NEW DANCING WITH THE STARS CAST FOR SEASON 33

This year I was going to give the contestants on Dancing With The Stars the benefit of the doubt, and not discuss these basic non-stars until they’ve performed at least once. But I’m so offended by one of them being on the show, as I’m sure that most lawful people are, that I must weigh-in ahead of the season opener next week.

How is it season 33 already?

And that one is convicted felon Anna Delvey, (whose real last name is Sorokin, and who was found guilty of grand larceny, among other crimes.) How could they do that? I’m just praying that she is the first to go, so we don’t have to see her anymore. She needs to be deported back to Germany, actually, rather than to offend our senses, (and sense of decency!,) on American television. She was convicted of eight offenses in 2019, and sentenced to twelve years in prison, but was, shamefully, conditionally released just two years later. She’s supposed to still be under house arrest, and then deported home, with no access to social media, so I have no idea how this atrocity is happening now. But I can’t waste another moment of my life researching the topic. I just hope that not even one person votes for her, if voting is even how it still works on DWTS nowadays. (They change the rules and voting processes so often that it’s hard to keep up!)

I know many of us haven’t loved some of the crackpots the series has subjected us to over the years, (i.e. Republicans Shawn Spicer, Rick Perry, Tom Delay, Tucker Carlson, and Bristol Palin,) but this thief is a new low for them. I can’t imagine how her pro partner, Ezra Sosa, or the other cast members, will be able to deal with a felon in their midst.

Delvey’s inclusion will dwarf the same-as-usual fact that there are few stars among these mostly wannabes and has-beens. Reginald VelJohnson and Tori Spelling fit into the latter grouping, and I’ve never even heard of Phaedra Parks, Chandler Kinney, and Brooks Nader. With those monikers, I don’t even know if they’re guys or gals! Hopefully, they’ll all be forgotten the second this season is over, as have most of the non-star competitors over the years. (They really need to change the title of the show to something more along the lines of the British original, Strictly Come Dancing, because this American version has nothing to do with stars dancing, unless they’re referencing the more-famous-than-their-supposed-star-partners pro dancers!)

Karen Salkin and Dwight Howard. Photo by Hilary Clark.

There being thirteen contestants this year says it all. Bad luck all the way around.

But on a happier note, I have fun connections to two of the male competitors. First up is basketball player Dwight Howard, who I met one morning about eight years ago. I was at the Hotel Bel-Air at what I refer to as “the crack of dawn,” (but it was really about 10AM,) for a beauty business event, and was sitting in their tiny lobby with a friend before it began. All of a sudden, who do I see walking in from the rooms area of the hotel but Dwight! (Duh—otherwise why would I be telling you this story in my section about him???) I jumped up to tell him that I was upset that the Inside the NBA crew had been somewhat mean to him recently, and I’m happy to report that he was darling to me. The concierge started to tell me that I can’t talk to the guests, (even though no one else was in the vicinity,) when Dwight cut him off and told him it was fine. And then we took a photo together, which he was totally amenable to. So I’m a fan. (And I’m thrilled that the DWTS producers blessed Dwight with pro partner Daniella Karagach, the absolute best choreographer on this show, so he has a shot at doing well.)

Eric Roberts and his wife the day I met them. I guess my crazy stories about Mr. X and me inspired them to be lovey-dovey! Photo by Lauren Bennett..

The other man I have a slight connection with is actor Eric Roberts, who is actually a distant cousin-in-law of mine! We discovered that relation when he, his wife Eliza Garrett, and I had lunch together at an Oscars event about a dozen years ago. As we talked about Brooklyn, Eliza and I realized that our mothers were second cousins, (or something like that,) which makes us some sort of relative once or twice removed. We talked about our love relationships, (well, basically, I just regaled them with tales of Mr. X and me,) and I loved that they laughed at just about everything I said. We should have kept in touch, but at least Eliza had her son email me from time to time. He’s a musician, so I’ll be curious to see if his stepdad can dance!

But I have a feeling that my favorite contestant, (I know he will be Mr. X’s,) will be recent two-time bronze Olympic medalist gymnast Stephen Nedoroscik, who became the sensation of the Olympics for securing that medal for the USA team in their event, and mainly for…rocking glasses! That’s crazy. But I’m so happy for him. He’s also a Rubik’s cube whiz, so that’s a bonus. Now can he dance? (He’s partnered with adorable youngster, Rylee Arnold, so he should be sticking around for a long while. I’m guessing people will love them together! And I predict that a bit of his pommel horse routine will make its way into their choreography.)

Karen Salkin and Sasha Farber, who is Jenn Tran’s pro partner this year. I hope that I’m bringing them luck here! Photo by Marc Winer.

I’m always happy to see known professional athletes on the show, so former footballer Danny Amendola and Olympics rugby star Ilona Maher also fill that bill.

But, I’ll mainly be cheering-on Dwight, Stephen, and—as ashamed of myself as I am to say this—the most recent Bachelor and Bachelorette, Joey Graziadei and Jenn Tran. Actually, especially Jenn, because she really deserves some happiness now. (If you missed it earlier this week, you can read my article on her recent season of The Bachelorette right here, including what I think can happen for Jenn and her DWTS pro partner, Sasha Farber:  itsnotaboutme.tv/news/televisionjuicy-gossip-the-bachelorette-season-21-jenn-tran.)

At the very least, we’ll get to see Derek Hough’s handsome face again, and hear his most knowledgeable commentary, with a few little dance lessons, which I adore, thrown in.

Derek Hough and Karen Salkin. Photo by Derek Hough.

I also look forward to having two charming and attractive dancer hosts, Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough, helming this inane series once again. I’ve been loving the preview commercials with them dancing together. I get such a kick out of Alfonso’s extra little head movements. I think people forget that he started out as a dancer when he was a kid, before his 2014 victory on this very show turned him into a media personality after his acting career wound-down.

So there you have it! Let’s hope that we can all join together in getting rid of the vermin first, and then we can get down to the business of who is actually the best dancer on there this season. May the most deserving one win!