The Dancing With The Stars cast was announced last night and it’s a veritable bunch of flash-in-the-pans, has beens and wannabes. In other words, what we’ve come to expect from the show. In the wannabe category we have Bristol Palin, the daughter of former Vice Presidential candidate and all-around rabble rouser, Sarah Palin. Flash in the pans include Jersey Shore star The Situation, and Audrina Patridge from The Hills. Patridge is teetering close to the has been group, which includes David Hasselhof, Michael Bolton and Jennifer Grey. At least we’re not going to be subjected to Kirstie Alley or any of those bachelor people that have been shoved down our throats the past few months. There’s also a couple of sports stars along with an actor I’ve never heard of, comedian Margaret Cho, and singer Brandy.

The ladies hitting the dance floor: Brandy; Dirty Dancing star Jennifer Grey; Margaret Cho; The Hills alum Audrina Patridge; Florence Henderson; Bristol Palin.

“She’s excited for me … she knows this will be hard work,” Palin said when asked how her mom Sarah felt about her new gig. Will she be in the ballroom? “Hopefully!” she told DWTS host Tom Bergeron.

The men: Michael Bolton; Jersey Shore’s Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino; David Hasselhoff; NBA champ Rick Fox; NFL quarterback Kurt Warner; rapper Kyle Massey.

Hasselhoff said, “I think it’s going to be harder than the Comedy Central roast .. but I am happy to be here. My two daughters love this show and convinced me to do it.”

So, who can dance? Find out when the new DWTS season kicks off Sept. 20 on ABC.

[From US Weekly]

I wonder if Jennifer Grey still has any of her Dirty Dancing moves to draw on. Apart from her I don’t think any of these competitors have the kind of experience coming into the show that Nicole Scherzinger and Evan Lysacek had last year. Brandy might have some dancing practice as a singer.

My mom watches Dancing With The Stars but it’s been a few years since I’ve tuned in with any regularity. The drama with Kate Gosselin was fun last season and I did follow that. Who will bring it with this latest crop? I’m thinking Bristol Palin will be boring, The Situation will be dumb narcissistic fun but won’t last past the second week, and that The Hof will pleasantly surprise us with his ability. You never know, though, and that’s what makes this show moderately interesting.

Photo credit: Fame Pictures

It looks like everyone’s favorite barely-functioning alcoholic, David Hasselhoff, is leaving his gig at NBC’s “America’s Got Talent.” The Hoff was basically filling the “Paula Abdul” role on that show as the often incomprehensible, totally wasted celebrity judge. While he didn’t give specifics, David says he has a new show in production and will be releasing details very soon. And no, it’s not a guest spot on “Intervention” or “Celebrity Rehab,” although those are probably not bad ideas.

David Hasselhoff is saying goodbye to America’s Got Talent after four years as a judge with Piers Morgan and Sharon Osbourne.

In an exclusive statement to PEOPLE, Hasselhoff, 57, says, “I am proud that I was part of making America’s Got Talent the No. 1 rated show for the past four summers. It’s been a rewarding experience and now I’m thrilled to be able to follow my dream to do my own TV show, which will be announced very shortly.”

Hasselhoff adds, “I want to thank my friend, (executive producer) Simon Cowell, and everyone at NBC and Fremantle for the opportunity for four great years.”

Details of his new project have not been released.

A statement from NBC says, “David’s been an integral part of the success of America’s Got Talent and we are sad to see him go. We wish him all the best with his new show.”

NBC sources say that they will be looking for a new judge to fill Hasselhoff’s seat when the show resumes next summer for the fifth season, but no names have been cited as potential replacements

[From People]

I’ve actually lost track of how many times David Hasselhoff either showed up at an event drunk or was hospitalized for alcohol poisoning over the last couple of years. He seems to have a dismissive excuse each time, but he’s not really fooling anyone. What I don’t understand is, how is he getting work? If you or I showed up at our job sloshed out of our minds with the frequency he does, we’d be living in a cardboard box by now. A new TV show is the last thing he needs. The guy is a straight-up mess and needs in-patient rehab. Again.

On Friday, David Hasselhoff was hospitalized for seizures. While the Hoff’s people want us to believe that was the only reason, according to Radar, David was hospitalized yet again as a result of his alcoholism, after going on a several-day bender. Many news outlets are reporting that the Hoff was actually held under California’s involuntary psych hold. He was released today, but this is just the beginning – or continuation – of his problems.

