Olympians and Reality TV a Great Match

Awhile back I wrote about those Olympians whom I’d like to see on ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars.”  Perhaps someone was reading my blog, because one of them ended up on the current season.  Sadly though, Dorothy Hamill was down shortly after she sprung from the starting gate, withdrawing after only one week due to a back injury.  And I’ve got to tip my hat to Ms. Hamill, because the last thing I wanted to see was another dancer’s health woes dramatized each week on the show, like those of Melissa Gilbert and Jennifer Grey.  I hope, hope,  she can heal and that producers will allow her to return to the show for a future season.

They might have gotten good scores, but McKayla is not amused.

After the success of Shawn Johnson (not once– but twice) on  ‘Dancing,’ it was a no-brainer to lure a member of the 2012 US Women’s Gymnastics Team to join the cast.  I’m grateful Gabby Douglas wasn’t selected, as we all suffered from her overexposure in 2012.  Aly Raisman was the obvious choice.   Although I wonder how amused McKayla Maroney was over not being selected?

Also on ABC is a new series called “Splash.”  I’ve only watched bits of it.  While ‘Dancing’ might be more entertaining for the quality of some of the dancing, “Splash” fails to match.  It’s just one giant train wreck as celebrities attempt to pull off dives.  What I do love is getting to see Greg Louganis again.  With silver streaks in his hair and a body over 50 years in age, he’s still got charm and grace–both as diver and in personality.   He even won bonus points from me for how he handled Kendra Wilkinson.

While show judge David Boudia shows incredible ease and naturalness in front of the camera, it’s still Louganis whom I’m drawn to, and probably for sentimental reasons.  If only Fox’s “Skating With Celebrities” and ABC’s “Skating With the Stars” could have produced better results.

What will be next?  Gymnastics With the Stars?  I can  just see it:  Bart Conner and Nadia Comaneci as coaches, with Mary Lou Retton and Mitch Gaylord as hosts or judges.  And we’d have to include Bela Karolyi as a judge.  He’d give Bruno Tonioli some competition as most animated and heavily accented reality TV judge.  Hey, and who wouldn’t want to see Chuy Bravo perform a bar routine?

Faster,  Higher, Stronger.

Olympians I’d Like to See on “Dancing With the Stars”

Olympic Gold Medalist Apolo Ohno (right) on "Dancing With the Stars," 2007.

Let me say up front that I’m not a fan of  the American show, “Dancing With the Stars.”  I suppose I tend to be a purist and prefer Fox’s show “So You Think You Can Dance.”  Although I’m a figure skating fanatic, I wasn’t able to enjoy ABC’s “Skating with the Stars” or Fox’s “Skating With Celebrities.”  Again, let me say that I’m a purist.

Most of my friends and family watch “Dancing With the Stars,” but I just can’t get into it.  Perhaps it’s also because each season’s cast of “celebrities” never reels me in to watch.

So what would it take for me to start watching the show?  A better cast!  I tuned in a couple of times to watch Shawn Johnson and Kristi Yamaguchi.  Apparently Apollo Ohno was good, but I’ve never been a fan of his.  Olympic athletes are often make a good contestant on the show.  So I decided to come up with a dream list of American Olympians I’d like to see on the show:

1.  Bruce Jenner.  You’ve already had two Kardashians on the show.  Why not add another?

2.  Greg Louganis.  He’s handsome and was always a graceful, elegant diver.  He’s openly gay, and his selection would help diversity in casting.

3.  Mary Lou Retton.  She was a darling in 1984 and has some dance experience with her gymnastics background.  And who can resist her still-contagious smile?

4.  Dorothy Hamill.  She’s America’s Sweetheart!  And because every one will want her haircut all over again.

5.  Karch Kiraly.  What hero for the US in both indoor and outdoor beach volleyball!  It’s a no-brainer!

6. Jackie Joyner Kersee.  She can compete in six different events to make up the heptathlon, but ballroom dancing isn’t one of them.  How would she fair?

7.  Mitch Gaylord.  He’s been in the movies and “Hollywood Squares.”  He’s got his SAG card.  Let’s see if he’s still got that star quality!

8.  Carl Lewis.  He was once an aspiring dancer and singer.  And if that residency issue regarding his bid to run for NJ Senate falls through, this would be a great time filler.

9.  Mark Johnson.  There has to be a member of the 1980 Hockey Team in the cast.  It’s a requirement.

10.  Janet Evans.  Although she just emerged from retirement, this American darling of swimming will give Mary Lou Retton tough competition in the smile department.

11.  Bonnie Blair.  This is most likely a disaster waiting to happen, but she’d give it all she’s got.

12.  Tenley Albright.  There’s always an older contestant or two.  And she’s younger than Buzz Aldrin.

13.  Evelyn Ashford.  A gifted athlete who was probably a bit overshadowed by Joyner-Kersee and the late Flo Jo.

14.  Eric Heiden.  Another no-brainer.  An American hero from the 1980 Games!