Connect with us

General Hospital

Dancing with the Stars Season 18 Cast Revealed: The Price Is Right's Drew Carey, EX-GH Night Shift's Billy Dee Williams and Olympians Charlie White & Meryl Davis Among Competitors!

By Michael Fairman

Published

on

Courtesy/ABCGMA

Courtesy/ABCGMA

This morning on ABC’s Good Morning America, the official announcement was made of the season 18 cast of Dancing with the  Stars!  The newest ballroom dance competition begins when the couples hit the floor on March 17th (8PMEST two-hour premiere) on ABC!

In a first for DWTS, the competition this season will feature a new game changing twist called “The Switch Up.” America will be given the power to vote and change celebrities and professional dance pairings.  This new rule will affect all couples as they will be required to switch partners at a point in the season.   Never before have dance partnerships been split up during the course of competition.

This change. along with Erin Andrews becoming Tom Bergeron’s new co-host displacing Brooke Burke-Charvet, are just a few of the changed the series is making in an attempt to bolster the ratings! Now on to the competitors …

Courtesy/ABCGMA

A couple of faces familiar to daytime audiences are in the show this season, chief among them The Price is Right’s host, Drew Carey,  and former GH: Night Shift star Billy Dee Williams (Ex-Touissant)!  Drew will be paired with Cheryl Burke, while Billy Dee will dance with Emma Slater!

Other competitors include: newly crowned Olympic Ice Dancing Gold Medalists, Charlie White and Meryl Davis, but they wil,l of course, split up for DWTS!  Charlie will dance with Sharna Burgess, while Meryl will dance with none other than bad boy Maksim Chmerkovskiy, who is returning to the ballroom floor this season!

The Real Housewife of Atlanta’s and Glee star, Nene Leakes will dance with Tony Dovolani, former Pro Hockey Star, Sean Avery gets to hit the floor with Karina Smirnoff, inspirational speaker and author, Candace Cameron Bure will strut her stuff with Mark Ballas, James Maslow of “Big Time Rush” will partner with Peta Murgatroyd, author and actress, Danica McKellar will dance with Val Chmerkovskiy, world record holder and champion swimmer, Diana Nyad will dance with first time pro dancer in the competition, Henry Byalikov, Special Olympics athlete Amy Purdy will dance with Derek Hough, and teen star from Australia, Cody Simpson will perform with Witney Carson!

So what do you think of the line-up? Who do you think by the initial pairings looks like the frontrunners? Looks like a lot of athletes are part of the competition this year, so  let us know your thoughts!

 

 

Click to comment

0 Comments
oldest
newest
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Nene Leakes…? She acts(but cant)» as if shes Gods gift to the entertainment world…my least favorite! Billy Dee…like to see him on GH as a relative of Felix and Epihany’s date for the nurses ball!

Yeah, NeNe’s hardly a “star.” I bet she quits the show, in a flamboyant manner, like she did Celebrity Apprentice.

WHAT does this have to do with daytime dramas?

Billy Dee Williams is as much of an ex soap star as is Hillary Clinton.

Billy has appeared on daytime soap Guilding Light and i thought Another World but im not sure about the latter…he also appeared on primetime soap as Dynasty and GHs Nightshift…so i consider him a former soap actor! This site is about daytime and primetime soaps so i feel its ok to mention him here!!!

Absolutely, and Fairman writes that Williams formerly starred on General Hospital.
He also tells his readers that Drew Carey is from a day time game show. Fairman writes about daytime entertainment which includes soaps, game shows and talk shows….oh my!

Um…isnt it called Dancing With the STARS?????

It is ironic that thanks to this show, most of the professional dancers are now bigger stars than the “stars” they are paired with.

Maybe thats what they mean when they say ‘Dancing With The Stars’…the ‘STARS’ are the professional dancers…lol

Why aren’t there any flag-flying banners for Brooke? Ouch!

I’ve wondered what is that show’s definition of a “star”.
The ONLY person on that list that can truly be called a “STAR”
is Billy Dee Williams.

.
Sarah Palin’s daughter Bristol Palin was on as a star ! of what?

Cher’s son- Chaz Bono, was on as a star! of what?

and the list goes on of non-stars ..

