DWTS – Dancing With The Stars Officially Renewed For New Season

The ABC television network officially announced the early renewal of six TV series as well as “Dancing with the Stars” today. According to the Hollywood Reporter, President Paul Lee expressed his ambition for ABC to become a place that embraces the showrunner culture calling the network a “brand that combines smart with heart”.

Along with “Dancing With The Stars”, the Emmy Award-winning show “Modern Family” will return for a third season and as well as the top-rated medical drama “Grey’s Anatomy”. “Cougar Town”, “The Middle”, “Castle”, and “Private Practice” were also renewed. Salma Hayek will executive produce an eight-hour mini-series based on the book “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West” which inspired the Tony Award-winning Broadway play. Lee also hopes to take advantage of parent Disney’s new ownership of Marvel Entertainment, developing a remake of “The Hulk”. Speaking of “Dancing With The Stars” exclusively, here is what Lee explained to a reporter(who asks dumb questions, lol).

Of course, unscripted has done heavy lifting for ABC so far this season with Wipeout and Dancing with the Stars – featuring the controversial Bristol Palin – far out-rating any of ABC’s new programs.

Asked if he was tempted to recruit Palin – who has also appeared on the ABC Family series The Secret Life of the American Teenager – for another ABC property, Lee demurred; “I haven’t thought about that.”

But he acknowledged that casting is key on Dancing, which is expected to be back in March and has yet to reveal its new season cast.

“We won’t have Bristol Palin,” he said. “We will have something different.”

Watching the show himself, Zap2it also reports Lee said this…

Lee is a fan of “Glee” and “The Good Wife” and thinks they could work on ABC. He also loves “Dancing With the Stars.” Watching the show in person, he says, is like “going to the circus.”

So, that is it for now. Still no official date as for when Season 12 will premiere. But, March 21st is a very strong possibility according to rumors going around currently.