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'Dancing with the Stars' cast avoids controversy, includes Urkel

'Dancing With the Stars' annually is among the top-rated U.S. TV shows with a formula that pairs B-list celebrities, sports stars and singers with professional dancers performing sambas, cha-cha-chas and waltzes across a ballroom floor.

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Dan Steinberg/AP
In this Jan. 7 photo, actor Jaleel White speaks during the panel discussion for his upcoming Syfy channel game show 'Total Blackout' at the Television Critics Association Winter Press Tour for NBC Universal in Pasadena , Calif. White will be among the 12 celebrity contestants on the next season of the ABC dancing competition, premiering March 19.
  • By Reuters

| NEW YORK

Television ballroom contest "Dancing聽With聽the聽Stars" took a step back from controversy聽with聽its new cast unveiled on Tuesday, including tennis champ聽Martina Navratilova, several TV actors, an opera singer and聽Gladys Knight聽without her "Pips."

"Dancing聽With聽the聽Stars" annually is among聽the聽top-rated U.S. TV shows聽with聽a formula that pairs B-list celebrities, sports聽stars聽and singers聽with聽professional dancers performing sambas, cha-cha-chas and waltzes across a ballroom floor.

Last year聽the聽show courted controversy when it cast Chaz Bono,聽the聽transgender child of pop superstar聽Cher, resulting in protests from some conservative groups. But this season there appears little in聽the聽lineup to fuss about.

The聽cast of 12 celebrities includes Navratilova, one of聽the聽most celebrated women tennis champions of all time, and Gladys Knight, who along聽with聽her backup band聽the聽Pips, scored hits such as "I Heard It Through聽theGrapevine" and "Midnight Train to聽Georgia."

Melissa Gilbert聽found fame in 1970s TV western "Little House on聽the聽Prairie," and聽Jaleel White's character Steve Urkel on "Family Matters" became a TV icon of聽the聽1990s. Both will compete on聽the聽show alongside Welsh mezzo soprano Katherine Jenkins and pop singer聽Gavin DeGraw.

Others on聽the聽new season, which premieres March 19 on聽the聽ABC network, are professional football playerDonald Driver,聽Disney聽channel actor聽Roshon Fegan, Cuban-born聽Telemundo聽star聽William Levy, TV show hostsMaria Menounos聽and聽Sherri Shepherd, and聽Jack White, star of 1990s hit show "Melrose Place."

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