Season 8: Dancing with the Stars

After much speculation and rumour the list of "stars" who will appear on season 8 of ABC's "Dancing With the Stars" has been released. And no Donny Osmond, Stevie Wonder, and Cindy McCain are not on the list; but there are three athletes, on stand up comic, one business mogul, three members of the acting profession, four artists from the world of music and one "Jackass". While in the past seasons fans have seen siblings, parent/child, and spouses competing on the professional dancer side, this season there will also be a celebrity couple competing against each other.

Season 8 of "Dancing With the Stars" pits seven men and six women against each other for the right to hoist the mirror ball trophy. Newlyweds Jewel and Ty Murray will compete for the best of the house as the "Guinness Book of World Records" holder and seven time Rodeo Champ goes up against his wife singing star Jewel. The singer songwriter knows what it is like on the other side of the judging table. Jewel has appeared as a guest judge on the reality talent show "American Idol" and is a judge of the country music version of Idol "Nashville Star".

This year's entry as the youngest contestant ever is medal winning gymnast 17 year old Shawn Johnson. At the 2008 Summer Olympic Games that were held in Beijing, China Johnson took home the gold medal for her performance on the balance beam and a silver medal for the all-around competition. Since dance is required in some elements of gymnastics Johnson should have a bit of an edge on the other competitors.

The third member of the athletes competing on the show is the former New York Giant and NFL Hall of Fame member LT himself Lawrence Taylor. In the past the NFL has done itself proud with stars like season 3 winner Emmitt Smith, Hall of Fame receiver Jerry Rice, and last year's runner up Warren Sapp.

With a little luck the comic relief will be provided by stand up comic David Alan Grier and not by the juvenile antics from any of the dancers like has occurred in past seasons.

As for the business mogul, we know his products much better than we know him - David Alan Grier and not by the juvenile antics from any of the dancers like has occurred in past seasons.

As for the business mogul, we know his products much better than we know him - Steve Wozniak is the co-founder of Apple Computers along with partner Steve Jobs.

The acting profession is represented by one man and two women who have appeared on both the big and small screen. The gent is French born actor Gilles Marini who showed that you don't have to say a word in order to make an impact on the big screen with his role as Dante in the "Sex in the City" movie. Marini has also appeared on "Ugly Betty", "Criminal Minds", and "Dirty Sexy Money".

This actress/model is known as much for being the ex-wife of actor Charlie Sheen as she is for her own work. Denise Richards appeared in the James Bond movie "The World is Not Enough".

In past seasons Nancy O'Dell has covered the reality dancing show as the host of "Access Hollywood"; this season O'Dell will be a part of that show.

Along with Jewel the music world is also represented by a country singer, a rapper, and a pop rocker. As the male member of music country singer Chuck Wicks hopes to make his current lady love proud - former "Dancing With the Stars" champion Julianne Hough. Chances are slim that the couple will be paired together since Hough announced after season that she was hanging up her dancing shoes to pursue her career as a country singer.

Female rapper Lil Kim (Kimberly Jones) is planning to show off her musical skills with more than just her mouth. Known for her abrasive lyrics and skimpy costumes Lil Kim is likely to give Edyta a run for her money when it comes to dance outfits.

Former eighties girl band leader of the Go Go's and current spokeswoman for Nutri-System Belinda Carlisle rounds out the musicians on this season's show. She like other dancers hope to prove that they can indeed do more than sing. With four singers in this year's line up, that is the most participants from the world of music ever.

And finally there is the crazed stuntman and MTV reality show star Steve-O who demonstrates that some people will do ANYTHING for a buck on his show "Jackass".

With few exceptions this year's line up of potential dancers are all currently working in their chosen profession; but few are known to everyone which for some perpetuates the notion that "Dancing With the Stars" cannot draw what Hollywood considers A-listers. Stars who appear on the show do get paid for each week that they remain on the show, but must also be able to juggle work schedules something many of the stop stars cannot do since their commitments are often more ridged with little time to spend six to eight hours each day on learning a new dance, rehearsals, and practice.

All in all season 8 of "Dancing With the Stars" should prove to be entertaining in the least... and who knows we just might see some really good dancing in the process.