'Grey's' Isn't Going Anywhere
'Red Widow' Gets The Axe
Inside 'Dancing With the Stars': Who Said No, How Much They Make and More
by Jean Bentley, posted Sep 1st 2010 3:00PM
Despite the nonstop publicity and increased public opinion afforded to 'Dancing With the Stars' contestants, believe it or not, there are several stars who turned down the opportunity to paso doble in front of the entire nation.According to The Hollywood Reporter, plenty of high-profile celebrities nixed the idea of appearing on the show this season. Among those who said no: actors Sylvester Stallone, Kirstie Alley, Tim Allen, Suzanne Somers and 'Community' star Joel McHale, along with former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, political commentator Ann Coulter, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, the real-life Erin Brockovich and gazillionaire Richard Branson.
Doesn't that sound like a much better lineup than the reality star-heavy one just announced on Monday night?
"We've approached a lot of people over the years," executive producer Conrad Green told THR. "People say no for a variety of reasons. Some people like the show but think they suck at dancing. It's a lot easier to say no than it is to say yes."
'DWTS' is a much better opportunity for stars who are waning in popularity or are trying to increase their visibility, so perhaps the batch of potential contestants above is simply doing too well, career-wise, to say yes. 'The Expendables' was No. 1 at the box office two weeks in a row -- Stallone doesn't need any help in the popularity department right now. McHale stars on not one but two hit shows ('Community' and 'The Soup'), so he probably doesn't see his family much as it is.
Then again, Somers and Branson both seem like ideal candidates to appear.
Each contestant who signs on makes $125,000 for the first three weeks of rehearsal and the first two episodes, then, depending on how far they make it in the competition, $10,000 an episode for the next two weeks, $20,000 an episode for the two weeks after that, $30,000 an episode for the following two weeks and $50,000 an episode for the final two weeks.
According to THR's source involved in the show's production, the stars are penalized if they can't make the required six to eight hours of rehearsal each day, and no one gets special treatment. That means no say in choosing dance partners, and none of their own hair and makeup people.
"Production pairs up the star and the professional," THR's production source said. "If they didn't, everyone would be vying for the same few dancers."
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