clorisleachman

(S07E05) It's time for the second week eliminations. The early week eliminations are always interesting times because, more often than not, the results are a little screwy. I'm reminded of past seasons that saw Jerry Springer, Billy Ray Cyrus, and Master P, to name a few, all hanging on far longer than their dancing abilities warranted. Would we see something similar tonight? The results, and a quick rundown of the results show performances, are after the jump.

(S07E04) We're back to the ballroom for week two, without Jeffrey Ross or Ted McGinley. Because of the extended opening week, the couples only had four days to learn either the rumba, or the paso doble. Asked what he was looking for, Len said that learning a new dance in four days is really tough. So, he was fearing the worst, but hoping for the best.

It was one of many questions we would have for the show. Was four days enough time? Is Brooke really that good? Would Kim finally come out of her shell? What would Lacey do to annoy crusty old Len this week? You'll find the answers to all of those, and a rundown of all the week two performances, after the jump.

(S07E03) We're really getting back into the swing of things now. After the whirlwind of 25 performances in two nights, it was time for a proper results show. As usual, that's both good and bad. Results shows always hold the prospect of musical guests, and professional numbers.

Unfortunately, they also have a tendency to bring iffy comedy bits, and dull taped packages. It's a bit of a crapshoot, but usually worth tuning in. Because, as we all know, no matter how sure you are that a certain couple is leaving, you just never really know. Am I hinting at a surprise elimination? Or just trying to trick you into clicking your way past the jump? Only one way to find out.

(S07E02) Just like that, we're back for round two. With the new season seven format, all thirteen couples returned to the ballroom Tuesday night, but only twelve of them would perform. The show borrowed a bit from the results show format as the safe couples were revealed one by one. After each reveal, that couple would perform while the rest of the dancers waited nervously. Some, obviously, more nervous than others.

The second night of dancing offered us a chance to see who learned from their experience performing live. Just getting comfortable with the setting is a huge hurdle to overcome in the beginning of the season. Some of the stars have taken to it quicker than others. To that end, I'm not one to spoil before the jump, but I'll leave you with this. In referencing one set of scores, Tom remarked that the judges were "Bringin' out the big paddles." Was there a 9? A 10? The results of all the dances are after the jump.

(S07E01) Can you believe it? Dancing With The Stars is kicking off its seventh season. In an effort to keep things fresh, this season marks the largest cast of competitors ever. That cast also features both the youngest, and the oldest, contestants to ever appear on the show. There are winners from the Grammys, the Oscars, the Olympics, and the Super Bowl. It should make for quite a show.

In another new twist, there is another new format for week one. All thirteen couples performed Monday night. Tuesday, one of the couples will be eliminated as the other twelve perform a second number. Then, on Wednesday, one more couple will be sent home. With thirteen performances, there is a lot to get to. I'll run them down quickly, with a look at what I think each couple's prospects for the competition are. Because, as we are all well aware by now, the dancing is only part of what keeps people moving on from week to week.

Dancing With the Stars is a show that makes no sense to me. I understand the appeal of it; I'm usually very interested in any program that involves celebrities doing ridiculous things on national television and I know that people love bright shiny costumes, but it still somehow manages to hold no interest for me whatsoever.

With that said, I know that the announcement of each season's DWTS cast is heavily anticipated and rumored for months before the actual announcement. We heard that Dan Marino may be a contestant; a claim that was soon denied. 82-year-old Cloris Leachman was another name floated, as was Magnum, P.I. himself, Tom Selleck. Kim Kardashian and Kathy Griffin were also said to have been approached.

As with most rumors, some of these turned out to be false, but others had some truth to them. Follow me after the jump for the official (and completely insane) cast of Dancing With the Stars' seventh season, along with some twists the producers have cooked up for this go-around.

Whatever happened to Tootie, Blair, Natalie and the other Eastland girls?

Quick -- how many '80s sitcoms can you name that featured three future Oscar winners amongst their cast and crew?

We're not talking about 'Charles in Charge;' it's 'The Facts of Life,' the 1979-1988 boarding school comedy that gave us wise-crackin' teens, a roller-skatin' Tootie and that trio of Oscar-caliber talent.

Who were those Academy Award-worthy 'Life'-ers? Read on.

There's a long-running joke around our house about the Hallmark channel. Whenever anyone surfs by it long enough to hear a wispy theme song, someone will invariably drop to their knees, lightly press the back of their hand to their forehead, and feign a woman in emotional turmoil. Let's face it, that pretty much describes a lot of Hallmark movies.

So when I read in Variety that Hallmark has 30 movies in the pipeline -- and would be announcing them at the Television Critics Association confab (I guess that's what they call it when it's not the real deal?) -- I knew that a good portion of them would probably have the word "love" in the title.

Yep, sure enough. They've picked up the rights to the next two installments in the Love Comes Softly franchise, based on Janette Oke's series of eight novels set in the Old West.

The seventh title, Love Takes Wing, is in production and will air in the first quarter of 2009, starring Cloris Leachman and Hayley Duff. The final title, Love Finds a Home, is still in the script stage and hasn't been cast.

Cloris Leachman has agreed to step into the middle of an untitled NBC sitcom about two brothers "on opposite sides of the law", who live next door to each other. She'll play the mother of the law man and the con man. The brothers will be played by Eddie McClintock (Crumbs) and Craig Bierko.

Leachman recently won an Emmy in 2002 as Grandma Ida on Malcolm in the Middle. And, in my humble opinion, she played a marvelous wine-soaked, ex-jazz singer in Spanglish. And, who can forget Young Frankenstein? Or Phyllis? Let's hope this new comedy gives her some good material. This lady is a comedic genius.