David Hasselhoff has denied reports he was placed under involuntary psychiatric hold after he was hospitalised over the weekend. The Baywatch star spent two days at a Los Angeles hospital after reportedly suffering ‘a seizure’ at his Encino, California home on Friday morning. His lawyer Mel Goldsman said: ‘David is home now and he’s fine. I’m not sure where that information is coming from.’

The 57-year-old actor’s daughter Hayley called emergency services after he fell ill at the home. While his representative declined to give a reason behind Hasselhoff’s hospitalisation, he did deny the actor had been placed under psychiatric hold. RadarOnline.com alleged Hasselhoff had been held in hospital under the California Welfare and Institutions Code 5150, which allows authorities to take into custody those they believe may be a danger to themselves or others, are gravely disabled or suffer from a mental disorder.

A neighbour, named only as Christian, is quoted as claiming on the US website: ‘I asked one of the paramedics how David was doing and he told me his eyes were rolling back into his head, he was drooling and that he’d had a seizure. ‘This isn’t the first time this has happened to him.

The 57-year-old has a long history of alcoholism. He had allegedly been drinking in the last week and saw one of his personal doctors on Wednesday after returning from a trip to Canada. Last month, Hasselhoff was admitted to rehab amid reports he accidentally hit a doctor during an alcohol binge. He has also been hospitalised on two other occasions this year, reportedly suffering from alcohol poisoning.

[From the Daily Mail]

Radar followed the story all weekend and reported on Friday that Hasselhoff had been on a several day bender, both before and after he saw his doctor. They also claim that family members want him to enter a locked-down rehab facility, since his problem is obviously very extreme.

As if that weren’t enough for his teenage daughters, their mother, Hasselhoff’s ex-wife Pamela Bach, was arrested for DUI over the weekend! She claims she was consoling her daughters over dinner, and throughout the course of the evening had several glasses of wine.

According to TMZ, Bach was pulled over after she spent an emotional night trying to console her daughters, who were apparently shaken up by Hasselhoff’s hospitalization. During their dinner, TMZ claims she had “a few drinks,” and was later pulled over and registered blood-alcohol levels of .14 and .13 on subsequent tests. The legal limit for driving in California is .08.

This is Bach’s second DUI arrest, and should she be charged, she faces mandatory jail time under California law. She pled no contest to a prior DUI in March of 2009.

Bach released a statement saying that she is “remorseful and mortified,” about the incident, and that she and the family are “going through a really difficult time between David being in the hospital and dealing with the divorce.”

[From Popeater]

Their poor daughters. Whenever I’ve seen Hayley, 17, and Taylor, 19, interviewed, they seem genuinely nice and sweet, and they appear to have a close relationship with their dad. I’ve never seen them with their mom, so I can’t comment on that. Pamela told TMZ she was on her way to an AA meeting last night, though I doubt that makes everything better. Talk about just piling crap on top of more crap. I really hope the Hoff gets help, but his alcoholism is soooo extreme that it’s hard to really think he will. But he’s the kind of guy you genuinely root for. He doesn’t seem like he’s got a bad bone in him, but is definitely at the mercy of his addiction.

Here’s David Hasselhoff at the 2009 MTV European Music Awards in Berlin on November 11th. Pamela is shown at the Chochi Fiamengo Designer Fashion Show in Hollywood on November 21st. Images thanks to WENN.com .

During the more than two-year war of attrition with his ex-wife, Pamela Bach, rumors of David Hasselhoff’s rampant alcoholism sprung up and stuck. Back in 2007, a YouTube video that David’s daughter made of her dad drunkly slurring while eating a hamburger became a sensation, and made David enter rehab in December of 2007. Some sources claimed that David had been struggling for years, and that the divorce had sent David into some kind of self-destructive tailspin. Other claimed that all of the bad press was all part of Pamela Bach’s smear campaign. Back in May of this year, there were rumors David had to be hospitalized for alcohol poisoning – and now it’s happened again. Radar is reporting that David was taken, by ambulance, to a hospital after going on a hell of a bender:

David Hasselhoff was taken by ambulance to a hospital because he again has alcohol poisoning, RadarOnline.com learned exclusively.

The Hoff was taken from his home to an Encino, CA hospital Sunday afternoon after 911 was called.

