Dancing with the Stars bows new twist

After what feels like a year of intellectual oatmeal the network’s fall seasons start soon, and ABC’s ‘Dancing with the Stars’ will have a new look.

ABC has confirmed that DWTS will bow with no less than sixteen celebrities, “This is going to be our biggest-ever cast,” Exec Producer, Conrad Green told Entertainment Tonight. “We are going to start big, then do three double-eliminations back-to-back. The middle of the season is going to be brutal.”

To keep this many D-listers dancing, professional dancer Anna Demidova will be joining the team. But despite having used three stars from ‘So You Think You Can Dance,” in past seasons, Green says no-one new is on-board. “We might bring in one or two new faces…or possibly just more of our favorites.”

Green also makes it clear that, despite self-serving rumors that point to her joining everything from DWTS to the Weather Channel, Paula Abdul is not on the team — The show’s familiar judging panel of Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli and Carrie Ann Inaba are in place, and that’s how it stays.

The new season will have a two-hour timeslot, and Green tells ET this is one reason for so many stars. He says the fans will see more athletes, some big personalities, a few eccentrics [think Cloris Leachman], and even a few who will have the fans thinking, “What is that person doing dancing??”

Rumors are also flying that 70′s pop star, Donny Osmond and former Mr. Olympia, Lou Ferrigno could be strutting their stuff? But Conrad is non-commital, “If people tell the press, ‘I am on the show,’ even if they’re not…what can you do?? I think our celebrity show is the one most people want to be on. You learn a new skill, and it’s a wholesome family show.”

Fortunately. ABC is not so shy – the new celebrity cast will be premiered on “Good Morning America.” a week from today. The new season then bows on September. 22 on, of course,  ABC.