‘Dancing with the Stars’ Cast, Pairings Announced; Season Premieres March 18
This season’s dynamic lineup of stars — including a country music legend, a figure skating champion, a boxing dynamo, an Olympic Gold medalist and the youngest contestant to ever compete on the show – will perform for the first time on live national television with their professional partners during the two-hour season premiere of “Dancing with the Stars,” MONDAY, MARCH 18 (8:00-10:01 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.
As announced this morning on ABC’s “Good Morning America” by “Dancing with the Stars” hosts Tom Bergeron and Brooke Burke-Charvet, the 11 celebrities, with their professional partners, heading to the dance floor this season (in alphabetical order) are:
ZENDAYA COLEMAN — Multi-talented actress and singer Zendaya Coleman stars as Raquel “Rocky” Blue, one half of the comedic duo in the hit Disney Channel series “Shake It Up!,” and is currently recording her debut album on Hollywood Records. Born September 1, 1996, in Oakland, California, Coleman grew up as part of the California Shakespeare Theater in Orinda, where her mother works as the House Manager. In addition to training at the theater’s student conservatory program and later performing in numerous stage productions, Coleman helped her mom seat patrons and sell raffle tickets to benefit the theater. While attending the Oakland School for the Arts, she starred as Little Ti Moune in “Once on This Island” at the Berkley Playhouse, and in the breakout role of the male character Joe in “Caroline, or Change” at Palo Alto’s TheaterWorks. She also studied at the CalShakes Conservatory program and at the American Conservatory Theater. Coleman has performed around the world, including at the White House and in the 2011 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and she tours select cities with her Z-Swagg Dancers and Singers. The name Zendaya is derived from the word that means “to give thanks” in Shona (a Bantu language native to the Shona people of Zimbabwe). Coleman has been a fashion model for Macy’s, Mervyns and Old Navy, and was also one of the back-up dancers in a Sears commercial featuring Disney Channel star Selena Gomez. She now resides in Los Angeles, California with her family and dog, a giant Schnauzer named Midnight. ZENDAYA COLEMAN partners with VAL CHMERKOVSKIY.
ANDY DICK — Andy Dick is an American comedian, actor, writer, director, musician and producer. Dick grew up in the Chicago area, where he was involved in numerous stage productions. During his senior year of high school, his love of performing proved decisive, as he was elected homecoming king. His first regular television role was on the short-lived but influential “Ben Stiller Show.” Dick was a mainstay on network television from 1995-2006 on NBC’s “NewsRadio” and ABC’s “Less Than Perfect.” In 2001 he wrote, directed, produced and starred in “The Andy Dick Show” for MTV. He has also starred in a number of feature films, including “In the Army Now,” “Employee of the Month” and “The Hebrew Hammer.” In addition he has made memorable appearances in feature films such as “Zoolander,” “The Cable Guy,” “Inspector Gadget,” “Road Trip,” “Dude, Where’s My Car?,” “Old School” and “Funny People.” Most recently Dick has had guest appearances on NBC’s “Community,” FX’s “Legit,” the Netflix original series “Bad Samaritans” and CBS’ “Two Broke Girls.” He can regularly be seen performing at theaters and comedy clubs across the country. ANDY DICK joins first-time professional partner SHARNA BURGESS.
DOROTHY HAMILL — Dorothy Hamill captured the Gold medal at the 1976 Winter Games in Innsbruck, Austria at the age of 19. Overnight she became one of those rare champions who transcends her sport and captures the country’s imagination. Still, she has said she is most proud of her World Championship title in Gothenburg, Sweden, which followed her Olympic win; at the time, everyone advised her to retire from amateur competition, saying that even a second-place finish would tarnish the lustre of her Olympic Gold. Characteristically, once she had set her mind to it, she would not be dissuaded, and she won. As a professional Hamill has skated with many productions, including the Ice Capades for eight years. Four ABC primetime television specials have been produced in her honor, and she has produced and starred in her own touring productions of “Cinderella – Frozen in Time,” “Hansel, Gretel, the Witch and the Cat” and “Nutcracker on Ice.” She won an Emmy Award for her lead role in “Romeo and Juliet.” Hamill has been inducted into the Olympic Hall of Fame and the Figure Skating Hall of Fame. She was very proud to run the torch at Olympic Stadium in Salt Lake City in 2002 and to skate the closing ceremonies with vocalist Harry Connick Jr. Recently she released her memoir, A Skating Life: My Story, which made the New York Times bestseller list. DOROTHY HAMILL partners with TRISTAN MacMANUS.
D.L. HUGHLEY — D.L Hughley, one of the most popular and highly recognized standup comedians on the road today, has also made quite an impression in the television, film and radio arenas. First and foremost a standup comedian, his fifth standup special, “Reset,” premiered on Showtime in 2012 and is currently available on DVD. Also in the fall of 2012, Hughley penned his first book. He can be seen in the comedic documentary special for Comedy Central entitled “D.L. Hughley: The Endangered List.” Known for being astute and politically savvy, Hughley served as host of the late-night talk show “D.L. Hughley Breaks the News” on CNN. He was both star and producer of his namesake television show that ran on ABC and UPN, “The Hughleys.” One of the standout comedians of the hit comedy docu-film “The Original Kings of Comedy” and a veteran of numerous talk show appearances, Hughley switched the tables in 2005, hosting his own talk show, “Weekends at the DL,” on Comedy Central. In addition he has headlined several comedy specials, including “D.L. Hughley: Going Home,” “D.L. Hughley Live,” “Shocked & Appalled” and the recent “Unapologetic.” D.L. HUGHLEY partners with CHERYL BURKE.
JACOBY JONES — Jacoby Jones is a professional football player for the Baltimore Ravens, the 2013 Super Bowl Champions. He began his professional career after being drafted by the Houston Texans in 2009 and was signed by the Baltimore Ravens in 2012. Career highlights include matching an NFL record with a 108-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. Jones is also the first Raven to post multiple kickoff returns for a touchdown in one season, and is the current record holder for the longest touchdown at the Super Bowl. Career honors include AFC Special Teams Player of the Week, AFC Special Teams Player of the Month, the Associated Press first-team All-Pro and the PFW/PFWA first team All-Pro. Jones was recently featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated. JACOBY JONES partners with KARINA SMIRNOFF.
WYNONNA JUDD — Five-time Grammy winner and New York Times bestselling author Wynonna Judd has always revolved her career around telling stories. Whether performing alongside her mother as one half of the legendary duo The Judds or pushing the boundaries on her own mega-successful solo path, Judd’s ability to reach the heart of the human spirit through her bold and unflinching honesty is the entertainer’s true gift. Respected by the millions of fans who are drawn to her music and to her undeniable talent, Judd’s rich and commanding voice has sold more than 30 million albums worldwide over her epic 29-year career. Charting countless singles, including 20 No. 1 hits and over 60 industry awards, the iconic performer was once dubbed by Rolling Stone “the greatest female country singer since Patsy Cline.” Joined in the studio by her husband, bandleader and producer Michael “Cactus” Moser, Judd’s highly anticipated eighth studio album is scheduled for release this year. This effort, a true labor of love, features her upcoming single “Something You Can’t Live Without,” released by Curb Records. Most recently she published a novel, Restless Heart, and was part of “The Judds” docu-series on OWN. WYNONNA JUDD partners with TONY DOVOLANI.
VICTOR ORTIZ — Victor Ortiz is a living, breathing example of the American dream. From a broken home in a small town in Kansas to the bright lights of the boxing ring, Ortiz has used every obstacle he has encountered along his journey to fuel his strength and attain his dreams. As former Welterweight boxing champion, Ortiz finally found his life’s calling as a world class athlete. The nickname “Vicious” describes Ortiz when he’s in the ring, but his million-dollar smile is a preview to his heart of gold. His ability to connect with people on a human level has kept the spotlight from blinding him. Realizing the importance of hard work, dedication and family at an early age, Ortiz always finds a way to give back. VICTOR ORTIZ partners with newcomer LINDSAY ARNOLD.
KELLIE PICKLER — Kellie Pickler grew up immersed in country music in the small town of Albemarle, North Carolina with the words of Tammy Wynette, Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn and Dolly Parton shaping her musical footing. At the age of 19 she gained fame as a contestant on the fifth season of “American Idol,” and in 2006 signed to 19 Recordings/BNA Records to release her debut, “Small Town Girl,” which went on to sell over 800,000 copies and produce three singles — “Red High Heels,” “I Wonder” and “Things That Never Cross a Man’s Mind.” In 2008 Pickler released her self-titled sophomore record featuring hits “Don’t You Know You’re Beautiful,” “Best Days of Your Life” (co-written with Taylor Swift and her first Top 10) and “Didn’t You Know How Much I Loved You.” Having established herself as not only a powerful vocalist but also a songwriter, Pickler released her third studio album, “100 Proof,” last year with famed producer Frank Liddell and Luke Wooten. The album earned recognition as one of the “Best of 2012″ by Rolling Stone and The Washington Post. She has performed on six USO Tours, including one to Afghanistan in December 2012. Newly signed to Black River Entertainment, Pickler is poised to release a new single and album in 2013. KELLIE PICKLER partners with DEREK HOUGH.
INGO RADEMACHER — Soap Opera star Ingo Rademacher is best known to audiences as the charismatic Jasper “Jax” Jacks on ABC’s “General Hospital.” Rademacher originated the role of “Jax,” having first aired on “General Hospital” in January of 1996. His other television credits include “Hawaii Five-O,” “Titans,” “Veronica’s Closet” and “According to Jim.” As an athlete, Rademacher has amassed an extraordinary list of accomplishments: As a youth, he was a ski champion and a competitive equestrian. As an adult, he has competed at a high level in beach volleyball and triathlons (winner of the Nautica Malibu Triathlon, celebrity division, for three consecutive years). He took the pole position in the 2005 Long Beach Grand Prix and he recently completed the grueling 32 mile Molokai to Oahu “Channel of Bones” stand-up paddle board race — all this when he wasn’t on the track racing dirt bikes or street bikes. Rademacher moved to Hawaii in 2012 to pursue his passion for the sport of stand-up paddle board racing. He and his wife, Ehiku, have two sons, Peanut and Pohaku. INGO RADEMACHER partners with KYM JOHNSON.
ALEXANDRA RAISMAN — Just 18 years old, Alexandra Raisman captained the U.S. Women’s Gymnastics Team to its first team Gold medal since the 1996 Olympic Games. She added the United States’ first ever Gold medal in the floor exercise and also won a bronze on the balance beam, making her the most decorated American gymnast in London. A respected leader, Raisman backboned the women’s victory in the team event at the 2011 World Championships, where they upset Russia to win Gold for the first time since 2007. In her career Raisman has accumulated 19 international medals and eight U.S. Senior National Championship medals, earning a reputation as one of Team USA’s most consistent performers. The eldest of four kids in her family, she comes from a Jewish background and famously performed her Gold medal-winning floor exercise to the traditional Jewish wedding song, “Hava Nagila,” for which she earned worldwide recognition in the Jewish community. Since returning from London, she has been named Bostonian of the Year by The Boston Globe, was a presenter at the “Video Music Awards,” appeared on “Fashion Police” and most recently won an award at the Cartoon Network Hall of Game Awards. In her free time, Raisman can be found shopping, reading fashion magazines, hanging out with friends and family, or listening to some of her favorite music. ALEXANDRA RAISMAN partners with MARK BALLAS.