Sadly, Hoff was hospitalized with alcohol poisoning in May.

And RadarOnline.com has also learned exclusively that the actor has been hospitalized with alcohol poisoning more than five times during the past few years.

The Hoff had been drinking for more than a day this time, a source told RadarOnline.com. He recently wrapped taping for America’s Got Talent and shortly after went on a bender.

Hoff was drinking vodka once again before his latest emergency. At least two people were home with him and one of them called 911.

Hoff has consistently been in denial about his severe alcoholism say people close to him. He denied that it was alcohol poisoning behind his hospitalization earlier this year but the details of his story changed as more people confirmed it.

“It’s sad,” a source told RadarOnline.com. “He needs help and he’s in denial.”

[From Radar]

It’s very sad, and I suspect that David is in denial about his alcohol problems. The fact that he’s still dealing with this stuff after being publicly humiliated two years ago shows (to me) that he hasn’t taken his recovery seriously at all. Will this be the “rock bottom” David needs to take his alcoholism seriously? Probably not. If this really is the fifth time he’s been treated for alcohol poisoning, something tells me a stomach pumping and an IV drip isn’t really doing the job.

David Hasselhoff is shown on 9/12/09 announcing the start of the swimming portion of the Malibu triathlon. Credit: Fame Pictures and WENN.com

Depending on whose account you believe, David Hasselhoff either was admitted to Cedars-Sinai hospital for alcohol poisoning this weekend or was partying a little too hard and became the victim of a smear campaign by his ex wife. Hasselhoff’s camp says that it’s all a misunderstanding and that he’s fine. RadarOnline says The Hoff was indeed in the hospital and that his side is trying to spin it into a story invented by his ex wife:

Despite reports coming out of David Hasselhoff’s camp there’s no denying that the Baywatch star was not only drunk Saturday, he was rushed to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and suffered alcohol poisoning.

Sadly, his daughter Hayley, 16, found him unconscious on the floor of his home in Encino, California.

Hasselhoff, who has struggled with alcohol for years, apparently has his enablers, er, spin team, who are being quoted as “sources” in other reports saying that the Hoff “regrets” drinking too much but is fine.

We agree, if “fine” is defined as now home from the hospital after being intoxicated to the point where he was MORE THAN FOUR TIMES the legal limit (which is .08).

Anyone remember that video, taken by his teenage daughter, of the drunk, shirtless Hoff eating pizza on the floor while cursing?

As bad as that situation was, Hoff was in even worse shape Saturday, sources tell RadarOnline.com.

His daughter Hayley called her mom after finding her dad unconscious. Her mother lives 10 minutes away in the Hollywood Hills and she rushed to the rescue and drove Hoff to the hospital where doctors yet again saved his life.

A source said a frightened Hayley kept “slapping her dad’s face” to keep him alive.

He’s out of the hospital now and instead of owning up to his problem, he seems to be sitting back while his rep tells other outlets he “is fine and well and happy and is celebrating his father, Joe Hasselhoff’s 80th birthday tonight at dinner… along with his girlfriend, Kimberly.”

We think he’s probably had enough celebrating.

Sources close to the situation are so outraged by the attempted coverup of Hoff’s problem that they reveal to RadarOnline.com exclusively that Hoff has been treated for alcohol poisoning at hospitals MORE THAN FIVE TIMES!

[From Radar Online]

Radar Online has close ties to The National Enquirer as they’re owned by the same company. I would bet that Radar is accurate as The Enquirer has has exclusives on Hasselhoff’s trips to rehab and detox. In 2007 and 2008 he was in and out of the hospital to detox at least four times. He even spent the 2007 – 2008 Christmas and New Years’ season in a rehab in Hawaii after his family staged an intervention. At that time, Hasselhoff was said to have been drinking a gallon of vodka a night. I hope the guy can conquer his demons soon or it could cost him his life.

I have an embarrassing confession to make. I am a member of Hoff Space, the David Hasselhoff social networking site. I signed up a few months ago to write a story – I mean how many celebs make up their own MySpace instead of just joining it? I’d completely forgotten about it until today, when this email popped up in my inbox.

Yep, you’re reading that right. Either The Hoff sure knows how to market himself, or he’s just like the rest of us and a little cash strapped this holiday season. What I really love is the price: $30 for a personalized photo. And you’ve got to admit, those are some sexy pictures. Nothing has ever made me feel so conflicted about my feelings towards Santa Claus as pictures of a shirtless David Hasselhoff in swim trunks, holding a surfboard, and donning a Santa robe. The sex appeal is undeniable.

