We’re nearing the official start to fall, and you know what that means! No, I’m not talking about football–I’m talking about something even better. It’s time for a new season of ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars!”

I’ve been a huge fan of “Dancing with the Stars” ad I became an even bigger fan after I got the chance to talk to one of my favorite dancing celebs, Tony Dovolani (who is just as much of a nice guy over the phone as he appears to be on television). I’ve loved the celeb selections throughout the seasons, but I think the producers just might have topped themselves this year. Not only do we have Bill Nye (the Science Guy) as a contestant, but also actress Valerie Harper (whose terminal brain cancer is nearing remission), “Glee” star Amber Riley, comedian Bill Engvall, actress Elizabeth Berkley Lauren and Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi. The full list of contestants and dancers, which was released on Good Morning America, is as follows:

  • Elizabeth Berkley Lauren and Val Chmerkovskiy
  • Corbin Bleu and Karina Smirnoff
  • Brant Daugherty and Peta Murgatroyd
  • Bill Engvall and new “DWTS” dancer Emma Slater
  • Valerie Harper and Tristan MacManus
  • Keyshawn Johnson and Sharna Burgess
  • Christina Milian and Mark Ballas
  • Bill Nye and new “DWTS” dancer Tyne Stecklein
  • Jack Osbourne and Cheryl Burke
  • Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi and new “DWTS” dancer Sasha Farber
  • Leah Remini and Tony Dovolani
  • Amber Riley and Derek Hough
  • “Dancing with the Stars” will premiere Sept. 16 at 8 pm /7 pm central. It’ll only be a one-night, two-hour show this season, unlike previous seasons. What do you think about the new cast? Give your opinions in the comments section below!

    Dancing with the Stars season 17

    By Monique Jones

    Monique Jones blogs about race and culture in entertainment, particularly movies and television. You can read her articles at Racialicious, and her new site, COLOR . You can also listen to her new podcast, What would Monique Say.

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *