'Dancing With the Stars': Sizing Up the New Cast

Who's got the inside track on ballroom glory this fall? See our scouting reports, weigh in by voting in our polls
By Jennifer Armstrong
Updated August 30, 2010 at 11:00 PM EDT

1 of 12

Mike ''The Situation'' Sorrentino

Credit: Jason Merritt/Getty Images

Occupation: Having spectacular abs on reality smash Jersey Shore
Outlook: The Sitch has definitely found his niche — said spectacular abs will benefit him at least as much on Dancing as it does on Shore. Even better, he'll come with his own spray tan.

Take Our Poll Which would best describe your emotional response to this contestant?Market Research

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 12

DAVID HASSELHOFF

Credit: Everett Collection

Occupation: Personification of cheesy TV (Knight Rider, Baywatch) and sometime pop star
Outlook: If Germany can vote, there may be no stopping him. And he'll likely be entertaining to watch, one way or another.

Take Our Poll Which would best describe your emotional response to this contestant?Market Research

3 of 12

BRISTOL PALIN

Credit: Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images

Occupation: Professional teen mom
Outlook: If she can publicly tango as well as she's publicly tangled with baby-daddy Levi Johnston — and steal the spotlight as deftly as mom Sarah — she could be a contender.

Take Our Poll Which would best describe your emotional response to this contestant?customer surveys

Advertisement
Continued on next slide.
Advertisement

4 of 12

KURT WARNER

Credit: Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Occupation: Retired Arizona Cardinals quarterback
Outlook: Never underestimate a football star on this show — particularly one this female-audience-friendly (read: hot).

Take Our Poll Which would best describe your emotional response to this contestant?online surveys

Advertisement

5 of 12

FLORENCE HENDERSON

Credit: Everett Collection

Occupation: Mrs. Brady!
Outlook: The lovely lady started on Broadway, so she might have some stealth dance skills in addition to being a surefire fan favorite.

Take Our Poll Which would best describe your emotional response to this contestant?online surveys

6 of 12

AUDRINA PATRIDGE

Credit: Matthias Clamer/MTV

Occupation: Hmmm...we think it has something to do with that show The Hills
Outlook: We're not sure she's got enough pull with the voting public to last long. But we are sure she'll look great in a skimpy Dancing With the Stars costume.

Take Our Poll Which would best describe your emotional response to this contestant?customer surveys

Advertisement
Advertisement
Continued on next slide.
Advertisement

7 of 12

MICHAEL BOLTON

Credit: Bob Leafe/Retna Ltd.

Occupation: Balladeering sensation
Outlook: We predict an epic cheese-off between him and Hasselhoff — though Bolton might want his '90s hair back to cinch that.

Take Our Poll Which would best describe your emotional response to this contestant?online surveys

Advertisement
Advertisement

8 of 12

BRANDY

Occupation: Singer/reality star
Outlook: The girl can definitely dance — the question is whether she can out-fanbase nostalgic crowd-pleasers like Henderson and athletes like Warner.

Take Our Poll Which would best describe your emotional response to this contestant?online survey

Advertisement

9 of 12

KYLE MASSEY

Credit: Disney

Occupation: Actor, Disney Channel's Cory in the House
Outlook: His tween audience has serious voting potential — plus the kid's got enough charm to make up for any dancing missteps.

Take Our Poll Which would best describe your emotional response to this contestant?Market Research

Advertisement
Advertisement
Continued on next slide.
Advertisement

10 of 12

RICK FOX

Credit: Joe Murphy/NBAE/Getty Images

Occupation: Retired Los Angeles Lakers forward
Outlook: He's sexy, athletic, and no stranger to TV cameras — having appeared on The Game, Ugly Betty, and Tyler Perry's Meet the Browns, among other shows. An early favorite, especially if he gets girlfriend Eliza Dushku (Dollhouse) in the audience and taps into the always-supportive Whedon fanbase.

Take Our Poll Which would best describe your emotional response to this contestant?survey software

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

11 of 12

MARGARET CHO

Credit: Austin Young

Occupation: Actress, Drop Dead Diva, and comedienne
Outlook: She's hilarious, has an insanely passionate following — and she's done her share of burlesque, so don't put it past her to rock Dancing.

Take Our Poll Which would best describe your emotional response to this contestant?customer surveys

Advertisement
Advertisement

12 of 12

JENNIFER GREY

Occupation: Actress
Outlook: She kept up with Patrick Swayze in Dirty Dancing — this is hers to lose! If we don't see that magnificent ''(I've Had) The Time of My Life'' lift and at least one ''Nobody puts Baby in a corner'' joke by the end of the season, we will feel cheated.

Take Our Poll Which would best describe your emotional response to this contestant?customer surveys

Advertisement
Advertisement
Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Up Next

By Jennifer Armstrong