This is obviously a great “for the person who has everything” sort of present. In fact I’m going to buy at least a dozen and keep them wrapped as good “just in case” gifts. You know how there’s always that one person who stops by with a thoughtful present and it didn’t occur to you to get them anything? Blamo: David Hasselhoff to the rescue. I’m also considering some of the larger prints: like it says, both framing and laminating are available. And nothing says classy like a 4 by 6 foot laminated David Hasselhoff photo hanging above a broken futon. Now go buy half a dozen right now. You know at least six people in your life want this.

David Hasselhoff might be my guru. And I don’t mean that in a cultish, fangirl way. The Hoff can drop some serious knowledge on you about going with the flow. In the upcoming issue of Hello, Hasselhoff talks about all the changes he’s made in his life since his divorce, and how he’s managed to embrace and appreciate things for what they are. He’s also worth some serious cash.

Smart is the man who knows his own limitations. “I’m not the best singer in the world,” announces David Hasselhoff. “And I’m not the best actor. But I do know how to entertain.” You can say that again.

Smart, too, is the man who has learned how to laugh at himself. In Australia four years ago to promote his autobiography, Making Waves, he was astonished to discover he’d become something of a cult. “There were all these people waiting for autographs. They were all dressed like me and they were all chanting, ‘We want the Hoff!’ Truly bizarre.”

The nickname came about by accident. The rap singer Ice-T had been asked in an interview whether anyone could be taught how to rap. Yes, he said. “What, even David Hasselhoff?” asked the interviewer [Conan O'Brien] disparagingly. “Sure,” replied Ice-T, “and his name would be Hassel the Hoff!”

The man himself chuckles at the memory. “I had a choice as the name took hold: either I ignored it or I embraced it.” On the principle that it’s better to be affectionately teased than not talked about at all Hasselhoff latched on to his nickname with characteristic enthusiasm, even going so far as to have T-shirts printed with “Don’t Hassel the Hoff” emblazoned across the front.

[From Hello Magazine; Sept. 2 2008; print ed.]

I really like his philosophy, and it sounds like he made the best out of a situation that could have annoyed a lot of people. Instead The Hoff embraced it with gusto, and in a lot of ways it revitalized his career – making him relevant (if kitsch) again. He also seems to be appreciative of what he has and realizes how to work with his talents. He’s right, it’s not like you’d ever say, “Oh that David Hasselhoff, what an actor.” But you’d probably have ten other things to say about the guy in any given conversation, and that’s because he’s a good entertainer and he’s good at rolling with whatever publicity he’s been given.

According to Hello Hasselhoff is worth about $100 million – nothing to sneeze at. He’s also got a gorgeous mansion in Bel Air that’s surprisingly graceful and completely lacking in much of the cheesy Hoff-esq paraphernalia I’d expected. A few things were visible in Hello’s pictures, but nothing over-the-top like I’d expected. Hasselhoff says he’s still healing from his divorce to ex-wife Pamela Bach, who he was married to for 16 years. But he said he’d like to get married again – and considering his positive attitude and nice pad, something tells me he’ll be able to find someone.

Here’s David Hasselhoff and daughters Haley and Taylor Ann in Paris on July 7th. Images thanks to Fame.

The Hoff really does have an ego that knows no bounds. And for that reason alone, I find him utterly fascinating. Is it his curly hair? No. The voice of gold? No. The fact that the rest of the world has loved and appreciated The Hoff in a way America hasn’t? No. I love The Hoff for that crazy ego of his.

Actually I think he knows that he’s kitsch, and he’s just rolling with it. Which could perhaps imply a lack of ego, who knows. But whether the motivation is ego or just a smart PR strategy, The Hoff has done something few celebs have bothered with – he’s started his very own social networking site. Dedicated… well pretty much to The Hoff. And really, why waste time with conventional sites like MySpace or Facebook – sites everyday people will access – when you can make your very own version, dedicated solely to yourself?

David Hasselhoff’s new social networking site is proving a huge hit. More than 8,000 members have already signed up to Hoff Space. David, 55, launched the site because he was tired of people setting up accounts in his name.

