Melissa and Holly Join Dancing With the Stars Tonight

When they talk about the stars being in or out of alignment, I don't think they mean The Bachelor's jilted Melissa or Hugh Hefner's/Criss Angel's ex-girlfriend, Holly. But these two women just jumped onto the DWTS stage as the newest contestants and last minute replacements for Jewel and Nancy O'Dell.

Oh my goodness. Soap operas and 'reality' TV doesn't get any odder than this! Even if you spend your free time on American Idol instead, you've got to admit they get us all hooked or at least interested in the flak with TV shenanigans. It is after all, March Madness Sweeps Month...where every TV show tries to out-do every other one!

So, Nancy O'Dell, as of March 5, is out. She was diagnosed with a torn meniscus while training and will have to withdraw from the competition. The co-Anchor of Access Hollywood, O'Dell has contributed reports to NBC's Today Show and Dateline NBC. And of course, Jewel...was diagnosed with a fractured tibia in both legs while training and also had to withdraw from the competition. As a three-time Grammy nominee, she has triumphed over poverty and teen homelessness to a musical career rare among her generation of artists and has sold twenty-seven million albums worldwide.

So, just who are Melissa Rycroft and Holly Madison, you ask? Melissa was just seen as the chosen then jilted 'fiance' of The Bachelor's Jason Meznick. After being chosen, then forsaken by her would-be fiance, the 25 year-old Dallas native had been asked to be that ABC show's next 'Bachelorette' and turned that offer down...saying she was 'done' and just wanted to well...recover from her wounds.

So, that apparently includes a lot of dancing as she now replaces Nancy O'Dell in tonight's show. Nancy O'Dell, who has been on crutches since March 6, just gave up her slot on show, after suffering from knee injuries she sustained during rehearsals. The entertainment reporter was scheduled to be paired with Tony Dovolani, who will presumably now partner with Rycroft.(That would leave Dmitry Chaplin, one of the newest DWTS professionals to dance with Holly.)

Although Melissa Rycroft has reportedly only had a few days to practice her moves, she is set to perform live on the show on Monday, March 8, (tonight!) a source tells People. After all, a few days, in Reality Tv can often truly be 6 weeks and in 'reality', Melissa is a trained athlete or close to it. As a Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader for three years, and having had dancing lessons since she was a small child...I think she can probably fling a shoe with the best of them. And yes, Jason Meznick does know that Melissa is on 'Dancing' and has not only formally apologized for his part in everything but wished her the very best of luck and says she has been dancing all her life and might even 'win the whole thing.'

Now, Holly Madison, I'd never heard of. I don't read Playboy...don't get me started on that...and apparently, Holly Madison is one of Hugh Hefner's 'ex-girl friends' and a 'Reality' TV star of some kind....as one of the 'girls next door'.

I mean, really? Aren't we all?????

shown above:
Photo of Melissa with Jason from 'The Bachelor'

Dancing With the Stars: Full Moon & Penumbral Lunar Eclipse

Full Moon in Leo: Today (Monday, February 9, 2009)
6:49am PST 20° 59’

Penumbral Lunar Eclipse
6:38am PST 20° 52’

The Stars are lining up for the new year ahead with an astrological forecast on change,action and personal responsibility. With a full moon shining brightly in my Oregon sky and a penumbral eclipse this morning and the release of the Dancing With the Stars new dancing line-up...the skies are getting ready to tango and jive!

For DWTS fans, the new group includes David Alan Grier (actor) Gilles Marin (french actor) Ty Murray (Champion Bull-Riding Rodeo star) Steve-O (reality TV star)Lawrence Taylor (NFL champion) Chuck Wicks(country singer), Steve Wizniak (computer giant) Denise Richards (actress/reality TV star) Jewel (singer) Belinda Carlisle (singer) Shawn Johnson (Olympian gymnast) Lil Kim (singer) and Nancy O'Dell ( reporter/celebrity news TV)

So, of interest: Julanne Hough is dating Chuck Wicks and they will dance as a couple. Jewel is married to Ty Murray and as the 'amateurs, they will be dancing against one another. I see that Denise is matched up with Maksim but didn't catch any of the others.

I wonder who will be with Shawn Johnson who is 4'9" and Lil Kim who is 4'11"? Ought to be fun to watch as long as Lil Kim doesn't pull any Cloris Leachman bleepers! If she does the censors may have to call a pnumbral eclipse or a NFL timeout or perhaps still somebody in Steve's pocket protector!

Maksim and Karina are Engaged!

Dancing with the Stars professional dancers, Maksim Chmerkovskiy and Karina Smirnoff, are officially engaged to be married!