LISA VANDERPUMP — Hailing from London, restaurateur, designer, author, philanthropist, producer and television personality Lisa Vanderpump moved to the United States eight years ago. Vanderpump is best known for “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills,” which she joined in 2010. In 2013 Bravo launched her reality television show, “Vanderpump Rules,” exploring the intricacies of owning SUR, a sexy, unique restaurant in West Hollywood. The show follows Vanderpump as she balances her motherly instincts with a shrewd business sense while keeping the passionate and volatile staff at her West Hollywood restaurant in line. After years as a restaurateur, Vanderpump showcased her passion for food, decor and lifestyle in her bestselling book, Simply Divine: A Guide to Easy, Elegant and Affordable Entertaining. Vanderpump serves as a contributor to Beverly Hills Lifestyle magazine. She lives in Beverly Hills with her husband, Ken Todd, and their four dogs. They have two grown children, Pandora and Maxfield. LISA VANDERPUMP partners with newcomer GLEB SAVCHENKO.
“Dancing with the Stars” and “Dancing with the Stars: the Results Show” returns this season with new surprises and all the performance elements viewers have come to know and love. “Macy’s Stars of Dance,” featuring some of the best choreographers and performers from the different styles of dance who offer viewers performances that represent the pinnacle of achievement in their genres, will return.
The show also welcomes the return of the “AT&T Spotlight Performance,” which features and celebrates people whose lives have been changed forever by dance. AT&T is also helping the search to find these performers by allowing fans to nominate potential dancers.
Viewers may cast their votes for their favorite teams via phone on Monday night during and up to 60 minutes after the “Dancing with the Stars” performance shows. AT&T customers may also vote by texting the word “VOTE” and entering the number that corresponds to the team they want to support (message and data rates may apply). Online voting at www.ABC.com is open from the start of each episode on the East Coast and closes at 11:00 a.m., ET / 8:00 a.m., PT on Tuesday mornings. Additionally, fans can again vote on Facebook www.facebook.com/dancingwiththestars. A custom Facebook app sponsored by AT&T will let fans vote, share who they voted for and why, as well as see who friends voted for. They can also access the “Dancing with the Stars” Social Scene page, and the “AT&T Spotlight Performance” and Casting Call from the app.
Categories: Television Tags: ABC, Dancing with the Stars, DWTS, Kellie Pickler, Shake it Up, television, Zendaya, Zendaya Coleman
ABC Announces Mid-Season Premiere Dates for New Series, ‘Dancing with the Stars’
ABC announced midseason premiere dates for new dramas “Red Widow” and “Zero Hour” today, along with new comedies “How to Live with Your Parents (for the Rest of Your Life)” and “Family TTools,” and new alternative series “The Taste” and “Celebrity Diving.” Returning series “Dancing with the Stars” and “Body of Proof” will rejoin the schedule will all-new seasons in the new year, and “Suburgatory” will move to Wednesday nights at 8:30 p.m., beginning April 3, 2013.
“Red Widow,” from “Twilight Saga” films writer Melissa Rosenberg and starring Radha Mitchell, is a riveting new drama about one woman’s journey into the world of organized crime, and how far she will go to keep her family safe. “Red Widow” will debut with a two-hour premiere on Sunday, March 3 from 9:00-11:00 p.m., ET, and premiere in its regular timeslot, Sunday nights at 10:00 p.m., ET, on Sunday, March 10.
New thriller “Zero Hour” stars Anthony Edwards (“ER”) in his return to series television. Edwards’ character, Hank Galliston, has spent his life debunking myths, only to be drawn into one of the most compelling mysteries in human history after his wife’s shocking disappearance. “Zero Hour” will premiere on Thursday, February 14 at 8:00 p.m., ET.
New comedy “How to Live with Your Parents (for the Rest of Your Life)” features Sarah Chalke (“Scrubs”) as a recently divorced single mom who moves back in with her eccentric parents, played by the multitalented and critically acclaimed Elizabeth Perkins and Brad Garrett. The series premieres on Wednesday, April 3 at 9:30 p.m., ET.
“Family Tools” debuts on Wednesday, May 1 at 8:30 p.m., ET and stars Kyle Bornheimer, J.K. Simmons and Leah Remini in a new family comedy that proves mixing family with business is never easy. “Family Tools” will take over for “Suburgatory” in this new timeslot following its season finale.
New innovative cooking competition show “The Taste” will feature celebrity chefs Anthony Bourdain, Nigella Lawson, Ludo Lefebvre and Brian Malarkey, will debut with a special two-hour premiere on Tuesday, January 22 from 8:00-10:00 p.m., ET, and will premiere in its regular time period, 8:00-9:00 p.m., ET on Tuesday, January 29.
“Celebrity Diving,” based on the international hit reality series “Celebrity Splash,” will premiere on Tuesday, March 19 at 8:00 p.m., ET and will feature as judges legendary Olympic diver and four-time gold medalist Greg Louganis, along with David Boudia, who brought home the gold for diving at the 2012 London Olympics.
“Dancing with the Stars” will return for a 16th season on Monday, March 18 at 8:00 p.m., ET. “Dancing with the Stars the Results Show” will debut the following week on Tuesday, March 26 at 9:00 p.m., ET.
“Body of Proof,” starring the Emmy(r)-winning Dana Delany, will return to the schedule on Tuesday, February 5 at 10:00 p.m., ET, and will feature new cast member Mark Valley as Det. Tommy Sullivan, a former NYPD detective (and a bit of a lady killer) who has transferred back to Philadelphia to rekindle his relationship with Megan Hunt (Delany).
Critically acclaimed Wednesday comedy “Suburgatory” will move to at 8:30 p.m., ET as of Wednesday, April 3, one week after the season finale of “The Neighbors.” “The Neighbors” returns with original episodes on Wednesday, January 9, and runs for 12 straight weeks.
ABC’s Midseason premiere dates are as follows (all times listed are ET):
Tuesday, January 22
8:00-10:00 p.m. “The Taste” (Two-hour Series Premiere)
Tuesday, January 29
8:00-9:00 p.m. “The Taste” (Regular Time Period Premiere)
Tuesday, February 5
10:00-11:00 p.m. “Body of Proof”
Thursday, February 14
8:00-9:00 p.m. “Zero Hour”
Sunday, March 3
9:00-11:00 p.m. “Red Widow” (Two-hour Series Premiere)
Sunday, March 10
10:00-11:00 p.m. “Red Widow” (Regular Time Period Premiere)
Monday, March 18
8:00-10:00 p.m. “Dancing with the Stars”
Tuesday, March 19
8:00-9:00 p.m. “Celebrity Diving”
Tuesday, March 26
9:00-10:00 p.m. “Dancing with the Stars the Results Show”
Wednesday, April 3
8:30-9:00 p.m. “Suburgatory” (New Time Period Premiere)
9:30-10:00 p.m. “How to Live with Your Parents (for the Rest of Your Life)”
Wednesday, May 1
8:30-9:00 p.m. “Family Tools”
Midseason show descriptions are as follows:
NEW DRAMAS:
“RED WIDOW”
Marta Walraven seems to have an idyllic life. A stay-at-home mom in tony Marin County, just north of San Francisco, she is devoted to her three children and her husband. Behind this perfect faade, however, is a more complicated story: Evan, Marta’s husband, supports the family by exporting marijuana. Marta is familiar with the world of organized crime: her father, Andrei Petrov, and his loyal bodyguard, Luther, are Bratva – Russian gangsters – in San Francisco. It’s a world from which she and her sister Kat always wanted to escape, though they never quite did.
But when Evan is brutally murdered in their driveway, everything changes. Marta’s first concern is to protect her children – and yet when FBI Agent James Ramos promises Marta justice in exchange for her cooperation, she cannot go against the Bratva code. She refuses his help.
Slowly, the truth about her husband’s murder begins to emerge: Evan’s business partners – Marta’s scheming brother, Irwin Petrov, and their best friend, the hapless Mike Tomlin – were involved in the theft of millions of dollars of cocaine from the formidable international crime boss, Nicholae Schiller. Evan paid with his life, but as far as Schiller is concerned, his debt is not clear. It falls to Marta, as Evan’s widow, to navigate the criminal underworld in order to repay this debt – in whatever way Schiller sees fit.
Hounded by the FBI on the one hand and by Schiller on the other, while also trying to raise three grieving kids on her own, Marta discovers a tenacity she never knew she had. As she hunts for the truth about her husband’s death and struggles to keep her children safe, she’ll rely on her resourcefulness, determination and her Bratva DNA like never before. But just how far is Marta willing to go in order to beat her adversaries at their own deadly game?
“Red Widow” stars Radha Mitchell (“High Art,” “Pitch Black,” “Man on Fire”) as Marta Walraven, Sterling Beaumon (“Clue,”"Lost”) as Gabriel Walraven, Clifton Collins Jr. (“Traffic,” “Thief”) as FBI Agent James Ramos, Luke Goss (“Blade II,” “Hellboy II: The Golden Army”) as Luther, Suleka Mathew (“Hawthorne”) as Dina Tomlin, Erin Moriarty (“One Life to Live”) as Natalie Walraven, Jaime Ray Newman (“Drop Dead Diva”) as Kat Petrova, Jakob Salvati (“Crescendo,” “Little Boy”) as Boris Walraven, Lee Tergesen (“Army Wives”) as Mike Tomlin, Wil Traval (“Rescue Special Ops”) as Irwin Petrov, with Rade Serbedzija (“24″) as Andrei Petrov and Goran Visnjic (“ER”) as Nicholae Schiller.
Based on the Dutch series “Penoza,” “Red Widow” is executive-produced and written by Melissa Rosenberg (“Dexter,” “Twilight Saga” films) and executive-produced by Howard Klein (“The Office,” “Parks & Recreation”) and Alon Aranya. The series is produced by ABC Studios in association with Endemol Studios.
“ZERO HOUR”
As the publisher of a paranormal enthusiast magazine, Modern Skeptic, Hank Galliston has spent his career following clues, debunking myths and solving conspiracies. A confessed paranormal junkie, his motto is “logic is the compass.” But when his beautiful wife, Laila (Jacinda Barrett), is abducted from her antique clock shop, Hank gets pulled into one of the most compelling mysteries in human history, stretching around the world and back centuries.
Contained in one of his wife’s clocks is a treasure map, and what it leads to could be cataclysmic. Now it’s up to Hank to decipher the symbols and unlock the secrets of the map, while ensuring the answers don’t fall into the wrong hands – a man they call White Vincent (Michael Nyqvist). With his two young associates, Rachel (Addison Timlin) and Arron (Scott Michael Foster), in tow, along with Becca Riley, a sexy FBI agent (Carmen Ejogo), Hank will lead them on a breathless race against the clock to find his wife and save humanity.
