Nearly half of the contestants in the 2009 lineup for TV show, Dancing with
the Stars have been caught dancing with the law. Photo: CBS/AP
Talented, fit and felons?
Dancing with the Stars, the international hit television dance show, is in its 9th season in the US beginning this fall, which means a new set of dancers to evaluate and judge.
But seven of the 16 contestants have already been judged - by the law.
The police records of this years contestants have already hit the press, making way for criticism on some dancers before they've even set foot on stage.
The competitors for this year's Dancing with the Stars are singers Aaron Carter, Macy Gray and Mya, actors Donny Osmond and Melissa Joan Hart, Models Joanna Krupa and Kathy Ireland; Reality star Kelly Osbourne; Professional snowboarder Louie Vito; former Republican Majority Leader Tom DeLay and former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Michael Irvin.
So who's had the walk of shame?
Kelly Osbourne - Arrested for nightclub "incident" in 2008 where Osbourne slapped celebrity blogger Zoe Griffin in the face.
Tom DeLay - If you aren't political, for former Republican Majority Leader's 2005 official meltdown happened when a Texas grand jury indicted DeLay on criminal charges for conspiracy to violate campaign finance laws. He was forced to resign from the house but the case has yet to see a courtroom.
Louie Vito - Twenty-one years of age and a professional snowboarder, Louie Vito was scooped up for pot possession in August of this year. ESPN.com matched Vito to a local newspaper report and revealed the identity of Vito, set to represent the US in the Olympics.
Michael Irvin - Playing for the Cowboys as a felon is not a surprise, but new contestant for Dancing with the Stars Michael Irvin is taking the rap sheet to the stage with the following: Cocaine possession in 1996, arrested again in 2005 for an outstanding warrant and citied for possession of drug paraphernalia.
Aaron Carter - Who could forget his face? Not the law. Aaron Carter, no 21, was arrested for possession of at least two ounces of pot when he was pulled over for speeding in backyard town, Junction, TX in February 2008.
The ninth season of the hit ABC show premieres Sept. 21, 2009.
Dancing with the Stars is the name of a group of international television series based on the format of the British series Strictly Come Dancing, distributed by BBC Worldwide the commercial arm of the BBC. Presently the format has been licensed to more than 30 countries,
Comments
There are only six celebrities with rap sheets there, not seven.
Is this really the best they could do? There are so many to choose from and the show remains popular. Why not be more choosy on who you get to represent. Just change the name to Dancing Behind Bars!
The Count. Love the name and love the read. I was unable to identify the seventh contestant and main news streams didn't list it. I'm in the process of nailing it down.
Honesty Hurts - Love the name of the new show. For some reason, I don't think it will hurt the ratings. :)
Why the USSA Snowboarding association has not suspended Vito for his pot charges is beyond anyone's wildest? (Remember Pheps' suspension?)
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