Dancing With The Stars Rounding Up The Best And The Brightest For New All-Star Season
US Weekly (not always the best source for information) is reporting producers of Dancing With The Stars is rounding up “only the best and the brightest” for the upcoming All-Star edition planned for the Fall. Names being thrown around at the link are listed below.
Dancing With the Stars producers are rounding up only the best and the brightest for their first-ever all-star edition.
On their list? Melissa Rycroft, Gilles Marini, Bristol Palin, Kyle Massey, Chelsea Kane, Lance Bass, Kelly Osbourne and Mario Lopez–all of whom vied for the Mirror Ball on the ABC hit.
“This past season was kind of dull,” an insider says of the series, which premiered to all-time-low ratings in March. “They realized they need to get people excited again.”
I’d be open to all of them, but, Bristol Palin. That is one scary thought I’d rather not even think about. 
I really doubt she’d say yes anyway. You can read the full article at US Weekly.
Heidi: Well, that list above doesn’t conflict totally with the Tom’s comments about “past champions, fan favorites and controversial characters” – but still. I dunno. But where I really take issue is the complete and utter stupidity of the last quoted sentence which includes commentary about the ratings. It’s so moronic that I shouldn’t be surprised – US magazine is pretty far down on the list of journalistic paragons. Well, it’s not on the list at all. And they are quoting some “insider” who should know that those “all time low” ratings still had DWTS in the TOP 5 on television….and in the top 15 in the key demo. Excuse me, but how much better are you hoping to do than being the 3rd or 4th highest rated show on television??? Looking at week 9, DWTS was only getting beat by AI and NCIS in total viewers, and the performance show was number 15 in the key demo – for a series that is 14 seasons in and has NEVER performed in the demo, what the hell more do you expect? THIS is why we get crazy shit on the show – they are buying into this narrative that the need to generate excitement. Perhaps they need to go BACK to their original formula and not try to over pimp and hype family members (read: Disney and Univision).
I heard the names Bristol Palin and Kate Gosselin thrown around for the all-star season. Please God – NO.
I don’t mind any these except for Bristol.
But I keep having this nightmare that they will bring back both Osmonds.
So, I’ll take each one individually:
Melissa Rycroft: This is a great idea since Stacey will probably be busy being arm candy for a certain actor. Plus, she could potentionally win the entire thing cuz she is that good. pair her with tony again and I’m good
Gilles Marini: No-Brainer. Hell if he is there they should just put him in the finale then. i guees that means cheryl smh
Bristol Palin: NO please AVOID THIS abc PLEASE.
Kyle Massey: YES. but onlyp aired with lacey.
Chelsea Kane: I’d prefer Katherine but she will do plus Mark could reedeem himself for his chroeogrpahy that shocased him instead of her in that season so sounds good.
Lance Bass: I’m guessing paired with Peta. Why not.
Kelly Osbourne: That would mean Louis competing so I’m going to say a tentative yes but she might not last long.
Mario Lopez: Awkward for Karina but good for America lol He could totally make the finale again too.
@Gitte: I just want one Osmond back on the show and just to see Jonatahn compete. Plus, Marie was pretty damn good so the weight loss might make her even better.
Oh Man, Gitte!!! Don’t you say that!!!
Although I don’t know which of the lesser of two evils I’d go with: A Palin or Both Osmonds. I think I’d go with the Osmonds. Excuse me while I puke.
LOL THIS^^ I’d rather have both Osmonds than Bristol too!
Please no Bristol Palin!! Bring back Carson Kressley! He was hilarious! How bout Evan Lysacek?
“This past season was kind of dull,” an insider says of the series,” — I don’t what show they were watching but I thought this season was by far one of the best.
Maybe thats why Tony might not be back next season, All-Stars = Kate Gosslin.
Oh Gawd NO, Not Melissa Rycroft. I guess her 15 minutes of fame are up. I better go ahead and order my brewsky awhile.
Bristol trashed the show and everyone on it, so I don’t think even the pros would want her back.
Kelly was a delight, not sure if she would attempt it again, but she gets the green light from me.
KYLE Absolutely Yes!
Only contestants that do not already have a MBT in their possession should be allowed to compete.
I’d love to see Stacey Kiebler back, but I think Vin’s right. She’s not available at the moment, and she wouldn’t be following in George’s ex’s footsteps anyway.
I’d love to see Jonathan back with …. Marie, I guess. Is she his best shot at it? I don’t think she’s do it though.