“Zero Hour” stars Anthony Edwards (“Big Sur,” “Flipped,” “ER”) as Hank, Carmen Ejogo (“Sparkle,” “Chaos,” “Away We Go”) as Beck, Scott Michael Foster (“Californication,” “The River”) as Aaron, Addison Timlin (“Californication”) as Rachel, Jacinda Barrett (“Matching Jack,” “Middle Men,” “New York, I Love You”) as Laila and Michael Nyqvist (“Mission: Impossible – Ghost Patrol”) as White Vincent.
“Zero Hour” was written by Paul T. Scheuring (“Prison Break”) who is also an executive producer along with Zack Estrin, Pierre Morel, Lorenzo DiBonaventura (“The Transformers,” “GI: Joe” franchise, “Salt,” “Red”) and Dan McDermott (“Human Target”). The pilot for “Zero Hour” was directed by Pierre Morel. The series is produced by ABC Studios.
NEW COMEDIES:
“HOW TO LIVE WITH YOUR PARENTS (FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE)”
Polly (Sarah Chalke) is a single mom who has recently divorced. The transition hasn’t been easy for her, especially in this economy. So, like a lot of young people living in this new reality, she and her daughter, Natalie (Rachel Eggleston), have moved back home with her eccentric parents, Elaine (two-time Golden Globe(r) and Emmy(r) nominee Elizabeth Perkins) and Max (three-time Emmy(r) winner Brad Garrett). But Polly and her parents look at life through different generational lenses. Polly (in contrast to how she was raised) aspires to be organized and together, while Max and Elaine live a more free-flowing, improvisational life-style. Polly wants to take it slow with new relationships, while her parents encourage her to be more sexually adventurous.
Polly and her parents’ views on parenting itself also conflict: Polly wants to be an involved modern parent, but Max and Elaine are laid back, hands-off parents from the 1970s. Polly believes children need to be sheltered and have structure and guidance, while Max and Elaine feel that children need the freedom to fall and pick themselves back up. After all, Polly turned out okay, so what’s the big deal?
They say it takes a village to raise a child, but in Polly’s case, this village is on fire, and although her ex-husband Julian’s (Jon Dore) intentions are good, he doesn’t exactly help extinguish the flames. But through figuring out how to live with her dysfunctional family, Polly realizes she might even be able to learn a few helpful things about herself.
“How to Live with Your Parents (for the Rest of Your Life)” stars Sarah Chalke as Polly, Elizabeth Perkins as Elaine, Jon Dore as Julian, Rachel Eggleston as Natalie, Stephanie Hunt as Jenn and Brad Garrett as Max.
“How to Live with Your Parents (for the Rest of Your Life)” is executive-produced by Brian Grazer, Francie Calfo and Claudia Lonow. The series is produced by Imagine Television in association with Twentieth Century Fox Television.
“FAMILY TOOLS”
Mixing family with business is never easy, and Jack Shea (Kyle Bornheimer) is about to learn that lesson the hard way. When Jack’s father, Tony (J.K. Simmons), has a heart attack and is forced to hand over the keys to his beloved handyman business, Jack is eager to finally step up and make his father proud. Unfortunately Jack’s past career efforts have been less than stellar, so everyone seems to be waiting for him to fail. His new job isn’t made any easier by Tony’s rebellious, troublemaking assistant, Darren (Edi Gathegi), and Darren’s flirtatious sister, Liz (Danielle Nicolet), who works at the local hardware store. But with the support of his Aunt Terry (Leah Remini) and his oddball yet endearing cousin Mason (Johnny Pemberton), Jack Shea may just find his true calling right at home.
“Family Tools” stars Kyle Bornheimer (“Bachelorette,” “Romantically Challenged,” “Perfect Couples”) as Jack Shea, J.K. Simmons (“Ultimate Spiderman,” “Generator Rex,” “The Closer”) as Tony Shea, Edi Gathegi (“X Men: First Class”) as Darren Poynton, Johnny Pemberton (“21 Jump Street,” “Aim High”) as Mason Baumgardner, Danielle Nicolet (“X Men TV Series”) as Lisa “Stitch” Poynton and Leah Remini (“In the Motherhood,” “King of Queens”) as Terry Baumgardner.
Based on the UK series “White Van Man,” the “Family Tools” teleplay is by Bobby Bowman. “Family Tools” is executive-produced by Joshua Sternin (“That ’70s Show”), J.R. Ventimilia (“That ’70s Show”), Mark Gordon (“Grey’s Anatomy,” “Criminal Minds”), Andrea Shay (“It Takes a Village,” “Virtual Virgin”) and Paul Buccieri (“Prime Suspect”). The pilot for “Family Tools” was directed by Michael Fresco (“Suburgatory,” “Raising Hope,” “Better Off Ted,” “My Name Is Earl,” “Northern Exposure,” “St. Elsewhere”). The series is from ABC Studios.
NEW ALTERNATIVE SERIES:
“THE TASTE”
One blind spoonful could change everything… on ABC’s “The Taste.” The exhilarating new cooking competition show “The Taste” puts 16 culinary competitors — pro chefs to home cooks — to the fire when four of the world’s most notable masters of the food world judge their creations based on a blind taste test. In this pressure-packed contest, the taste in a single spoonful can catapult a contender to the top or send him packing. “The Taste” features no-holds barred chef Anthony Bourdain, British food star Nigella Lawson, expert chef/author Ludo Lefebvre and restaurateur Brian Malarkey. Each of the four culinary superstars and “Taste” mentors – Bourdain, Lawson, Lefebvre and Malarkey – will coach a team of four competing pro and amateur cooks chosen from a nationwide casting call as they vie to create the best tasting dish. In each episode, the groups will face team and individual challenges with a variety of culinary themes through several elimination rounds. At the end of each episode, the mentors will have to judge the competitors’ dishes blind, with no knowledge of whose creation they’re sampling, what they’re eating, how it was prepared or whom they could be eliminating.
“The Taste” is from Kinetic Content and is executive-produced by Chris Coelen, Matilda Zoltowski, Emma Conway, Anthony Bourdain and Nigella Lawson. Brian Smith is the director.
“CELEBRITY DIVING”
“Celebrity Diving,” based on the hit international format “Celebrity Splash,” features celebrities competing in an exciting, family-friendly and often thrilling diving competition in front of a packed audience. Stars will perform dives from dizzying heights that will increase in difficulty each week, including backflips, somersaults and other gymnastic feats, to impress the judges, viewers at home and, most importantly, to win! Leading up to the competition, a professional diving instructor will give each celebrity weeks of training. Dives are not for the faint of heart, as they can be from as high as from 10-meter boards, with ever-increasing complexity, leading up to the much-anticipated finale.
“Celebrity Diving” is from award-winning production company Eyeworks USA (formerly 3 Ball Productions). The series is executive-produced by JD Roth, Todd A. Nelson and Brant Pinvidic. Judges include legendary diver and four-time Olympic gold medalist Greg Louganis, and David Boudia, who brought home the gold for diving at the 2012 London Olympic Games.
RETURNING SERIES:
“DANCING WITH THE STARS”
Season 16 of “Dancing with the Stars” will feature a star-studded cast filled with celebrities across a variety of genres, who will be paired with some of the world’s most decorated professional ballroom dancers to compete each week in a live ballroom competition. The couple with the lowest combined judges’ scores and public votes for their performance is sent home live every week, on “Dancing with the Stars the Results Show.”
Hosted by Emmy(r) Award winner Tom Bergeron (“America’s Funniest Home Videos”) and Brooke Burke-Charvet (“Dancing with the Stars” Season Seven Champion), the celebrities perform choreographed dance routines which will be judged by renowned Ballroom judge Len Goodman and dancer/choreographers Bruno Tonioli and Carrie Ann Inaba. The series is produced by BBC Worldwide Productions. Conrad Green serves as executive producer.
“BODY OF PROOF”
Brilliant and driven neurosurgeon Dr. Megan Hunt (Dana Delany) has found a new life as a Medical Examiner after a car accident left her with a condition called paresthesia and unable to operate. Although she’s no longer in the business of fixing what’s wrong with living patients, she’s still instinctively drawn to finding out what killed her dead patients and uncovering who was responsible and why. As she pursues the answers, the bodies of the dead provide the clues. The body is, in effect, the proof. As she, alongside her incredible team, investigate what happened to her patients, she finds their lives and the lessons they hold are in a way a bequest to her, to learn from them what she can and to apply to her own personal journey of redemption and forgiveness. In return, Megan is determined to get them justice.
“Body of Proof” stars Dana Delany as Dr. Megan Hunt, Jeri Ryan as Dr. Kate Murphey, Mark Valley as Detective Tommy Sullivan, Geoffrey Arend as Dr. Ethan Gross, Windell D. Middlebrooks as Dr. Curtis Brumfield, Elyes Gabel as Detective Adam Schaeffer, and Mary Mouser as Lacey Fleming.
The series is created by Christopher Murphey and executive-produced by Murphey, Matthew Gross, and Evan Katz. “Body of Proof” is produced by Gross Entertainment and ABC Studios.
“SUBURGATORY”
Tessa and George (Jeremy Sisto) have been on their own ever since Tessa’s mom pulled a “Kramer vs. Kramer” before Tessa (Jane Levy) was even potty trained. So far George has done a pretty good job of raising Tessa without a maternal figure in their lives, but suddenly he’s feeling a little out of his league. So it’s goodbye New York City and hello suburbs. At first Tessa is horrified by the big-haired, fake-boobed mothers and their sugar-free, Red Bull-chugging kids. But little by little, she and her dad begin finding a way to survive on the clean streets of the ‘burbs. Sure, the neighbors might smother you with love while their kids stare daggers at your back, but underneath all that plastic and caffeine, they’re really not half bad. And they do make a tasty pot roast.
“Suburgatory” stars Jeremy Sisto (“Law & Order”) as George Altman, Jane Levy (“Shameless”) as Tessa Altman, Carly Chaikin (“The Last Song”) as Dalia Royce, Rex Lee (“Entourage”) as Mr. Wolfe, Allie Grant (“Weeds”) as Lisa Shay, Alan Tudyk (“V”) as Noah Werner, Cheryl Hines (“Curb Your Enthusiasm”) as Dallas Royce, Ana Gasteyer (“Saturday Night Live”) as Sheila Shay and Chris Parnell (“30 Rock”) as Fred Shay.
Emily Kapnek (“Hung”) writes and executive-produces this bitingly ironic single-camera comedy, which is produced by Warner Bros. Television.
