On Monday night, host Tom Bergeron said that there would be an "exciting announcement for 'Dancing With the Stars' fans about nextseason" made on Tuesday’s show. But the powers that be at ABC just couldn't wait that long. On Tuesday morning, the network broke the big news: the rumored all-star season of the show is officially a rumor no more. It's on the schedule for fall of 2012.
Now, could we please have Cloris Leachman back? Sure, her dancing wasn’t spectacular, but her impromptu post-dance curtain calls and red-room comments were must-see TV! Seriously, just imagine past contenders like Gilles Marini, Mel B. and Joanna Krupa once again competing for the coveted mirror ball trophy.
Actually, it looks like official casting talk is still a ways away.
"We can't talk about the casting yet, but I'd love to see some of the fan favorites from the last seasons come back,"ABC entertainment president Paul Lee said in a quote published to The Hollywood Reporter. "We have many from the past 14 seasons."
At least we know the professional dancers are up for it no matter who they dance with, as their post-show but pre-announcement comments to reporters revealed.
“It’s time,” said two-time "DWTS" winner Cheryl Burke. “Next season is season 15. Maybe some non-winners who should have won could come back? We need some more excitement. There are only so many celebrities you can get.”
Producers could either pair the pro dancers up with stars they’ve done the Argentine tango and the paso doble with in the past, or they could pair pros and stars who’ve never danced together before.
“I’d like to take another crack with (season-five partner) Sabrina Bryan (or Derek Hough’s partner from season 10) Nicole Scherzinger,” commented Mark Ballas. “I’d love to have another go at it with Chelsea Kane (from season 12), too.”
“It’d be interesting to see, if we do an all-stars season, if they put us with our previous partners or are they going to split us up?” wondered Hough.
The three-time “DWTS” champion is open to having someone new -- provided, of course, that she’s height appropriate.
“A very beautiful girl who was on the show previously said to me, ‘I want to dance with you!’" he recalled. "I said, ‘That’s great, but we’re going to have to cut off half your shins because you’re too tall for me, baby!’”
Would season-seven champion and current “DWTS” host Brooke Burke partake?
“She can’t,” Hough said. “She’s a host!”
But Hough’s current partner, “Extra” host Maria Menounos had an idea as to how that scenario could unfold. “We could switch (jobs),” she suggested. “That would be fun!”
Michael Maloney is the author of "The Young and Restless Life of William J. Bell, creator of The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful."
Are you excited about the all-star season? Which stars would you like to see hit the dance floor again: Cloris Leachman, Mel B., Giles Marini, Joanna Krupa -- maybe Kyle Massey? Share your thoughts on our Facebook page.
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