I think Mario already said he was too busy to do it. I’d love to see Maria back, but she said that it was too soon Extra wise, I think. I’d like to see Kelly back, but without Louis. How about Val?
I watched a video from Access Hollywood from the Red Carpet of Idol finale, the AH woman had an interesting thought about the All-Star season, that they should rotate the pros… It would mean that each of the celebrities would dance with a different pro each week, and it would also mean that the pros who have more than one celebrity that wants to come back, can still dance with them both.
So, what do you think?
(and I can find that video, just am busy right now, will look later)
I saw that lady tell Julianne the same thing for the All-Star season, and Julianne said it was a good idea so that she could come back for a week with Apolo or Helio.
Personally I don’t really think that’s the best idea because then nobody really wins the season, you know what I mean ? If each pro rotate between the celebs 1) there’s no real relationship between pairs and 2)the winning couple would have been paired together for what 1 week ?
I don’t know how they could make that work but I’d be glad to be proven wrong.
I’d like to see the celebs come back and be paired with their old partners, except for the new pros like Peta or Val who could get the celebs whose old partners are not part of the show anymore. The new pros could get Edyta’s, Julianne’s, Anna D’s, Alec’s…old partners ?
That is an interesting idea…not sure if I like it though. 1/2 of what I enjoy about the show is the relationship of the dancer and their partner through the course of the show. We would loose that if they changed partners each week.
It also might be a logistical nighmare with switching people. Part of the match-ups are based on the height of the dancers vs. their partners and some match ups wouldn’t work. For example I can’t imagine Mark Ballas and Kirstie Alley working out as a couple.
Derek did an interview with OTRC with George P. George was asking for ideas for new twists on the show. If I recall correctly Derek had suggested that partners switch dancers mid way through the season. The producers didn’t like that idea because I guess the celebs sometimes go in with the understanding they will have a particular dancer.
I actually would like to see the pros and celebs switch – but just for *one* week, on a single dance. Maybe about the time they pair it down to 8? Even 6? I think that would give the pros a chance to change up choreo somewhat, and all of us at home could learn more of the ins and outs of dancing with a different partner – you know, changing length of stride, slightly different height differences, all of the technical stuff… but that’s just me!
“Dull?” Huh?? Just how far inside was the insider? Not close enough to see the show. Guess they mean not enough angst, like when Bristol or Kate was on, or Maks misbehaving.
Kelly and Louis, yes. Giles, Rob, Apolo and Julianne, Shawn and Mark, Carson and Anna, Chelsie and Louie- all a big yes. Bristol and Kate, ugh!!! NO!!! But the more we complain the harder TPTB will probably try to get them, just for the controversy.
Not sure I like the idea of rotating pros.
I’ll be really sorry if the show is now about controversy and not dancing. If viewers want reality show controversy, they should watch something like Big Brothers or whatever one of those shows is where there is always somebody in a snit. Personally I watch DWTS for the dancing, great costuming and interesting couples.
Please no controversial people. Can’t we go back to when DWTS was happy and pleasant?
I don’t think there should be past winners. They won already!
2nd, 3rd and 4th place finishers, as well as the ones who left too early.
No Sabrina Bryan or Joey Fatone – they are dancing in Vegas and have too much experience now.
Definitely Gilles but without “HER”. She screwed up the freestyle and should not get a second chance. How about Kym or Peta?
A little off subject, I can not figure out “smh” – Help!
If derek comes back for season 15, would like to c him with nicole scherzinger. If not her, then maria menounos.
@Candace – I agree with you 100%.
I would love to see Bristol Palin come back. She had
0 dancing experience and look what her an Mark was
able to accomplish. Her footwork was better than the
ones who had dancing experience. Just think what she
could do the second time around. Some people don’t
want her because of her mom’s political stand, but
that is no reason to keep this beautiful young lady out>
I can’t for the life of me think of any previous winner who would WANT to come back. What would there be to prove? Unless they wanted to come back just for the pure love of dancing?
Don’t quote me on actual stats or numbers…more based on my feelings…but being a previous winner might work against a celeb. My natural instinct would be to root for the underdog. Maybe it’s just me.
If Derek is back for this season I hope Lil’Kim will be his partner – I loved their partnership.
But I think Ricki is the most obvious of Derek’s past partners to come back or maybe even Brooke. (She did say she would love to dance again)
How about having Brooke compete with Derek again and get Carson to co-host with Tom ;D
@KellyK, I think Peta said in one of her interviews that she’d like to be paired with Evan. He’s pretty tall, so that might work.
