'Dancing with the Stars': The Season 10 cast is revealed!

Light up the grand ballroom staircase and cue up those chimes: ABC’s official list of contestants for Season 10’s “Dancing With the Stars” has been released. Included in the roster of candidates competing for that coveted Mirrorball trophy are a moonwalker, a bachelor, a recently minted gold medalist, and a mother of eight.

And while there was no John Stamos or Jennifer Grey on the list as rumored, turns out “Baywatch” babe Pamela Anderson will, in fact, be putting on the sequins and fringe to prove that she’s got all the right moves. Also putting her best dance foot forward is original octomom Kate Gosselin, all but ensuring cute rehearsal footage with her kids.

Following in the samba steps of fellow “Beverly Hills, 90210” alums and former “DWTS” contestants Jennie Garth and Ian Ziering is Shannen Doherty. Pussycat Doll lead singer Nicole Scherzinger will try to spin burlesque into ballroom. Rounding out the women’s list are ESPN sports anchor Erin Andrews and actress and comedian Niecy Nash, best known as Deputy Raineesha Williams on “Reno 911!”

On the men’s side, Olympic figure skater Evan Lysacek, fresh from his gold-medal-winning stint in Vancouver, Canada, will take his spot on the dance floor alongside hunky British actor Aiden Turner from “All My Children.” In a bit of ABC reality show cross promotion, the “Bachelor” himself, Jake Pavelka, will bid for ballroom greatness, and Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Ochocinco will trade in his tight football pants for tight dance pants.

All in all, it’s a pretty young bunch, save astronaut Buzz Aldrin, who has the distinction of being the second person to walk on the moon and, at 80, the distinction of being the second-oldest contestant in “DWTS” history (Season 7’s Cloris Leachman still has him beat). And while Aldrin’s surely got his moonwalk down pat, will the octogenarian be able to shake his hips to a samba beat alongside all these young whippersnappers?

At first glance, methinks Lysacek’s athletic prowess and Winter Games success make him an immediate front-runner in this competition as well. And what’s the wrath of a Len Goodman when you’ve already faced down a nitpicking panel of Olympic judges? On the women’s side, doncha think Nicole Scherzinger’s experience performing as a Pussycat Doll makes her a natural fit for the Rectagon stage?

Season 10 of “Dancing With the Stars” premieres March 22 on ABC. In the meantime, check out this photo gallery of the latest contestants.

What do you think, “DWTS” fans? Who has what it takes to win reality TV’s shiniest trophy?

-- Allyssa Lee

Photo: Shannen Doherty.

Comments

[Dancer Lover]

One small step for man. One giant leap for mankind. Neil Armstrong Back up man Buzz Aldrin for real Moon Walk. Sir Buzz Aldrin wow. Ballroom Buzz. Go ahead on Buzz. Thank you from all over the U. S. A. and her Allies and enjoy your dances Doctor Aldrin.

[Incredulous]

TIM DUFELMEIER, you have to be kidding! Evengi Plushenko (Mr. whiner) "I should have won even though I wobbled out of quad jump". yeah right! What you wanted to hear him whine when he gets beat dancing too?

[Earl Zimmerman.]

Dredging the D list again.

[Dancer Lover]

Hope the Show can somehow get Slavik Kryklyvyy someday. Good luck and injury free to all the contestants and the professional dancers.

[Mandy]

Why, why, why do people keep extending famewhore Kate Gosselin's camera time? The woman will not give it up. She had a taste of attention and now it's all about her. May she fall flat on her wide rear and exit the first week.

[GaryK]

My goodness. The usual doomsday sayers are at it again. A star is someone famous for some thing they do or did that is memorable. You can't get all Gene Kellys and Cid Cherisses to dance on the show. After all the seasons, the only contestant I disapproved of was Tom DeLay. I was hoping they would stomp him into the dance floor never to be seen or heard of again. Apolo Ohno, the best of all the winners, will be followed with this years probable winner, Evan Lysacek. It all depends who they are partnered with. If Cheryl or Kim are his partners, he's got it in the bag.

[Dancer Lover]

Walking on the Moon? Yes. Buzz Aldrin, U.S. A. and Allies.

[Bob]

I hope Buzz dances around and starts punching people. I vote for him a million times. Good luck sir!

[Sara Soofi]

Seems like DWTS is just failing more and more. I mean really...Kate Gosselin needs to be a mother to those poor 8 kids instead of being in LA doing some show which she will probably get voted off of pretty quick. And speaking of stars...Nicole is a fantastic dancer. She has and knows all the moves...def unfair for the rest of the crew! For sure she will win. 2010 Olympics was amazing, esp with Evan winning the gold but this will be sucha down grade for him. DWTS is typically known for old actors who have fallen out of the lime light...not for you Evan!!!

[Karol]

It is all about her (Kate) I don't know if I even want to watch this season.

[Bonnie Souders]

You have got to be kidding! Kate Gosslin? I have been watching since the first season but I will not watch this season. Find people that are "stars" or the show will not return for another season. It has been getting boring. If you had to have Kate, at least have Jon, too. Now that would have been fun to watch!

[BG]

Love Evan Lysecek but come on. As Shawn Johnson demonstrated, Kristi Yamaguchi demonstrated, it's an unfair advantage to have an Olympic gold medal in moving around to music while doing every difficult dance and athletic moves.

[skinker]

I'm not a fan of Kate either, but why is everyone so hard on her for leaving her 8 kids to to DTWS? I don't recall anyone saying anything about Marie Osmond leaving her 8 kids. Oops, make that 7...

[Anna Ramsey]

I hope Pamela Anderson wins. And hopefully Jake whatever his last name is and Kate withtoomanykids will go home early.

[cathy]

Well I guess i wont be watching it until Gosselin is gone.....I HATE THAT BCH....... SHE MAKES ME WANT TO PUKE.......... go ahead give her more publicity.........

[jmsent]

After last season, its pretty obvious that this show has little to do with dancing and more to do with popularity contests. Donny Osmond comes out on top?
Please.

[melissa]

i have watcehd all nine seasons and will continue to watch DWTS...this show always has a line up that everyone has to beat up and make fun of but there are those that surprise us and stand out above the rest and that is what makes us all come back to watch...i hope Evan Lysacek does amazing bc he was at the Olympics...if you do not like the show don't watch, but you will be surprised at who wins :>

[mary]

Good cast. I can't wait to see how many times Pamela falls out of her outfits!:-)

[canis lupus]

Dancing with the stars? What stars? The only stars on the program are the DWTS professionals. The program has been going downhill constantly.

Who didn't know that Donny Osmond would win last year? The maxim is: The best dancer never wins on DWTS.

[Nat]

Robert Duvall and Christopher Walken would rock this town as contestants for Dancing With the Stars- yep.