"Dancing with the Stars" Cast Announced
by Greg Evans
September 8, 2021


"Dancing with the Stars", hosted by Tyra Banks, returns live on Monday, Sept. 20 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. Episodes will be available on demand and on Hulu the day following their premieres.



Country Singer Jimmie Allen
Spice Girl Melanie C
Christine Chiu (Bling Empire)
Brian Austin Green (Beverly Hills, 90210)
Melora Hardin (The Office)
Social Media Star Olivia Jade
Matt James (The Bachelor)
Amanda Kloots (The Talk)
Martin Kove (Cobra Kai)
Gold Medal Olympian Suni Lee
WWE Superstar Mike “The Miz” Mizanin
Kenya Moore (The Real Housewives of Atlanta)
Peloton Instructor Cody Rigsby
NBA Star Iman Shumpert
Popstar JoJo Siwa

https://deadline.com/2021/09/dancing-with-the-stars-amanda-kloots-melanie-c-martin-kove-celebrity-cast-1234828762/

Who? Very few of these so called stars a recognize.

Will Dancing with the Stars make Peloton instructor Cody Rigsby a mainstream celebrity? (https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/stephaniemcneal/peloton-cody-rigsby-dwts)

Many social media influencers are treated like a sideshow, struggling to become stars on TV and in the movies (https://www.primetimer.com/item/Why-do-social-media-stars-struggle-to-transition-to-TV-stardom-a0Sjr3). "Many creators have had success in Hollywood," says Stephanie McNeal. "Addison Rae is probably the one who has gotten the furthest so far, with the recent release of her film He’s All That and subsequent Netflix deal. Despite many other Hollywood projects from online creators tending to end in drama (Jake Paul getting kicked off the Disney channel), fall flat (Lilly Singh’s talk show), or be treated more like a sideshow or fan service rather than serving a mainstream audience (The D’Amelio Show), it seems like Addison could actually have a promising Hollywood career. However, I’m gonna argue there’s a dark horse for the title of the online celeb with the potential for the most mainstream success: Cody Rigsby from Peloton. My prediction is buoyed by the announcement this week that Cody will appear on the harbinger of true American fame, Dancing With the Stars. I know what you are thinking: Cody is not an internet celebrity! To that I say, how is he not? Going back to my musings above, is he not primarily building his brand via social media? The man has nearly 900,000 Instagram followers and a sponsorship deal with Capital One. And isn’t Peloton in many ways a social community, based primarily on the internet? Yeah, I know right. Mind blown. But why would Cody have more mainstream success than, say, Addison Rae? I believe Cody has the potential to reach a much larger audience than most internet celebrities. Unfortunately, years into the creator economy, many of its biggest stars are still treated as a sideshow. When influencers are discussed in the tabloids or given big brand deals, you always get the sense the powers that be are placating the teenagers they imagine are their fans. Cody, however, has broad mainstream appeal because his fan base doesn’t fit into this, albeit largely incorrect, box that people assume influencers draw."

Who? Very few of these so called stars a recognize.

I've never heard of any of 'em except Tyra, but I'm old and don't follow pop culture.

I heard of most and rooting for Kenya.

It's "gross" watching Olivia Jade on Dancing with the Stars (https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/features/olivia-jade-giannulli-dancing-with-the-stars-b1924180.html)

Olivia Jade Giannulli, who gained mainstream fame when her mom Lori Loughlin was arrested in the college cheating scandal, was roasted on Twitter last night when she said she was best known for declaring “I’m probably best known for being an influencer.” (https://www.huffpost.com/entry/olivia-jade-influencer-dancing-with-the-stars_n_6149adf2e4b077b735ea682c) Olivia Jade's presence on the reality show was a "spectacular misstep," says Clémence Michallon. "Maybe these casting moves make for good ratings, but honestly? They also make for bad television," says Michallon. This is a ballroom dance competition! I’m here to have fun! I’m here for glitzy costumes, fun moves, and the underlying threat of a mishap. I want to watch it without feeling gross. And I want to watch it without feeling like I’m making excuses for anyone, or whitewashing their past. Dancing With The Stars is over the top by nature. Ballroom dancing itself is pretty over the top by nature too, if you ask me! The aesthetics of the show are so intense that it’s easy to be jarred out of them. That’s why the program needs to be able to grab viewers by the hand and lead them into a smooth televised tango. Throw a Sean Spicer, a Bristol Palin, or an Olivia Jade Gianulli into the mix, and you’ve just broken the fourth wall. I’m no longer watching the dancing. I’m staring into the abyss and trying to untangle America’s unbelievably messy relationship to showbiz and fame."

My Dad use to watch this show when it first came on air.
But for him once he did not know the class c/d star individuals were on the show that was it for him.
He loved ballroom dancing as a way to socialize with women.