‘I couldn’t really get the internet together but because Knight Rider and Baywatch and this Hoff thing has taken off so much around the world, we put together our own Hoff Space,’ he tells BBC Radio 1.

‘I was on MySpace and Facebook and I was getting a lot of phoneys. A lot of people were coming in posing as me or my children and I had to stop it, so I opened my own that is going to be fun and I can regulate it.

‘It’s a way of going around the world from Russia, to Japan, to Europe and getting a pulse on all the crazy people out there.’

[From NOW Magazine]

I think dealing with “phoneys” is just one of those things you have to accept when you’re on MySpace or Facebook. And while I get that it’s annoying, setting up your own social networking site has some disadvantages too. No matter what, you’ve got a smaller audience. It’s only going to appeal to people who are specifically looking for David Hasselhoff and are willing to take the time to set up an account just for him. Whereas on MySpace, you have people that are there anyway, and might become your friend and look at your information just because they’re there.

That said, 8,000 members is pretty impressive. And there’s a 50/50 chance I just became a member of Hoff Space in the last ten minutes. And by 50/50, I mean 100 percent.

Here’s David Hasselhoff leaving an Irish bar after a night out in Los Angeles on May 27th. Note the hotness of the shirt. Images thanks to WENN.

Mark Ronson, in what may prove to be career suicide, has turned down the opportunity to work with David Hasselhoff. His excuse? He’s too busy.

He said: “He came up and was like, ‘Hey, I really love your stuff,’ and I was just taken aback. He stayed and watched our show and said that he’s got some new TV show and wanted me to produce a song with him. But I’m a bit busy right now!”

sify

Too busy for the Hoff? Too busy to work with the man who has given us classic covers of ‘Jump in my Car’ and ‘Hooked on a Feeling’?

Mark was at Glastonbury where Lily Allen performed a guest spot during his set. This was following the news that her Nana had died, as she told the crowd. It’s been a rotten year for Lily Allen, who has suffered a miscarriage and subsequently spilt up with boyfriend Ed Simons. Ed was also on hand to comfort her, I hope it means they are on good terms. Her television show wasn’t as successful as she or the network hoped, and she’s feuding with Perez Hilton. Hopefully her second album, which she has just finished, will put the focus back on her music instead of her personal troubles.

Mark Ronson is shown at the Glastonbury Festival on 6/29/08. David Hasselhoff is shown leaving an Irish bar on 5/27/08. Lily Allen is seen looking beat at Glastonbury on 6/27/08. That’s Kate Moss behind her. Thanks to WENN for these photos.

David Hasselhoff served as a judge on the competition show “America’s Got Talent,” and according to the tabloids this week he came away with more than a paycheck and some much-needed publicity. 55 year-old Hasselhoff was seen at Coachella with 29 year-old singer and harpist Corina Brouder, who was a contestant on the show. The two are said to have stayed at the same hotel while they were away at the music festival and Hasselhoff even went to one of her live performances last month:

The American’s Got Talent judge spent the weekend with former contestant Corina Brouder!

“David had his arms around Corina at one point,” says an onlooker at the show on April 27. “They were flirting and acting very much like a couple.”

Corina, 29, a harpist and singer from NY, was saved from elimination during the show’s 2006 season when David, 55, chose her as his wildcard pick.

She didn’t grab the top spot, but David remained a fan of her music…

While David’s rep says the two are just friends, romance may be blooming. “Corina stayed in his hotel room,” says the insider.

[From In Touch, print edition, May 12, 2008]

David Hasselhoff has been in alcohol detox more times that I can keep track. He spent the Christmas holidays in rehab after an intervention from his family, but has been in detox since. He’s had a longterm girlfriend who stood by him through the tough times, but maybe she had enough and couldn’t take his ongoing addiction problems.

Hasselhoff was said to have behaved like he was wasted during a taping of America’s Got Talent on April 2 in which audience members said “he made no sense,” and seemed “messed up.” He fell asleep at the judges’ table at one point, putting his feet up and closing his eyes. [From In Touch, print edition, April 21, 2008]

Maybe the Hoff has found new love with a much younger woman, but given how he looked at Coachella it doesn’t seem like he’s beaten his demons yet. He had bruises around his eyes and generally appeared wasted.

David Hasselhoff is shown at Coachella on 4/25/08, thanks to WENN. Corina Brouder is shown in a still from her website.