As with most cast announcements for DWTS, this group is getting pounded by everyone with an opinion. But you know me...I do my best to give every celebrity a chance to prove it in the ballroom. Since the very first season, the show has been fluffy entertainment starring outstanding professional ballroom talent paired with C- and D- list celebrities. I'm not sure why some profess surprise when those are the types of celebrities that are cast each time.
Here's how I see it. Ballroom dancing is hard and if you want to do well on the show, there just isn't any time to play at a persona. So if a celebrity finds that he or she can pick up the steps and the rhythms of what they are asked to do, they'll quickly shed all the foolishness and focus on learning what they need to learn. Fans may or may not like the person, but the more abrasive characteristics aren't as exaggerated because each celebrity knows they need the fan vote to stick around.
If a celebrity can't pick up the steps and doesn't have the rhythm or musicality to stick around for long, then we'll get the persona on overdrive so the celebrity can plug what he or she came to plug for as long as they can get their specific fan base to hang in and pick up the phone.
So with my opinion out of the way, here are the celebrities for Season 13!
Carson Kressley...Emmy winning host, celebrity stylist, author, and fashion designer
Chaz Bono...LGBT rights advocate, author, and motivational speaker
Chynna Phillips...singer/songwriter, actor, entrepreneur, and philanthropist
David Arquette...actor, writer, director, and producer
Elisabetta Canalis...actor, fashion icon, and philanthropist
Hope Solo...goalkeeper for US Women's National soccer team, goalkeeper of the year in 2009 for St Louis in the Women's Professional league, 2-time WPS all star currently playing for MagicJack
JR Martinez...wounded Iraq war veteran, motivational speaker, and actor
Kristin Cavallari...actor, fashion designer, and humanitarian
Nancy Grace...advocate for victim's rights, author, and legal analyst
Ricki Lake...daytime television host, actor, author, and producer
Rob Kardashian...entrepreneur
Ron Artest...world champion NBA player and activist for education
Season 13 premiers on 19 September!!
Reason 66: Because, "Love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful, and optimistic. And we'll change the world." Jack Layton (1950-2011), leader of Canada's New Democratic Party, who lost his battle with cancer and passed on 22 August.
Join us on 4 November. You know you want to.
