FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, TWELVE NEW STARS WILL SHINE WHEN "DANCING WITH THE STARS" RETURNS FOR ITS MOST SURPRISING AND BIGGEST SEASON TO DATE, PREMIERING WITH A SPECTACULAR THREE-NIGHT EVENT

"Dancing" Devotees Treated to Three Straight Nights of Entertainment and Competition

First Week's Competition Features a Showdown Between the Women and the Men

Music Icon Dolly Parton Performs in the First Results Show

Cast Member Melanie Brown to Appear Exclusively on Tonight's Episode of "Jimmy Kimmel Live"

In a "Dancing with the Stars" first, twelve celebrities - six men and six women -- attempt to outshine one another on a fifth season of the hit series, which returns MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24 (8:00-9:30 p.m., ET) on ABC. This marks the largest cast assembled to date. It includes an Emmy Award-winning actress, a Vegas icon, an Indy 500 champion, a Spice Girl, a daytime soap star, a Cheetah Girl and a former resident of "90210." As an added twist, viewers get a chance to size up the male vs. the female stars, as each gender hits the dance floor on separate nights during the first week of competition. The women will strut their stuff on Monday night, while the men show off their moves TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25 (8:00-9:30 p.m., ET). One couple's fate will be determined the following night, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET) on "Dancing with the Stars the Results Show." Can the women outperform the men, or will the men dance circles around the women?

As announced today on "Good Morning America," the twelve stars making their ballroom dancing debut are:

MELANIE BROWN - "Mel B.," a.k.a. "Scary Spice," is best known as a member of the Spice Girls, the hit British music group that put "girl power" on the map and took the world by storm in 1996. For the first time in six years, she reunites with her four bandmates to embark on a world tour this December. Brown is also a mother, entrepreneur and actress who starred in "Rent" as Mimi on Broadway, in "The Vagina Monologues" in London, and hosted the British TV series "This is My Moment." She is partnered with MAKSIM CHMERKOVSKIY, who returns for his fourth season. SABRINA BRYAN - Actress and recording artist Sabrina Bryan starred as a member of an all-girl singing group in Disney Channel's original movie, "The Cheetah Girls." The hit movie translated into musical success for the girls, who went on to release two albums and toured the U.S. as The Cheetah Girls. Bryan is set to star in the upcoming "The Cheetah Girls 3." She has also starred in "The Bold and the Beautiful." Bryan is partnered with newcomer MARK BALLAS.

HELIO CASTRONEVES - The two-time Indianapolis 500 champion began the celebratory tradition of climbing the racetrack fence in 2001, racing for Team Penske. A native of Brazil, Castroneves is partner and owner of the NasrCastroneves racing team, which competes in the Brazilian Stock Car V8 Championship. He has amassed twelve wins and forty-nine top five finishes during his IndyCar career. Castroneves teams with reigning champ JULIANNE HOUGH, who returns for her sophomore season.

MARK CUBAN - Cuban is the owner of the Dallas Mavericks NBA basketball team. He is the highly successful entrepreneur who founded HDNet, Broadcast.com and MicroSolutions. Cuban went on to sell Broadcast.com and Micro Solutions to Yahoo! and CompuServe, respectively. He is partnered with KYM JOHNSON, who returns for her third season.

JENNIE GARTH - Garth rose to stardom in the popular television series "Beverly Hills: 90210." She since starred in the sitcom "What I Like About You" for four seasons. Over the course of her career, she has produced and starred in several made-for-TV movies. Her most recent project was a lead role in Lifetime's "Girl, Positive," which was the network's highest-rated movie this year. Garth's partner is newcomer DEREK HOUGH, brother of Season Four winner Julianne Hough.

JOSIE MARAN - Model/actress Josie Maran has graced the pages of some of the biggest magazines, including multiple covers for Glamour and appearances in Sports Illustrated's Swimsuit Issue. She's also been featured in national ad campaigns for Guess and Maybelline, and has appeared in such films as "The Aviator" and "Van Helsing." Today Maran is a busy entrepreneur, activist and new mom. She launches her eponymous eco-chic cosmetic line, Josie Maran Cosmetics, this fall, and is a spokesperson for the national environmental organization Global Green. Maran is paired with Season One winner ALEC MAZO, who makes his third appearance.

CAMERON MATHISON - Mathison joined the cast of "All My Children" in January 1989 as Ryan Lavery. After leaving the show for a year, he returned in 2003 to reprise this fan-favorite role, for which he has received an Emmy nomination. He is also presently hosting the fourth season of SOAPnet's reality series, "I Wanna Be a Soap Star." His television credits also include "The Drew Cary Show," "CSI," "JAG," "What I Like About You," "F/X: The Series," the television movie "Any Mother's Son," and ABC Family's "See Jane Date." Mathison's partner is EDYTA SLIWINSKA, the only professional dancer to appear in all five seasons.

