Has Dancing with the Stars lost its star power?

I’m a fan of Dancing with the Stars.  Not for its dancing, per se, but for the idea that dance can bring out the best of us, regardless of our natural skill.  In the past, singer Kellie Pickler was an eye-opener and former soldier and double-amputee Noah Galloway was inspiring.

But with this season’s cast, producers seemed to have been tapped dry.  Let’s start at the top.

Americans were shocked and proud to hear that three U.S. soldiers on vacation in France stopped a lone gunman on a train.  They received France’s highest medal and were honoured by Obama upon returning home.  So what’s a 22-year-old, blue-eyed, chiseled-jawed hero to do?  Why, learn the Cha-Cha, of course.

Alek Skarlatos has been paired this season with an equally blue-eyed Lindsay Arnold.  (Cue the dating rumor mill.)  Despite looking like he stepped out of a romance novel, Skarlatos plans to go to school and become a cop.  But for now, he’s going to milk the Samba out of his celebrity.

Bindi Irwin is the daughter of Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin who died nine years ago.  Despite being only 17, she has her own TV show and has continued her father’s legacy at Australia Zoo.  Apparently, that legacy includes ballroom and Latin dancing.

As always, there’s a ringer in the group. While Backstreet Boy Nick Carter isn’t known for his dance moves, being one-fifth of a pop boy-band certainly gives him a leg up on his fellow competitors.

Paula Deen, most famous these days for racist rants and a crumbling cooking empire, has signed up to re-vamp her image.  She’s joining fellow antique wildcard, Gary Busey (71) who has been, shall we say, “a bit off” since he suffered a head injury in 1988. 

In fact, this may be one of the older casts in several seasons.  Chaka Khan may seem ageless as the R&B queen of music, but she will be, in fact, 62 when she hits the dance floor.

Then there’s the “not quite sure how to classify them” category of “stars.”  Real Housewife of Atlanta Kim Zolciak has a polarizing effect on viewers.  You either love her or hate her – mostly for her selfies of her extraordinary post-baby body.

Tamar Braxton is hailed as a Grammy-nominated R&B singer, talk show host and reality star.  But how many know her as anything more than singer Toni Braxton’s sister?

And then there’s Hayes Grier.  No?  Try the younger brother of Nash Grier.  Still nothing?  Again, producers are trying to curry favour with younger audiences by promoting a Vine and YouTube star who is mostly unknown to anyone over the age of consent.

And Victor Espinoza is this season’s token male athlete.  He’s successful, Mexican (don’t tell Donald Trump), and recently won the Triple Crown.  So he’s a jockey.  All five feet, two inches of him.

With this hodgepodge cast, I wonder about the future of DWTS’s beloved mirror-ball trophy.  Will anyone care who wins this year?