David Alan Grier's physical agility is no joke.
He can move with the best of them - or so early rehearsal footage of "Dancing with the Stars" suggests - so the comedian should have no trouble staying competitive on the hit show, which waltzes back with an eighth season starting tonight on ABC.
Grier, 53, already has proved to be more resilient than some of his fellow contestants. Two of his 12 opponents - singer Jewel and "Access Hollywood" co-host Nancy O'Dell - have dropped out before the show has even started due to injury. Reality star Holly Madison of "Girls Next Door" fame is supposed to replace Jewel. No word on who will take O'Dell's place, and an ABC spokeswoman said the network had no comment.
Grier spent four years he making fans laugh on "In Living Color," until 1994. This past fall, Grier hosted and starred in "Chocolate News," a satirical jab at cable news that aired on Comedy Central. Grier will be dancing with Kym Johnson.
The rest of the "Dancing" cast:
Belinda Carlisle: She hasn't had as much plastic surgery performed on her face as former contestant Priscilla Presley, but she's pretty close. Carlisle, 51, is best known as the former lead singer of the popular '80s girl-group, the Go-Gos. After the group broke up, Carlisle enjoyed a successful solo career later that decade. The singer still tours and performs all over the world. She will be dancing with Jonathan Roberts.
Shawn Johnson: The youngest competitor on "Dancing with the Stars" ever, 17-year-old Olympian Shawn Johnson won the gold medal for her stellar performance on the balance beam at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. She also earned three silver medals with her team. The diminutive Johnson will be dancing with Mark Ballas.
Lil' Kim: Born Kimberly Denise Jones, Lil' Kim is a Grammy Award-winning, multi-platinum rapper, singer and actress known for her candid views on female sexuality. The 33-year-old is one of three female rappers to have a No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 hit. She's currently working on her fifth studio album, expected to be released sometime later this year. Lil' Kim has been partnered with reigning champ Derek Hough.
Holly Madison: Said to be replacing Jewel, who dropped out because of injury, this former girlfriend of Hugh Hefner and star of the reality show "The Girls Next Door," Madison, 29, is known for her, uhm, bubbly personality. The Playboy model is also known for dating and breaking up with master illusionist Criss Angel. Because Madison's role on "Dancing with the Stars" is still new and unofficial, her dance partner is unknown.
Gilles Marini: The handsome, French-born actor and former model basically became famous in America thanks to a small but revealing role in the "Sex and the City" movie last summer. There really isn't that much more to say about Marini, 33. Here's hoping, for his sake, that "Dancing with the Stars" changes all that. Marini will dance with Cheryl Burke.
Ty Murray: He's been labeled the most accomplished rodeo athlete in the century-long history of the sport. He has a record-setting seven All-Around World Championship titles and two bull-riding World titles under his belt. Murray, 39, is now retired and his foray on "Dancing" was supposed to be heightened because he's married to Jewel. Producers thought it would be cool to have a husband and wife compete against each other. So much for that idea. Newcomer Chelsie Hightower will dance with Murray.
Steve O: Best known as "that one guy from 'Jackass,' " Steve O, aka Stephen Glover, is determined to build a career in television and film. When MTV rejected his more dangerous ideas, the 34-year-old produced his own "too-hot-for-TV" video series and stage show with the "Don't Try This at Home Tour." Steve O is dancing with Lacey Schwimmer.
Denise Richards: This actress is just as known for her infamously bitter and brutal divorce from actor Charlie Sheen as she is for the roles she has played. In fact, more people probably know her because of the divorce, in part, because of her basic-cable reality show "Denise Richards: It's Complicated." It airs on E! Entertainment Television. As for movies, Richards, 38, has starred in flicks such as "Wild Things" and "Scary Movie 3." Richards is partnered with Maksim Chmerkovskiy.
Lawrence Taylor: Widely regarded as the greatest defensive player in the history of the National Football League, Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor rewrote the record book. He built a legendary following during one of the most storied careers in the history of American sport. Taylor, 50, also had a controversial lifestyle. During and after his playing career, he admitted to using addictive drugs such as cocaine and was suspended several times by the league for failing drug tests. But that was then, and today, Taylor has been clean and sober for 11 years. He's dancing with Edyta Sliwinska.
Chuck Wicks: A gifted songwriter and vocalist, the 29-year-old made a compelling impression on the industry with his Top 5 smash, "Stealing Cinderella," the fastest-rising single by a debut country act in 2007. In another ratings ploy of sorts, producers have teamed Wicks up with Julianne Hough. In case you haven't been reading the tabloids, Hough also happens to be his girlfriend.
Steve Wozniak: A Silicon Valley icon and philanthropist for the past three decades, Steve Wozniak, aka "The Woz," helped shape the computer industry with his design of Apple's first line of products. The 58-year-old multimillionaire became an unintentional reality-TV star when he briefly dated comedian Kathy Griffin. The courtship was chronicled on Griffin's show, "Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List." Wozniak will dance with Karina Smirnoff.
About the Author
The Latest
Featured
