Official Dancing With the Stars: Season 18

[Imzadi]

It was announced on GMA this morning.

The Official Cast is:
Danica McKeller - Actress: The Wonder Years
Cody Simpson - Australian pop singer
Billy Dee Williams - Actor: Star Wars 5 & 6
Diana Nyad - World champion swimmer
NeNe Leakes - One of the Real Housewives of Atlanta
James Maslow - Singer/actor: Big Time Rush
Sean Avery - Pro hockey player
Drew Carey - Comedian, host of The Price is Right
Candice Cameron Bure - Actress: Full House
Charlie White - Gold medal Olympic skater
Meryl Davis - Gold medal Olympic skater
Amy Purdy - Paralympic snowboarder


The Stars with their Pro Dancers:
Danica McKeller & Val Chmerkovskiy
Cody Simpson & Witney Carson (newbie pro dancer)
Billy Dee Williams & Emma Slater
Diana Nyad & Henry Byalikov (newbie pro dancer)
NeNe Leakes & Tony Davolani
James Maslow & Peta Murgatroyd
Sean Avery & Karina Smirnoff
Drew Carey & Cheryl Burke
Candace & Mark Ballas
Charlie White & Sharna Burgess
Meryl Davis & Maksim Chmerkovskiy
Amy Purdy & Derek Hough



Phone numbers to vote for your favorite contestants are:
1-800-868-34_ _ (Insert numbers below for the last 2 digits)

06 - Meryl Davis and Maksim Chmerkovskiy
07 - Candace Cameron Bure and Mark Ballas
10 - Amy Purdy and Derek Hough


Also VOTE online, till 8PM (ET) the following evening:
http://vote-e.abc.go.com/shows/dancing-with-the-stars/vote/season-18

VOTE on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/dancingwiththestars/app_374212512648812

OR: https://apps.facebook.com/votedwts/



One great cast change already announced last week:

No more Brooke! She got canned last week.
She's been replaced with Erin Andrews. (She was partnered with Maks on a previous season.)

 

[TB'sWidow]

Anyone else want to get up with me at 8am to watch the cast being announced on GMA?


I'll post the cast in this first post once they are all announced. (Correct spelling may come later as I am not very awake at 8am.

)

Then when we get the call in phone numbers to vote, I'll post them here for reference throughout the season for all of us.


One great cast change already announced last week:

No more Brooke! She got canned last week.
She's been replaced with Erin Andrews.

Thanks Imzadi as usual you are on top of things, not sure if I will be up at 8am but will definitely be checking in so glad Brooke is gone

 

[AustinTink]

Imzadi, I was waiting for this thread! I'll be watching tomorrow. I've read about a couple of potential "leaked" contestants. Not sure if you want to hear any rumors...

 

[Imzadi]

Here we go!

 

[okeydokey]

Anyone think the ice dancers will clean up?

 

[Imzadi]

The whole cast & their pro partners are up in the OP.

Anyone think the ice dancers will clean up?

I do. it will turn out to be a competition with each other.

I suspect Billy Dee Williams will be first off. He wasn't walking out too spry.

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

No Tristan?



I love Danica McKellar so I will definitely be cheering for her. I also really like Candace Cameron Bure, but I don't want her partnered with Mark. I liked him when he first came on the show, but he has gotten really weird lately. I wanted her to be with Tristan or Tony. And speaking of Tony, I bet he and NeNe will be a laugh riot!

 

[SC Minnie]

Anyone think the ice dancers will clean up?

They've already trained with Derek for the Olympics, so yeah.

 

[Meriweather]

No TRISTAN!!!

 

[Nohal]

Thanks for posting, looking forward to the new season.

 

[Imzadi]

No Tristan?



I love Danica McKellar so I will definitely be cheering for her. I also really like Candace Cameron Bure, but I don't want her partnered with Mark. I liked him when he first came on the show, but he has gotten really weird lately. I wanted her to be with Tristan or Tony. And speaking of Tony, I bet he and NeNe will be a laugh riot!

I wonder if Candace will do any shimmying? She's very religious and even shimmying may be to risqué for her?

 

[Imzadi]

Thanks for posting, looking forward to the new season.

Your welcome.

 

[RachelTori]

No Tristan (darn it!), but I am glad Maks is back!

How about the "twist" this year -- changing partners?!!!

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

No Tristan (darn it!), but I am glad Maks is back!

How about the "twist" this year -- changing partners?!!!

I didn't know about this. Can you tell me more?

 

[Amy]

I'm excited! this is the first season I actually know who most of these people are!

How about the "twist" this year -- changing partners?!!!

Ooh, I didn't hear that they have to change partners! How does that work?


I agree - Meryl and Charlie will definitely be in the finals.

Amy Purdy - Paralympic snowboarder

I don't know her - what is her disability? I'm sure if she's a snowboarder she's got some moves; just wondering how that will translate to the dance floor.

 

[Imzadi]

I didn't know about this. Can you tell me more?

Someone mentioned it this morning. Once the stars get up to a certain level where they can dance, they will switch pro partners for (a dance, I guess.)

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

I wonder if Candace will do any shimmying? She's very religious and even shimmying may be to risqué for her?

Let's hope that this season will inspire him to come up with new moves!





So I'm guessing no one will say Derek has the ringer this year, right?

 

[Piper]

I'm excited! this is the first season I actually know who most of these people are!










I don't know her - what is her disability? I'm sure if she's a snowboarder she's got some moves; just wondering how that will translate to the dance floor.

Amy Purdy has prosthetic legs.

 

[AustinTink]

They gave us Maks back, but took away Tristan. Life is so unfair.

 

[Meriweather]

Just wanted to share......I went on a DWTS cruise in Jan.