My buddy Michael Jensen, editor at AfterElton.com has exclusive interviews with the male dancers of ABC's Dancing with the Stars. Michael explains why gay viewers have a huge interest in the upcoming season:

" This coming Monday morning, ABC's Dancing with the Stars is expected to announce the line-up for the show's new season (debuting September 21st). Gay fans are hopeful the show will finally have its first out gay competitor in former 'NSYNC member Lance Bass. For months now, speculation has run rampant that he would be joining the show and that in turn has fueled further speculation that Lance might actually be paired up with one of the show's professional male dancers."

Here's some excerpts from the interviews:

AfterElton: What would you think of having Lance matched up with yourself or one of the other guys from the show?

Alec Mazo: I think ... I don't think it's gonna happen because Middle America ... and because I don't know how the choreography would be able to [work] and I'm thinking how would you do that?

AfterElton: There is talk Lance Bass might be one of the contestants this year. There is also speculation he might be matched up with a guy.

Mark Ballas: I know. I was the pick. In the rumor, I was the person they said they should match him with.

AfterElton: And how do you feel about having him on the show?

Mark Ballas: I think it would be great having him on the show. But no one has been confirmed.

AfterElton: I'm not trying to find that out. I'm just curious how you might feel about being matched up with him.

Mark Ballas: It's kind of against the [dancing] rules to do that.

Full interviews here.


According to GossipSauce, the cast of Dancing with the Stars has been leaked:

Kim Kardashian
Lance Bass
Toni Braxton
Brooke Burke
Maurice Greene
Cody Linley
Susan Lucci
Warren Sapp
Misty May-Treanor
Ted McGinley
Mark McGrath
Cloris Leachman
Jeff Ross