Maksim Chermkovskiy joined DWTS in season two and last season partnered with Misty May-Treanor. Karina Smirnoff has been on ever since season three, most recently teaming with Rocco DiSpirito.

She is also known for her two year relationship with DWTS dancer, Mario Lopez and began dating Maks shortly after she and Mario broke-up.

The pair has been dating for the past six months and professionally dancing together many for a while before that. Maksim proposed in Las Vegas on New Year's Eve. The two are currently on tour with the DWTS winter tour which ends in February.

The reality television show returns to ABC for its eighth season on March 9, 2009.

note:
I just love this darn show and all the gossip that goes with it. Every one needs at least one vice to remain balanced....that's my motto. And of course, I can always blame my obsession with wanting to have something in commom with my almost 93 year old M-I-L.......who never misses a show ;)

Helio Castroneves? Income Tax Fraud?

NOOOOOO, not my cute little man in his yellow suit. Not Helio, tell me it isn't so! Just when life gets more and more challenging every day, I find out my dancing/race car driving champ has feet of clay.

Helio Castroneves has reportedly been indicted for tax fraud in a Miami courtroom, today. His offense? Helio has been accused of using an offshort Pamamanian dummy corporation to hide the actual amount of his income from the IRS.

Along with his sister, Katiucia Castroneves and his lawyer, Alan Miller, the trio is being charged with conspiracy to avoid lawful taxes. Charges are up to five years in prison for each charge that ends up being filed.

Oh, Helio...no, no, no. It's supposed to be 'Dancing With the Stars", not 'Dancing Behind Bars." Dang, nothing's sacred any more. It this is all true and not just some TMZ exclusive that someone trumped up, that yellow suit may be up on E-bay soon, along with a nice race car and some checkered flags, right along with that cute man in his yellow suit's now checkered past.

It's almost enough to discourage me from watching the show! What next? Do you think that Marie Osmond truly did not design her fabric line or that Mario Lopez's dimples were surgically implanted? Don't tell me. There's no such thing as Reality TV? It's ALL an illusion?

Think good thoughts for poor Helio. Maybe this is all the lawyer's fault. Well, I bet two out of three will claim that, anyway. Stay tuned. I may hear more after the hub bub over America's Financial Crisis and the Vice-Presidential Debate is finally over with.

Dancing With the Stars: Cloris Leachman?

Glitter, glitz, glamour and gams...that was the opening night of the new season of 'Dancing With the Stars.' It was also a night of surprises...some good and unexpected and some not so good...and perhaps, better left unsaid.

Watching DWTS from the Douglas Island, Alaska home of my 91 year old father and 83 year old mother, certainly gave it all a new perspective. My parents had never seen the show before but learning that my 92 year old mother-in-law in Oregon loved the show and was staying up late three nights in a row to watch it, made them all the more eager to check it out.

Trying to explain the purpose, the process, and the procedures of scoring ...not to mention the personalities of the three judges was something else! All of a sudden, I wondered why I watch it and enjoy it so much ;) I saw 99% of it, and yes, we talked through almost all of it with their questions and my answers, but I think they enjoyed the experience!

What surprised them the most was not what surprised me. I'd barely heard of Brook Burke and was surprised to see what a good dancer, she was. I expected Lance Bass to be good and he was... frankly, a bit too good for show #1. Some stars do have a bit of advantage experience-wise! I loved Cloris Leachman's exaggerated comedy routine with the judges and Len's kissing her leg. But...I hated having to listen to the censor's bleeps backstage. That seemed inappropriate for a family show and ruined the good energy I love about the show. I'm sure some people loved her anyway, but I felt it detracted from her other pluses.

Misty-May Treanor had stronger more muscular-like energy than I'd expected, and her case of nerves surprised me for someone used to performing in front of Olympic sized crowds. And Toni Braxton who danced very well, as I expected, was hyper nervous with her anxiety over her heart irregularities.

It took me until the next day to figure out who dancing pro, Lacey Swimmer was....I also watch "So, You Think You Can Dance?" on occasion.... and forgot she was a previous season finalist on that show. Now, she is a professional dancer with Lance Bass on Dancing. Definitely a power couple to keep an eye on. It was actually cute listening to Lacey describe her teen crush on Lance during his boy band days. Their hip, young energy will be a real addition to the dancing, I think and should give traditional Len heart palpitations for sure, and not the good kind ;)

All in all, an interesting start to the season...let's see if my elders can stay awake and follow tonight and Wednesday night's shows or if I have to watch it alone ;)

Dancing With The Stars

If you watched ABC's 'Good Morning, America' this morning, then you already know the Fall line-up for the new cast of 'Dancing With The Stars.' But if you missed it, here's the line-up!

