Dancing With The Stars: Meet the New Season's Couples

This year's "Dancing With The Stars" celebrity competitors are an eclectic group to say the least, including:

- Boy band star
- Broadway and television star
- Championship boxer
- Charity campaign organizer
- Country singer
- Former Miss USA
- Former super model
- NBA player
- Olympic gold medallist
- Talk show host
- Television star and author

The youngest competitor is 24 years of age; the oldest, 59. They are paired with 11 award winning professional ballroom and Latin style champions, all of whom want to win, including two time winner Cheryl Burke. Here's how the teams fall out:

Joey Fatone, age 30, was a member of the boy band 'N Sync but now acts on Broadway in shows like "Little Shop of Horrors" and "Rent." His partner Kym Johnson showed amazing teaching capabilities, a tremendous sense of humor, and a great deal of grace last year while paired with Jerry Springer. This year is her second with DWTS and she's gunning for Cheryl's crown as queen of the ballroom.

In their premier night dance, the couple brought down the house doing the cha cha to a Bee Gee's tune from Saturday Fever. Joey's showmanship and natural dancing ability, paired with Kym's natural grace and sex appeal earned the duo the highest score of the night.

Their second week dance number - - a quick step to Tell Her About It - - proved a little less popular with the judges but still landed them solidly in second place going into the first elimination.

Ian Zierling, age 42, is best known for his role on "Beverly Hills 90210 but he, too, now acts on Broadway. Ian drew the lucky straw this year, winning two-time champ Cheryl Burke as his partner. Cheryl's teaching abilities have most certainly attributed to the wins garnered by Drew Lachey in year two of the show and Emmitt Smith this past fall.

For their premier dance, Ian and Cheryl chosen Money Money. Their cha cha was sensuous and hot, earning them excellent scores as well. The judges peg Zierling as one of the stars to watch this season.

Dancing the quick step in week two, the couple remains poised to progress forward in the competition.

Laila Ali, age 29, is a championship boxer, which runs in the family. She is the youngest daughter of heavyweight champ Muhammad Ali. She is paired with Maksim Chmekovsky, a Russian with a ferocious work ethic. Luckily his partner is used to the furious pace and can likely match him stride for stride.

For their premier dance, the couple danced the fox trot to How Sweet It Is and sweet it certainly was. Laila, who claimed she wasn't used to moving like a woman, proved that she is every bit the lady with a smooth and beautiful performance that put the couple in good shape to continue on.

The popular couple danced the mambo for the second week of competition. The judges liked Laila's sexy interpretation of the dance, giving the team an overall score of 27 out of 30 points for a two week total of 50 out of 60. The pair is currently at the top of the leader board.

Heather Mills, age 39, is a charity campaign organizer and former wife of popular Beetle Paul McCartney. Heather comes into the contest with a distinct disadvantage since she has an artificial left leg. Luckily, however, Heather drew an excellent teacher in Jonathan Roberts; a popular competitor whose last star was former model Rachel Hunter.

For their premier dance, the couple chose the song Heaven for their fox trot. In spite of her disability, Heather pulled off an amazing performance. Oddly enough, the judges pointed to her upper body as the area needing work rather than the lower portion she reasonably anticipated.

Dancing the mambo to Mambo Italiano in week two, one would not guess that Heather Mills was in any way disabled. In fact, her swiveling hips and sexy moves landed her in yet another solid position.

Billy Ray Cyrus, age 45, is a country singing heartthrob and television actor ("Doc" and "Hannah Montana"). Reluctant to accept the challenge on DWTS, Cyrus only agreed to sign on when his young daughter complained that "daddy is scared to do it." His pairing with the ultra sexy second place winner from last year, Karina Smirnoff, should alleviate some of his fear.

For their premier dance, Cyrus and Smirnoff danced the cha cha but the judges were seriously under impressed. Cyrus's country style cha cha drew some catty comments from the judges who agreed with the actor that he really can't dance.

Discouraged and depressed over his performance last week, Billy Ray pulled out all of the stops in week two. Dancing a quick step of Johnny Cash's Ring ofFire, he was called the "satin gentleman" by one judge. The other two agreed that he was the most improved dancer of the week.

Shandi Finnessey, age 28, is a former Miss USA (2004). Standing tall at 5'11" she's taller than her partner, first-time competitor, Brian Fortuna, in her high heels. The two seem to have good chemistry, however, and similar personalities which may be helpful in "selling" their dance work.

