ABC/CRAIG SJODINUsually we have to wait for Dancing With the Stars to start before declaring the first casualty.
Sadly, while there's one more week to go before we find out for sure which celebrities will be shaking their groove things on the new season, a roll call has already begun among the pro dancers via Twitter—and sadly, fan favorite Lacey Schwimmer has confirmed that she won't be returning this spring.
There's no word on whether she's pulling a Julianne Hough and bowing out on her own success-chasing accord or leaving under more sinister conditions...and her tweets aren't exactly bringing clarity to the situation:
"Hey twitterbugs! I will not be doing DWTS this season," she wrote on Friday. "But be sure to tune in! <3."
A short while later, she signed off, but not before reiterating her the decision.
"I'm off to bed! I'm sad I will not be on this season of #dwts too yall! Biglove <3."
Schwimmer has been with the show since 2008 and previously partnered with Lance Bass, Steve-O and Mark Dacascos, but has yet to clarify whether it was her decision or that of the show's producers to sit this season out. Whatever the case, she's not the only dancer we're saying (temporary) goodbye to.
Jonathan Roberts has also confirmed via Twitter that he is persona non grata on the set this spring but hasn't counted himself out of participating in results-night numbers. Cheryl Burke and Derek Hough, on the other hand, have both confirmed they would vie for the mirror-ball trophy yet again. Hough relayed the information only after giving fangirls a big scare (and a lesson in careful reading) by teasing them with the following this week:
"For everyone wondering if I'm doing DWTS this season I'm…I'm Not not doing season 10…," he wrote. No doubt hoping to fend off the stream of OMGs from his Twitter feed, he clarified the next day: "Read the tweet again…"
As for celebrity participants, while the rumors haven't been flying quite as fervently as usual, some names have been bandied around. Pamela Anderson seems like the surest bet for competition, while another rumor claims that a real-life moonwalker (Neil? Buzz?) will be joining the cast.
Meanwhile, Burke seems to be doing her best to rally a winter Olympian onto the parquet—and said gold medalist isn't exactly putting up much of a fight.
After the two-time Dancing champ tweeted congratulations to men's figure skating gold medalist Evan Lysacek, the Olympian responded, prompting quite an interesting exchange.
"You're truely amazing!!" Burke wrote. "How awesome would it be if you did DWTS? You would be great!"
"Thank You!!!" was his reply. "I would love to do the show. I'm a big fan!!!"
You hear that, producers? Hey, if it was good enough for Apolo Anton Ohno, the most decorated winter Olympian of all time, it's good enough for the ice prince.
The full list of competitors will be announced during the finale of The Bachelor on March 1.
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DWTS definitely loves itself some Olympic athletes—sounds like a match made in TV Celebrity Stunt Casting heaven to us! Check out who else fits the bill.