DWTS – Season 15 – All Stars?

To me, the moniker of “All Star” means you are the best of the best, not just someone who had participated before.  Looking over the list of “all stars” for the next season of Dancing With the Stars, makes me believe that the producers of the show use a different dictionary.

Olympians and former “DWTS” winners Apolo Ohno (Season 4) and Shawn Johnson (Season 8) will show off their fancy footwork again this season, along with fellow champs from seasons’ past: former 98 Degrees member Drew Lachey (Season 2), former Dallas Cowboy star Emmitt Smith(Season 3), Brazilian race car driver Helio Castroneves (Season 5) and soap star Kelly Monaco(Season 1).

Actresses Pamela Anderson (Season 10) and Kirstie Alley (Season 12), French actor and finalistGilles Marini (Season 8), and former ‘N Sync singer Joey Fatone (Season 4), are also among this season’s high-wattage alumni in the competition.

Bristol Palin (Season 11), daughter of former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, and TV personalityMelissa Rycroft (Season 8) round out the pack.

Another first in “Dancing” history, the 13th contestant will be decided by America in an online vote. Fashion commentator Carson Kressley (Season 13), singer Sabrina Bryan(Season 5), Disney Channel star Kyle Massey (Season 11) are vying for people’s votes to score the 13th spot in the competition. Click here to cast your vote.

Do I need to point out whom I have a problem with being on the show and being classified as an “all star”?

Let’s look at statistics for a minute:

Kelly Monaco: The first season winner, Kelly went on to star in Peepshow, a burlesque act in Vegas (she was later replaced by the now star of the show Holly Madison, also a DWTS alumnae).  Kelly has kept dancing, she will be really good still.  I don’t watch DWTS to see great dancers, I watch to see bad dancers improve.

Drew Lachey: Winner of season two, Lachey went on to perform in the DWTS Vegas show.  Again, he has kept up his dancing prowess.  In his case, I thought he was a ringer from the beginning because of his affiliation with boy band 98 Degrees.

Emmitt Smith: Winner of season three (see a pattern here?).  Although it is not noted that Emmit has kept up the dancing, he is a former winner, I don’t want to see former winners in an all-star competition.  You won already, step back and let someone else win.

Apolo Ohno: Winner of season four, see above.

Helio Castroneves: Winner of season five (why not just hold a season of winners to compete against each other?!), see above.

Shawn Johnson: Winner of season eight, are you tired of reading those words yet?  Hmmmmm wonder who our final 6 will be?

Joey Fatone: Runner up in season four, another ringer based upon his boy band back ground, but still a showman that I enjoyed.

Melissa Rycroft: Third place in season eight.  Perfect choice!

Gilles Marini: Second place in season eight.  Another perfect choice, except now we have the top three finishers from one season.  Can’t we spread out the love a bit more?

Pamela Anderson: Sixth place in season ten.  I thought she deserved to stay longer and am happy to see her in this lineup.

Bristol Palin: Third place in season eleven, but did she make it there because of her dancing or because of her mother’s following?  Honestly I think it is the latter, no one that dances in a gorilla costume should have made it that far.

Kirstie Alley: Second place season twelve.  Kirstie is an obvious all star.

Carson Kressley: Eighth place in season thirteen, he is getting my vote for the final spot.

Sabrina Bryan: Came in seventh place in season five.  But not an actual “all star” unless you vote her in.

Kyle Massey: Second place in season eleven.  Kyle has been performing in the Vegas show for a few years, other than that I think he is a good choice.  But will that hinder your vote?

No matter anything I say/write above, I will still watch faithfully.