Over the years I have not been “hooked” on too many prime-time television shows, especially when it comes to Reality TV. But I confess that I always look forward to the new season of ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars.” Typically, I get excited when they announce the stars in advance but then seem to forget the line-up until season premiere night. Now in the season’s second week, I have started to analyze the show and its “stars.”
How are the celebrities cast each season? If you look at the past nine seasons, there appears to be a trend for each star fitting a certain mold. Consistently, the show has cast the actor, the athlete, the singer (more specifically rap, R&B or pop star), the reality star/host/news anchor, and the model. In more recent seasons, the older-man-who-can’t-really-dance, the underdog, the elegant seasoned woman, the rebel and the Olympian have started making appearances as well. But is this all an act of public relations, or do the celebrities really want to aim for the coveted Mirror Ball Trophy?
Did Macy Gray, who was the first woman to be eliminated last week, really want to learn to ballroom dance and work towards that trophy, or did her publicist think it was a good idea to promote her European tour? Did funny guy Jeffrey Ross from Season 7 really try his best, or did he just enjoy the antics and the chance to roast fellow stars on another season? Master P in Season 2 certainly did not seem like he was trying to succeed in the ballroom either.
Then there is professional snowboarder Louie Vito who actually stated he had never even watched the show before. Had the masses even ever heard of the young Olympic hopeful prior to September 21st?
Are the stars’ publicists pulling the reins getting their clients to do the show because it would be good for their careers and provide a chance generate some buzz again about these stars?
But then there are those who seem to really want to be there, for one reason or another. This season, former Dallas Cowboy Michael Irvin claims he is there because he wants to surpass other NFL buddies who danced on previous seasons. I’m sure Donny Osmond wants to go further than sister Marie did on Season 5. And Mya appears to genuinely want to dance and win! So did these stars call ABC and beg to get their chance to dance or does the casting director seek out the celebs who fit the molds that the audience desires to see every season?
However the show is cast, it works. And whether or not the publicity for the stars is intentional or not, it certainly does focus our attention on their names again.
It really disturbs me how public relations can be viewed with such disdain sometimes. On my way into work this morning, I heard a story on the radio about the recent 
Well into her 90s, my late mother used to ask me what I did for a living. When I told her I was in the public relations business, she’d ask me again, what I did for a living. Mom had a somewhat dry sense of humor. My kids also wondered what Dad did, even when I thought I’d explained it pretty well.