'Dancing With the Stars' 8: Meet the contenders (and Julianne Hough is back!)

Break out the spray tan and the samba rolls, ballroom fans, because Cycle 8 of ABC's "Dancing With the Stars" is about get underway. And this season's contenders, announced tonight (and none of whom have the last name Osmond, despite rumors to the contrary) are a wonderfully motley crew, boasting a Giant, a Lil' person, a Go-Go, and a Jackass, among others.

But first: Julianne Hough is back. I know I'm not the only one whose bedazzled heart lost a little luster when Julianne said she was going to take this season off to focus on her music. But by the sparkly magic that is reality TV, this appendix-less pro will, in fact, return for Season 8. Not only that, she'll be partnering with none other than her real-life boyfriend, country singer Chuck Wicks. Could there be any more happiness in this world?

Speaking of pairs, singer Jewel and her rodeo-riding husband, Ty Murray, will make "DWTS" history as the first couple to actually compete head-to-head. Also making "DWTS" history: Olympic gold medal-winning gymnast-moppet Shawn Johnson, who at 17 beat out Cody Lindley as the youngest contestant of all time. Of course, if this were a competition on megawatt smiles and sheer adorability, Johnson would win this contest hands down.

Others vying for the mirror-ball trophy and a closet full of fringe are Hall of Fame linebacker and former New York Giant Lawrence Taylor, "Access Hollywood" co-anchor Nancy O'Dell, actor and comedian David Alan Grier, rapper Lil' Kim and computer genius, Apple co-founder and Kathy Griffin ex Steve "the Woz" Wozniak. Also, erstwhile Go-Go Belinda Carlisle is out to prove she's still got the beat, and actress and reality-TV maven Denise Richards easily fits into the Hot Mom slot just vacated by Brooke Burke.

Rounding out this list: actor Gilles Marini, who proved his, um, partnering abilities playing Kim Cattrall's hot neighbor on "Sex and the City," and stuntman and bonafide "Jackass" Stephen Glover, a.k.a. Steve-O. If you've seen Steve-O's work, chances are you've probably seen his, um, twig-and-berries as well (he's famously known for stapling his "berries" to his leg). Question is, will he be able to zip it in long enough to win over Len Goodman?

And back on the pro side, a "So You Think You Can Dance" crossover alert: Dewy "SYTYCD" contender and fan favorite Chelsie Hightower (check out her fantastic "Bleeding Love" routine) will no doubt bring a much-needed gust of youthful energy as she joins fellow alum Lacey Schwimmer on the show.

Though the season premiere isn't until March 9, my early picks, apropos of nothing, are Shawn Johnson, Chuck Wicks and Lawrence Taylor, with Steve-O as a dark-horse contender. Who do you think has the goods to win it all?

— Allyssa Lee

Photo of Julianne Hough credit: ABC

Comments

[JAM]

YAY!! Chelsie Hightower made it! ABC is smart for putting her on the show. This is the pretty much the only reason I will be watching.It seems like theyre trying to attract a youngr audience.

[Brit]

Chels is the only reason i'll be watching!! Sooo excited for her!!!

[Becca]

So Julianne Hough is shown to be a liar once again. Why would she say on Wednesday that she was taking the season off and now be back on the show. Can you say publicity hound? She can kiss her country music career goodbye since why would the country music fans ever support her again when she tell them she is going to concentrate on singing and writing and then runs off to do her little dancing show. The boyfiriend as a partner is basically cheating so I can't believe any of the other teams are very happy! Julianne just needs to go away and grow up.

[G. MOON]

I FIGURE CHUCK WICK HAS AN EDGE OVER EVERYONE ELSE. YOU KNOW JULIANNE HAS BEEN GIVING HIM LESSONS. I MEAN REALLY. I LOVE HER, BUT I DON'T THINK THEM BEING PARTNERED TOGETHER IS FAIR. YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO HAVE ANY BACKGROUND IN BALLROOM DANCING.

[AJ]

Very happy Julianne will be back but I'm not sure I'll enjoy seeing her partnered with her real life boyfriend. Kind of kills the (like I had a shot) fantasy for me :-)

[Mary]

Why did Julianne just say that she was taking the season off to do write for her 2nd CD if she was then going to turn around and be on the show? I'm happy she is back but I don't think I can trust anything she tells me anymore. I hope she gets a better partner than Chuck since that would seem like really bending the rules.

