she may not be a star but being a former dallas cheer leader, she can probably learn the routines fast and better than the average "star" with no dance background...and give a decent performance..remember they had to find someone to learn what other have had weeks to do...

I don't feel like half the people on that show are "stars". She is probably more famous than alot of others on there. There have been many people on there who I've barely heard of before.

Don't think I'll watch.

THe other replacement is rumored to be Holly Madison, Hugh Hefner's ex-girlfriend from "Girls Next Door" - she's not any more of a star than Melissa, she's just been around longer.

I like Melissa and am anxious to see her on the show.

She's alot more well known to me (at least) than Ty Murray is.

I'm not interested in D.W.S. this season. I don't know ANY of the 'stars'. I'm not sure I'll even watch it.

Ty Murray is one of the few people on this season that I actually know who he is! Love those bull riders!

Linda

I don't know anyone on the show this season either, so won't be watching.

Surely they could find people that are well known.

We are actually watching for the first time this season. Dd and me. Shawn Johnson has hero status with DD, my little gymnast, so she has been looking forward to this for weeks. :o)

Jewel had to drop out of DWTS as well.
She's fractured both tibias.

Ty Murray said last week during an interview the only way he could beat Jewel (his wife) was if he got her pregnant.
LOL
Only a cowboy can get away with saying something like that to the public.

Lori

I like to watch it for the pro's.... not just the so called stars. Melissa did great tonight for only having 2 days practice. That took nerve.

I don't think any of them qualify as stars especially Melissa. I record it and watch it in 10 minutes. It's all filler.

Wow.

Dancing with the STARS --

The word "STARS" leaves a whole lot of leeway for interpretation. It used to be that only folks who were in movies or on prime time dramatic television shows were referred to as STARS. A singer or a (gasp!) rodeo cowboy would never be referred to or thought of as a STAR. Personally, I still don't think of a rodeo cowboy, no matter how many events he has won, as a STAR. I don't think of an Olympic gymnast as a STAR -- I think of an Olympic gymnast as an athlete.

Maybe we should all write in to ABC and suggest they change the name of the show to "Dancing with Folks who are Well Known Within Their Area of Expertise."

For what it's worth, I thought Melissa was, if not THE best, one of the two best dancers tonight. And she only agreed to be on the show on Friday, and didn't get her first rehearsal until Saturday morning. With the exception of Holly Madison, who had FIVE DAYS to rehearse, everyone else had FOUR WEEKS to rehearse.

I always forget about the show and tune in late to see who's dancing, and often don't follow it much. But I like to see who the Stars are.

Steve Wozniak? Good grief, he may not be a star in the usual sense, but among techies he is one of the most famous people in the world, a gazillionaire who has had more effect on our lives than the rest of the "stars" combined. He co-founded Apple computer with Steve Jobs and invented Apples 1 and 2. I'll watch and cheer for him, but bet that he won't be around long, unless he has a lot of personal charm.

I agree with Lily - there's too much filler to hang in there watching for two hours.

Some "Stars" that I'd watch - Condi Rice, Rahm Emanuel, Katie Couric, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Michelle Obama, ARod, and Candace Olson (from HGTV).

Here is a link that might be useful: More about Steve W.

Melissa did pretty well. I have a feeling she's rising to stardom... I'm actually more bothered when they have people on the show that have dance experience. That should be an automatic "no". I don't know some of these people but the 'star' status doesn't bother me as much as the dance experience.

I think Melissa did well too, BUT, she's probably the only one with DANCING EXPERIENCE, and more than likely wouldn't have picked up the steps in two days without having that skill. Frankly, it's more fun to watch when they all come from non-dancing backgrounds because it's great to see just how they progress over the weeks into fine dancers. I'm disappointed that she was even asked to be on the show.

I wasn't going to watch it, then I found out Melissa was on the show. I just adore her!

We always joke and call it "Dancing with the B-listers" anyways so who cares if there is a reality show "star" on there. I watched the last 45 minutes. It was OK.

WAY too much filler for me. If there were actual stars I was interested in, I might watch it, but I'm passing. To those who like it - Enjoy and I hope your favorite wins!

I just watch it because I love the dancing. So maybe these people aren't movie or tv stars but they are celebrities in their own genre. Ty Murray is a star in Bull Riding. Melissa is a star in a reality show, etc. It doesn't matter to me why they were picked. I enjoy the dancing and watching them get better each week.

Linda