Dancing with the Stars

Who's your pick to win? Who's the dark horse? Who will flame out early? Which stars are you most looking forward to seeing bust a move on the DWTS parquet?

From Playboy pinups to actors, models, pro athletes and people you may not have known existed before last week, this cast has it all and should be a lot of fun.

As always, the costumes will be outlandish and romance rumors will swirl. Behold, promotional pics of your Season 12 Dancing With the Stars pairings ...

Not only is Kendra Wilkinson perhaps the biggest name on Dancing With the Stars this season, she's the odds-on favorite to take home the Mirror Ball trophy.

That's according to Bodog (dot) com, which puts Kendra chances of winning the DWTS title at 3:1. You can also get the Knicks -12 vs. Cleveland tonight, FYI.

Seriously, you can bet on Dancing With the Stars Season 12 pairings. Ralph Macchio (7:2) and Disney star Chelsea Kane (4:1) also have decent odds.

Favorite or underdog, Kendra just wants to get out on the floor.

"It couldn't have come at a more perfect time in my life," Kendra says. "I'm almost back to my pre-baby body so I'm excited for all the costumes! I've always loved the show, so its really cool I get to be on it. I have a competitive streak in me."

"I'm so excited to get out there and compete!"

Also excited? Maksim Chmerkovskiy.

Not only is he happy to be back in his element after The Bachelor: Ukraine experience, but he's probably so pissed that he's not among the three favorites to win. He loves a chip on his shoulder to motivate him y'know.

The unveiling of the new Dancing With the Stars cast on Monday night was met with mixed reviews. No HUGE gets, but some intriguing names just the same.

ABC has now announced all the dynamic duos for the 12th season of the hit show. Which celebrities have been matched with which dancing professionals?

Moreover, which DWTS staple is taking the season off? See below ...

• NFL star Hines Ward (above) and Kym Johnson.
• Actress Kirstie Alley and Maksim Chmerkovskiy.
• Radio personality Mike Catherwood and Lacey Schwimmer.
• WWE star Chris Jericho and Cheryl Burke.
• Disney starlet Chelsea Kane and Mark Ballas.
• Boxer Sugar Ray Leonard and Anna Trebunskaya.
• Karate Kid Ralph Macchio and Karina Smirnoff.
• Rapper-actor Romeo and Chelsie Hightower.
• Reality star Kendra Wilkinson and Louis van Amstel.
• Talk show host Wendy Williams and Tony Dovolani.

Derek Hough, who was the victor with Jennifer Grey last season, won't be joining the show this season to focus on his other career pursuits.

Specifically, he has the lead role in upcoming dance film Cobu 3D opposite Korean pop star BoA. That films this spring. He'll be back in the fall.

The brand-new pairs will dance for the first time Monday, March 21. Who are you rooting for this season on Dancing With the Stars? Tell us below.

Revealed during The Bachelor last night, the cast of Dancing With the Stars is a little sub-par. Well, at least in terms of people guaranteed to generate buzz.

Kendra Wilkinson aside, there's not a lot of excitement to be found with this crew. At least for now. Perhaps talent will have to carry the day ... for once.

Come to think of it, maybe the show can recapture past magic. Bristol Palin and the like sort of turned it into unintentional (albeit ratings gold) comedy.

Here's the Dancing With the Stars Spring 2011 cast ...

1. Petra Nemcova. Supermodel, survivor of 2004 tsunami.
2. Chelsea Kane. Disney star. Best known for hJONAS. Partner: Mark Ballas.
3. Kendra Wilkinson. Playbody model, reality star. Partner: Louis van Amstel.
4. Wendy Williams. Talk show host, media magnate. Partner: Tony Dovolani.
5. Kirstie Alley. Actress. Weight loss person. Partner: Maksim Chmerkovskiy.
6. Chris Jericho. WWE star. Partner: Cheryl Burke.
7. Romeo. Formerly Lil' Romeo. Parnter: Chelsie Hightower.
8. Hines Ward. NFL star. Partner: Kym Johnson.
9. Sugar Ray Leonard. Former boxing great. Partner: Anna Trebunskaya.
10. Ralph Macchio. The Karate Kid! Partner: Karina Smirnoff.
    
11. Mike Catherwood. Radio personality.

What do you think of the cast? Are you excited about a new, more drama-free season of Dancing With the Stars? Share your comments below.

WWE star Chris Jericho, Kirstie Alley, Lil' Romeo and perpetually pregnant / divorcing tabloid mainstay Kendra Wilkinson are going Dancing With the Stars.

Six of the 11 celebrities who will appear on the show this spring, as well as their partners, have been confirmed prior to tonight's official announcement.