Categories: Television Tags: ABC, Celebrity Diving, Dancing with the Stars, DWTS, Family Tools, Red Window, television, The Taste, Zero Hour
‘DWTS: All Stars’ Country Night Features Little Big Town, Big and Rich, Taylor Swift and Jason Mraz
Put on your cowboy wear… It’s Country night, on “Dancing with the Stars: All-Stars,” MONDAY, OCTOBER 29 (8:00-10:01 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network. Each couple will be performing to a Country hit song where the celebrity will be required to perform a solo during his or her routine. Three-time CMA Award-nominated group Little Big Town will rock the stage, performing their smash hit, “Pontoon,” accompanied by The Troupe. The remaining eight couples will perform together in a Freestyle Group Dance. Accompanying the Group Dance, Country legends Big & Rich, along with Cowboy Troy, will perform a medley of “Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)” and “I Play Chicken with the Train,” two of the show’s most exciting freestyle songs from previous seasons. This is the first time the show’s Group Dance will be accompanied by musical guests.
The next night, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 30 (8:00-9:01 p.m., ET), multi-platinum recording artist and six-time Grammy(r) winner Taylor Swift will perform her mega hit single, “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together,” from her new blockbuster album, “Red.” In addition Grammy-winning singer and songwriter Jason Mraz will hit the stage to perform his chart topping hit single, “I Won’t Give Up,” from his latest album, “Love is a Four Letter Word.” Pro dancers Chelsie Hightower and Mark Ballas will dance during his live performance. And this week’s “Macy’s Stars of Dance” welcomes RJ Durell and Nick Florez, two of the hottest choreographers in the business, having worked with Katy Perry, Cher Lloyd and, most recently, Pink. Their dance will bring a modern day twist on Marie Antoinette, featuring incredible costumes, amazing hair and makeup, and 14 of some of the best dancers out there.
Taylor Swift is a six-time Grammy winner and the youngest winner ever of the music industry’s highest honor, the Grammy Award for Album of the Year. She writes all of her own songs, and has career record sales in excess of 22 million albums and 50 million song downloads. Swift’s fourth studio album, “Red,” was just released this week and is already garnering widespread critical acclaim and setting new sales records. The album’s lead single, “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together,” has been certified double platinum and spent three weeks at No. 1 atop Billboard’s all-genre Hot 100 Chart. The track topped the iTunes charts in 32 countries, and set a new record for the biggest digital sales week ever for a female artist. Her 2010 album, “Speak Now,” was lauded on Rolling Stone’s prestigious 50 Greatest Albums of All Time (by women) list, and Time magazine named Swift one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World.
Hailed as one of today’s most gifted pop troubadours, Jason Mraz has taken his musical journey from coffee houses to stadiums globally and now has two Grammy Awards and six Grammy nominations to his credit. Mraz’s latest album, “Love is a Four Letter Word,” debuted in the Top 15 in 13 countries, including No. 2 in the United States, with the first single, “I Won’t Give Up,” debuting in the No. 1 slot on Billboard’s Digital Songs Chart one week after its release. Mraz’s previous album, “WE SING. WE DANCE. WE STEAL THINGS.” was a multi-platinum, best-selling album that featured the record breaking single, “I’m Yours.” The album also helped him garner two Grammy wins to add to his long list of accomplishments, winning Best Male Vocal Performance for “Make It Mine” and Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals for “Lucky,” his duet with Colbie Cailbat.
Platinum-selling group Little Big Town first entered the music scene over 13 years ago with hits such as “Boondocks,” “Bring It on Home” and “Little White Church.” The band recently earned the highest album debut of their career with the release of “Tornado,” which sold 112,758 units in its first week. “Tornado” held the No. 1 spot on Billboard’s Country Albums Chart for five consecutive weeks. The album’s two-week No. 1 single, “Pontoon,” has sold over 1 million downloads, and their current single, “Tornado,” is their fastest rising to date. Little Big Town have three nominations for the upcoming CMA Awards, including Vocal Group of the Year, Single of the Year and Video of the Year for “Pontoon.” They have performed for over 4 million fans nationwide.
Big & Rich are America’s Technicolor cowboys, brothers-in-arms in service to the creed that great music has no boundaries. Individually John Rich and Big Kenny Alphin are first-rate musicians, songwriters, producers and entertainers. Together they are one of the most truly original musical forces ever unleashed. With the release of “Hillbilly Jedi,” they reassert their position as modern music’s best party soundtrack with songs like “Party Like Cowboyz,” “Rock the Boat” and “Get Your Game On.” Also contributing to the proceedings is Cowboy Troy, whose rapping adds to the energy and attitude of “Rock the Boat” and “Get Your Game On.” As “Hillbilly Jedi” finds the duo on top of their studio game, their live performances find them at their hell-raising best, with crowds as intense and appreciative as any they’ve ever faced. Big & Rich are also nominated for Vocal Duo of the Year at this year’s CMA Awards.
Hosted by Emmy Award winner Tom Bergeron (“America’s Funniest Home Videos”) and Brooke Burke-Charvet (“Dancing with the Stars” Season Seven Champion), the celebrities perform choreographed dance routines which will be judged by renowned Ballroom judge Len Goodman and dancer/choreographers Bruno Tonioli and Carrie Ann Inaba.
Viewers may cast their votes for their favorite teams via phone on Monday night during and up to 60 minutes after the “Dancing with the Stars: All-Stars” performance shows. AT&T customers may also vote by texting the word “VOTE” and entering the number that corresponds to the team they want to support (message and data rates may apply). Online voting at www.abc.com/ is open from the start of each episode on the East Coast and closes at 8:00 a.m., PT/11:00 a.m., ET on Tuesday mornings. Additionally, fans can now vote on Facebook www.facebook.com/dancingwiththestars. A custom Facebook app sponsored by AT&T will let fans vote, share who they voted for and why, as well as see who friends voted for. They can also access the “After Party: Dancing with the Stars” live stream, the DWTS Social Buzz page, and the AT&T Spotlight Performance and Casting Call from the app.
Categories: Television Tags: ABC, Dancing with the Stars, DWTS, Jason Mraz, Little Big Town, Taylor Swift, television
‘Dancing with the Stars’ Channel Launched on Slacker Radio
Starting today fans of reality hit “Dancing with the Stars” have even greater access to their favorite show, from the first cha-cha to the final waltz. ABC Radio has launched “Dancing with the Stars” Radio, giving listeners an interactive audio experience and unlimited access to the dance floor, whenever and wherever. Season 15 “Dancing with the Stars: All Stars” premieres tonight on the ABC television network.
“We’re adding a new dimension to the ‘Dancing with the Stars’ experience by offering on demand, digital audio content that compliments the viewing experience and increases engagement between the audience and the cast,” said Steve Jones, Vice President and General Manager of ABC News Radio. “When television programming stops, fans can hear highlights, interviews and behind-the-scenes conversation that the camera cannot always capture.”
“Dancing with the Stars” Radio is available in the “ABC” station category everywhere Slacker Radio is available, including all major smartphones, the iPad, in Ford vehicles with SYNC AppLink and on the web at: www.Slacker.com/station/dancing-with-the-stars.
“Dancing with the Stars” Radio, distributed by Slacker and AOL Radio, will reach 40 million registered users across the country, offering unparalleled access to one of the most popular programs on television. This digital audio channel captures key moments from each episode for fans, along with unique insights into the cast, judges and creative teams behind this all-star season. “Dancing with the Stars” Radio offers a variety of digital content that puts the user in control, allowing fans to skip over or select updated content based on preference. In addition to unique content, “Dancing with the Stars” Radio gives fans access to backstage gossip and exciting contests throughout the competition. While casual fans can access show highlights and episode re-caps, “Dancing with the Stars” devotees can enjoy in-depth interviews with judges, costume designers and memorable former contestants.
“Our partnership with ABC Radio has helped to give Slacker the edge in providing the best listening experience for users,” said Jonathan Sasse, Senior Vice President of Product and Programming at Slacker. “Today’s addition of ‘Dancing with the Stars’ Radio gives fans of the program the complete insider’s perspective on the show.”
Season 15 kicks off with an all-star cast of former contestants who will return to the dance floor to battle it out for a chance to win the coveted mirror ball trophy. This season of “Dancing with the Stars: All-Stars” will feature a wide variety of fan favorites from revered athletes like NFL star Emmitt Smith (Season 3) and Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson (Season 8) to actors and singers like Kirstie Alley (Season 12), Pamela Anderson (Season 10) and 98 Degrees star Drew Lachey (Season 2).
The two-hour season premiere of “Dancing with the Stars: All-Stars” airs Monday, September 24 at 8:00 p.m., ET on ABC, followed by a new digital live show, “After Party: Dancing with the Stars,” sponsored by AT&T. This original digital show will follow Monday night’s performance episode and will be available on www.ABC.com/DancingWithTheStars, as well as Facebook and YouTube.
Categories: Television Tags: ABC, ABC Radiom, Dancing with the Stars, Dancing with the Stars: All Stars, DWTS, Radio, Slacker, Slacker Radio
‘Dancing with the Stars: All-Stars’ Premiere to Feature Justin Bieber, Pitbull
From former champions to fan favorites, including a celebrity voted in by fans, the All-Star cast along with their professional partners return to the ballroom on the season premiere of “Dancing with the Stars: All-Stars,” Monday, September 24 at 8:00 pm ET/PT on the ABC Television Network. All 13 couples will hit the stage performing either the Cha Cha or the Foxtrot to impress the judges and viewers at home, hoping they’re not the first couple sent home.
The live two-hour season premiere of “Dancing with the Stars the Results Show,” Tuesday, September 25 at 8:00 pm ET, will kick off with live interviews with Tom and the cast, offering an in-depth look at why each celeb has decided to return for another chance at winning the coveted mirror ball trophy. Global superstars Justin Bieber and Pitbull will hit the stage for unforgettable musical performances. Performing his second single, “As Long as You Love Me,” from his latest album, “Believe,” Bieber returns to the ballroom for a knockout performance. Pitbull also joins the party with the primetime television debut of his new single, “Don’t Stop the Party,” from his upcoming album, “Global Warming,” out November 19th. Also during Tuesday night’s show, we will have a spectacular opening number featuring all the pro dancers of the season and The Troupe to a medley of “I Wanna Dance with Somebody/Dance Again,” choreographed by Jason Gilkison. The Troupe will return later that night to perform a number to “Go Get It,” which is also choreographed by Jason Gilkison. And before night’s end, the season’s first couple will be eliminated from the show.
With worldwide album sales in excess of 15 million units, Justin Bieber has dominated pop culture and social media for more than two years. He is currently preparing to kick off his “Believe” Tour, presented by AEG Live, September 29th. “Believe” follows Bieber’s No. 1 Christmas album, “Under the Mistletoe,” which was his third No. 1 Soundscan debut in just 18 months, making him the first solo artist in Billboard history to chart three No. 1 albums before his 18th birthday. Prior to “Mistletoe,” “My World 2.0″ entered Soundscan at No. 1 in 2010, and “Never Say Never: The Remixes” entered at No. 1 in 2011.
Pitbull has risen to become a global superstar as both a recording artist and live performer. The Miami-native recently added to a long and growing list of hits with his No. 1 “Give Me Everything,” while his Planet Pit world tour sold out concerts around the world. Pitbull recently released his new single, “Don’t Stop the Party,” and teamed with international superstar Shakira for “Get It Started” and “Back in Time” from the action adventure comedy, “Men in Black 3.” All are included on his upcoming “Global Warming” album. Recorded around the world, “Global Warming” will be released by RCA Records/ Mr. 305/ Polo Grounds on November 19 worldwide. His previous album, “Planet Pit,” earned critical acclaimed and enjoyed massive commercial success with sales of more than 1.4 million albums and 18 million singles.
