'Dancing' lines up its next stars

Heather Mills, Laila Ali and Clyde the Glide step up

WASHINGTON -- The good-deed-doing, naughty-photo-dabbling, one-legged estranged wife of an aged pop star is among the illustrious group of C-listers that ABC has lined up for the next edition of its hit competition series "Dancing With the Stars."

Also attempting to samba their way back to the limelight: an actor who did community service for punching his fiancee in the head; the boxing daughter of Muhammad Ali; and Clyde the Glide.

ABC noted that "in a 'Dancing With the Stars' first," three athletes will participate in the series's fourth edition, debuting March 19.

ABC also noted that Heather Mills -- U.N. goodwill ambassador, activist for Adopt-A-Minefield, animal rights advocate, model for a German "lover's guide" and estranged wife of Paul McCartney -- will be the show's first contestant with an artificial limb. Mills lost a leg in a '93 accident.

Former competitor Jerry Springer, who announced the contestants Wednesday on ABC's "Good Morning America," predicted Mills will be the sentimental favorite. That will probably not include Beatles fans, because her breakup from McCartney was not pretty.

"Dancing" exec producer Conrad Green told People magazine Wednesday they thought it would be "interesting" to have Mills compete "because we wanted to prove that dancing is something anyone can do."

We believe Mills' participation also marks the first time that producers of a reality competition series have cast someone with a risque past about which they knew in advance, though ABC forgot to mention that bit of precedent-setting.

In '06, British tabs reported the former model had posed in various states of undress and teddy-and-whip-ishness for a 1988 German picture book. Mills called it a guidebook, according to the news reports.

Also hoping to snag the "Dancing" winner's trophy: Vincent Pastore, aka "The Sopranos' " Big Pussy, who, in summer '05, was sentenced to a conditional discharge after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor count of attempted assault. Pastore originally was charged with assault, attempted assault and harassment for allegedly attacking his ex-fiancee during an argument. He was sentenced to 70 hours of community service and six months of weekly anger-management counseling.

Basketball Hall of Famer Clyde Drexler, aka Clyde the Glide, will compete; as will Laila Ali, personal trainer, undefeated world champion female boxer and youngest daughter of Muhammad Ali; and Olympic speed-skating champion Apolo Anton Ohno.

Since its debut in summer '05, "Dancing" has been a surprise ratings hit. Its first edition clocked nearly 17 million viewers, and its most recent edition was the second-most-watched program on TV last fall, behind only "Desperate Housewives," with an average audience of nearly 21 million and a finale crowd of nearly 28 mil.

The boffo ratings definitely have allowed ABC to trade up in casting about for has-beens to participate.

Rounding out this edition's competitors are former "Beverly Hills, 90210" thespian Ian Ziering, former supermodel Paulina Porizkova, former "Entertainment Tonight" host Leeza Gibbons, former Miss USA (2004) Shandi Finnessey, Billy Ray Cyrus, best known for that "Achy Breaky Heart" tune you can't ever completely get out of your head, and former boy band-er and ex-'N Sync-er Joey Fatone.