ETA2: Finally!!!

Pamela Anderson

Buzz Aldrin

Aidan Turner

Erin Andrews

Chad Ochocinco

Shannen Doherty

Niecy Nash

Nicole Scherzinger

Evan Lyacek

Kate Gosselin

ETA1 – AAArRrrrhhh

I think I might hate you, Tom Bergeron.

Okay, just kidding, but the teasing is killing me.

I decided to move this up to the top of the page for easier access. I hope everyone finds it!! The evil folks at DWTS are going to make me sit through the whole damn show before they tell me anything, I just have a feeling.

Ever since Samantha Harris got kicked off left Dancing with the Stars there has been a lot of speculation about who will replace as Samantha as the co-host of Dancing with the Stars. I think the speculation is finally over, but here’s a review of the various possibilities in case you missed it.

We first talked about Melissa Rycroft hosting Dancing with the Stars at the beginning of this month. There were also rumors of Ashlan Gorse and Nancy O’Dell hosting Dancing with the Stars and Lynn Hoffman co-hosting DWTS alongside Tom Bergeron. There were also rumors about Brooke Burke, Marie Osmond (thank goodness this wasn’t true), and Paula Abdul. Luckily, last week E! News said there were only 3 serious contenders for the co-host position: Melissa Rycroft, Brooke Burke and Vanessa Minnillo.

Although, tonight during a commercial for the Bachelor finale, they talked about the announcement of the new Dancing with the Stars 2010 cast during the Bachelor finale. Heidi will be live blogging the announcement, but more on that soon.

What was most interesting about the commercial was that they said, “listen to Tom Bergeron and Melissa Rycroft as they announce the new couples on Dancing with the Stars.” Does this mean that Melissa Rycroft will be the host that’s replacing Samantha Harris on Dancing with the Stars? Seems like it to me. She’ll be a busy girl hosting Dancing with the Stars with Tom and as a special correspondent for Entertainment Tonight. Although, Samantha Harris did that for quite a while.

I think this will be a good thing for Dancing with the Stars. No doubt that Melissa Rycroft will be an upgrade at the host position.

It seems E! News has changed it’s tune (or DWTS did) on the remaining candidates for Sam Harris’ job:

E! News has learned that ABC has only three serious contenders to replace the departing Samantha Harris: Melissa Rycroft, Brooke Burke and Vanessa Minnillo.

“They’re only testing those three on camera for now,” a production insider tells E! News. “The testing will happen some time next week.”

If it’s down to those three, I would have to choose Brooke first, Vanessa second and Melissa third. I like all three women, but I think Brooke is likely the best. Vanessa does have a good bit of experience too though.  Still, do you believe this report or the report from Marc Malkin (E!) reported yesterday, that it was Nancy O’Dell and Ashlan Gorse in the running?  Perhaps all five ladies were in the running and this is the final three. Who knows?

The thing that’s making me go “Hmmmm….” right now is this:

My question is – if it’s something she’s getting ready to work on, why wouldn’t SHE announce it…unless it’s seriously in the entertainment business. You know how they like to announce their own stuff. Anyway, there’s been a lot of pushing around the ‘net for Melissa to take Samantha’s place on DWTS since Samantha left DWTS. This pushing has been by Melissa fans, of course, but that doesn’t mean it couldn’t happen. I even sort of jokingly suggested it myself in a previous post! IF…and it’s a BIG IF because I don’t think that the producers pay that much attention to fans (because LOTS of celebs have huge fanbases, frankly)…if DWTS is Melissa’s announcement, what do you think of it? Is there something else Melissa has been rumored for and I’ve missed it? I read her twitter page back several days and I didn’t see anything.

Whatever is going on, I wish Melissa tons of success. I don’t think I would actually have an issue with her taking Samantha’s place. She’d do better than Sam and Paula combined (although that bar is set pretty low ).

Don’t anyone freak out – I could be TOTALLY off base on this speculation.