Hosted by Tom Bergeron (“America’s Funniest Home Videos”) and Brooke Burke-Charvet (“Dancing with the Stars” Season Seven Champion), the celebrities perform choreographed dance routines which will be judged by renowned Ballroom judge Len Goodman and dancer/choreographers Bruno Tonioli and Carrie Ann Inaba.
Categories: Television Tags: ABC, Dancing with the Stars, DWTS, Justin Bieber, Pitbull, television
‘Dancing With the Stars: All Stars’ Cast Announced; ‘After Party’ Details
“Dancing with the Stars: All-Stars” marks the first time prior contestants will return for another chance at winning the coveted mirror ball trophy for a very special All-Star season. From former champions to fan favorites, including a celebrity voted in by fans, the stars will return and will be paired with some of the world’s most decorated professional ballroom dancers for the most unforgettable season yet. Week to week these “Dancing with the Stars” alumni will once again compete to impress the judges and the viewers at home in order to be crowned the mirror ball champions.
In a show first, fans will determine who the final All-Star cast member will be. The three celebrities vying to fill the 13th spot on the cast are Sabrina Bryan, Carson Kressley and Kyle Massey. Fans can vote for their favorite “Viewers’ Choice: All-Star” at www.ABC.com/DancingwiththeStars, presented by Diet Pepsi, starting today, Friday, July 27 at 10:30 a.m., PT through Friday, August 24 at 12:00 p.m., PT, to determine which of the three celebrities will be named the final All-Star contestant. Once voting has closed, the final cast member will be announced live on “Good Morning America,” on Monday, August 27.
The All-Star cast and their professional partners will take to the stage for the season premiere of “Dancing with the Stars: All-Stars,” Monday, September 24 at 8:00 pm ET/PT, followed by the premiere of “Dancing with the Stars the Results Show” on Tuesday, September 24 at 8:00 pm ETon the ABC Television Network.
As announced today, the 12 out of 13 All-Star celebrities returning to the dance floor this season are:
KIRSTIE ALLEY – Kirstie Alley has emerged as one of the great actresses of her generation, proving time and again that she is capable of great depth and range, as well as possessing comedic timing second to none. Alley’s work in television has earned her seven Golden Globe and eight Emmy nominations, winning one Golden Globe, two Emmys and three People’s Choice Awards. She co-wrote and starred in Showtime’s critically acclaimed comedy “Fat Actress,” and played the title character, as well as serving as executive producer, on the NBC sitcom “Veronica’s Closet.” In 1994 Alley showcased her dramatic range starring in the CBS TV movie “David’s Mother,” for which she won her second Emmy. In 1987 she joined the cast of the long-running hit NBC sitcom, “Cheers,” as the neurotic Rebecca Howe. Alley received critical accolades and won both an Emmy (r) for Lead Actress in a Comedy Series and Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actress in a Comedy Series in 1991. She made her movie debut in 1982 in “Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan,” in which she played beautiful Vulcan officer Lieutenant Saavik. In 1999 Alley starred in the dark comedy film “Drop Dead Gorgeous,” a cult-classic mockumentary that follows the contestants in a beauty pageant in Minnesota. She starred in Woody Allen’s “Deconstructing Harry,” and alongside John Travolta in the hit films “Look Who’s Talking,” “Look Who’s Talking Too” and “Look Who’s Talking Now.” Some of her other film credits include “Shoot to Kill,” “Summer School,” “For Richer or Poorer” and “Champions.” In 1995 Alley was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She served as the spokesperson for Pier One from 2000 to 2004, Jenny Craig from 2005 to 2008 and is currently the Poise Fairy. In 2010, Alley worked with experts in science, nutrition and medicine to launch Organic Liaison, which includes Rescue Me, the first-ever USDA certified organic weight-loss product. Alley has successfully lost 100 pounds using the Organic Liaison program. Her second book, The Art of Men (I Prefer Mine Al Dente), will be released this November by Atria, an imprint of Simon and Schuster.
PAMELA ANDERSON – A multi-talented model, actress, entrepreneur, writer, philanthropist, activist, spokesperson, designer and mother, Pamela Anderson is one of the most diversely talented stars in history. Anderson follows her passions, whether it’s “Learning French in fast cars…” (A play she has written and will produce) or lending herself, with complete faith, as a death defying magician’s assistant in Las Vegas. As a film, television and musical theatre star, Anderson’s resume speaks for itself, from the iconic hit “Baywatch” to the smash film “Borat,” she regularly impacts popular culture. She has appeared on the cover of countless magazines throughout the globe, including the cover of Playboy Magazine 14 times in America alone. Beyond media, Anderson is an esteemed art collector of the likes of Richard Prince, Ed Ruscha, Jeff Koons, Marilyn Minter, Mel Ramos, Santé D’orazio, Terry Richardson, Luca Pizzaroni, Marc Quinn and David LaChapelle. After a fulfilling experience building her Malibu home, Anderson has also branched into design, currently heading up ATHASI, a firm with partner Josh Chrisant that specializes in green architecture. She is also appearing in multiple campaigns for her comrade and mentor, the legendary Dame Vivienne Westwood. As a philanthropist, her work and dedication is unmatched in the celebrity community. A long time supporter of PETA, Anderson has also lent her time and resources to causes such as JP/HRO, Waves For Water, USO, Cool Earth, Sea Shepard Conservation Society (she recently flew to Germany to defend Captain Paul Watson for his wrongful imprisonment), and The MAC Viva Glam 5 campaign raising awareness for AIDS testing around the world. Anderson is also producing a documentary series with activist Paul Manley in Canada entitled “Whatever It Takes,” showcasing people who dedicate their lives to a cause at all costs. Full of surprises, and always one to pursue new passions, she recently excelled as a participant and competitor on the smash-hit ABC series “Dancing with the Stars.” Her hard work and talents caught the attention of the musical theatre community, and she is on the cusp of announcing a project that will serve as the next chapter in the career of this powerful woman, devoted mother, sex symbol and style icon who continues to inspire fans across the globe.
HELIO CASTRONEVES – One of the most popular personalities in all of sports, Helio Castroneves – Team Penske’s elder statesman – has accomplished much in his illustrious career, yet he remains passionate in his desire to achieve much more. Castroneves returns for his 13th season with Team Penske in 2012, driving the No. 3 Shell-V-Power Pennzoil-Ultra and AAA/Automobile Club of Southern California Indy car. Known for his electric smile and enthusiasm, he has driven and danced his way into the hearts and minds of people around the world. One of the two active drivers to have earned the distinction of being a three-time winner of the Indianapolis 500 and the only race car driver ever to become a “Dancing with the Stars” champion, Castroneves in many ways is in a league of his own. He has parlayed his foray in the entertainment world into working as an occasional correspondent for “Entertainment Tonight” and, in the fall of 2010, was invited back to the set of “Dancing with the Stars” to serve as a judge on the show after being voted as one of the top-10 best dancers from the first 10 seasons of the show. Castroneves’ celebrity status has afforded him an array of opportunities worldwide, the highlight of which came in 2004, when he had the once-in-a-lifetime experience of a private audience with Pope John Paul II while visiting Vatican City. His garage boasts the 2001 Indianapolis 500 Pace Vehicle Oldsmobile Bravada; a 50th Anniversary Special Edition Chevrolet Corvette, which he received for winning the 2002 Indianapolis 500; and his latest addition, a 2010 Chevrolet Camaro Indianapolis 500 Pace Car. Castroneves enters the 2011 season once again ready to compete for the IZOD IndyCar Series championship for Team Penske and to battle for a record-tying fourth Indy 500 victory.
JOEY FATONE – Former *NSYNC star Joey Fatone is embarking on a series of projects for FremantleMedia Enterprises — from hosting “Price is Right Live” in Las Vegas and Atlantic City to “Let’s Make a Deal” for Caesar Entertainment — and currently is the voice of the widely successful re-launch of “Family Feud” with Steve Harvey. Fatone also just completed a horror film “Inkubus,” working aside the original Freddy Kruger — Robert Englund. He was host of NBC’s cirque competition series, “Celebrity Circus.” He also produced his first cable television series, “The Singing Office,” for TLC and co-hosted the show alongside Melanie Brown. Fatone served as host of NBC’s international hit series, “The Singing Bee,” and in late 2007 hosted the Australian version of the successful series. From 2008 to 2009 he was featured as the lead red carpet host at all the major award shows for the TV Guide Network. Fatone is most beloved for being a member of one of the most successful music groups in the 90s, *NSYNC. The group has won multiple awards and set numerous records, including selling 1 million copies of their album “No Strings Attached” on its first day and 2.4 million for the first week (a record that still stands today). Fatone comes from a family of performers; his first acting gig was at the age of seven, starring with Robert DeNiro in the feature film “Once Upon a Time in America.” Other film credits include “The Cooler,” alongside Alec Baldwin and William H. Macy, “Homie Spumoni,” with Whoopi Goldberg, Donald Faison and Jamie-Lynn Sigler, and “My Big Fat Greek Wedding.” Fatone and his wife, Kelly, currently reside in Orlando with their daughters, Briahna and Kloey. He remains actively involved with his charity, The Fatone Family Foundation.
SHAWN JOHNSON – At 20 years old, gymnast Shawn Johnson has accomplished a lifetime of achievements, including an individual gold medal in the balance beam and three silver medals in the individual all-around, floor exercise, and team categories at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China. In April 2009, Johnson was named the 79th Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Sullivan Award recipient, one of the most prestigious honors in amateur sports. At the age of 17, she became the youngest ever contestant on ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars,” where she danced her way to becoming the Champion of Season Eight. After a two-year hiatus from competitive gymnastics, Shawn returned to training in 2010 in an effort to make the 2012 Olympic Team. Just weeks before Olympic Trials, she was forced to withdraw due to injury and retired from the sport. Shawn hopes to attend an Ivy League school and would like to study business, medicine and to own a gymnastics facility some day. Her second book, Winning Balance: What I’ve Learned So Far About Love, Faith and Living Your Dreams, was published in June 2012. Her first book, Shawn Johnson, Olympic Champion-Stories Behind the Smile, was published in January 2009. She is involved in a number of philanthropic activities such as working with animal and children’s charities, working with cancer charities, particularly those that affect women and children, and is a strong advocate of health and wellness initiatives. Shawn is also involved in programs that help build good character amongst youth across the country.