The major cast score is Olympian Gold Medalist Misty May-Treanor, who won her second gold medal for beach volleyball at this year's summer games in Beijing. Now, we get to watch her on the dance floor!

She joins soap opera actress, Susan Lucci, singer, Toni Braxton, and singer, Lance Bass on the dance floor. Other competitors will include, Cloris Leachman, Kim Kardashian, Ted McGinley, Brooke Burke, NFL champ, Warren Sapp, and another Olympic athlete,Maurice Greene, who won two gold medals in track at the 2000 games in Sydney.

It ought to be a diverse and interesting mix! Get ready for a new season, new energy, a lot of change and transformation ......plus a lot of wild 'Dancing with the Stars!'

Dancing With The Stars On Oprah!

Expect the newest line-up of Dancing With The Stars to debut on March 17, 2008. 'Celebrities' include Priscilla Presley (Elvis's first wife and actress in television series Dallas), Kristi Yamaguchi (ice skating champion), Adam Carolla (radio host) and actresses Marlee Matlin and Shannon Elizabeth. For further variety expect comedian/actor Steve Guttenberg, tennis champion Monica Seles, magician Penn Jillette, R&B singer Mario, and Miami Dolphins defensive end Jason Taylor. To further round out the cast will be television actors Cristian De La Fuente and Marissa Jaret Winokur.

To combat those winter blues with a little television therapy, Dancing With the Stars provides us, as always, with an intersting mix. I will definitely be rooting for Marlee Matlin...her advancement in the world of acting has been an amazing role model for the deaf community, but I suspect that ice skater Kristi Yamaguchi to have a bit of an advantage with dance musicality!

It'll be fun to let my 92 year old MIL know that her favorite tv show is starting up again and compare our opinions on talent, costumes and other gossipy fluff. Nothing like a little fluff therapy...whether it's batting, batty or bats in all of our belfries. Fluff is there for a purpose. It softens the hard times, gives us something to fall back on and rounds out all of the hard corners.

So, Dancing With The Stars...a dozen of them will come out to shine on March 17th ;)

Until then, catch them on Oprah! Thursday, February 21, when Oprah will feature all of the previous dance champion couples as well as introduce the new celebrity line-up!

Helio Castroneves and Ali Vasquez

Shown here, a photo of Ali Vasquez, Helio Castroneve's fiancee of one year who reportedly ended their engagement several weeks ago under the pressures of separation from Helio as he participated in "Dancing With the Stars".

At first, Helio denied rumors of 'trouble in paradise' but when he was informed by reporters that fiancee, Ali Vasquez had already spoken of their break-up, he admitted it. "She's a great girl." He said and "I liked her a lot." He then just shook his head and didn't say anymore.

Ali, short for Aliette, is a fashion and jewelry designer in Miami Beach, Florida and had been seen on friendly terms with Julianne Hough, who at 19...is almost 15 years Helio's junior...but 'just a good friend' according to Helio on 'Good Morning America.'

Dancing With the Stars contestants acknowledge that Ali never attended any of the Dance of the Stars performances, nor was ever seen backstage. Helio's only explanation? "It might bring bad luck, he said. " Well, I think bad luck, or perhaps not!, found its way into the relationship, anyway!

Ah, the ups and down of celebrity romance! Well, Helio, voted one of People Magazine's "Sexiet Men of the Year" is now single and available again!

Helio and Julianne are "Doing the Happy Dance!"

The Dancing with the Stars season finale ended up with Helio Catroneves and his partner, Julianne Hough, getting the coveted Mirror Ball Trophy in front of 25 million viewers. Helio, a two-time Indianapolis 500 winner from Brazil said “This is an incredible moment!”

Castroneves and Hough came into the finals in second place, one point behind Brown and her partner, Maksim Chmerkovskiy. Brown was described as “the most versatile dancer” of the 12 celebrities by one of the show’s judges, Len Goodman. And overall, she showed herself to be the more polished and professional performer.

But it was Helio's personality and enthusiasm and a phenomenal 'quick step' in my favorite yellow suit, that won the hearts of the viewers and proved him to be the final winner. Judge Bruno Tonioli said Castroneves is “like the sunny side of life.”

Helio and Julianne Are Dancing With the Stars

Tonight is the last night that you can vote on Dancing With the Stars. We're down to the final three, and it's time to get serious about committing to your favorite and making sure the final vote reflects not only popularity, but dancing ability!

