Tom DeLay Joins Dancing With The Stars

By Jeralyn, Section Media
Posted on Mon Aug 17, 2009 at 01:18:55 PM EST
Tags: (all tags)

Share This: Digg!

Too funny. The cast for the upcoming season of Dancing With the Stars was announced today. Making the cut: Former Congressman Tom DeLay.

DWTS will feature its first politician — former Congressman Tom DeLay— on the season's Sept. 21 (8 ET/PT) premiere. DeLay, 62, served as House Majority leader until he was forced to step down following a 2005 Texas grand jury indictment on money laundering charges. Known as "the Hammer" for his dealing with political opponents, the polarizing Republican's legal woes remain unresolved.

"I really am a big fan of the show," says DeLay, an open supporter of Sara Evans when the country singer competed in Season 3. "I couldn't believe they asked me to do this. It didn't take me five minutes to agree. I've been working out like crazy."

I wonder if Rod Blagojevich applied. [More...]

The other contestants:

Besides DeLay, there are several potential eyebrow raising ballroom wannabees, including 51-year-old Donnie Osmond, whose sister, Marie, was a Season 6 finalist. There's ample testosterone. Among the men are former Dallas Cowboy receiver Michael Irvin, 43, mixed martial arts star Chuck Liddell, 39, pro skateboarder Louie Vito, 21, and Mark DaCascos, 45, a martial arts expert, film action star and host of Food Network'sIron Chef America: The Series.

Some of the female hoofers also are decidedly competitive. Swimmer Natalie Coughlin, 26, Dancing's latest nod to Olympians, is a multi-gold medal winner, while model Joanna Krupa, 30, showed an aggressive streak ridiculing and quieting the normally outspoken Buffalo Bills Terrell Owens during their pairing on ABC's early summer, celeb-sports match off The Superstars.

Also, Kathy Ireland, Macy Gray, Aaron Carter, Ashley Hamilton (son of George Hamilton), Melissa Joan Hart, Debi Mazar, and Kelly Osbourne.

Doesn't sound like a great lineup to me, more like a B-list of celebs needing a career boost, but I'm sure I'll watch anyway.

< Weiner: No Public Option Loses 100 Votes In The House | Is Stare Decisis In the Constitution? >

Legal

Nothing on this site should be construed as legal advice. TalkLeft does not give legal advice.

TalkLeft is not responsible for and often disagrees with material posted in the comments section. Read at your own risk.

Tom DeLay Joins Dancing With The Stars | 30 comments (30 topical)

Readers Must Login or Create an Account to Comment

Kinda funny how (5.00 / 1) (#3)
by Steve M on Mon Aug 17, 2009 at 01:23:04 PM EST

the "most baseless indictment in American history," in DeLay's words, has somehow become the most-delayed trial in American history. I can't remember the last time I even read anything about DeLay's criminal case, but it's still pending.

same here (none / 0) (#5)
by Jeralyn on Mon Aug 17, 2009 at 01:26:12 PM EST

and I think it's in state court in TX which precludes a PACER check. Anyone have access to the state court dockets in Texas?


: You have to search (none / 0) (#23)
by Fabian on Mon Aug 17, 2009 at 03:16:04 PM EST

each district court individually. It's a PITA, but doable.

The "Hammer?" Hmm, that's odd... (5.00 / 2) (#6)
by easilydistracted on Mon Aug 17, 2009 at 01:27:25 PM EST

In Houston, we referred to him as the "Bug Man."

Newsweek says (5.00 / 1) (#7)
by Jeralyn on Mon Aug 17, 2009 at 01:28:56 PM EST

more than half of the women chosen have had public struggles with weight loss and the show should be called "Dancing Their As*es Off". Pretty harsh.

Gee (5.00 / 5) (#9)
by TeresaInSnow2 on Mon Aug 17, 2009 at 01:45:18 PM EST

and none of the men involved faced any weight issues? I remember Tom Delay did a bit of a segway into multiple chins at one time.


Maybe he has had a lifestyle lift :) (5.00 / 2) (#12)
by Militarytracy on Mon Aug 17, 2009 at 01:58:02 PM EST

I'm repainting Josh's bedroom to go with his new flooring. I'm waiting for the latest coat to dry so came to check on news and here it is. Maybe watching paint dry isn't so bad after all :)


: Next time I see him (none / 0) (#16)
by TeresaInSnow2 on Mon Aug 17, 2009 at 02:30:54 PM EST

I'll have to look for that permanent suprised look.

That wasn't harsh (5.00 / 3) (#21)
by Fabian on Mon Aug 17, 2009 at 03:12:13 PM EST

that was a really, really cheap shot - and written by a woman.

The snide remarks about women gaining and losing weight and rumors about this and that reminded me of those tabloid covers that focus on who is too skinny or gained a lot of weight or who has the hottest beach body.

I've yet to see all three on a single cover, but I think I've seen the TooFat! TooSkinny! headlines and pics on a cover together.


And who reads/follows that garbage? (5.00 / 2) (#22)
by kdog on Mon Aug 17, 2009 at 03:15:21 PM EST

For the most part, it ain't the fellas...:)


I know. (5.00 / 1) (#24)
by Fabian on Mon Aug 17, 2009 at 03:20:48 PM EST

Men are shallow in different ways. ;-)

That's what I get from tabloid magazines - a feeling of pervasive shallowness. I can't imagine worrying about the lives of perfect strangers, even if I see their (two dimensional) faces more often than my own relatives.