DREW LACHEY – Drew Lachey, a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, is best known for his multi-platinum pop group 98 Degrees, which he joined with his brother Nick in 1995. Lachey is the Season Two winner of ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars,” beating out 10 other dance couples in 2006. He also served as co-host of” Dancing with the Stars” and hosted ABC’s “Dance War: Bruno vs. Carrie Ann,” a live, one-hour series that featured teams created by judges Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli. A Broadway veteran, Lachey starred as Mark Cohen in Jonathan Larson’s Pulitzer Prize winning musical, “Rent,” and as King Arthur’s right-hand man, Patsy, in Mike Nichols’ award-winning production of Monty Python’s “Spamalot.” Other onstage work includes Corny Collins in “Hairspray” and the “Dancing with the Stars” tour. Lachey also hosted HGTV’s “$250,000 Dollar Challenge” — a reality show where families compete to pay off their mortgage with home-improvement challenges — “America Sings” for the Gospel Music Channel and the “Miss USA Pageant,” which he co-hosted with Nancy O’Dell. He, along with design partner Sabrina Soto, won the celebrity edition of HGTV’s “Showdown Battle of the Bonus Room,” where the team beat designer Matthew Finlason and figure skater champion Kristi Yamaguchi. Lachey is married and the proud father of two.
GILLES MARINI — Gilles Marini first captivated audiences as Dante, the steamy neighbor living next door to Kim Cattrall’s Samantha in the “Sex and the City” feature film, a role which made him instantly recognizable in the United States and abroad, followed by finishing in 2nd place on Season Eight of ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars.” Marini is currently starring on the critically acclaimed ABC Family drama “Switched at Birth.” He also starred on ABC’s marquee drama “Brothers & Sisters,” and has had guest starring roles in some of primetime’s favorite shows, including “Modern Family,” “Hot In Cleveland,” “Are You There Chelsea,” “Royal Pains,” “Nip/Tuck” and ABC’s “Castle.” Other television credits include “Ugly Betty,” “Dirty Sexy Money,” “Criminal Minds” and “Windfall.” Film credits include “L’une et L’Autre (One and the Other)” and “Pirates of the Caribbean 3.” Marini has been in national campaigns for a wide range of brands including Budweiser, Clairol, Coca Cola, Chrysler, GNC and Infiniti. He is currently the face of the Perry Ellis brand A(X)IST. Born and raised in Grasse, France, he became an American Citizen in June 2012. He started working in his father’s bakery at the age of 8. After high school, Marini joined the French Army and was stationed in Paris as a fireman for the famous Brigade des Sapeurs Pompiers de Paris. It was in Paris where he met Fred Goudon, the famous photographer who introduced him to the world of modeling. After fulfilling his military duties, Marini decided to go to the United States to learn English while working as a model. In his spare time, he enjoys playing soccer as part of a neighborhood team and as part of the Hollywood United Soccer Team. He also donates a lot of his time and resources to the Maximum Hope Foundation, a charity that raises funds for families with terminally ill children. He currently resides in California with his wife, Carole, son Georges and daughter Juliana.
KELLY MONACO — Kelly Monaco originated the highly anticipated role of Samantha McCall on ABC’s “General Hospital” in October 2003. In the category of Outstanding Lead Actress, Monaco was an Emmy nominee for this role in 2006.Her television credits include co-hosting the 33rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards as they were broadcast for the first time from Hollywood. She also starred in the first season of the ABC primetime summer mega-hit, “Dancing with the Stars,” where she won the dance championship. She had a three-and-a-half-year stint on the ABC Daytime drama “Port Charles,” garnering her first Daytime Emmy Nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in 2003. Her television debut occurred in 1997, when she landed a recurring role on “Baywatch.” While shooting “Port Charles,” she also guest starred opposite Charlie Sheen and Heather Locklear in a season finale of ABC’s “Spin City.” In addition she has appeared in the feature films “Idle Hands,” “Mumford,” “BASEketball,” and was most recently seen on Hallmark’s movie “Edge of the Garden.” Monaco headlined and opened the Las Vegas “Peep Show” performing in front of sold-out audiences. She was also featured in the Emmy-Award winning documentary “Daytime Gives Back, Africa,” and allowed fans a peak into her private life on E!’s “Dirty Soap.” Monaco grew up on the East Coast, where she participated in soccer, swimming, track and softball, among other sports. Her family moved from the bustling city of Philadelphia to the more peaceful environment of the Poconos. In addition to athletics, she participated intensely in speech, debate and theater in high school. She is involved in Feed the Children and Children’s Hospital, and resides in Los Angeles
APOLO ANTON OHNO – Best known for making history at the 2010 Winter Olympics by becoming the most decorated U.S. Winter Olympian with eight career Olympic medals, Apolo Ohno has been the top short-track speed skater in the U.S. Among his tremendous accolades, Ohno is a three-time Olympian, one of only four Americans to win three medals in a single Winter Olympics, and is a 12-time U.S. National Champion. Born in Seattle, Washington, Ohno was raised by his Japanese father, Yuki, whom Ohno credits for his success as he pushed him to pursue excellence on and off the ice when considering his future. Launched into the national spotlight after winning two medals at the 2002 Winter Olympics, Ohno’s unique look, including his wavy hair and signature bandana, helped attract countless fans. At the 2006 Winter Olympics, he once again won over the hearts of Americans as he added three more medals to his collection, including a gold in the Men’s 500m. Beyond the Olympics, Ohno was ranked by Nielsen’s State of the Media: Year in Sports 2010 as third-most effective athlete endorser, ranks tenth in Business Week’s Power 100, and is author of The New York Times Bestseller and top-selling sports biography, Zero Regrets: Be Greater Than Yesterday. Passionate about being a positive role model for youth, he is an Ambassador for health and wellness initiatives aimed at children, is active in Ronald McDonald House charities and also involved in Nikkei Concerns, a leading provider for elder care services. Continuing to demonstrate his diverse talents, Ohno recently finished his first acting roles on “Hawaii Five-O” and in the SyFy film, “Tasmanian Devils.” He will return to the Olympics as a reporter for NBC this summer in London.
BRISTOL PALIN – Bristol Palin, 21 years old, was born and raised in Wasilla, Alaska. Bristol is the second child and oldest daughter of former Governor of Alaska Sarah Palin and her husband, Todd. Palin and Levi Johnston’s son, Tripp Easton Mitchell Johnston, was born in 2008. Palin is an author, speaker and reality television personality. After she became a single mother at age 18, she began to publicly advocate teenage pregnancy prevention, and is now a paid speaker on the subject of teen pregnancy. In May 2009, at age 18, Palin worked with The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy to inform young people about the negative consequences of teenage pregnancy. In May 2009 she was named a Teen Pregnancy Prevention Ambassador for the Candie’s Foundation, a teen pregnancy prevention organization that is a division of the Candie’s clothing brand. Her duties as a paid spokeswoman involved attending town hall meetings, public service announcements, and giving interviews on morning talk shows. Palin competed in the fall 2010 season of “Dancing with the Stars: and reached the finals, finishing in third place. In June 2011, she and Nancy French released her memoir, Not Afraid of Life: My Journey So Far. Palin candidly discusses aspects of her personal life, including tensions with the McCain family and losing her virginity. The book was a New York Times bestseller. Currently Palin is starring in a docuseries, “Life’s a Tripp,” produced by Associated Television International, which follows Palin as she adjusts back to normal routine in Alaska.
MELISSA RYCROFT – One week after the most talked about season finale of ABC’s “The Bachelor,” “Bachelor” star Melissa Rycroft stepped onto the dance floor in heroic fashion on “Dancing with the Stars.” With just two days to prepare for her nationally televised ballroom dancing debut, Rycroft displayed character and strength overcoming nerves, anxiety and the pressure to perform in front of a live audience. Paired with professional dancer Tony Dovolani, Rycroft “waltzed” her way into America’s hearts and into a third-place finish on Season Eight of the hit ABC series. In April 2012, CMT Network launched her latest television project, “Melissa and Tye: A New Reality,” which explores the ups and downs of her desire to explore her career in Los Angeles while maintaining relationships with her family and friends in Dallas, as her husband commutes each week to build his Dallas based business. In December of 2010 Rycroft married her longtime sweetheart, Tye Strickland, in a seaside ceremony in Mexico that received world-wide attention, and soon after took on co-hosting duties on “Dick Clark’s Rocking New Year’s Eve” for ABC, where she appeared alongside host Ryan Seacrest. In 2009 she joined ABC News as a special contributor for “Good Morning America,” delivering fun and uplifting stories from across the country and from Hollywood’s most glamorous red carpets. Rycroft was a member of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders and appeared on two seasons of CMT’s “Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team.” She graced the cover of the April 13, 2009 issue of People Magazine and was featured among their 100 Most Beautiful People of 2009. Rycroft has also been named to Maxim’s Hot 100 list. A graduate from the University of North Texas with a degree in marketing, she resides in Dallas, TX and Los Angeles, CA.
EMMITT SMITH – A respected entrepreneur, sought-after speaker, bestselling author and dancing’s “king of effortless cool,” Emmitt Smith first rose to prominence via an illustrious football career, most notably winning three Super Bowl championships as a member of the Dallas Cowboys. He retains the honor of being the only player to have won a Super Bowl MVP, NFL MVP and NFL Rushing Crown in the same season. Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2010, Smith is the NFL’s all-time leading rusher, having amassed 18,355 yards during his 15 seasons. His charm and charisma quickly translated off-the-field to the entertainment world following his retirement. In 2006 Smith, along with dance partner Cheryl Burke, was crowned winner of the hit ABC reality show “Dancing with the Stars.” Now gearing up for the 2012 All-Star season, he is preparing hit the dance floor with energy and excitement once again. As well known for his character and integrity as he is for his athletic ability, Smith continues to give back to the community and support higher education via Pat & Emmitt Smith Charities, an organization that annually awards college scholarships and provides enrichment opportunities to underserved youth. Most recently he authored the 2011 book, Game On: Find Your Purpose – Pursue Your Dreams, which chronicles his story from humble beginnings growing up in Pensacola, Fla. to his rise in the business world. Smith is currently President & CEO of Emmitt Smith Enterprises, Inc., which includes Pat & Emmitt Smith Charities, the marketing and management of the Emmitt Smith brand, and the company’s two core businesses, EJ Smith Construction and E Smith Legacy, a real estate company. Smith is a graduate of the University of Florida with a bachelor’s degree in public recreation. He is a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. He is happily married and the proud father of five children.
As announced, the three celebrity alumnus competing to be the “Viewer’s Choice: All-Star” are:
SABRINA BRYAN — Sabrina Bryan was a member of the multi-platinum recording act, The Cheetah Girls, as well as a star of the hugely successful Disney Channel movie of the same name as Dorinda. “The Cheetah Girls” movie debuted in August of 2003, breaking the ratings record as the most successful Disney Channel movie in history and selling two million units of the soundtrack. Bryan continued to reprise her role in “The Cheetah Girls 2: When in Spain,” in August of 2006, and with “The Cheetah Girls 3,” set in India in 2008. As a recording group with Adrienne Bailon and Kiely Williams, The Cheetah Girls had one of the top ten most successful tours of 2006, selling out 87 dates and becoming one of the top 5 merchandise selling acts in history. Their first album as a recording group was “Cheetahlicious Christmas,” which was released at the end of 2005. The Cheetah Girls have also been featured on the Chicken Little soundtrack with their rendition of “Shake a Tailfeather” and on various Disneymania compilations, many of which have been certified Gold. One of Bryan’s solo projects is the fitness-dance DVD called BYOU and the sequel BYOU 2, in which she was the star and co-producer. BYOU was originally released in early 2006 and has gone double-platinum. Bryan is currently developing film, television, internet and book properties to star in and produce. Her endeavors include co-writing the book Princess of Gossip with top Young Adult author Julia DeVillers for Pocket/MTV Books, a recurring role on the new Disney Channel animated series, “Fish Hooks,” as the voice of Pamela Hamster, and she hosted three seasons of ABC.com’s web series, “Backstage with the Stars,” covering behind-the-scenes of “Dancing with the Stars.” She is currently starring on-stage in the “Dancing with the Stars: Live in Las Vegas” at The New Tropicana.
