• Monday, September 19, 2011
    ABC Television Network
    PRESS RELEASE - PRESS RELEASE - ENTERTAINMENT -
    DANCING WITH THE STARS 1301A + MEET THE CAST (9/20)
    Print This Document
    note: To use this function, upgrade your browser: Quick Download

    SEASON PREMIERE


    MULTI-TALENTED GRAMMY® AND EMMY® AWARD WINNER HARRY CONNICK, JR.
    AND THIS SUMMER'S FAVORITE ELECTRO HIP-HOP DUO, LMFAO, PERFORM ON
    A SPECTACULAR NEW STATE OF THE ART SET, ON THE SEASON PREMIERE OF ABC'S
    "DANCING WITH THE STARS THE RESULTS SHOW" TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20

    Season 13's First Couple Will Be Eliminated on Tuesday

    The Troupe Returns to "Dancing with the Stars the Results Show" with Three New Members

    "Episode 1301 A + Meet the Cast"-- A live one-hour special, "Dancing with the Stars: Meet the Cast," airing TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network, features the most exciting moments from Monday night's performances, along with commentary from the judges and never-before-seen footage from the teams' first weeks of training. Following the one-hour special will be the Season Premiere of "Dancing with the Stars the Results Show" (9:00-10:01 p.m., ET), with musical performances by Harry Connick, Jr. and LMFAO. By evening's end, the first couple of the season will be sent home.

    This week, Grammy ® and Emmy® Award winner Harry Connick, Jr. is set to perform "On a Clear Day You Can See Forever" from his upcoming Broadway musical by the same title. Electro hip-hop duo LMFAO also hits the stage, performing a medley of "Sexy and I Know it" and "Party Rock Anthem." Both musical acts will be accompanied by "Dancing with the Stars" pros on the dance floor. Tuesday night's musical acts will be the first to perform on the spectacular newly redesigned set that incorporates touches of the original ballroom, but now with three tiers of amphitheatre style balconies and state of the art staircase that moves with the band on a rising platform.

    Harry Connick, Jr., one of today's most successful and multi-talented artists, who has garnered acclaim in both the music and acting arenas, takes the stage. In addition to his role in "Dolphin Tale" and a 2011 Emmy win for "Harry Connick Jr. In Concert on Broadway," he returns to Broadway this fall in the revival of the musical "On a Clear Day You Can See Forever." His love of music and performing dates back to his childhood in New Orleans, where he studied piano with such luminaries as James Booker and Ellis Marsalis. He first performed publicly at age 5, appeared on his first recording at age 10 and released his self-titled major label debut for Columbia Records at 19, only a year after his high school graduation and his move to New York City. In the two decades since, he has released more than 20 albums, totaling more than 25 million in sales, and has received numerous music honors, including three Grammy Awards. He made his feature film acting debut in the World War II drama "Memphis Belle." His acting credits also include Jodie Foster's "Little Man Tate"; Jon Amiel's "Copycat"; "Independence Day," with Will Smith; "Hope Floats," opposite Sandra Bullock; "Mickey," written by John Grisham; William Friedkin's "Bug"; Richard LaGravenese's "P.S. I Love You," with Hilary Swank; and "New in Town," opposite RenŽe Zellweger. On the small screen, Connick starred in the ABC presentation of the musical "South Pacific" and played the recurring role of Grace's love interest, Dr. Leo Markus, on the hit NBC series "Will & Grace." In addition, he won Emmy Awards for the PBS Great Performances concert specials "Harry Connick, Jr: Only You," and most recently for "Harry Connick, Jr. In Concert on Broadway." In 2006, Connick made his Broadway acting debut in the Tony Award-winning revival of "The Pajama Game," earning nominations for Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics



    Circle and Drama League Awards for Best Performance by an Actor in a Musical. He had earlier received a Tony nomination for Best Original Score for the 2001 musical "Thou Shalt Not." In summer 2010, he performed in concert on Broadway, in a sold-out limited engagement at the Neil Simon Theatre.

    LMFAO, the Grammy-nominated electro hip-hop duo of Redfoo and Sky Blu, perform a medley that includes Billboard Magazine's 2011 song of the summer, "Party Rock Anthem!" The track held the #1 spot on Billboard's Top 100 Singles chart for 8 weeks in a row, and had the world shuffling as it topped the charts in 15 other countries. The duo's sophomore set "Sorry for Party Rocking," was released in June on Party Rock/will.i.am/Cherrytree/Interscope Records, where it debuted at #12 on the Billboard Top 200 Album Chart. LMFAO first got the party started with the release of their 2009 debut album, "Party Rock," which included the singles "I'm in Miami Bitch," "Shots feat. Lil Jon" and "Yes," and was nominated for Best Electronic/Dance Album at the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards, where the duo successfully -- and hilariously -- hosted the pre-tel awards ceremony.

    Hosted by Tom Bergeron ("America's Funniest Home Videos") and Brooke Burke ("Dancing with the Stars" Season 7 champion), the celebrities perform choreographed dance routines which will be judged by renowned ballroom judge Len Goodman and dancer/choreographers Bruno Tonioli and Carrie Ann Inaba.

    "Dancing with the Stars" is the U.S. version of the international smash hit series, "Strictly Come Dancing." This version is produced by BBC Worldwide Productions. Conrad Green serves as executive producer and Ashley Edens-Shaffer and Joe Sungkur are co-executive producers. Alex Rudzinski directs. "Dancing with the Stars" is broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC's selected HDTV format, with 5.1 channel surround sound.

    About BBC Worldwide Productions:
    BBC Worldwide Productions, led by Jane Tranter, is based in Los Angeles and develops and produces scripted and non-scripted projects for U.S. cable and broadcast networks, as well as digital platforms. The production company is responsible for the smash hit "Dancing with the Stars" (ABC), "Top Gear" (HISTORY), "What Not to Wear" (TLC) and "Torchwood: Miracle Day" (Starz). BBC Worldwide Productions sits within one of six core businesses that form BBC Worldwide, the main commercial arm and wholly-owned subsidiary of British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).


    Photography will be available at www.abcmedianet.com or at (818) 460-6611.

    Follow us on:   
    Facebook at www.facebook.com/dancingwiththestars
    Twitter @DancingABC and #dwts.
    @ABC_Publicity


    ABC Media Relations:
    Amy Astley (818) 460-7952, amy.astley@abc.com
    Amber Gereghty (818) 460-6781, amber.k.gereghty@abc.com
    Makena Coscarelli (818) 460- 5492, makena.coscarelli@abc.com

    BBC Worldwide Productions:
    Christine Shaw (310) 228-1620, christine.shaw@bbc.com