The new season of popular program “Dancing with the Stars” will make the perfect scene for romance, as the ABC show is due to feature appearances by three couples and… a computer expert.
Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak is one of the 13 celebrities who will give their best on the dance floor during the program’s eighth season, which is scheduled to kick off on March 9, the network announced on Sunday.
Personal relationships may be tried out this time, as real-life couples will have to compete against each other in order to stay in the competition.
Grammy Award-nominated pop star Jewel and her husband, rodeo champion Ty Murray, will be accompanied on the ballroom dance by country singer Chuck Wicks and his girlfriend, two-time “Dancing with the Stars” winner Julianne Hough. In spite of the fact that Hough said last November that she intended to concentrate on her freshly begun country music career, she will nevertheless return to the show, ABC said.
In addition, pro dancers and series regulars Maksim Chmerkovskiy and his fiancée, Karina Smirnoff, will make a gracious comeback to the show, while two star athletes will hit the dance floor for the first time.
Olympic gold-medal gymnast Shawn Johnson manages to set a record just by gracing the program with her presence, because at the age of 17 she is the youngest competitor ever on the hit show, which returns with a two-hour season premiere next month. The athlete who won big at the Beijing games last year will be joined by fellow athlete Lawrence Taylor, the former New York Giants linebacker and Hall of Famer. Taylor, who helped the New York Giants win two Super Bown titles, has also been the author of two books and has appeared in several films.
The other celebrities who will try to keep up with the pro dancers are Go-Go’s lead singer Belinda Carlisle; Grammy Award-winning rapper Lil’ Kim; actress Denise Richards; actor-comedian David Alan Grier, best known for anchoring Comedy Central’s “Chocolate News”; Gilles Marini, who impersonated the neighbor admired by Kim Cattrall’s naughty Samantha in the “Sex and the City” movie; Steve-O of MTV’s “Wildboyz,” as well as television host Nancy O’Dell of “Access Hollywood.”
Musician and actress Lil’ Kim spent a year behind bars in 2005 following a trial in which she was found guilty of perjury and conspiracy. The 33-year-old artist apparently lied with regard to the participation of her friends in a 2001 shooting in New York.
“Dancing with the Stars” is hosted by Tom Bergeron and Samantha Harris, while Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli and Carrie Ann Inaba form the jury that assesses the performances of the contestants. The show proved to be a hit for ABC, as its last season, which ended in fall last year, drew approximately 19 million viewers per episode.