CARSON KRESSLEY – Emmy-winning television star, celebrity stylist, author and fashion designer Carson Kressley is out to make over the world. Kressley was a season 13 “fan-favorite” on ABC’s “Dancing with The Stars” and recently headlined as the host of “Dancing with the Stars: Live in Las Vegas.” In 2011 Kressley starred in “Carson-Nation,” a one-hour reality show for OWN, where he traveled to small towns throughout the U.S., transforming lives one person at a time with his signature heart, humor and style. Previously he helmed Lifetime’s critically acclaimed show, “How to Look Good Naked,” and earned a primetime Emmy for his role on Bravo’s breakout hit series, “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy.” He was a frequent style contributor on “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” where millions of viewers accessed his expertise, style and wit. He can also been seen as a style contributor on ABC’s “Good Morning America” and “Live with Kelly!” Kressley recently debuted his signature line of women’s sportswear and accessories, “Love, Carson,” which is known for its easy, instant, affordable glamour and is available exclusively at Shop NBC. He is a New York Times best-selling author with three books to his credit, including a children’s book, You’re Different and That’s Super, promoting diversity and tolerance. A women’s style guide is in the works for 2012. A strong supporter of many philanthropic causes, Kressley uses his celebrity to advance different concerns such as The Trevor Project, The Human Rights Campaign, The Empire State Pride Agenda, LIGALY, GLSEN, AIDS WALK, The Ali Forney Center and the Al D. Rodriguez Liver Foundation. Kressley is also a trustee on the board of The True Colors Fund and The American Saddlebred Museum. He is the founding donor of the first scholarship program for GLBT youth in his hometown of Allentown, Pennsylvania. When Kressley is not starring on stage or screen, he can be found astride one of his American Saddlebred show horses, with which he has achieved World Champion status. Kressley resides in New York City.
KYLE MASSEY – Although only 20 years old, Kyle Massey is already an industry veteran. A near champion on Season 11 of “Dancing with the Stars,” he finished second with his partner, Lacey Schwimmer. Massey is most known for his acting role as Cory Baxter on the Disney Channel’s No. 1 hit sitcom, “Cory in the House.” He originated the role of Cory on Disney’s “That’s So Raven,” which produced 100 episodes, the first in Disney’s history. Acting credits also include a leading role in the Disney Channel’s Original Movie, “Life is Ruff,” a recurring role on the animated TV series “American Dragon: Jake Long,” and most recently as Milo, the very high energy, fun loving fish on Disney Channel’s hit animated TV series, “Fish Hooks.” For his work on “That’s So Raven” and “Cory in the House,” Massey received an NAACP Image Award nomination. The Georgia native counts among his other talents snowboarding, riding his motorcycle and golfing. For his prowess in the latter sport, the youngster won first place in the National Minority Junior Golf Tournament in 2003. He has participated in several golf tournaments, most recently the White House Golf Tournament, where he placed 3rd. In addition to writing and producing his own music, he also sings the main title theme songs on “Cory in the House,” “Yin! Yang! Yo!,” and performed the title track for Walt Disney Picture’s “Underdog.” Massey currently splits his time between Atlanta and Los Angeles, with his parents and older brother, Christopher, who is also an actor on Nickelodeons’ “Zoey 101.” He and his brother made TV History when both “That’s So Raven” and “Zoey 101″ were nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Children’s Programming in 2005, the first for siblings in the same year. Massey is passionate about helping the community and lends his time to the Starkey Hearing Foundation, and he just recently returned from South Africa, Madagascar and Mauritius where he helped to fit kids with hearing aids. He is currently starring on-stage in the “Dancing with the Stars: Live in Las Vegas” at The New Tropicana.
The three contestants competing to be the “Viewers’ Choice: All-Star” will kick-off their campaign with their first television interview live in-studio on “Good Morning America,” Monday, July 30.
“Dancing with the Stars: All-Stars” and “Dancing with the Stars: All-Stars the Results Show” return this season with new surprises and all the performance elements viewers have come to know and love. “Macy’s Stars of Dance,” featuring some of the best choreographers and performers from the different styles of dance who offer viewers performances that represent the peach of achievement in their genres, will return. The show also welcomes the return of the “AT&T Spotlight Performance,” which features and celebrates people whose lives have been changed forever by dance. AT&T is also helping the search to find these performers by allowing fans to nominate potential dancers.
Hosted by Tom Bergeron (“America’s Funniest Home Videos”) and Brooke Burke-Charvet (“Dancing with the Stars” Season Seven Champion), the celebrities perform choreographed dance routines which will be judged by renowned Ballroom judge Len Goodman and dancer/choreographers Bruno Tonioli and Carrie Ann Inaba.
Viewers may cast their votes for their favorite teams via phone on Monday night during and up to 60 minutes after the “Dancing with the Stars: All-Stars” performance shows. AT&T customers may also vote by texting the word “VOTE” and entering the number that corresponds to the team they want to support (message and data rates may apply). Online voting at www.ABC.com is open from the start of each episode on the East Coast and closes at 8:00 a.m., PT/11:00 a.m., ET on Tuesday mornings. Additionally, fans can now vote on Facebook www.facebook.com/dancingwiththestars. A custom Facebook app sponsored by AT&T will let fans vote, share who they voted for and why, as well as see who friends voted for. They can also access the “After Party: Dancing with the Stars” live stream, the DWTS Social Buzz page, and the AT&T Spotlight Performance and Casting Call from the app.
Also new this year is “After Party: Dancing with the Stars,” a 15-20 minute live show that takes place online at www.ABC.com/DancingWithTheStars, Facebook, and YouTube immediately following each Monday night performance episode. Sponsored by AT&T, this original online video show will feature a host, a panel of dance experts, show talent and celebrity guests breaking down the highlights of the night and answering questions via Twitter, Facebook and ABC.com
Categories: Television Tags: ABC, Apolo Anton Ohno, Bachelor, Bristol Palin, Carson Kressley, Dance, Dancing, Dancing with the Stars, Drew Lachey, DWTS, Emmitt Smith, Gilles Marini, Helio Castroneves, Joey Fatone, Kelly Monoco, Kirstie Alley, Kyle Massey, Melissa Rycroft, Pamela Anderson, Reality Shows, Sabrina Bryan, Shawn Johnson, The Bachelor
ABC Announces Series Premiere Dates for 2012-2013 Season
Below are ABC’s Fall premiere dates for the 2012-13 season. Note “The Neighbors” will premiere on Wednesday, September 26 at 9:30 p.m., before moving to its regular time period at 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 3.
Friday, September 14
8:00-9:00 p.m. “Shark Tank”
9:00-10:00 p.m. “What Would You Do?”
10:00-11:00 p.m. “20/20″
Monday, September 24
8:00-10:00 p.m. “Dancing with the Stars: All-Stars”
10:00-11:00 p.m. “Castle”
Tuesday, September 25
8:00-10:00 p.m. “Dancing with the Stars the Results Show”
10:00-11:00 p.m. “Private Practice”
Wednesday, September 26
8:00-9:00 p.m. “The Middle” (special one-hour premiere)
9:00-9:30 p.m. “Modern Family”
9:30-10:00 p.m. “The Neighbors” (series premiere)
Thursday, September 27
8:00-9:00 p.m. “Last Resort”
9:00-10:00 p.m. “Grey’s Anatomy”
10:00-11:00 p.m. “Scandal”
Sunday, September 30
8:00-9:00 p.m. “Once Upon a Time”
9:00-10:00 p.m. “Revenge”
10:00-11:00 p.m. “666 Park Avenue”
Wednesday, October 3
8:30-9:00 p.m. “The Neighbors” (regular time period premiere)
Sunday, October 7
7:00-8:00 p.m. “America’s Funniest Home Videos”
Wednesday, October 10
10:00-11:00 p.m. “Nashville”
Wednesday, October 17
9:30-10:00 p.m. “Suburgatory”
Tuesday, October 23
9:00-9:30 p.m. “Happy Endings”
9:30-10:00 p.m. “Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23″
Friday, November 2
8:00-8:30 p.m. “Last Man Standing”
8:30-9:00 p.m. “Malibu Country”
9:00-10:00 p.m. “Shark Tank” (new time period premiere)
Categories: Television Tags: ABC, Castle, Dancing with the Stars, DWTS, Greys Anatomy, Happy Endings, Last Resort, Modern Family, Once Upon A Time, OUAT, Scandal, Shark Tank, Suburgatory, television, The Middle, The Neighbors
‘DWTS’ Season Finale to Feature Kelly Clarkson, Gladys Knight
After 10 weeks of highly entertaining performances and phenomenal dancing, Donald Driver & Peta Murgatroyd, Katherine Jenkins & Mark Ballas and William Levy & Cheryl Burke have proven they deserve to be in the finals. But only one couple will be crowned champions of “Dancing with the Stars.” The three finalists will have their last opportunity to impress the judges and viewers on two final nights of competition, MONDAY, MAY 21 (8:00-9:01 p.m., ET), and concluding on the Season Finale, TUESDAY, MAY 22 (9:00-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.
In the final one-hour performance show on MONDAY, MAY 21 (8:00-9:01 p.m., ET), each of the couples will compete in two dances. All three couples will have the chance to show their improvement over the course of the season, performing a dance chosen by the judges that they have previously performed, but will be able to incorporate new music and new choreography. Each couple will also perform the unpredictable and always entertaining no rules Freestyle dance to music they have chosen themselves.
In the two-hour Season Finale on TUESDAY, MAY 22 (9:00-11:00 p.m., ET), the excitement will continue with a stunning opening number with the entire cast and the Troupe. Tuesday night, all of this season’s eliminated couples will return to the ballroom to perform some of the most memorable routines, as well as a few new surprises, including a special musical performance from Grammy® Award-winning Gladys Knight, who will accompany a dance performance. Grammy® Award-winning superstar Kelly Clarkson will also light up the ballroom singing a medley of her hit songs “Dark Side” and “Stronger,” accompanied by Kym Johnson, Tony Dovolani, Anna Trebunskaya, Tristan MacManus and the Troupe. And in the final element of the competition on Tuesday, the three finalists perform a new routine in our “24 Hour Challenge” – in which they will have had 24 hours to pair their dance style of choice to music given to them after Monday night’s show. This routine will be scored out of 30 and will round out the judges’ scores across both nights.
