‘Dancing With the Stars’ season 12 cast announced: UGA’s Hines Ward, Kirstie Alley, Wendy Williams, Sugar Ray Leonard
AP photo of Kirstie Alley
ABC announced the 11 celebrities on the 12th season of “Dancing With the Stars” tonight. Unfortunately, there isn’t a water-cooler personality such as Bristol Palin or Kate Gosselin in sight this time to boost buzz and ratings.
There are three people who were A listers back in the 1980s (boxer Sugar Ray Leonard, “Karate Kid” actor Ralph Macchio and “Cheers” star Kirstie Alley). There’s the sassy talk show host (Wendy Williams). There’s a pro wrestler (Chris Jericho) and a two-time Super Bowl winning NFL player and former University of Georgia player (Hines Ward). There’s a former rap star (Lil Romeo, son of Master P), a Disney child entertainer (Chelsea Kane), a reality show star (Kendra Wilkinson), a supermodel (Petra Nemcova) and some radio personality few in Atlanta would know (“Psycho” Mike Catherwood).
This is arguably the weakest crew since season nine, which at least included Donny Osmond and Kelly Osborne.
On the surface, Alley and Williams could provide the tartest tongues. Leonard will lend some class. Ultimately, on the surface, the producers will have their work cut out for them to make this a memorable cycle.
The season starts Monday, March 21.
Join my Facebook fan page and Twitter.
By Rodney Ho, rho@ajc.com, AJCRadioTV blog
accessAtlanta Partner Sites
Sections
Advertise on accessAtlanta.com »
Reach the audience you want by advertising on accessAtlanta.com
Join the Access Atlanta Network »
Advertisers and Publishers, expand your reach by joining the Access Atlanta Network.
Tell us what you think about the site
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement | About our ads
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
32 comments Add your comment
Tuna
February 28th, 2011
11:16 pm
Nice hat, Rodney. Really.
Bama Bill
February 28th, 2011
11:38 pm
Don’t know about DAWG HInes and his dancing – but he has style and class and will showcase some character ! DAWG nation should be proud !
Fred
March 1st, 2011
12:33 am
You do a good job Rodney. Somehow you get me to read stuff I have absolutely NO interest in. And enjoy the articles lol. I’m pulling for the local guy, Hines. Forrest Park High School, UGA for college. I won’t watch, but I don’t have to. I have Rodney to break it down lol.
Captain Midnight
March 1st, 2011
12:36 am
Nobody with dancing experience this time, who is considered the favorite? I agree, doesn’t seem like a group that will make for an interesting season at all.
billy b
March 1st, 2011
2:53 am
Thanks for the update…hope you take the time to check out Hines’ fantastic and very classy history as a great human being… i bet he can also dance…hope he does well, but many georgians will follow the show because of him, he defines class…hope you get a chance to meet him…does a lot of great things for the less fortunate without seeking or receiving recognition for it…reps Atl and the state of G very well indeed….thanks for your good work, Rodney
tpm
March 1st, 2011
5:15 am
When is that photo of Kirstie Alley from?
RED RYDER
March 1st, 2011
5:26 am
pity the poor guy that has to dance with that knuckle dragging , gorilla Wendy Williams!! he will either get slammed by those big knockers or sprain something if her tries a lift or a dip . Holy Cow !!!
NikkiFree
March 1st, 2011
6:38 am
I’m still as interested to watch the show as I have been for any other season. The only reason I didn’t really watch last seasonwas because of the whole Bristol Palin pilitical freak show going on.
I’m gonna miss seeing that dancer named Derek Hough this upcoming season.
Dawg80
March 1st, 2011
7:03 am
Way to go Hines! Other contestants watch out for the blindside!
Ted
March 1st, 2011
7:14 am
Hopefully this show will go off of the air soon. As far as Hines Ward is concerned, I loved seeing him absolutely dejected when the Steelers lost the Superbowl.
Too Easy
March 1st, 2011
8:00 am
Says Ted, who probably was always the last guy picked in any sport – if at all.
rnd34
March 1st, 2011
8:12 am
I am actually looking forward to this season, with Chris Jericho, Ralph Machio, Sugar Ray Leonard, and Hines Ward, it should be an interesting season with the potential to have some good contest instead of so much drama. These are some very talented athletes that have grace and talent. Kirstie Alley and Wendy Williams will add some tongue in cheek moments, but it should be fun to watch.
TPM
March 1st, 2011
8:51 am
Hines Ward celebrates on the football field after making a routine 5 yard catch.
GaGirl
March 1st, 2011
8:53 am
Never heard of any of those people except for Kirstie Alley and Ralph Macchio. This is a disappointing list.
TommyJack
March 1st, 2011
9:28 am
Hines Ward’s partner better look out for a cheap shot.
sharon
March 1st, 2011
9:32 am
LOL @Too Easy
Big Daddy
March 1st, 2011
9:54 am
I care absolutely nothing about Dancing With The Stars but I have always thought Kirstie Alley was smokin’ hot, weight problems or not.
pale pasty white thighs
March 1st, 2011
10:06 am
@too easy…no ….i was the last guy picked…and i enjoyed seeing the dejection also….
KoreaGrandmom
March 1st, 2011
10:47 am
Hines Ward all the way!!!
Pea Eye Parker
March 1st, 2011
10:52 am
@Tuna … the hat rules
Techster
March 1st, 2011
11:27 am
Hines Ward would have come here to Georgia Tech except he refused to participate in Tickle Piles one of our time honored traditions.
TroubleFunk
March 1st, 2011
11:33 am
Da*n, can a brother get some eye-candy?
MountainDawg
March 1st, 2011
11:51 am
I don’t watch much TV (especially stuff like DWTS). However, looking at this roster, I’d have to give either Chris “Y2J” Jericho or Ward the athletic edge. Hopefully, they’ll give Jericho some extra mic time, as he’s know for his sharp mic skills (in the “wrasslin” world).
rosemary davis
March 1st, 2011
12:08 pm
I agree this line up is bad I have no idea who Wendy Williams will dance with but I think it will be very strange to watch since she is so tall but I like her as a Hostess
Pdentgrou
March 1st, 2011
12:12 pm
Chris Jericho is good-looking, and will be something to look at just like Hines Ward and his ginormous hiney. How will they find costumes to cover it?
Nedly
March 1st, 2011
12:25 pm
This is a GOD AWFUL cast.
Fidlin1
March 1st, 2011
12:28 pm
You won’t have a hard time getting Hines to smile. He’ll take an elbow to the face and get up with that grin. Great competitor too. Better get a partner that can keep up. BTW, I’ll be looking for Charlie Sheen to be making a comeback on DWTS 2014.
truthpaste
March 1st, 2011
3:40 pm
At least this year, these are actors, radio and tv personalities, and athletes. I consider them stars, not political candidates or politically motivated train wrecks.
Fred
March 1st, 2011
6:27 pm
@ Fidlin1: LOL on the Charlie Sheen comment.
hello
March 2nd, 2011
2:31 pm
Rodney, see Kendra dance on YouTube when she was making the Girls Next Door work-out video. The woman can MOVE! She is a winner, hands-down. At least there are no gymnasts or ice skaters, who definitely have a huge advantage in terms of memorizing routines and dance experience.
1baddman
March 2nd, 2011
3:59 pm
Hopefully Romeo can dance better than his dad.
KimZ'spackage
March 2nd, 2011
8:30 pm
Wendy and Kirste’s partners had better be wearing Back Braces. Does Wendy gets to dance with a woman and lead right?