I would love to see Gilles, Evan, Mel B. and Ralph Macchio come back!
we all have been waiting for this all star season to happen….but if abc doesn’t start to think things over and set some ground rules… it will be a chaos…first of all…no champ should return to the dance floor..so many good dancers and performers were eliminated earlier than they deserved….they should get the second chance… the champs have nothing more to prove..second..this season should be about the dancing…not controversy or scandals…make it about the dancing…bring back the best dancers…ask them if they want a new partner…because it will be awkward for some of them who ended up dating and then split up to be forced to dance together…like Karina and Mario or Sabrina and Mark…then go from there…bring back Sabrina, Gilles, Kyle, Brandy, Laila,,, i would love to see Stacey back but i don;t think she will come.. of yeah Ralph with Karina…that would be awesome…now..this season has the possibility to be amazing…ABC…as a friend said: don’t screw this up!!!!
With Evan, there is a chance he might be competing. Last season he was going to put but could not get to a $$$ agreement with the USFSA (skating association). I guess we have to look at schedules for the sports people to see who would be available.
For some reason, my first thought on Sabrina is that she would get eliminated early again which might be funny in a cruel way. Good point about her and Joey being at an advantage with the Vegas show experience. I kinda want new pairings but then there are some pairs that I couldn’t imagine with a new pro like Mel B, Maria, and Roshon, so for those, I would want their original pro. TPTB have a lot to think about. How many ideas of ours will they steal:) They might look at other shows with All star seasons for ideas too.
The switching pros each week is very SYTYCD All Stars, not sure how it would work for those with less dance experience. The trio dance this season with Roshon made me think, it might be helpful to have a same gender pro helping out (but then the dancing pro might not feel the same) on a weekly basis.
Maybe they could break them into groups at 1 point like Disney, actors, singers, etc. and form teams and then which team is the lowest scored is up for elimination, person with lowest votes goes. Might give the judges too much power. I have a lot of ideas (more bad than good I think). I do think they need an extra judge or 3 new judges based on past favoritism.
Please no venemous stars like Kate. I can get over past winners well maybe not.
@Harriett
I don’t think adding a fourth judge would solve anything really. It’d probably make things worse. I’m pretty sure Heidi has explained in one of her number posts how more points awarded makes it easier for people to be voted off.
In what universe is Bristol Palin the “best and brightest??!!
Would be interesting to have the stars dance one week with a different pro. Now that they have some experience and basically know the steps, it would be a chance for them to show how well they have learned; can they transfer that knowledge. Maybe replace one of the other distraction things like instant dance or something. Would be later in the season, maybe week 7 or so.
Harriet, I hear to many people saying the All Star is so Sabrina can have a chance at the MBT. When I say, “Do you really think they would produce a whole season of the show JUST to give Sabrina her “moment”? Then someone said, “Well, they (the show) keeps bringing her and her “shocking elimination” up and lately devised different aspects of the show so no one would be voted off in the manner that she got voted off.
Anyway, I saw an interview with Julianne and she said having the couple switch partners EVERY WEEK is a good idea.
Sabrina who? I only say that because it seems like ages ago, and since then so many greats (and greater) have come and gone. Other than good dancing, there is not much more that I remember about her. So to say a show is being set up for her to win the MBT. Nah, I don’t think so.
So true that there have been some much better dancers and would SAbrina bring in more viewers/voters than someone like Gilles, Mario, Apollo, etc.
As for switching partners, they could do like SYTYCD and have a regular partner or old partner for a few weeks, then halfway through, start switching partners.
As for the judges maybe, they could have 3 new judges that vote one week and the next week would go back regular judges, so they alternate. Just an idea but highly doubt it will happen.
Very excited about an All Star Cast.
If Derek returns for S15, I Would love to see him paired again with Maria Menounos! Their chemistry was off the chart. Even though she was injured, she managed to pulled off some fantastic routines I can’t help but wonder how great she could have been injury free. She said she’d come back for the All Star Season in a heart beat.
Would also like to see Stacey K., Brandy, Mya, Monique Coleman, Joey F., Mario Lopez, just to name a few come back..
I think it would be fun if they had one contestant back from every season. so like –
1 – Kelly Monaco
2 – Stacy Keibler (of current mr. clooney fame)
3 – Mario Lopez
4 – Laila Ali
5 – Sabrina Bryan or Mel B.