Now, I think Mel B. is a naturally gifted, phenomenal dancer, and she is probably the best dancer precision-wise. But she's a Spice Girl and she dances for a living (with some singing thrown in), and let's face it, I just love Marie...getting out there with such courage and doing a great job...however, Marie Osmond has been performing since age 3! So, Helio is my man. He's a race car driver, and he never had dance lessons like the other two, and he is fantastic! It's ok if I have to share him with Nellie and dot and a few others. I don't mind. I just get him on his yellow suit days.

If we don't vote tonight for our favorite, then most phone-ins will win. Fan vote overcedes judges' vote...so it's time to get down to business and hit those phone lines! Each caller is allowed the same number of phone calls per line as contestants currently in the line up. So, expect me on speed dial...three votes for Helio.

O.K. now, 1 land line, 2 cells....hmm, I wonder if my new neighbors would like to meet me and let me borrow their telephone, for well...just three phone calls...

;)

Lighten Up and Dance With the Stars

I'm a firm believer in "lightening up" therapy. And I must say, Helio Castroneves in his bright yellow suit and black and white spats dancing with partner Julianne Hough for a perfect 30 for their quick step this week on "Dancing With the Stars", had me totally de-lighted!

I've just thought he was such fun from the very beginning and I can't help but want to root for him as he gets back on track and heads for the finish line of the Semi-Finals competition.

I did a little research on Helio (whose name in Greek means 'sun') and discovered that he was only two hours away from a big Indy 500 race, when a casual conversation with Apolo Anton Ohno steered him onto a totally different course.

Apparently, as they congratulated each other on their respective 'wins', Helio asked Anton if he'd had fun on Dancing. 'Oh, man, it was a lot of hard work, but it was great.' And then he said, "Why don't you do it?"

This was at 8:30 in the morning on May 28. The race was set to start at noon. Castroneves turned to Ohno and said, "Can I talk to you later? I'm about to race 500 miles."

As it turned out, Castroneves did not repeat his 2001 and 2002 wins. But he did follow through on his conversation with Ohno and immediately said "yes" when the Dancing producers came calling.

It was simply the luck of the draw that he ended up with Julianne as his partner, however. But when Castroneves first saw her, he says, he thought, "Whoa, I got the champion!" And then he thought, "Hold on, that's a lot of pressure. If I don't win, it won't be her fault."

Well, you know I love Marie and her incredible spunk, 48 years old, 8 children, in a divorce, and then the death of her father, last week. So, I was glad she's still in the race. She may not be the best dancer, by any means, but she sure is a great entertainer!

I'm no longer a closet Dancing With the Stars devotee. I just love it that my 90 year old mother-in-law and I have something in common that we love to talk about and besides, high energy and fun dancing music is great to sew by.

Hmm, I'm looking for that perfect piece of race car yellow, and hey...maybe I'll take a look at Marie's fabric line, as well ;)

100 Members of the Osmond Family + Oprah

Over 100 members of the Osmond family will be appearing today, on Oprah! George Virl Osmond, the patriarch of the large family, died on Tuesday, Nov. 6th, but the family decided to honor not only their pre-scheduled appearance on Oprah's show, but their father by preparing a tribute in his honor.

When the news of their father's death reached Donny and Marie in LA where Marie was appearing on Dancing With The Stars they immediately boarded a private jet for a flight back to Provo, Utah in order to join with other family members and plan for their father's funeral.

As a family, they decided to honor their previously scheduled commitment to appear on Oprah's show. As Donny is quoted as having said: “I called my brothers to see if we should even do the show in light of the loss of our dad but then we immediately realized that this is a celebration of his life.” He added that a good portion of the show will honor his father, George Osmond.

Marie is quoted as saying: “To have something like Oprah right now is really special to our family because there was nothing my parents loved more than their posterity and to see everyone all together is really unique." George and Olive Osmond have nine children, 55 grandchildren and 48 great-grandchildren. Olive died in 2004.

The show is expected to showcase clips from George Osmond's 1970's appearance on the Dinah Shore show as well as other clips from the family's show business career.

Donny says, “Donny and Marie will sing a medley of our hits. The Osmond brothers will sing a medley of hits. And then if we can get through it, we will close the show with the song that always ended Donny and Marie: ‘Make Tomorrow A Perfect Day.’

Whether you like the Osmonds or not, and whether you agree or disagree with their decision, it takes an amazingly strong family to even do something like this...especially so soon after their father's death and right before his funeral. But it truly is an amazing opportunity to also show their love, support and remembrance of their father (and mother!) and all that they shared in this lifetime.