Drew isn’t a star? He used to have his own long-running sitcom and has been on many things. I’d call a couple others stars, and the two gold medalists were figure skating stars of the Olympics. Must admit I haven’t even heard of a bunch of those folks! LOL

Yep, the rest are all pretty snooze worthy.
I loved Billy Dee Williams in Lady Sings the Blues.

Everything runs its course and dancing with the stars should be layed to rest along with american idol. Both shows are done.

You can add The Bachelor/Bachelorette and Survivor to that list. In MY humble opinion, all these freaking “Reality” shows should be kicked in the ass & right out the door! They have dumbed down America with their ridiculous “reality” that’s as scripted as a regular TV show.

actually Idol is still great- so its just a matter of opinion

At least with Idol there is something at stake…young people can have a chance to break into showbiz. There is nothing at stake and nothing to be gained from Dancing. A mirrorball trophy. Woo-hoo! Lol.

@Mama, that’s a bit unfair. To say Billy Dee Williams isn’t a bonafide soap “star” is fair, but Michael Fairman only said he would be “familiar to daytime viewers,” and didn’t call him as such. He certainly has more daytime credentials than Hillary Clinton, lol, given that I’m sure she didn’t appear on ANOTHER WORLD and GUIDING LIGHT, as Billy Dee has. But, most importantly, he was a contract player on a spin-off of GENERAL HOSPITAL (GH:NIGHT SHIFT) which aired on a channel devoted entirely to soap operas. And given that his ex (Epiphany) is still on GH, and that his character shares a last name with Felix and Taylor, I wouldn’t count him out of the game, yet. So not a bonafide soap “star”? Fair enough, but no one here on MFSoaps is claiming he is. But he certainly has legit daytime/soap connections and way more than Hillary Clinton 🙂

IA. I am voting for him, Nene- just to spite the other RHOA cast, and Candace Cameron Bure. I loved DJ and I respect/admire her faith. I hope she wins in the end.

Toussaint!!! Was hoping Ronn would give Epiphany some love again! Aww…I hope Billy Dee wins, but won’t watch our support ABC/D for anything but GH!

Huh? Billy Dee is an established super star actor why is he branding General Hospital when they wrote him as a janitor GMAB…

He is an American actor, artist, singer, and writer known for his work as a leading man in 1970s African-American cinema, in movies including Mahogany and Lady Sings the Blues, and for playing the character of Lando Calrissian in the movies Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi and The Lego Movie. In about 50 movies and extensive TV work…not to mention an international super star artist..

General Hospital? Please.

I agree, but Fairman writes about soaps so he was trying to establish the Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon thing.

Billy Dee Williams starred on both THE GUIDING LIGHT, AS THE WORLD TURNS in the 1960s, and the GH spinoff on SOAPNET. I’m sorry, but Pee Pee Leakes and the rest of those silly ‘HOUSEWIVES’ do not qualify as stars. They are nobodys.

Great list.

Who really cares about Billy Dee Williams, nene Leakes I love, she is so funny. Drew Carey is cool too.

Nene Leakes personifies what is wrong with American culture today–she is a mediocre loud mouth who is stupid enough to think she is actually talented.

LOL…..when you’re right, you’re right, Harry!!!! Nene is repulsive, as are most of the “ladies” in those “Housewives” series. Haven’t watched this dancing trainwreck of a show since Kelly Monaco’s repeat stint, but think that the casting of the ice stars could be interesting. They were spectacular at the Olympics, and both are appealing individuals…Charlie is a real cutie and Meryl has the most unique look, so I was thrilled for their victory. Glad to see them able to build on their well-deserved win with further opportunities!

I think Nene will bring lots of personality and vigor to the show. Some soap fans do not think reality show people should be called stars but there are more hours and viewers for reality TV than soaps. I like the cast, especially the Olympic ice dancers. This show is more fun than American Idol In my opinion and some seasons really click with chemistry.

Candace will win! I love her, her faith, and she is just “awesome sauce!”

I recognize three names due to the Drew Carey Show/Price is Right, Lady Sings the Blues, and Wonder Years, and these three fall way below the threshold of “C List Celebrity”. The rest? Who the hell cares? They are definitely NOT “celebrity”.

Will this crap ever END?

Here goes…for the new and upcoming season of DWTS, I want either Drew Carey, Danica McKellar or Billy Dee Williams to win. As for the rest of them…No Thank You. Next……….

