Marla Maples, Kim Fields part of ‘Dancing With the Stars’
TV PREVIEW
“Dancing With the Stars” (22nd season debut on March 21), 8 p.m. Mondays, ABC
SOME PAST ‘DWTS’ PARTICIPANTS WITH GEORGIA TIES
Over 22 seasons, many dancers with Georgia connections have participated in the show. Here’s a sample:
Evander Holyfield, boxer, season 1, fifth place
Toni Braxton, singer, season 7, eighth place
Erin Andrews, journalist, season 10, third place
Hines Ward, football player, season 12, winner
Nancy Grace, journalist, season 13, fifth place
J.R. Martinez, actor, season 13, winner
Gladys Knight, singer, season 14, eighth place
NeNe Leakes, reality star and actor, season 18, seventh place
Kim Zolciak Biermann, reality star, season 21, 11th place
Georgia gets a double dose of celebrity on the 22nd season of ABC’s durable reality competition show “Dancing With the Stars.”
Kim Fields, best known for her roles on “The Facts of Life” and “Living Single,” joined the cast of “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” this past season after many years of mostly working behind the scenes as a director. And Dalton native Marla Maples, best known as Donald Trump’s ex-wife, will compete as well. (They were married from 1993 to 1999.)
Fields’ return to the spotlight on Bravo’s most popular reality show paved the way for this opportunity to boogie her way into the hearts of 15 million-plus viewers on ABC when the show airs at 8 p.m. Monday.
Her acting career broke out at age 10 as sweet Tootie on “The Facts of Life.”
“I’ve been doing this for so long,” the 46-year-old Marietta resident said to People magazine. “I’m very blessed and just really excited about another new component to my career — and this is definitely that.”
She is dancing with Sasha Farber, who last appeared on the show with “Jersey Shore” star Nicole “Snooki” LaValle season 17. She said this competition enables her to pay homage to her maternal grandmother, who was a dancer.
Fields has been a low-key presence on “Real Housewives” this year, adjusting to the amped-up dramas generated by the other women, especially a jealous Kenya Moore. On the show, she also revealed her close dedication to her husband and her children. On one trip away from her family, she broke down in tears because she missed them.
Maples, 52, is indirectly riding the wave of Trump, who is currently leading the race for the GOP nomination for president. While married, they had a daughter Tiffany, now 22.
Maples told Oprah Winfrey in 2013 that since the divorce, she raised Tiffany as a “single parent.” She added: “Her daddy of course took care of school, her education, and some of our needs, but as far as the day-to-day parenting, I’ve been the one here.”
“He’s a wonderful father, he loves his children,” Maples added on “The View” recently. She also said he is “not a racist.”
Asked about Maples being on the show, Trump told People in a statement: “I think it is wonderful. I am very happy for her and think she will do very well.”
The former Miss Georgia has been an actress, producer and model. Her film credits include “Executive Decision” (1996), “Happiness” (1998) and “Destiny of Peace” (2003).
Maples’ dance partner is Tony Dovolani. Dovolani has been competing on the show since season 2 and won once: season 15 with Melissa Rycroft.
About the Author
Rodney Ho writes about entertainment for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution including TV, radio, film, comedy and all things in between. A native New Yorker, he has covered education at The Virginian-Pilot, small business for The Wall Street Journal and a host of beats at the AJC over 20-plus years. He loves tennis, pop culture & seeing live events.