[kb]

Shawn Johnson can't dance. See her floor routines.

[Michael]

ABC made a wise decision to have my dream girl Shawn Johnson there. She will draw millions of teen boys and girls to watch the show. But she's mine. She's gonna be my wife in a few years, I promise you all here!!!

[linda]

Damn, just when I thought we were finally going to get a Hough-free season, she's baaaack. Blech. Go away, Julianne.

Does anyone know if Louis, Maks, or Karina will be back?

[Whatshop]

I'm looking forward to seeing if Julianne can 1) still have a good relationship with her boyfriend at the end of the season and 2) can teach a cowboy to dance!
Get over it folks...every season we add our romantic fantasies to the dancing couples. It will be fun to watch a couple that are romantically involved at the start of this brutal regime and see if they still even like each other at the end. They are taking a big risk for our entertainment.
And if Billy Ray Cyrus is any indication of what Julianne has to work with, then she has her hands full.
Bravo, welcome and good luck!

[Brianna]

I am sad Kevin Federline isn't on this season, he's a total hottie...
BUT, I feel that Stevo will not be able to dance, I have a feeling they might pair him with Lacey. I am annoyed Julianne lied for the second time about not participating in the season. She is still one of my favorite pros next to lacey so i will be rooting for her to get her third trophy. I really want Shawn Johnson to win, shes cute. Young people unite :)... I hope they don't pair her with Derek. Stevo Woznak is gross.
The end

[mollie]

Maks & Karina are definitely returning for the show, it was announced 3 couples would compete, julianne & chuck, Maks vs. Karina, Ty vs. Jewel. Im glad because Maks & Karina are my favourite pro's along with julianne and Edyta. does anybody know if Alec & Edyta are returning, nothing's been mentioned about them? x

[Mike]

Okay it's official. Chuck Wicks is whipped. I know that Julianne is hot but come on Chuck, have some pride in yourself and stop being Julianne's doormat. I hope at least you sell lots of CDs and get some good stuff at home because you totally look like a wimp.

[Julianne Fan]

If you don't like watching her dance then change the channel when she is dancing.

[Rachael]

This is just in my head of what I think is going on...The producers of DWTS probably wanted to keep Julianne Hough on for the rankings so that being said she said that she would only do it if she could dance with Chuck. Also,maybe the producers asked Chuck to do it and he said he'd only do it if he could dance with Julianne. Chuck did say in an interview that he'd do the show if he could dance with Julianne.
The two have been writing for their albums just go take a listen to this:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LomWPYGgbJQ. This is one of the new songs that Chuck and Julianne have written. People you can dance,rehearse,and then go home and still have time to write a song or two. Yes Julianne said she wouldn't be coming back that was probably true before they pressured Julianne or Chuck to do the show. Get over it. I think seeing Julianne and Chuck dance is COOL! Like a person said above they are taking a big risk in their relationship. By Chuck doing this and maybe making a fool out of himself(I don't think he's going to)is showing his love for her and that's just my opinion. I'm voting for them regardless.

[Kim]

Thank you to "Julianne fan"! If you don't like Julianne, who I love, don't watch the show. Who cares what she said yesterday or last year. Maybe Chuck said he wouldn't do it without her! I question some of the choices (Denise because I can't stand her, and Steve-O and David Alan Grier because comedians try use their "comedy" instead of trying to dance!) It should be interesting to see if Lawrence Taylor can dance as well as Emmitt, Jerry and Jason! Can't wait for it to start!

[Candy]

I am so excited to see Julianne dance again because she is the best but I don't know about having Chuck as a partner. It seems too staged for me and ABC is obviously just going for ratings. They had to do something because this group of celebrities is pretty bad including Chuck whose biggest claim to fame right now if being Julianne's current boytoy. I just hope that Julianne isn't being used because of how popular she is. She deserves so much better.

[David]

I'm just glad Len and Bruno are gonna be back on TV. Love those guys!

[Kendall]

Why don't they just change the name to Dancing With Julianne Hough and give her the trophy? It's clear that ABC is pushing her and giving her an unfair advantage. It really is 12 celebrities and Julianne since Chuck Wicks does not classify as a star!

[ally]

the only reason why i watch the show is for julianne and i'm so excited she's gonna be back and all the haters can shove it bcuz ur just jealous!