Legal Commentary

Tom DeLay Joins Dancing With The Stars

By Jeralyn

Too funny. The cast for the upcoming season of Dancing With the Stars was announced today. Making the cut: Former Congressman Tom DeLay.

DWTS will feature its first politician — former Congressman Tom DeLay— on the season's Sept. 21 (8 ET/PT) premiere. DeLay, 62, served as House Majority leader until he was forced to step down following a 2005 Texas grand jury indictment on money laundering charges. Known as "the Hammer" for his dealing with political opponents, the polarizing Republican's legal woes remain unresolved.

"I really am a big fan of the show," says DeLay, an open supporter of Sara Evans when the country singer competed in Season 3. "I couldn't believe they asked me to do this. It didn't take me five minutes to agree. I've been working out like crazy."

I wonder if Rod Blagojevich applied. [More...]

The other contestants:

Besides DeLay, there are several potential eyebrow raising ballroom wannabees, including 51-year-old Donnie Osmond, whose sister, Marie, was a Season 6 finalist. There's ample testosterone. Among the men are former Dallas Cowboy receiver Michael Irvin, 43, mixed martial arts star Chuck Liddell, 39, pro skateboarder Louie Vito, 21, and Mark DaCascos, 45, a martial arts expert, film action star and host of Food Network'sIron Chef America: The Series.

Some of the female hoofers also are decidedly competitive. Swimmer Natalie Coughlin, 26, Dancing's latest nod to Olympians, is a multi-gold medal winner, while model Joanna Krupa, 30, showed an aggressive streak ridiculing and quieting the normally outspoken Buffalo Bills Terrell Owens during their pairing on ABC's early summer, celeb-sports match off The Superstars.

Also, Kathy Ireland, Macy Gray, Aaron Carter, Ashley Hamilton (son of George Hamilton), Melissa Joan Hart, Debi Mazar, and Kelly Osbourne.

Doesn't sound like a great lineup to me, more like a B-list of celebs needing a career boost, but I'm sure I'll watch anyway.

Full post as published by TalkLeft on August 17, 2009 (boomark / email).