: I hear that... (5.00 / 2) (#27)
by kdog on Mon Aug 17, 2009 at 03:35:21 PM EST

and the tabloid mags give the people what they want...and the once proud craft of journalism is hearing the will of the people.
When it was just the Enquirer it was one thing, but now Newsweek? It's depressingly shallow.

Speaking of really cheap shots... (5.00 / 1) (#26)
by vml68 on Mon Aug 17, 2009 at 03:31:35 PM EST

take a look at this
I do not get this organization at all.


: PETA... (5.00 / 3) (#28)
by kdog on Mon Aug 17, 2009 at 03:37:37 PM EST

is batsh*t crazy...I'm convinced they do more harm than good for our friends in the animal kingdom...sh*t they make me wanna eat double portions of meat just to spite them:)

Or in the case of Delay's partner (5.00 / 1) (#25)
by standingup on Mon Aug 17, 2009 at 03:22:55 PM EST

it can be said she will be "dancing with the Big A$$."


Entertainment Industry is dead! (5.00 / 2) (#11)
by mmc9431 on Mon Aug 17, 2009 at 01:57:29 PM EST

I wouldn't watch anything that put a dime in that man's pocket. Maybe if he's doing the "Curly Shuffle" on his way to jail. Now that I'd pay to see.

I've never seen the show (5.00 / 1) (#13)
by Bemused on Mon Aug 17, 2009 at 02:03:00 PM EST

and can't quite grasp the appeal either to contestants or the audience beyond a consuming need for attention for the former and enjoying watching people look foolish for the latter.

I'm going to guess the alignment couldn't be better with DeLay.

I'll admit I don't particularly enjoy watching even really good looking women who are good dancers, so maybe I'm projecting but what in the Hell is the attraction of this?

: What are the chances of getting (none / 0) (#15)
by jondee on Mon Aug 17, 2009 at 02:16:04 PM EST

a former Manson Family member on Dancing with the Stars?
I mean, since they're already showing a willingness to venture out on the slippery slope with Delay..

I'll start watching this season (none / 0) (#1)
by Inspector Gadget on Mon Aug 17, 2009 at 01:20:52 PM EST

as soon as I see he's been voted off.

Is there a dance groove... (none / 0) (#2)
by kdog on Mon Aug 17, 2009 at 01:22:15 PM EST

called the gerrymander? If there is Tom could take this thing!

If he "dances" (none / 0) (#4)
by TeresaInSnow2 on Mon Aug 17, 2009 at 01:25:57 PM EST

anything like Tucker Carlson in a past season, this will be the most watchable season yet.

Please, Tom, make an arse of yourself.

(and I'm rooting for my past love forever, Donny Osmond).

I didn't know that tap was one of the (none / 0) (#8)
by scribe on Mon Aug 17, 2009 at 01:38:30 PM EST

dance disciplines they featured on the show.

And, as to the "dancing their a*ses off" line, (a) accurate can be harsh, but it is nonetheless accurate and (b) Wozniak was no picture of the svelte, either.

That's the point (5.00 / 1) (#29)
by gyrfalcon on Mon Aug 17, 2009 at 04:02:11 PM EST

non-emaciated women are always "struggling with their weight," whereas, um, bulky men like DeLay or Carlson aren't because they don't bother and nobody cares.


: and slender women (5.00 / 1) (#30)
by nycstray on Mon Aug 17, 2009 at 04:42:25 PM EST

must never eat/eat like a bird, and are anorexic/bulimic (and the criticizers can prove it! "Jist look at them!!"). Nobody says that about the men either.

Donnie Osmond (none / 0) (#10)
by jbindc on Mon Aug 17, 2009 at 01:46:20 PM EST

Should be a natural- besides being on TV in the recording industry all his life, he's starred on Broadway in musicals.

I'll need to find (none / 0) (#17)
by CoralGables on Mon Aug 17, 2009 at 02:35:59 PM EST

Someone else to watch until they get to the final three or four. With Julianne Hough gone I'll have no need to put on the glasses. Thankfully there is no chance of me being cursed by a Tom Delay/Julianne Hough partnership on DWTS.

Can Rush Limbaugh on The Biggest Loser be far (none / 0) (#18)
by steviez314 on Mon Aug 17, 2009 at 02:51:15 PM EST

behind?

: What? I thought he was the biggest.... (none / 0) (#19)
by easilydistracted on Mon Aug 17, 2009 at 03:02:41 PM EST

oh wait, you meant the actual TV reality show, didn't you.

Jackie Chan? (none / 0) (#20)
by Fabian on Mon Aug 17, 2009 at 03:05:13 PM EST

I can't believe he hasn't been on yet. The man is talented! Might be unfair though.

DWTS is the only "reality" show I (none / 0) (#31)
by Jjc2008 on Mon Aug 17, 2009 at 05:45:43 PM EST

have ever watched. Mainly because it's to me, a competition and I do love dancing myself. I HATE "REALITY" television with a passion, partly because of how stupid, but mostly because to me it is just another union busting exercise for rich suits.

But I will have trouble watching DWTS with "Hot Tub" Tommy on....he's such a sleezeball to me...
isn't there some ban on dancing in the evangelical community???