ABC is gearing up for their next season of Dancing With the Stars and it's looking like it's going to be awesome. With a cast that includes Real Housewife of Atlanta NeNe Leakes, former Wonder Years star and now math book author Danica McKellar, not to mention the inimitable Billy Dee Williams (... baby), the cast is bursting with characters and, potentially, with secret dancing dynamos.

Drew Carey's also joining the cast, and as a long-time fan of The Drew Carey Show, I point to its opening sequence as proof that Drew's already got the moves. Plus, having made fitness and his health a priority before going on the show, he won't have to leap that hurdle when it comes to stepping up his game physically.

The news that Erin Andrews will be replacing Brooke Burke-Charvet on the new season of Dancing With the Stars came as a shock to everyone -- most of all to Brooke herself.

While her diehard fans may have hoped that she left to pursue other high-profile opportunities, that couldn't be further from the truth. Us Weekly has learned the real reason the former model will no longer be on the ABC hit and the horrible way she learned she was getting the axe.

The recent announcement that Erin Andrews will be replacing Brooke Burke isn't the only major DWTS news this week. For months, diehard fans have been wondering about the next batch of celebs vying for that famed Mirrorball trophy when the new season begins March 17. ABC is planning to release the full cast list on March 4; however, two stars have already been leaked. And the picks aren't anyone you probably expected to see on the ballroom floor.

Many Dancing With the Stars fans are still getting over the shock that, after 8 seasons, host Brooke Burke-Charvet was fired -- something few of us really expected to see happen. I, personally, felt Brooke did a great job and, though she wasn't the most exciting hostess with the mostest, she had a graceful and sweet quality about her that, at the very least, didn't offend anyone.

Can't say the same about DWTS's replacement for Brooke, which was annouced just one day after Brooke got the ax. Fox Sports reporter Erin Andrews has agreed to take over co-hosting duties with Tom Bergerson when season 18 premieres on March 17 -- and not everyone is thrilled with the decision.

Looks like this is the end of the line for Brooke Burke-Charvet on Dancing With the Stars. She has been fired as co-host on DWTS after eight seasons.

This is what she had to say about it all: "Weird day ... Shocking pre-season elimination #DWTS ... ME," she tweeted at midnight on Saturday. "@Tom_Bergeron didn't even read my name. I won't be returning to the show this season."

She was first a competitor on season 7 and took home the big prize with partner Derek Hough. She's been the co-host ever since season 10.

Looks like the show is really shaking things up, as the series also fired music director Harold Wheeler and the 28 members of his band earlier this month.

Ryan who? Julianne Hough made plenty of news for dating and breaking up with Ryan Seacrest, but she's obviously moved on from the American Idol host. The dancer/singer/actress was spied holding hands with hunky Canadian hockey player Brooks Laich, who plays for the Washington Capitals.

Apparently, the pair were set up by mutual friends and Julianne is "happier than ever." Aww! But so much for being single for an "entire year"! Oh yeah, turns out that was her goal after splitting with Seacrest.

It may not be the most conventional of living arrangements, but Dancing With the Stars pros Derek Hough and Mark Ballas just bought a $1.25 million house together in the Hollywood Hills.

And you know what happened as a result, right? Duh. People automatically jumped to the conclusion that Derek and Mark are gay and dating each other -- which is the only feasible reason they'd choose to go in on a property together.

Ok, so I get that it's a little bit odd for two dudes who are in their late 20s to enter into such a permanent living situation if there is nothing romantic going on between them -- but still. Should we really automatically assume they're in some sort of relationship?

Damn. I knew I missed a rip roarin' good time since I wasn't invited (not bitter at all) -- but after hearing that guests were pretty drunk at Sean Lowe and Catherine Giudici's wedding, it sounds like it was quite the party.

(Something tells me that when ABC has an open bar at a party, it's stocked with the good shit.)

And one guest in particular, a fellow reality TV star of Sean's, was apparently so wasted at the reception that producers had to intervene.

(Ha! Wait until you hear this one.)