FLOYD MAYWEATHER -- "Pretty Boy" Floyd Mayweather is a six-time world champion in five different weight classes and the current RING and World Boxing Council Welterweight Champion of the World, with an astounding undefeated record of 38-0, with 24 knockouts. He is universally recognized as pound-for-pound the best fighter in the world. Mayweather teams with KARINA SMIRNOFF, who returns for her third season.

WAYNE NEWTON - The Legend, Mr. Las Vegas, is enjoying a career that few dare even dream about, having performed more live shows than any other single performer in Las Vegas history, with no signs of slowing down. He has been mentored by such talents as Jackie Gleason, Lucille Ball, Bobby Darin, Jack Benny and Frank Sinatra, which has inspired him to great success in motion pictures, television and recordings. As Chairman of the USO Celebrity Circle, Newton recently said, "I want to use my head for myself and my heart for mankind." He is partnered with two-time champ CHERYL BURKE.

MARIE OSMOND - Osmond won the hearts of fans as co-host of the popular variety program, "The Donny & Marie Show." She has since starred in several made for television movies, co-hosted "Ripley's Believe It or Not," achieved success as a recording artist, performed on Broadway, made the New York Times bestselling authors list, and established herself as an entrepreneur with her highly successful Marie Osmond Collectible Doll line. She is also the co-founder and co-host of the "Children's Miracle Network." Osmond will be led by JONATHAN ROBERTS, who returns for his fourth season.

ALBERT REED - Model Albert Reed has been featured in national ad campaigns for Abercrombie & Fitch, Diesel Clothing, Arrow Clothing, Rayban and Reebok, to name a few. The free-spirited 22-year-old has walked the catwalk for Chanel, Levis and Michael Kors. Growing up in Miami, Reed surfed competitively into his late teens, winning several titles. He is also an actor, musician and artist. He teams up with ANNA TREBUNSKAYA, who returns for her second season.

JANE SEYMOUR - Actress/artist/author/activist/designer and Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning British born Jane Seymour is a star of motion pictures ("Wedding Crashers," "Live and Let Die," "Somewhere in Time") and television, ranging from her six-season Western drama, "Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman," to her reign as 'Queen of the Mini-Series,' so dubbed by critics and the media. In addition Seymour is a bestselling author, widely successful artist, designer of her own line of homewares and accessories, and an activist on behalf of underprivileged and abused children around the world. Seymour is paired with TONY DOVOLANI, who returns for his fourth season.

The competition begins with a three-night event on, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, as the six female stars take center stage, performing either the Foxtrot or the Cha Cha Cha. The men will then showcase their routines, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, performing the same dances as the women. The team with the lowest combined judges' scores and public votes from Monday and Tuesday night will be eliminated from the competition on the first results show, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26. Viewers may cast their votes via phone, text message and online at www.abc.com.

Kicking off what promises to be a stellar season of musical performances, Grammy(r) Award-winning country music icon and Academy(r) Award-winning actress Dolly Parton kicks up her heels on the "Dancing" stage, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26. Ms. Parton serenades the audience singing "Better Get to Livin'" from her latest album, "Backwoods Barbie," and the classic hit, "9 to 5," accompanied by the professional dancers.

Following Ms. Parton's performance in Week One, "Dancing with the Stars the Results Show" will serve as a showcase for some of the best musical artists in the world, including world-famous musician Avril Lavigne and legendary five-time Grammy Award-winning artist Gloria Estefan, among others, who will be announced in the weeks to come.

Hosted by Tom Bergeron ("America's Funniest Home Videos") and Samantha Harris ("E! Entertainment"), the celebrities will perform choreographed dance routines which will be judged by renowned Ballroom judge Len Goodman and dancer/choreographers Bruno Tonioli and Carrie Ann Inaba.

"Dancing with the Stars" is the U.S. version of the international smash hit series, "Strictly Come Dancing." This version is produced in America by BBC Productions. Conrad Green serves as executive producer and Rob Wade and Matilda Zoltowski are co-executive producers. Alex Rudzinski directs.

"Dancing with the Stars" is broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC's selected HDTV format, with 5.1 channel surround sound and Spanish audio via SAP.

In an exclusive first late-night talk show interview with a member of the Season Five cast, Jimmy Kimmel welcomes Melanie Brown tonight on ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live" (12:05-1:05 a.m., ET). Kimmel returns this season for more hilarious segments on "Dancing with the Stars the Results Show."

 

Source: ABC Press Release

 

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