6 – Jason Taylor or Christan de la Fuente
7 – Tony Braxton or Cody Linley
8 – lil’ Kim, Melissa Rycroft or Gilles Marini
9 – Mya or Kelly Osborne
10 – Evan Lysacek or Pamela Anderson
11 – Kyle Massey
12 – Ralph Macchio
13 – Carson Kressley or David Arquette
14 – Roshon Fegan
whatcha think?
Not sure “EXTRA” or the View would allow their ladies to do the show again.
I can’t decide on preferences, but I really do want all new partnerships. I want Tristan and Peta back and I don’t think it would be fair for them to start all new partnerships while others step back into relationships they are already familiar with.
Besides, let’s say Lil Kim is paired with Mark and/or Joanna Krupa is paired with Tony or Maks. They will not be nearly as good with these pros as they were with Derek and maybe, just maybe, it will prove to some just how good Derek is at what he does. I would also like Derek, IF he’s back, to get one of Tony’s or Maks’s old partners and take them to the win so some people can stop complaining about how they NEVER get good partners.
I do not want Kate or Bristol back just because of all the rage their very existence seems to bring out in people. I want a fun season, not an angry one.
Please no Bristol Palin! Not a big fan of Melissa Rycroft,
Sabrina Bryan or Chelsea Kane either but I’m sure we’ll see a lot of ABC employees. Good idea, Steph – I would like to see Derek with someone else’s partner and take them to the win.
After some thought, this is my list of people i hope will be back (odds are many arent but hopefully a lot do lol) with partners lol
)
Marie Osmond and Jonathan Roberts
Sherri Shepard and Val
Ricki Lake and Derek (BUT jenniger grey would always be my fav partner of his so i would love to see her back on the show
Sabrina and Mark (would prefer Katherine but doubt we will see it)
Kirstie and Maks
Kelly Monaco and Tristan
J.R. and karina
Joey and Kym
Giles and Cheryl
Kyle and Lacey
Drew Lachey and Chelsie
Evan and Anna
Mel B and Sasha
oh and melissa and tony
@Beka: If carson came back that would be fun but i feel like he would be one of the first ones out.
I’d love to see Ty Murray come back and dance with Chelsie…somehow I don’t believe he’d do it, though. He was such a gentleman, funny as heck, and he for sure wasn’t the best dancer, but if the judges had been into pimping and over-scoring back then, he might have won. As it was, he lasted a long time into the competition. But, alas, he had no ties to ABC, so he had to rely on his fans. PBR association almost put him into the finals.
I think I would enjoy Carson in more of a commentator type role, as opposed to actual dancing. So if they could incorporate a spot for him in that manner, then I am all for it.
I don’t think any celebs from this season should be in All-Stars. As much as I loved them all, its just too soon for me.
I say Carson as audeince correspondent for next season. Like after every show they can ask who the audience liked better/least/favorite costuming/complaints agisnt judges/wahtever is on their mind and show it on results show.
@vin Totally agree Carson would be great as a host/corrspondent. Let him and maybe another star like Drew and/or Mria talk with the stars in their video packages shown before the performance dance. Hmm, curious if they will show the stars dances from their first time on the show or at least snippets.
@Vin – yeah, I know he’d be out first, but what a first it would be. I would actually LOVE if he took over Brooke’s spot as co-host, but really, when I was looking at who I would want to see back from that season, there weren’t many I would choose. I do hope they don’t draw from many of the winners. or the losers in a bad way. I loved that Cloris had the hudspa to get out there and do what she did, but I don’t want to see it again. Same goes for Nancy, Bristol, Woz, Steve-O, the Jersy Shore dude, Jane Seymour, Buz, and any possible Osmond. Been there, – don’t need to go there again.
Sounds like there is fodder for two seasons- one made up of second, third and fourth place stars, and another of the winners. Sort of a Star of Stars. By then they would be really fine dancers. And no “controversial ones.
And yes, let’s get Carson back in some capacity!
I think Jennie Garth and Tristan would be a nice pairing
I’d like to see PETA with gilles Henry with Stacy/Chelsea Kane Emma with kyle/Mario sharna with carson
I think Stacy is too tall to be with anyone other than Tony or Maks… Even in her dancing heels, she was right at Tony’s height.
I hope they don’t bring back Sabrina Bryan for the All-Star season. My main reasoning is that they’ve thrown her down our throats almost every season as the most shocking elimination. To be honest, I didn’t think her elimination was that shocking since she got her lowest scores and she wasn’t that well known compared to the other stars. She hit all the dances with too much power and had no softness in the slower or more emotional dances. Everything was just BAM BAM BAM. Then they allowed her to do a result show dance, the tour, the Design a Dance, and now the Vegas show.