Pap Henry is at it again – he gets some great stuff. Look closely to see Melissa Rycroft with Tony at the beginning. Tom Bergeron is *hilarious*. Corky Ballas needs a sedative as does Louis’ friend.

Hello all! I did a quick round-up of what the stars and pros are tweeting. There are a lot of cool pictures and gives us some insight on how great the first shows are going to be. (Just a note that the only editing to the posts is censoring any obscenities)

Tom Bergeron

Reading tweets from some of our season 9 cast. They’re all hard at work. I don’t start for two weeks. Makes me almost feel guilty. Almost.

   *Looks like us fans aren’t the only ones interested in what this season’s cast is tweeting.

Joanna Krupa

couldnt sleep cause i am sore from head to toe…long day of rehearsals yesterday. taking my aleve now

had a great salsa lesson by my kick a** partner! he rocks…now need to tan!

   *Should I tell her that Advil works better? I love that the stars are already tanning.

Aaron Carter

I THINK WE HAVE CHA-CHA’d OUR WAY INTO INSANITY!

    *I completely agree Aaron. I cannot wait to see how this is going to be worked into their dance.

Tom Delay

I am back from LA. The photo shoot was so much fun. It was like going to Disneyland. You know politics is showbiz too.

In LA for rehearsals and title shoots. Also learning two dances. Cheryl says I am progressing very well.

After two dance sessions I can tell you Cheryl Burke is the most patient person I have ever met.

   *I wonder how they are going to pan out…maybe she’s over getting stuck with “the old guy” (See Heidi’s post DWTS Season 9 News).

Melissa Joan Hart

Learned the basic foxtrot and jive today!! Good stuff. Feet are hurting and back is sore. Yay!!

Wow! The chacha will make your abs rockin!!! No more crunches, just need to chachacha!

Team Melarky

   *Don’t they look so cute together? She has learned 3 dances already…are these for the first shows or is this just preparation? And I think it’s time to start learning the cha-cha myself…I hate crunches!

Chuck Liddell

Went to my first costume fitting today. This is going to be interesting…

   *It IS going to be interesting and I can’t wait to see what they get him to wear,

Debi Mazar

This is ME now..I’m afraid that I will have this face during my routine.Today was rough..near tears.I sucked! 

   *I love this pic but I hate that she had such a rough day. Hopefully, it’ll get better for her.

Just got my 1st spray tan for DWTS,funny!St.Tropez brand,doesn’t smell! look like I just got off a boat off of Italian Coast.for promo shoot

Sadly I discover that I’m uncordinated..After 30 yrs on NYC dance floors,I thought i was the “s***”.I had a wake up call this 1st week!oy!

   *LOL! This makes me laugh.

Karina Smirnoff is sexy ,amazing&and as actress,she is MY character study!GOD,she ROCKS!I only wish I can pull off her moves!!!BELLA!!!!

Kelly Osbourne

 sorry this pic is not that good but this is me and louis playing around at our photo-shoot yesterday

   *Looks like they are having a lot of fun together.

Mark Dacascos

Foot is getting better. Bruise on the sole is almost gone, a little residual inflammation. Ice, heat, as much as possible. Must be fit t…

*Our first celeb injury? Hopefully, he’ll be better and no more injuries for anyone.

Pros

Chelsie Hightower

Taking a break.. Got our music today, “it’s my life” by No Doubt?? How am I gonna pull off a foxtrot to that?!

   *Umm, yeah…that song doesn’t really say “foxtrot” to me.

Derek Hough

Joanna is doing better .. lookin good .. Worked on a little ballroom frame aswell .

I always hurt my neck every season , I guess it’s better now then later … Frustrating pain ..

Here’s a little peak of what we did today

   *Heidi this is for you…and for everyone else. Derek, thank you for this! Oh, and I hope your neck feels better.

Louis Van Amstel

Our first solo dance is a ballroom dance.The dance originating in the capital of Austria.Our relay dance is the dance w 3 of d same words

   *Okay, I really don’t understand this after the second sentence. Can anyone translate? And what the heck is a relay dance.