For reference, the names of the 9 Osmond children are:
Virl, Tom, Alan, Wayne, Merrill, Jay, Donny, Marie, and Jimmy
Virl and Tom were born severely hearing impaired, the others are all or have been, performers

Marie Osmond's Father Reported as Having Died

You all know by now, that I love Dancing With The Stars. So, it was heartbreaking to just find out from Internet sources that it is being reported that Marie Osmond's father, George Virl Osmond, has died.

Both George and his wife, Olive, Marie's parents, had show business backgrounds. So, it's not surprisingly that the majority of their 9 children... Chris, Tom, Alan, Wayne, Merrill, Jay, Donny, Jimmy, and Marie, went into show business, as well.

Marie Osmond's father, George was born on Oct. 13, 1917, which would make him 90 years old. Marie's mother, Olive, passed away in 2004 and by then, between them, they had 55 grandchildren and 48 great-grandchildren

My heart is indeed sad for that lovely family and for the continued heartbreak those stars seem to be facing this season! First, Jane Seymour lost her mother, and now Marie is reported to have lost her father, today.

It is being reported that Donny Osmond was in the Entertainment Tonight studio, taping a segment, when he first heard the news. Marie, of course, danced Monday night on Dancing With the Stars, and would have appeared on the 'Results' show, Tuesday night.

I have added in a photo of George Osmond with his son, Donny. ET online reports that near the end of his life, Donny said his father could only say "I love you" to his family members. I thought to myself...it doesn't get any more meaning filled than that. If those are the only words you still hold, that you can still say...well, you've said a worldful!

I just know that I am lighting a candle, here in Salem, Oregon, for the whole Osmond family, and for all who have lost loved ones, and I am praying for that family, and all families who have suffered such losses!

The Oprah! show was to showcase "100 Osmonds" on the Friday, Nov.9th show and promos are indicating that the Osmond family will present a tribute to their father on that day. I, for one, plan on watching!

Just looking at his dear face, in this photo I've added in, reminds me of my father, your father, all fathers. And that, you see, is the true beauty of love and of family and of connections of the heart and the spirit that goes far beyond any physical death in this lifetime.

my other links:
100 Members of the Osmond Family + Oprah
Marie Osmond is "Dancing With the Stars" And Has A Quilting Fabric Line

Marie Osmond is "Dancing With the Stars" And Has A Quilting Fabric Line

Today is Monday, and you know what that means. Tonight, is Dancing with the Stars. And, I must confess...I've been an addict since the show started...some seasons more so than others. Nevertheless, I continue to watch, even if I have learned to resist phoning into their call line! And trust me, for a while there, I was actually one of those crazed women with the home phone in one hand and two cell phones in the other ;)

Now, I am much more relaxed, maybe it was the cognitive behavior therapy books that I read on "coping with addictions", maybe it was those deep breathing mediation sessions, or my yoga or maybe the qigong. Or maybe....it was the realization that others had access to more phone lines...than I did. Whatever the reason, I'm just a happy, not obsessed, viewer...at least for this season!

Although, I have to confess: I have found that sharing common obsessions with others crosses all age and cultural barrier lines. And it can create interesting bonds in unusual situations. I once spent 20 minutes with our carpet installer (as he was installing our carpet) discussing the night before's show and debating the pros and cons of the stars' dancing merits. His carpeting assistant was just shaking his head, and needless to say, the carpet took a bit longer than usual.

I've joined in conversations about the celebrities' dancing abilities in grocery stores lines and at Costco. And much to my delight, I discovered that my 91 year old mother-in-law stays up a whole hour past her bedtime...just to see the show. And now, she and I have something more to discuss than how much her hip hurts or how lonely living alone is. I'm pretty sure that in her imagination, as in my mine, her feet are just dancing away. And knowing that, sure brings a smile to my face, too!

So, tonight, I'll be sewing by hand, here in Salem, Oregon, as I watch celebrities, like say...Marie Osmond's feet "Dancing with the Stars".

And speaking of Marie Osmond, have you heard she has a fabric line? Her beautiful fabrics are filled with paisleys and lace and are called "Heirloom Garden” and are part of the Quilting Treasures fabric company line.

Ah, I knew you were wondering what any of this had to do with quilting ;)

shown above:
Marie and samples from her fabric line, plus her Heirloom Garden Quilt Kit
www.hancocks-paducah.com/

trivia:
Q: What are the names and ages of Marie Osmond's children?
A:Stephen (b. 1983) Jessica Marie (b. 1987), Rachael Lauren (b. 1989), Michael Thomas (b. 1991), Brandon Warren (b. 1996), Brianna Patricia (b. 1997), Matthew Richard (b.1999) and Abigail Michelle (b. 2002).

my other links:
Marie Osmond's Father Reported as Having Died
100 Members of the Osmond Family + Oprah