In a new twist, the season eight cast of Dancing with the Stars was revealed during commercial breaks in between ABC’s Sunday night primetime lineup.

The namedropping of the 13 contestants began at the eight o'clock hour when Extreme Makeover: Home Edition aired, and continued throughout the telecasts of Desperate Housewives and Brothers & Sisters.

For the first time on the show, a celebrity couple singer Jewel and her husband, rodeo star Ty Murray will compete against each other. In another first, two-time Dancing champ-turned-country-singer Julianne Hough will compete with her boyfriend, country singer Chuck Wicks.

“It's the most diverse cast we've had, Deena Katz, Dancings Senior Talent Producer tells PEOPLE. The women are phenomenal and the men are such great characters.”

“Julianne is the cutest thing you'll ever meet and she’s one of the toughest teachers, says Katz. “I keep warning Chuck, you see this loving side, but she is tough.’”

Real-life pro couple Maksim Chmerkovskiy and Karina Smirnoff, who got engaged last December, will compete against each other with their respective celebrity partners.

Rounding out the celebrity lineup will be the youngest contestant ever on the show, Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson, 17. Also ready to rumba are pop star Belinda Carlisle, actress Denise Richards, former NFL star Lawrence Taylor, rapper Lil' Kim, Jackass star Steve-O, Apple computer co-founder Steve Wozniak, actors David Alan Grier and Gilles Marini, and Access Hollywood co-host Nancy O'Dell.

An ABC spokesperson says the remaining professional dancer/celebrity pairings will be announced on Thursday, February 12.

Dancing's eighth season premieres March 9 on ABC. –Monica Rizzo

http://tvwatch.people.com/2009/02/09/danci...#comment-154116

PAIRINGS

Shawn Johnson and Mark Ballas (1st Place)

Gilles Marini and Cheryl Burke (2nd Place)

Melissa Rycroft and Tony Dovolani (3rd Place)

Ty Murray and Chelsie Hightower ELIMINATED 05/12 (4th Place)

Lil' Kim and Derek Hough ELIMINATED 05/05 (5th Place)

Chuck Wicks and Julianne Hough ELIMINATED 04/28 (6th Place)

Lawrence Taylor and Edyta Sliwinska ELIMINATED 04/21 (7th Place)

Steve-O and Lacey Schwimmer ELIMINATED 04/14 (8th Place) No Bottom 2 was explicity stated though Ty and Chelsie were the last couple standing with Steve-O and Lacey.

David Alan Grier and Kym Johnson ELIMINATED 04/07 (9th Place)

Holly Madison and Dmitry Chaplin (Bottom 2 on 03/24) ELIMINATED 03/31 (11th Place - Double Elimination Week)

Steve Wozniak and Karina Smirnoff (Bottom 2 on 03/17) ELIMINATED 03/31 (11th Place - Double Elimination Week)

Denise Richards and Maksim Chmerkovskiy ELIMINATED 03/24 (12th Place)

Belinda Carlisle and Jonathan Roberts ELIMINATED 03/17 (13th Place)

Jewel and Dmitry Chaplin WITHDREW BEFORE COMPETITION

Nancy O'Dell and Tony Dovolani WITHDREW BEFORE COMPETITION

Edited June 9, 200916 yr by jcar03

Eh. Not a fan of this cast, at least not on paper.

They convinced Julianne to continue by getting her boyfriend. She had said she wasn't doing this season.

Denise Richards better be shown the door week 1.

I predict that Nancy O'Dell will be paired with Tony Dovolani. I think they would look good together.

Steve-O is paired with Lacey Schwimmer

Denise Richards is paired with Maksim Chmerkovskiy

Chuck Wicks is paired with Julianne Hough

Shawn Johnson is paired with Mark Ballas

The rest our revealed on Good Morning America on Thursday.

I knew it!

http://www.accesshollywood.com/nancy-odell...d_article_14334

I should be casting this show!

I don't know why they bother revealing them on Good Morning America tomorrow since word is already getting out on half of them. They should of revealed it on GMA Monday mornng.

Eh..boring list. I'll root for Denise Richards & LT.. the rest I really don't know or have no interest in watching.

Nancy O'Dell and Jewel have already had to withdrawal from the competition after injuries. O'Dell has to have surgery on her knees.

Both O'Dell and Jewel will be replaced and the announcement will be made during the premiere on March 9th.

Tony Dovolani = Susan Lucci. It'll be years before he wins that mirror ball trophy. LOL!

Nancy O'Dell and Jewel have already had to withdrawal from the competition after injuries. O'Dell has to have surgery on her knees.

I was looking forward to see Jewel on the show!

It looks like reports are true and Jewel has been replaced with Holly Madison (Hugh Hefner's ex-girlfriend, reality star) and Nancy O'Dell has been replaced with Melissa Rycroft (The Bachelor contestant - who was picked then dumped last week).

Don't a lot of people dislike Denise Richards? I know her personal life shouldn't really be a factor, but after that nasty split with Charlie Sheen...

Edited March 10, 200916 yr by bandbfan

In case some haven't seen tonight's ep....

1. Gilles Marini and Cheryl Burke - 24

2. Shawn Johnson and Mark Ballas - 23

* Melissa Rycroft and Tony Dovolani - 23

4. Lil' Kim and Derek Hough - 21

5. Chuck Wicks and Julianne Hough - 20

6. David Alan Grier and Kym Johnson - 19

7. Holly Madison and Dmitry Chaplin - 18

* Denise Richards and Maksim Chmerkovskiy - 18

9. Belinda Carlisle and Jonathan Roberts - 17

* Steve-O and Lacey Schwimmer - 17

11. Lawrence Taylor and Edyta Sliwinska - 16

12. Ty Murray and Chelsie Hightower - 14

13. Steve Wozniak and Karina Smirnoff - 13