No kickingin in the nuts today. @MissKellyO learnt the whole routine today.It’s still rough,but i think u might b in 4 a surprise…

Oh,yeah..i forgot to tell all of you @MissKellyO kicked me in the nuts yesterday.She decided to just pull up her other knee!!!Kinda hurt….

   *Poor Louis! I’m excited about this surprise…

MaksI think I got one of the hardest working people as my partner. I’m really enjoying our rehearsals. I think Debi will do great!

   *Seems like they are going to be a good pairing…even if she was having a rough day it’s good to know she’s still working hard.

Mark Ballas

Cha cha time!!!!!!!!!!! Wahoo!

Melissa doing GREAT today, moving what I like to call SMOOTH!!!

   *I’m glad that she’s doing well and Mark is one of my favorites so I hope the Team Melarky does well!

Just a quick note that almost all of the celebs have Twitter accounts (not all verified) but not all of them mentioned DWTS or if they did…it just didn’t seem interesting to me. This is a previous article that has links to all of the DWTS season 9 Twitter accounts if you want to see more.

So far, we have a rehearsal video:  http://www.kcci.com/video/20182362/

And a cute picture of Shawn Johnson and Lacey Schwimmer getting ready, courtesy of Derek:

Here’s some rehearsal video from a local TV Station:

Shawn Johnson has a few things going on – narrowing down college choices, for one. No surprise, she chooses California schools. I sure don’t blame her.  UCLA or Stanford, Shawn?  I think Stanford may be the way to go, but that’s just me.  Apparently, she can’t compete, but she’d like to coach.

According to the Des Moine Register, Shawn also has a big show in Iowa on July 26 – I’ve read elsewhere that this is a kind of thank you to her fans for voting her champion of DWTS Season 8. It’s not mentioned in this particular article, and I’m too lazy right now to find a link.   Anyway, Gilles, Cheryl, Kristi Yamaguchi, Steve-O, Mark and Derek are just a few of the names being bandied about as participants.  I’m assuming, based on those names and the inclusion of the Ballas Hough Band, that Mark will dance with Shawn and Kristi, and that Lacey will also be there to dance with Steve-O.  Gilles and Cheryl will, of course (IMO) partner up again.  But who will Derek dance with? Or is he just singing? I can tell you one thing, if I find out that he dances with Cheryl and/or Lacey I will be SERIOUSLY regretting sitting at home instead of driving myself to Des Moine.   

Speaking of Gilles, I haven’t really been keeping close watch on him, but he’s apparently getting ready to announce something rather big (minds out of the gutter, ladies).  What is he talking about? I’m assuming it’s a lead role in either TV or Movies.

In any case, I can’t wait to find out what he’s talking about. While I may not follow him closely, I think he was a great dancer, gorgeous and he sure seems like a hell of a nice guy. I do know that he was on vacation recently with his family – I read something about Monte Carlo and the beach, etc. I also know that I previously reported on him being present at the opening of one of Cheryl’s new dance studios.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know that Melissa Rycroft is engaged to be married to her boyfriend (ahem – fiance) Ty.  Apparently, she is the anti-bridezilla – and I believe it.  She seems like the girl next door, laid back type.

Also, about a month ago now, it was reported that Melissa joined Good Morning America as a special correspondent.  Apparently, she’ll do 8 to 10 stories over the course of the summer. She’s done a story or two since then – I have not seen them, but I’ve heard comment that she’s a natural. Good for her – I was never a Melissa fan on DWTS, but I loved her on the Bachelor and I wish her all the success in the world.

That’s all for now – I’ll come back in a day or two with more news from the Stars of DWTS Season 8.

This is a much cleaner copy of previously posted videos uploaded to You Tube by TV Guide.

Part 1 – Injuries

Part 2 – The Pros

Part 3 – The Wardrobe

Part 4 – The Judges

Part 5 – The Stars

Part 6 – The Show

Part 7 – The Hookups

A series of videos of the Final Three on GMA the day after the Finale. I have to say, this was a good cast – very cute, all of them.