizens with 72-year-old Geraldo Rivera. This is the sixth season in a row to feature a contestant over 70 and Rivera is only the fifth man over 70 to ever compete.
This season, Julianne Hough will not be returning as a judge, but Len Goodman is after taking last season off. As always, the show will be hosted by Tom Bergeron and Erin Andrews.
See how the new cast performs in the ballroom when Dancing with the Stars season 22 premieres Monday, March 21 at 8pm on ABC.
(Image courtesy of ABC)
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.