For their premier dance, the couple chose The Power of Love for their cha cha. Reviews of the judges were somewhat mixed but still high enough to earn the couple a spot in the middle of the pack.

Also unhappy with the judge's reviews in week one, the former Miss USA turned on the charm and finesse in her mambo for week two.

Paulina Porizkova, age 41, is a former super model (going only by the name Paulina). She is paired with season one's professional winner, Alec Mazo. It seems too early to tell if this couple has what it takes to steal this year's trophy away from Burke. But if anyone can do it, it just might be Mazo.

For their premier dance, Paulina and Alec's fox trot also drew mixed reviews. The judges liked their dancing skills apart but felt that they like unity when dancing together.

The self pro-claimed klutz looked anything but klutzy doing the mambo in the second week. Although the judges remain unsure of her overall dancing talent, they agreed that they didn't see a klutz on the dance floor. Unfortunately, the viewers disagreed as Paulina and Alec were the first couple eliminated this year.

Clyde Drexler, age 44, is a NBA all-star. He is also the tallest competitor in the show's history at 6 foot 7 inches. There is a major height difference between him and his petite partner, Elena Grimemgo, who stands a mere 5 foot 4 inches. Elena is hoping to get the opportunity to do more dancing this year. Last year, when paired with Tucker Carlson, she was eliminated first in the competition.

For their premier dance, the couple's cha cha was a favorite of the judges who felt that Drexler had a great deal of charm and natural grace. They encouraged him not to limit his movements because of his height, but to let go and own the entire dance floor.

Drexler's quick step failed to wow the judges during the second week's performance. The crowd, however, absolutely love the big guy. His sunny smile and self-effacing disposition has captured the hearts of many; maybe enough to keep the gentle giant from being sent home in the first elimination.

Apolo Anton Ohno, age 24, is the youngest competitor this year. The five-time Olympic gold medallist already knows how to move his feet and his hips, which is a step in the right direction. He is paired with this year's youngest professional competitor, 18-year-old Julianne Hough; a blond bombshell who is itching to prove her worth. The problem is that Ohno is still in competition for real, in the middle of the show, leaving little time for practice which might prove to be their duo's downfall.

For their premier dance, the couple's cha cha was amazingly light hearted and spry. Judge Bruno said, "it was like watching 'Happy Feet' all over again." With a natural chemistry together and a little more practice, this couple may prove to be the one to watch out for. They might just sneak right into the finals.

During the first week's performance, the judges believed that Ohno had the most "potential" of anyone in the competition. This week, he lived up to it, dancing the quick step with elegance, grace, and a great deal of fun. The score wasn't bad either at 26 out of 30.

Leeza Gibbons, age 49, best known for her work on "Entertainment Tonight" and "Extra," now hosts her own syndicated radio show entitled "Hollywood Confidential." Her partner, Tony Dovolani, was paired with Sara Evans last year and lost his chance at the title when Sara dropped out of the competition. Gibbons swears she'll go as far as the audience will let her.

For their premier dance, Leeza and Tony chose Strangers in the Night. Although the judges agreed that Leeza had presence and natural grace, they encouraged her to work on her footwork and extensions.

During week two, the judges didn't feel that Leeza's mambo was suficiently "raunchy." Still, they praised her for great improvement over her fox trot during round one. Although still at the bottom of the leader board, Leeza may just surprise everyone before everything is said and done.

John Ratzenberger, age 59, is best known for his role as Cliff on television's "Cheers." He now hosts a show called "Made in America" where he travels around the U.S. finding unique American made businesses. He is also an author. Ratzenberger begins the competition at a disadvantage because he had less time to train, filling in for the original contestant who dropped out at the last minute. But if anyone can whip this senior citizen into shape it's his partner, Edyta Silwinska; the sexy siren who all but melts the dance floor.

For their premier song, the couple cha cha'd their way into the hearts of the judges who were amazed at the star's grace and natural charisma. If they are that good with half the practice of their competition, one wonders what will they be able to do when they eventually catch up.

Ratzenberger's quick step to The Lady is a Tramp was fun, funny, and technically pretty good. Ever the performer, what he lacks in dancing skill, the actor makes up for in sheer performance.

In a change up from former years, this time around all of the competitors received an opportunity to dance twice before the first elimination. This was due in part to the fact that the group only received four weeks for training this year, instead of the six weeks that has occurred in the past.

ABC's "Dancing With The Stars" begins at 8:00 p.m. every Monday for competition. Elimination will be on the following evening, Tuesday.