Credit: Rodney Ho
Credit: Rodney Ho
The man who made "The Carlton" famous will finally make it on the "Dancing With the Stars" floor, along with a man better known for getting high than getting down.
The show, in its 19th season, struggles to find real A listers but plenty of well known names dot the 13 celebrity cast set to debut Sept. 15. And it's one of the oldest casts they've ever put together (average age: 43) despite the fact there are two teenagers on the cast. There are no cast members with any direct Atlanta ties that I know of. If I missed a connection, feel free to contact me at rho@ajc.com. Rumors (never confirmed) that recent Bachelorette and Atlanta resident Andi Dorfman was in the running clearly never came to fruition. (On the ABC show, she said she was not the most coordinated person on earth.)
Alfonso Ribeiro, 42, who played Carlton on "The Fresh Prince of Bel Air," will bring a smile to the face of anybody who grew up with that 1990s classic sitcom. Even if he ends up being a terrible dancer (possible but unlikely), he will get plenty of votes.
Actress Lea Thompson, 53, will bring warm memories to lovers of the "Back to the Future" series. If she shows any skills on the dance floor, she could go far.
Credit: Rodney Ho
Credit: Rodney Ho
How about sex appeal for the 45 to 64 year old core audience of the show? (Yes, this show skews very very old even compared to other reality shows like "The Voice" and "American Idol.") Actor Antonio Sabato Jr., 42, will do the trick. He looks like he could be a good hoofer, too. (He gets previous DWTS winner Cheryl Burke as his partner.)
Credit: Rodney Ho
Credit: Rodney Ho
Slightly younger eye candy? 33-year-old actor Jonathan Bennett. I know. Who? He was in the 2004 film "Mean Girls."
Credit: Rodney Ho
Credit: Rodney Ho
Going for Middle America? There's "Duck Dynasty" reality star Sadie Robertson, who is by far the youngest cast member at age 17.
Credit: Rodney Ho
Credit: Rodney Ho
The 18-34 demo? "Pretty Little Liars" actress Janel Parrish, 25. (Disney tie, of course.)
Credit: Rodney Ho
Credit: Rodney Ho
And for the hip youth? YouTube star Bethany Mota, 18, who became big showing off fashions and now has her own fashion line.
How about a little off the obvious path? PBS talk show host and author Tavis Smiley, 49, better known for tackling serious subjects than diving into pop culture.
"Dancing With the Stars" cut back on the athletes this season, with only three compared to five last season. A UFC champion Randy Couture, 51, a nod to the rise in popularity of mixed martial arts, joins the cast. (Fellow UFC champ Chuck Liddell only came in 11th season 9.)
There's professional race car driver Michael Waltrip, a 51-eyar-old two-time Daytona 500 winner. (Fellow race car driver Hélio Castroneves won the show season 5.)
Then there's track star Lolo Jones, who at age 31, is the youngest athlete and an instant front runner given her pedigree. She was also a bobsled competitor in the Olympics so she's versatile.
And for the first time, the show is featuring two senior citizens in one season.
Comic and pot supporter Tommy Chong doesn't appear as if he's ever deliberately exercised ever. And at age 76. he is no spring chicken.
Fashion designer legend Betsey Johnson is 72 years old. She looks very elegant so she might surprise.
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