For several weeks, ABC has been teasing their new lineup for the next season, the 23rd season, of Dancing with the Stars. Many already assumed that Ryan Lochte would be appearing, especially given the recent controversy in Rio, and many assumed that at least one of the gymnasts would probably compete too. But this list, you guys. It’s crazier than anyone could have anticipated. Here are the contestants for the 23rd season:
Amber Rose
Laurie Hernandez
Maureen McCormick
Terra Jole
Marilu Henner
Vanilla Ice
Calvin Johnson
Jake T. Austin
Babyface
James Hinchcliffe
Rick Perry
Ryan Lochte
Jana Kramer
You can see the list of celebrity-to-dancer partners here. I mean, some of the people on this list are the people you can’t believe haven’t already been on DWTS. Like, how is this the first time Vanilla Ice has been on DWTS? How is this Maureen McCormick’s first time? But Amber Rose… girl, what are you doing? CAN YOU DANCE? I’m not so sure. Laurie Hernandez is the adorable little Olympic gymnast, and I suspect she’ll be the one to beat. Ryan Lochte will JEAH his way into irrelevancy, but I also suspect that appearing on DWTS will help out his image a little bit, especially when America finally gets to see how dumb he really is. But the real shock here? Um, Rick Perry. Rick Perry is the former three-term governor of Texas and former presidential candidate. He tried to wear glasses to look smarter. It didn’t work. Perry is the Ryan Lochte of the GOP establishment, honestly.
As for Lochte, I see him bombing out early. Not because he’s dumb (although, jeah) but because he’s a swimmer, and swimmers aren’t really known for being coordinated on dry land. It’s going to be rough.
Photos courtesy of WENN, Fame/Flynet.
On the bright side, this show will appeal to the drastically underserved Rick Perry – Vanilla Ice shippers.
LMAO. I also laughed at the description of Perry of the Ryan Lochte of politics. Spot on.
The only one I am really surprised at is Babyface. I would have thought he would not need to do this because of all the money he made writing and producing songs from the late 80s up through the 90s.
I am warming up to Amber. She gives some questionable advice at times, but overall, she seems sweet and genuine in her interviews. I have yet to watch her show though. I might watch an episode this weekend
Yeah, why is he going on this show? I was shocked when I heard his name announced.
Except for the Olympic athletes who do this kind of thing for fun and endorsements, I think of the rest who go on this show as has-beens. Babyface is someone I think of who lives a private life because he wants to, not because he’s a has-been.
Because he’s a mega-producer, but as an artist he’s not a household name and he probably wants to get out there.
I thought he was a household name in the ’90s, sort of like how John Legend is today. I think I just assumed he wanted to live a life out of the spotlight.
See, I remember the things like the appearance on 90210, and the spots on People’s Most Beautiful list – things that to me say he’s not above working for some extra press when he performs as an artist. I just figured he makes way more money as a producer so he doesn’t do a ton of solo work.
Oh yeah, I remember that stuff too.
I think of Dancing With the Stars as involving actual hard work, even if it is a little cheesy in terms of public perception, so I’m always a little surprised when someone at his level chooses to do it. I vaguely remember Dorothy Hamill not being able to handle the workload and she’s an Olympic gold medallist (although, to be fair, she is older and might have had some private issues that she didn’t count on affecting her).
Babyface won’t be dancing in heels, which helped wreck Hamill’s back (she’s probably got a lot of physical ailments after being an elite athlete). But yeah, DWTS is hard! It’s a lot of hard, long hours. Maybe he wants to get in shape? Enjoy a physical challenge?The one thing DWTS has going for it is that a lot of the folks that do it truly enjoy the experience.
JEAH!
They should be ashamed of themselves for putting a mindless idiot like Lochte on the show, especially after what happened in Rio.
He obviously needs the cash for to pay for his legal problems.
I agree . I can’t believe it.
Perry is the Ryan Lochte of the GOP establishment, honestly. <—- Facts on Facts
Im sad that Amber and Laurie and Babyface are in this LOL they all should be better than that
2016 continues to sadden me.
Also, I don’t like this “minor politicians turn into celebrities” thing we’ve got going. This is what I call the “Palin effect”. It seems to have started with her. Once she realized there was money and fame to be had from just being a celebrity, that’s what she did. That’s what Ben Carson (although he was never a politician), but running for Prez to up his public stature, saying crazy things, and then parlaying that into book deals, appearances, etc. Rick Perry is doing this.
Just wait until next winter when they announce the new cast of DWTS and it includes Eric Trump.
OMG YESSS HH that feels dirty, is sorta how all those bozos from the GOP clown car we’ve all cynically come to know they are angling for a tv money job
Kinda like oh I don’t know Hillary Clinton or President Obama?
@Brynn – With the Bushes, Clintons, Obamas, and anyone with high profile, the options to obtain / maintain cash flow are different. Their positions made them well known public figures; book deals, pundit gigs, reality shoes, etc were not the endgame. However, that has become the end game for many of the minor Republican politicians, particularly Tea Party candidates. Minimal to no interest in the office itself, just seeking fame. Palin is Kardahsian-esque in that she is the most notable first, and has parlayed it into incredibly lucrative deals.
As a Texan I can confirm about Rick Perry, who loses I.Q. points when he takes off his glasses.
As a fellow Texan I can cosign.
Another Texan here…eagerly awaiting Perry losing first term, I mean, time on DWTS. He continues to embarrass himself for personal gain. I feel badly for his partner.
