Why I Will Watch "Dancing With The Stars"

OK, so we're a little wrapped up in our Favre-a-licious fervor, but the most important television-related news of the past 48 hours isn't the retired-unretired saga of No. 4, but the new line-up for season nine of ABC's "Dancing With the Stars."

Now, first of all, a disclaimer -- I've never watched the show, nor have I ever wanted to watch the show. Until now. That's right, the producers of "Dancing With the Stars" have somehow convinced me that I'm missing some amazing television by introducing its latest cast of misfits and forgotten stars Monday on "Good Morning America." Let me tell you, this is no easy feat.

But where else could I find Donny Osmond, Melissa Joan Hart, Mark Dacascos (the chairman on "Iron Chef America"), former Dallas Cowboys' wide receiver Michael Irvin and... wait for it... ex-House Majority Leader Tom Delay on the same show? It's a list I could never have imagined in my wildest dreams. My money is on Delay. The Republican from Texas -- who has been known as both "Hot Tub Tom" and "The Hammer" in his lifetime -- is nothing if not all guile and class. I mean, check out the man's mugshot. Delay is clearly getting into it, too. Already, his personal Web site has been launched as "Dancing with Delay" and although disgraced politicians don't have much of a track record in the reality TV world, it can't stop the "Exterminator."

The rest of the list is no less appetizing: Mya, Macy Gray, Aaron Carter, Debi Mazar, Ashley Hamilton, Joanna Krupa, Kathy Ireland, Kelly Osbourne, Chuck Liddell, Louie Vito and Natalie Coughlin (yes, the Olympic swimmer).

"Dancing With the Stars" premieres on Sept. 21 and I will be watching.

-- Malavika Jagannathan, mjaganna@greenbaypressgazette.com