Tucker Carlson Dancing In HDTV?

Dancing With the Stars will feature the conservative commentator in high-def. What is the world coming to?
By Phillip Swann

Washington, D.C. (August 14, 2006) -- Tucker Carlson in High-Definition TV?

Now that that unsightly image is locked inside your head, how about Tucker Carlson dancing in HDTV?

Yes, ABC announced today that Dancing With the Stars this season will air in high-def for the first time. And the show's lineup of rhythmatically-challenged B-list celebrities will include MSNBC commentator Carlson, country singer Sara Evans, actress Vivica A. Fox, actor Harry Hamlin, former football player Emmitt Smith and talk show host Jerry Springer.

The two-hour season debut will air on Tuesday, September 12, at 8 p.m. ET.

Dancing With the Stars, which features the pairing of celebrities with professional dancers in a competition, was a ratings surprise last year in its first season. The contest was ultimately won by soap opera actress and former Playboy Playmate Kelly Monaco, which led some (mostly me) to question why the network failed to air the show in high-def.

Monaco and other female contestants wore extremely skimpy costumes during the competition.

"You would think that the networks would want to show Kelly Monaco (ex-Playboy Playmate on Dancing With the Stars)...in high-def, but noooooo," I whined last year.

Drew Lachey, brother of Nick, won the season two finale last February; season two was also not in HD.

But this year, in season three, viewers will be able to see the conservative Mr. Carlson in high-def.

Talk about your vast right wing conspiracies.

Go to TVPredictions.com to see the rest of today's Swanni Sez.

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Phillip Swann is president and publisher of TVPredictions.com. He has been quoted in dozens of publications and broadcast outlets, including CNN, Fox News, Inside Edition, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Chicago Tribune, The Financial Times, The Associated Press and The Hollywood Reporter. He can be reached at swann@tvpredictions.com or at 703-505-3064.

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