I would love to see Gilles with Anna, and probably Evan with Cheryl. Mainly because I’m sure Anna and Evan got along fine, but I felt that he really seemed to be interested more in Cheryl as a friend/partner based on tweets. I wouldn’t mind seeing Kristi Yamaguchi with Sasha, but I typically found her really boring. I would love to see Mya back, but probably with someone other than Dmitry. Sure he had good choreo, but he was bland personality wise, and Mya was also a bit bland and probably needs a more dynamic personality pro to bring a different side of her out. I would also LOVE to see Natalie Coughlin back, she was completely robbed her season. I think most of it was due to Alec being extremely boring personality wise, but I thought Natalie had a lot of talent and was eliminated way too early. (but don’t pair her up with Tony, he has boring choreo, maybe Henry or even Derek)
@Beka: i forgot about the woz that was nightmarish to watch him on the show. i felt so bad for karina. she definately wanted to b eliminated.
I had another good pairing (if they do dif partners): Mark Ballas and the one and only Kelly Osbourne. now that would be fun to watch.
TBH, I wouldn’t mind seeing Sabrina Bryan on the show but I don’t think they owe it to her, she gained so much more fame from leaving early on in the season. They’ve brought her back “several” times. Now I wish they would bring back Lil Kim for a special performance with Derek that would be fun and her elimination was a shocking one as well.
@ Steve, I totally forgot about Natalie C. I’d love to see her with someone other than Tony! I’d like Mark and Kelly O. too, Vin.
This All-Star concept could be risky for ABC. Tom mentioned about some twists and turns thrown in, and I have to wonder, just how many of the *cream of the crop* are they actually going to cast.
Julianne mentioned on a red carpet interview before the Billboard Music Awards last week that Apolo had called her and asked her to come back and dance with him for the All Star season. So he is definitely interested. She didn’t sound all that sure that her schedule would work out to do it though. I hope she can. Wanting to see her and Apolo dancing together again is the main reason I’ve wanted an All Star season.
It will never work with rotating pros especially cuz mark and derek are short and can’t dance with some that is 6 feet tall and also the female pro heights very Chelsie is the shortest and usually get the shorter male celebs and Peta is the tallest being 5’8 so its hard to have rotating pros cuz peta would tower over kyle and chelsie would be to short for certain ones
@Jill – Interesting news about Apolo, I am actually surprised that he would return as well. As far as Julianne goes, I loved her with Apolo and Helio, but I am hard pressed to think that she would return to the rigorous demands of the show, especially with her now pursuring her acting dreams.
But I do want to add that I Do NOT think that any previous winners should be asked back. It just doesn’t seem right.
Usually All Star seasons are previous winners coming back years later and competing in a best of the best type show. I don’t think it would be right or a true ”All Star” show without some former winners.
Still remember Kirstie Alley? She is the hottest star in previous season.
[...] Since Mario Lopez came onto the show in Season 3 there isn’t a lot of data to work with, so there are bound to be empty spots. Some of the other celebrities I will also compare and create graphs for would include some of the mentioned from the post that Vogue put up a bit ago. [...]
Princess Heidi wrote an article in 3 parts-last part early March 2012-that was well researched, analyzed and fair. NON PERSONAL tone, the leading characteristic of her writing, dominates the spicy admittedly personal takes sprinkled sparsely through her well thought out, long articles. Worth the time for a read. I could not find a place after her 3 posts to comment so put 2cents here. She asked in view of all her research who would come in at the top of season 14. The producers put many layers of thoughtful back up into the success and charm of S14 which=$14. The way they synthesized the music of Baby Boomer America to entertain us and challenge the performers reached a height of enjoyment above enjoyable past seasons for me. Heidi’s care and thought pleasantly surprised me in the vast sea of hype and knee jerk rants. Being a very physical person I know what it feels like to push to the bare bones working to achieve a fine swim or dance or landscape, so the filming of rehearsals tells me how hard the pros are working to bring the best out of the wide range of talent and egos handed them. Having been a teacher, I know that challenge too, quite a dance by itself. The pros have unusual ability to observe and translate the info to inspiriation. Howard Gardner’s Frames of Mind describes this special intelligence. Dancers have enormous amounts. Heidi’s article evaluated many of the factors to be considered, but in a NON judgmental way. Refreshing. BTW maybe a MBT winners season could be challenged by something close to a REAL Ballroom Dance Competition.
Well said MM!!! Couldn’t agree more with everything you said. I loved loved those posts by Heidi too!