SHALL THEY DANCE? 'DANCING' RUMORS STARTING

August 6, 2008
Posted: 2:58 am
August 6, 2008

HERE we go again.

It's time for the annual "Dancing With the Stars" guessing game, with media outlets and bloggers spitting out names of potential contestants as they're supposedly "leaked" - and ABC refusing to confirm or deny who'll be hoofin' it when the new season premieres Sept. 22.

("We do not comment on casting," an ABC spokeswoman said yesterday - as expected.)

Some of the names being bandied about are familiar ones, including "Brady Bunch" star Florence Henderson, who was heavily rumored to be part of last season's "Dancing" crew (she even predicted she'd win the whole shebang).

Other names rumored for next season are Kim Kardashian ("Keeping Up with the Kardashians") and Lance Bass.

Bass, who's openly gay, set the blogosphere atwitter with speculation that, if chosen for the show, he'd dance with a male partner - which was summarily dismissed by "Dancing" hoofer Cheryl Burke.

"I don't think that would happen," Burke told E! "I don't think America is ready to watch two men dancing."

In Touch magazine added a few new names yesterday, claiming that ex-Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino will be the token sports guy (current Dolphin Jason Taylor competed last season) and that Jewel's boyfriend, Ty Murray, will also compete.

Several outlets, including TMZ.com, also reported yesterday that singer Toni Braxton will put on her "Dancing" shoes this season.

Past "Dancing" rumors have yielded varying results; for every person rumored to be a contestant, there's always another one (or two or three) who never materialize - including, this time around, Bravo's Kathy Griffin and former VP Dan Quayle (!), whose spokesperson confirmed he won't be on the show.


The seventh season cast of "Dancing With the Stars" will be announced Monday, Aug. 25 on "Good Morning America."




Kim Kardashian


Lance Bass


Dan Marino


Toni Braxton

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