Since bursting onto the music scene 10 years ago, Kelly Clarkson has released 5 studio albums, sold over 20 million albums worldwide, 10 million albums in the US and has had 10 singles in the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart. She is the recipient of 2 Grammy ® Awards, 4 American Music Awards, 3 MTV Video Music Awards, 2 Academy of Country Music Awards, 1 Country Music Association Award and 12 Billboard Music Awards. Clarkson’s most recent effort, “Stronger,” debuted at No. 2 on both the Billboard Top 200 and Digital Albums Chart. The album is certified Gold by the R.I.A.A. and produced the smash singles, “Mr. Know It All” and “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You),” which marks Clarkson’s 9th and 10th Top 10 hit. “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)” was No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 Chart for two consecutive weeks (3 weeks total), her 3rd No. 1 hit on the Hot 100 Chart. She is set to tour this summer with The Fray as well as will star in ABC’s new reality competition, “Duets,” which premieres May 24.
Eight-time Grammy® winner Gladys Knight has enjoyed No. 1 hits in pop, R&B and Adult Contemporary, and has triumphed in film, television and live performance. The Georgia-born Knight began performing recitals at age 4 in the Mount Mariah Baptist Church. Three years later, in 1952, she won the grand prize on television’s “Ted Mack’s Amateur Hour,” and the following year she, along with her brother, Bubba, and her cousins, formed The Pips and had their first hit in 1961. In 1962 the group was renamed Gladys Knight & The Pips and went on to achieve icon status, recording some of the most memorable songs of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. Knight has recorded more than 38 albums over the years, including four solo albums during the past decade. She recently released her newest album, featuring the hit “I Who Have Nothing.” A longtime Las Vegas resident, Knight returned to the Strip this past year at the famed Tropicana Hotel for a special engagement that ran in the newly named Gladys Knight Theater, making her the first African-American performer to have a venue named after her in Las Vegas.
Hosted by Tom Bergeron (“America’s Funniest Home Videos”) and Brooke Burke-Charvet (“Dancing with the Stars” Season Seven Champion), the celebrities perform choreographed dance routines which will be judged by renowned Ballroom judge Len Goodman and dancer/choreographers Bruno Tonioli and Carrie Ann Inaba. Viewers may cast their votes for their favorite teams via phone on Monday night during and up to 60 minutes after the “Dancing with the Stars” performance shows. AT&T customers may also vote by texting the word “VOTE” and entering the number that corresponds to the team they want to support (message and data rates may apply).
Categories: Television Tags: ABC, Dancing with the Stars, DWTS
‘DWTS’ to Feature Carrie Underwood, Alanis Morissette, ‘Rock of Ages’
After last week’s nerve-racking double elimination, the four remaining couples face off in the semifinals of “Dancing with the Stars,” Monday, May 14 at 8:00 pm ET/PT on the ABC Television Network. The couples will perform one new Ballroom and one new Latin dance to determine which three couples will land in the finals.
On Tuesday, May 15 at 9:00 pm ET/PT special musical guests Carrie Underwood and Alanis Morissette will hit the stage with unforgettable performances on “Dancing with the Stars the Results Show.” Award winning Country superstar Carrie Underwood is set to perform “Good Girl,” the first single off her brand new album, “Blown Away.” Her exciting performance will be accompanied by Tristan Macmanus, Sharna Burgess, Henry Byalikov and Emma Slater. Multi-platinum, Grammy ® Award-winning artist Alanis Morissette will hit the stage with a world premiere performance of her new single, “Guardian,” from her upcoming album, “Havoc and Bright Lights.” Her performance will be accompanied by Blake McGrath and Tyne Stecklein.
During Tuesday night’s results show we will also have an incredible performance from the upcoming Warner Bros Pictures feature release, “Rock of Ages.” The electrifying performance will feature two-time former “Dancing with the Stars” champion Julianne Hough and her co-star, actor/singer Diego Boneta. Directed by Adam Shankman (“Hairspray”), New Line Cinema’s adaptation of the smash hit Broadway musical “Rock of Ages” hit theaters June 15th. The movie musical stars Julianne Hough, Diego Boneta, Russell Brand, Paul Giamatti, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Malin Akerman, Mary J. Blige, Bryan Cranston, with Alec Baldwin and Tom Cruise.
In the final “Macy’s Stars of Dance” performance this season, two yet to be named “DWTS” pros will perform a riveting Samba to “End of Time.” All season long, fans have voted on the performance song, style, costumes and pro dancers for the season’s Macy’s Design-a-Dance.
Carrie Underwood’s brand new album, “Blown Away,” made history by debuting at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums Chart, making her only the second country artist in the 47 year history of the chart to have each of their first four albums debut at No. 1. With more than 267,000 albums sold, “Blown Away” debuted at No. 1 on the all-genre Billboard 200 Chart, making Underwood the only the second country artist in history to have three consecutive albums debut at No. 1. In addition to holding the No. 1 spot on both the Country and All-Genre Album Sales Charts, “Blown Away” also holds the No. 1 spot in digital sales, with more than 107,000 copies sold, making “Blown Away” country’s best-selling digital album debut since 2010. Since releasing “Some Hearts” in 2005, Underwood has sold more than 14 million albums with “Some Hearts,” 2007′s “Carnival Ride,” and 2009′s “Play On,” making her the best selling “American Idol” in the US. She’s amassed 14 No. 1 singles, six of which she co-wrote, and became the first country artist in history and the only “American Idol” winner ever to achieve 10 No. 1 singles from their first two albums. Underwood currently leads the nominations for the upcoming CMT Music Awards with five. She is a five-time Grammy ® winner, a two-time Academy of Country Music Entertainer of the Year, a three-time Country Music Association and ACM Female Vocalist winner, and a proud member of the Grand Ole Opry.
Since 1995 Alanis Morissette has been one of the most influential singer-songwriter-musicians in contemporary music. Her deeply expressive music and performances have earned vast critical praise, 12 Canadian Juno Awards, 7 Grammy® Awards (with an additional 14 nominations), a Golden Globe nomination and sales of over 60 million albums worldwide. Morissette’s 1995 debut, “Jagged Little Pill,” was followed by such eclectic and acclaimed albums as “Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie” (1988), “MTV Unplugged” (1999), “Under Rug Swept” (2002), “Feast on Scraps” (2002), “So-called Chaos” (2004), “Jagged Little Pill Acoustic” (2005), her greatest hits album, “The Collection” (2005), and “Flavors of Entanglement” (2008). She has also made many memorable contributions to theatrical releases including: “Uninvited” to the film “City of Angels” (1999), “Still” to the film “Dogma” (1999), and “I Remain”, which she wrote for the “Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time.” Most recently Alanis has acted on the small screen with roles in hit television series “Weeds” and “Up All Night”, and has appeared as a celebrity guest mentor on the current season of “The Voice.” Alanis’ forthcoming seventh studio album, “Havoc and Bright Lights,” is scheduled to release on August 28th, 2012 through Collective Sounds/Sony RED.
By Tuesday evening’s end, one couple will be eliminated, as determined by a combination of the judges’ scores and viewers’ votes on dances performed on Monday’s performance show. Who among the four couples will be the next to leave the ballroom?
* DONALD DRIVER and partner PETA MURGATROYD
* KATHERINE JENKINS and partner MARK BALLAS
* WILLIAM LEVY and partner CHERYL BURKE
* MARIA MENOUNOS and partner DEREK HOUGH
Hosted by Tom Bergeron (“America’s Funniest Home Videos”) and Brooke Burke-Charvet (“Dancing with the Stars” Season Seven Champion), the celebrities perform choreographed dance routines which will be judged by renowned Ballroom judge Len Goodman and dancer/choreographers Bruno Tonioli and Carrie Ann Inaba. Viewers may cast their votes for their favorite teams via phone on Monday night during and up to 60 minutes after the “Dancing with the Stars” performance shows. AT&T customers may also vote by texting the word “VOTE” and entering the number that corresponds to the team they want to support (message and data rates may apply).
Categories: Television Tags: ABC, Dancing with the Stars, DWTS
‘DWTS’ to Feature Performance by Chris Brown, Dick Clark Tribute
The competition heats up as the remaining six couples hit the ballroom with two rounds of competitive dance performances, a ballroom dance and the Trio dance — both of which will be a style that they’ve not yet performed, Monday, May 7 at 8:00 pm ET on ABC. During the Trio dance, a “DWTS” first, each couple will be allowed to add an extra professional dancer to their routine. The second dancer will be chosen from a pool of eliminated pros and members of The Troupe. In addition to their regular criteria for judging dance routines, the judges will pay extra attention to how well each celebrity is showcased in the performance with an extra dancer in the mix.
Grammy Award winner Chris Brown takes to the stage with an incredible performance of his hit song “Turn Up the Music,” on “Dancing with the Stars the Results Show,” Tuesday, May 8 at 9:00 pm ET on ABC. “Turn Up the Music,” written and produced by The Underdogs and Fuego, is Brown’s first single off his eagerly anticipated new album, “Fortune,” which releases May 8th.
Also during Tuesday night’s show, Dmitry Chaplin and Anya Garnis will perform a special routine from the “Dancing with the Stars Live in Las Vegas Show” to “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?” “Macy’s Stars of Dance” will be an “American Bandstand” tribute to the legendary Dick Clark. The performance will be a huge dance number featuring pro dancers Karina Smirnoff, Tony Dovolani and the Troupe, choreographed by Jamal Sims and Wendy Johnson, and will pay homage to “American Bandstand,” representing four decades of the popular music show, with many of the original “Bandstand” regulars joining us in the audience.
By Tuesday evening’s end, two couples will be eliminated, as determined by a combination of the judges’ scores and viewers’ votes on dances performed on Monday’s performance show. Who among the six couples will be the next to leave the ballroom?
DONALD DRIVER and partner PETA MURGATROYD
ROSHON FEGAN and partner CHELSIE HIGHTOWER
MELISSA GILBERT and partner MAKSIM CHMERKOVSKIY
KATHERINE JENKINS and partner MARK BALLAS
WILLIAM LEVY and partner CHERYL BURKE
MARIA MENOUNOS and partner DEREK HOUGH
Hosted by Tom Bergeron (“America’s Funniest Home Videos”) and Brooke Burke-Charvet (“Dancing with the Stars” Season Seven Champion), the celebrities perform choreographed dance routines which will be judged by renowned Ballroom judge Len Goodman and dancer/choreographers Bruno Tonioli and Carrie Ann Inaba. Viewers may cast their votes for their favorite teams via phone on Monday night during and up to 60 minutes after the “Dancing with the Stars” performance shows. AT&T customers may also vote by texting the word “VOTE” and entering the number that corresponds to the team they want to support (message and data rates may apply).
Categories: Television Tags: ABC, Dancing with the Stars, DWTS

EXCLUSIVE: ‘Girl Meets World’ Hangout will be
‘Muppet Movie’ Soundtrack Re-release on August 13
‘Monsters University’ Sulley at Build-A-Bear Workshop
‘Super Buddies’ Extended Clip: ‘Learning Super