'Dancing with the Stars' Season 12 Cast Announced

Last night during The Bachelor, Dancing With the Stars revealed its latest jumble of vastly different celebrities to compete toe-to-toe for the coveted Mirror Ball trophy. Here's who got the golden ticket for Season 12, which premieres March 21 on ABC.

Kirstie Alley, 60, actress and weight loss spokesperson; Ralph Macchio, 49, who played the original Karate Kid; Sugar Ray Leonard, 54, boxing champion (and later commentator); Romeo Miller, 21, best known as rapper Lil' Romeo and son of former DWTS competitor, Master P; Chelsea Kane, 22, a Disney Channel actress; Petra Nemcova, 31, a Czech supermodel; Wendy Williams, 46, the syndicated talk-show host; Chris Jericho, 40, WWE star and TV personality; Kendra Wilkinson, 25, star of E!'s Kendra; Mike Catherwood, 31, cohost of the radio show Loveline; and Hines Ward, 34, wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Alley stands out as the group's biggest star and tabloid target, which is always high on the DWTS wish list. Whether or not she can dance, she is always amusing (not to mention a little nutty). She's a great pick, especially since her well-chronicled weight loss battles fit right into this show. Kelly Osbourne has already proven that you can lose weight here. No doubt Alley will fight her dance partner every step of the way, but that also will be fun to watch!

Williams is a great addition, too. Not only is she a no-holds-barred talk-show host, but she's a towering 5'11", with a massive chest. How will her dance partner handle her? It will also be interesting to watch Williams, a longtime fan of DWTS, because she's been so outspoken about the show and its contestants in past seasons.

Playboy model and reality star Wilkinson seems to be the Pamela Anderson of this season, which could work -- if she can dance as well as Anderson. Too bad, though, that her husband, NFL star Hank Baskett, won't be competing (as some early rumors suggested). It would have been fun to see them compete against each other.

So far, DWTS has been a publicity-hogging ratings bonanza that's given scores of fading celebrities the chance to dance their way back into the public consciousness... and let's be honest: "Fading celebrity" describes the majority of this Season 12 cast (Ralph Macchio, anyone?). Which one of these people will benefit the most from this spotlight? Only time will tell.

Source: http://www.ivillage.com/dancing-stars-season-12-cast-announced/1-a-327622

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