Those stars and the professionals partnering with them are ...

Cue the Kendra-Louis romance rumors and Kendra-Hank split rumors!

• Chris Jericho and Cheryl Burke
• Lil' Romeo and Chelsie Hightower
• Kendra Wilkinson and Louis van Amstel
• Kirstie Alley and Maksim Chmerkovskiy
• Wendy Williams and Tony Dovolani
• Disney star Chelsea Kane and Mark Ballas

DWTS will officially announce the full cast tonight during The Bachelor.

Speaking of, some major Bachelor spoilers just leaked that you won't believe. Well, you won't if you believed all the spoilers this season up until now ...

Will failed Delaware GOP Senate candidate, Tea Party favorite and possible witchcraft practitioner Christine O'Donnell give Dancing with the Stars a shot?

That's the rumor going around, and she confirmed via Facebook on Tuesday that she's being courted to join the ABC hit show's cast next season.

"I just got the Official 'Ask' from Dancing With The Stars!" the Republican wrote on the social networking site, although she remains undecided.

Her thoughts: "Although I am utterly flattered, my initial thought was to decline, as 2 year old nephew has more rhythm than me, and my two left feet!!"

O'Donnell then turned the floor over to her Facebook followers, who weighed in on the pros and cons of doing Dancing With the Stars. Here are THG's:

Pros: Plenty of money for relatively little time invested and so much potential for brooms and other witch-themed props incorporated into routines.

Cons: Bristol Palin set the bar high for beloved Tea Party candidates. It will be hard to live up to those expectations. Also, who's Christine O'Donnell?!

This campaign ad she ran last fall helps answer that ...

Putting her hit talk show on hiatus in order to do so, Wendy Williams will attempt to showcase her ballroom skills this spring on Dancing With the Stars.

Williams has been critical of other contestants on the program in the past, especially that stiff Kate Gosselin, who she said "dances awkward, horrible."

We'll see how Wendy herself does now that she's in the spotlight.

Will Wendy Williams be fab or fail on DWTS?

One thing's for sure. At 5 feet, 11 inches, Williams will need a powerful partner to whirl and twirl her. Hope you're up for it, Maksim C. It's all you, man.

Her rep told the New York Post, "We have no confirmation on that. Production hasn't added any last-minute or unplanned hiatus days to the schedule."

Jenn Sterger and NFL fans everywhere have seen as much of Brett Favre as they can stomach, but the man has many fans and know how to spark debate.

That's why one fellow Dancing With the Stars alum and NFL MVP would love to see him follow in his footsteps and shake his booty on the hit show this year.

Preferably without sexting pics of his junk during rehearsal.

"Let me think on what old retired NFL guy should join the show," Kurt Warner told PopEater. "Brett Favre. That's a good idea. Controversy is good for ratings."

Kurt, who made it within one episode of the finals in his appearance, previously criticized Favre for the off-field sexting shenanigans that dented his legacy.

"I do think [that] hurt his legacy to some degree," he said. "I do think people look at him differently now - at least in the short term - than five years ago."

Brooke Mueller is in talks to join the next cast of Dancing With The Stars, reports say, although Charlie Sheen's estranged wife has yet to receive a formal offer.

"Brooke's agent and the Dancing producers are in talks about her competing," said a source close to the situation. "No official offer has been made yet."

"Brooke is a huge fan, and would probably agree given the opportunity."

Mueller, who recently checked into a sober living facility, has one caveat: "To make sure if she does go on the show it won't adversely effect her sobriety."

"She is working hard at staying sober, and is committed to her recovery."

Charlie Sheen? We're going to guess not quite as committed to getting his act together, given the bizarre statement he issued to E! News last night.

Heidi Montag was reportedly offered a spot on Dancing With the Stars in '08 and again this season, but was forced to turn it down each time for different reasons.

First, contractual agreements she made when she signed up for The Hills barred her from busting a move anywhere other than on Spencer Pratt-directed videos.

Now, the 24-year-old former reality TV star is effectively unable to cut a rug thanks to all the cutting she endured over the past few years. Her body's a mess.

At least she has her true love. [Photo: Pacific Coast News]

"I'm not sure she wants to risk it now," a source close to Heidi Montag said of her dozen and a half botched plastic surgeries. "She's scared of getting hurt."

Montag was even pitched by her agent to try to be the new host of the show before Brooke Burke took the job in 2008, and later to be a contestant on it.

But it was not to be ... nor will it ever be, with her declining relevance and eviscerated physical state. She is literally scarred for life - all over - at this point.

Shame, too, given girlfriend's big financial problems.