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Trash TV host Jerry Springer to dance with stars

Posted on: Monday, 14 August 2006, 19:29 CDT

By Steve Gorman

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Trash talk TV host Jerry Springer, who made his name instigating televised brawls between guests on his show, will soon be acting out a more literal meaning to the adage "it takes two to tango."

Springer has signed on to strut his stuff on the next edition of the ABC television hit "Dancing with the Stars," joining a roster of competing celebrity hoofers that includes MSNBC news anchor Tucker Carlson, football great Emmitt Smith, actress Vivica A. Fox and former "L.A. Law" star Harry Hamlin.

The cast for the upcoming third season of "Dancing," which premieres September 12, was unveiled on Monday by the Walt Disney Co.-owned network

One of America's most watched programs last season, the show features B-list celebrities paired with professional dancers in live ballroom dance routines performed before a panel of judges in a weekly contest of elimination.

The eclectic talent lineups of the show's first two seasons included supermodel Rachel Hunter, former child actress Tatum O'Neal, soap opera vixen Kelly Monaco, boxing champ Evander Holyfield, actor John O'Hurley and rapper Master P.

This year the pool of contestants will be expanded from 10 to 11 couples. Consisting last season of a live performance telecast on Thursdays and a "results" edition on Fridays, the show is moving to Tuesdays and Wednesdays this fall.

The London-born Springer, 62, famed for orchestrating lurid scenes of confession and confrontation between guests on his own long-running weekday talk show, is perhaps the most recognizable personality enlisted for this year's "Dancing."

The bespectacled former TV anchorman and Ohio politician will be paired with professional dancer Kym Johnson, a past winner from the Australian version of "Dancing with the Stars."

Returning as emcees this season will be Tom Bergeron, host of "America's Funniest Home Videos" on ABC, and Samantha Harris of the E! Entertainment television network. The panel of judges will again consist of former ballroom dancer Len Goodman and dancer-choreographers Bruno Tonioli and Carrie Ann Inaba.

"Dancing With the Stars" ranked as the seventh most-watched TV show last season, and its finale averaged 27.2 million viewers.

Source: REUTERS

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