Dancing With The Stars Season 9

Cycle 9 of ABC's "Dancing With the Stars" is about to get underway, and this season's contestants, announced this morning on "Good Morning America," are as diverse as ever, including an Osbourne daughter and an "Entourage" actor, another Osmond sibling and (in a first for the series) a former House Majority leader.

But first: Paula Abdul is not going to compete despite rumors to the contrary. (She's not going to guest star on ABC's "Ugly Betty," either, but TMZ is reporting that the network is still looking to get in the Abdul business and is considering a number of other options, including a variety special.) So who will be vying for the ballroom's top prize? Kelly Osbourne, daughter of Ozzy, pop singer and former reality star, will find out if her theater experience gives her an advantage.

Among the season's actors-turned-movers-and-shakers are "Entourage's" pushy publicist Debi Mazar; former teen witch Melissa Joan Hart; Ashley Hamilton, son of George Hamilton (and ex-husband of Shannen Doherty); and Polish model-actress Joanna Krupa, who most recently competed in ABC's summer reality series "Superstars."

Dancing With The Stars New Cast

ABC announced the new Dancing with the Stars cast today. If you've been living under a rock the past few years, the announcement of the new DWTS cast is now given all of the gravitas as the naming of a new Pope. Like everyone else I think the most interesting name on the list is Tom Delay. Though I would have gone with Dan Quayle.

Quck thoughts: My first reaction was of course these celebs are doing Dancing with the Stars. But I actually think that this show is better than most reality or reality competition shows. At least it's mostly for fun and the stars don't have delusions of stardom. We knew Donny Osmond was going to be on the show. I think he and Marie have some intense competition thing going on.

Sports stars are well represented (Michael Irvin, Natalie Coughlin), and Joanna Krupa is now making a career of being on reality shows. I think the secret front runner here might be Mark Dacascos. Just look at those moves he makes on Iron Chef America.Always fun to see the definition of “the Stars” in “Dancing with the Stars.” Three of those names, I am convinced I have never seen in my life.