General Hospital

GENERAL HOSPITAL Preview: Carly and Lulu Make Plans to Rescue Their Children; Anna Looks Determined to Secure Her Freedom

Published

on

By

This week on all-new episodes of General Hospital, the race is on! Can Lulu (Alexa Havins) and Dante (Dominic Zamprogna) get to Rocco (Finn Carr) and Britt (Kelly Thiebaud) in time to ensure their safety from Cullum (Andrew Hawkes)? Can Carly (Laura Wright) with the help of her brother, Lucas (Van Hansis) rescue Josslyn (Eden McCoy) from captivity at Wyndemere? These questions may be answered, plus the return of the one and only Anna Devane (Finola Hughes) are on tap!

In the just released General Hospital spoilers video for the week of June 22-26, Lulu tells her mother, Laura (Genie Francis), “Dante and I have to get to Rocco before Cullum!” Meanwhile, Rocco (Finn Carr) looks angered and emotional as Britt walks through their cabin hideout. Does Rocco know his parents are on the way to find them, or has Cullum already tracked them down to the British Virgin Islands?

Back in Port Charles, Carly is informing Lucas that his niece, “is a WSB agent.” She knows Josslyn (Eden McCoy) is being held against her will at Wyndemere, and she has to find a way to get her out. Lucas agrees with Carly’s plan of, “We go in and we don’t leave without Josslyn!” Elsewhere, Josslyn is looking worried for her future as she is stuck in captivity thanks to Cassius, Cullum and Sidwell!

Courtesy/ABC

FINOLA HUGHES RETURNS

The final moments of the teaser promo reveal Anna in a psychiatric clinic in France. We have not seen her for months after Cullum, Sidwell and Pascal fed her hallucinogenics to make her believe her arch nemesis, Cesar Faison was alive!

Now, the doctors walk towards her hospital bed, where we see the super spy calmly knitting. Is Anna back to normal and playing everyone to get out of her predicament, or does she still remain deeply traumatized … or both?

Take a look at the rest of the official GH spoilers for the week below.

MONDAY, JUNE 22
Willow gets an unwelcome surprise. Trina sticks to her guns. “Nathan” wants reassurance. Ethan advises Ava. Brook Lynn receives an update.

TUESDAY, JUNE 23
Dante cautions Liz. Laura learns a secret. Brook Lynn confides in Michael. Sonny challenges Ava. Chase makes a decision.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24
Anna meets with her doctor. Carly makes a stunning confession. Britt extracts a promise. Cullum pulls a fast one. Gio and Emma hit the pool.

THURSDAY, JUNE 25
Josslyn clashes with Cassius. Lulu and Dante make a discovery. Chase receives a warning. Jordan seeks help. Alexis is summoned to the PCPD.

FRIDAY, JUNE 26
Anna takes a huge risk. Britt is in grave danger. Willow is in disbelief. Danny must act fast. Curtis jumps to the wrong conclusion.

Check out the latest General Hospital promo entitled, “Rescue Mission” below.

Now weigh-in: Do you think Anna is still mentally off-balance, or OK, and just pretending to be troubled to get out of France and get back to Port Charles? Will Josslyn finally be rescued, or will Carly and Lucas find themselves locked up with her? And, who will get to Britt and Rocco first? Cullum, or Dante and Lulu? Share your thoughts and theories via the comment section below.

Continue Reading

General Hospital

Maurice Benard Gives High Praise to ‘General Hospital’ Writers; Teases Upcoming Sonny Scenes with Anna, Jason, Justine and Ric

Published

on

By

With the highly-anticipated returns of Finola Hughes (Anna Devane) on this week’s June 24 episode of General Hospital, Steve Burton’s (Jason Morgan) upcoming return on July 13, which also serves as the ABC daytime drama’s 16,000 episode, things are about to fire on all cylinders in the story, as noted today by series star, Maurice Benard (Sonny Corinthos).

On Father’s Day, the three-time Daytime Emmy-winning actor and mental health activist took to his Instagram and expressed in a video that he has some unbelievable upcoming senes with the aforementioned Burton and Hughes. Add to that Nazneen Contractor (Justine Turner) and Rick Hearst (Ric Lansing), where Benard gave credit where credit is due to the GH writing team, which is led by co-head writers, Elizabeth Korte and Chris Van Etten..