Surprised to see Babyface associated with this type of reality show. Hope he does well!
I saw Amber twerking in a video once … my money’s on Amber! Although, Maureen could get the sentimental “Marsha! Marsha! Marsha!” vote.
And I’ll bet Marilu Henner kills it!
This may be the first season I watch DWTS.
Marilu will be in the final two courtesy of her partner Derek Hough. He’s been the favorite son for years. His sister is also back as judge so that pretty much seals the deal.
Amber was a dancer, I mean it doesn’t sound like she’s classically trained, but I bet she has rhythm and she knows how to work and she has great muscle control. I have never watched and am considering watching for her. And to watch Lochte bomb.
Rick Perry? Hahahahahahahahahaha
I believe you meant to write “Governor Hair.” That’s what real Texans call him.
I`m surprised that they didn`t include Jojo Fletcher or any other past Bachelor / Bachelorette.
That will be next season. They’re running out of “stars”.
yuck. Ryan Lochte is a national disgrace, and we’re going to reward him with more money and exposure. there are so many more deserving Olympians who never were and never are going to make the big bucks… I would love to see Michelle Carter on it (gold medalist for shot put). She is so inspirational.
He’s paired with Cheryl Burke. Love Cheryl Burke. What did she do to deserve this?
Since he’s an athlete he’ll probably be easy to work with though. The athletes, with the exception of Hope Solo who seems to enjoy beating people up, generally seem to have the better attitudes since they’re used to working hard and training hard. Most of them anyway — well, okay primarily the young gymnasts and figure skaters. Ryan Lochte doesn’t strike me as temperamental, which is usually nice to have in a partner. He’s dumb, but also seems easy-going. If I were on that show, I suspect he’d be one of the better partners to have in terms of attitude.
Vanilla Ice for the win.
See, on Strictly, we Britishers all vote to keep the ones who CAN’T dance in. We like the duffers best. Being pants at dancing is like the most important qualification for the show.
This is the year I am determined NOT to watch. My mother has been dead for three years. I don’t have to watch out of some “she’ll know if I don’t” sense of loyalty even though I am an atheist, right?
I hope they make Ryan Lochte do a waltz with a merman and mermaid theme, dye his hair green, which will look even worse than the silver nonsense, and then he gets voted out first week because he can’t dance for toffee. (I don’t actually care, but merman green-haired Lochte doing pants dancing would be funny, right?)
Lol at “pants”!
I want them to make him re-enact his ‘robbery’ in modern dance.
Is there some shortened down version where I can watch just the dancing and the judges sass the bad people, with none of the filler?
Laurie Hernandez FTW.
This disrespectful the guy made lied to the authorities and made fun of a host country, they shouldn’t give him this kind of platform it is like America forgot what he did in Brazil
“As for Lochte, I see him bombing out early. Not because he’s dumb (although, jeah) but because he’s a swimmer, and swimmers aren’t really known for being coordinated on dry land. It’s going to be rough.”
A lot of people who are uncoordinated have wound up staying on the show for a long time though. It just comes down to how much your fanbase is willing to send in those votes for you. I vaguely remember Sarah Palin’s daughter sticking around for awhile, and, like I have no idea why. I wouldn’t have even thought she had a fanbase but maybe her mother did.
How’s the bottom of the barrel looking to you Rick Perry?
i am eating your comment up! ;D Wish one of his dance songs was a call-in home town meeting so we could watch him try to dance his way out of accountability. He’s such a disgrace!
They scrape the bottom of that barrel any more it’s going to end up looking like Swiss cheese.
such a crazy weird list.
a former presidential candidate – ?
weird. sort of embarassing, kinda.
i’m torn about lochte. i feel like he was such an ass in rio and yeah there are other, more-deserving olympians who could benefit from the exposure (i do think he was already slated to be on the show before the robbery thing went down)… at the same time, i’m downright curious as to how a swimmer like him dances. in the water, he’s crazy elegance and speed and formal perfection- it cannot be said that he isn’t an amazing swimmer. in fact i wonder how he’s managed to focus enough to stay at olympic level throughout all of his dumb antics over the years; he’s gotta be just gifted. i bet he’s got decent rhythm in that “bro,” fist-pumping kind of way, but maybe too cheesy to do any of the more elegant dances? also i bet he looks great in a tux.
I don’t know if Lochte can dance, but I definitely think he has the conditioning to handle the training for the dances. In that sense, I think he’s a suitable candidate for the show. The Rio incident was stupid and he shouldn’t have got caught up in that, but setting that aside, he seems like he’d be smiley and nice enough in practices with his partner.
It’s more fun to watch any of the Olympic level athletes, barring a few exceptions with bad attitudes like Hope Solo and LoLo Jones, do Dancing with the Stars because they don’t whine in practices and seem to enjoy the fitness aspect of the show. The ones with poor conditioning who start crying in practice make me wince.
Amber Rose used to be a stripper. She CAN dance!
Babyface? I’m shocked.
But this makes me want to go put on one of my favorite albums of all time, “For the Cool in You.”
I just saw ‘Face in concert again last month. One part of his show is him singing his hits, the latter part of his show is him singing all of the songs he has written for others. The latter is longer than the former. The man has written a lit of hit songs!!
He also spent time doing dances that were popular during the hey day of those songs. I couldn’t believe he could do that much dancing, intricate moves too.
As long as he owns his catalog, this isn’t about money.
Laurie Hernandez was a joy to watch during the Olympics.
I might watch for them and Ice, lol