In this video, Benard said, “I just want to get on here and say that I did some work with Steve Burton, Finola Hughes, Rick Hearst, Nazneen Contractor, and they’re all just fantastic. Truly fantastic. But, I want to say the writing was just exceptional. It truly was. It was exceptional. So, thankful for that kind of writing. I know writers don’t get the credit a lot, but I just want to say to the General Hospital writing team, keep rolling!”

GENERAL HOSPITAL PREVIEW

So now the question becomes, with a major tease like that, what is about to go down between Sonny, Anna, Jason, Justine and Ric? Will we finally get to the end of the line for Sidwell (Carlo Rota), as previously teased by the GH co-head writers? Will we learn what happened to Jason and Anna, fully? Will Justine and Sonny becomes closer or stop their liaisons? And what of Ric? Will he be true blue to his brother or double-cross him? There is a lot at stake as we move further into the summer and one that looks like it could be one of the more exciting ones in years!

FINOLA HUGHES CONFIRMED AMAZING SCENES WITH MAURICE BENARD

As a punctuation point to his video, Benard also shared this written message in the post: “I just did some wonderful scenes with Steve Burton, Rick Hearst, Finola Hughes and Nazneen Contractor and  and unbelievable writing, freaking amazing scenes that you will see in the near future on General Hospital.” In fact, Finola Hughes jumped in the post comment thread and responded, “I loved our scenes so much xxx”

Fans will most likely see all the scenes Benard referred to later in July, since GH tapes approximately six weeks ahead of air.

So, are you excited to see what Maurice is talking about? Are you hyped for what’s to come on GH? Any clue on what you think will go down between the main characters on the soap with the returns of Anna Devane and Jason Morgan to the mix? Weigh-in via the comment section below.

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Maurice Benard (@mauricebenard)

Continue Reading

General Hospital

‘General Hospital’ Alum Chad Duell Announces Upcoming Release of His First Single, ‘If You Need Me’

Published

on

By

In a surprise move, Daytime Emmy winner, Chad Duell (ex-Michael Corinthos, GH) is getting ready to unveil a new chapter of his career in music.

The former GH star, where he played the son of Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) and Carly Spencer (Laura Wright) for 15 years, has announced his new single, “If You Need Me” will drop on Friday, June 26. The single is now available for pre-order on Spotify and major music streaming platforms and is distributed by DistroKid.

Taking to his Instagram story over the weekend, to announce the pre-save of his new single, Chad expressed, “I’ll make a full post about what I’ve been up to and my music once it goes live next week, but you can pre-save my first single so it goes straight to your Spotify once it drops next week.”

Photo: CDuellIG

SINCE LEAVING GENERAL HOSPITAL

Previously, since his departure from the ABC soap opera. Chad starred alongside Zach Mendez in the world premiere of of Yum Yum at Annapolis, a new play written by Bruce Reisman. Duell last appeared on General Hospital on the January 21, 2025 episode.

The part was recast with Rory Gibson who debuted as the new Michael in May of 2025 during the Nurses’ Ball episodes and who has remained in the role since that time.

In an interview earlier this year on The Able Show, Duell said on his decision to exit the soap opera, “I was blessed to be part of that (show) for as long as I have, but what happens sometimes is if you’re doing the same thing, especially in a creative field for such a long time, you can get a little burnt out in a way. It can make you a little depressed, so that’s kind of what happened. On top of that, I had other things going on in my life at the time. My father passed away recently and I just needed a reset. So, I stepped away. A lot of times you have to go through some stuff to really step into that next level. I needed to kind of feel uncomfortable.”

So, what type of musical genre will Chad’s new song be? Country? Pop? Rock? Dance/Club? Something else? Let us know your thoughts via the comment section below, and if you are eager to hear the new single next week via the comment section below.

Continue Reading

Video Du Jour

Jonathan Bennett joins the cast of GH as Joe Fitzpatrick. Catch the latest promo! Leave a comment.Leave A Comment

Recent Comments

Power Performance

Finn Carr & Dominic Zamprogna as Rocco & Dante

General Hospital

Airdate: 5-14-2026

Popular

0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x