The season kicks off September 20th!

This time around, most of the rumors were true!

In past seasons, there have always been a number of stars that were rumored to be joining the cast of “Dancing with the Stars” only to have many of them be incorrect.

This time around the real word got out late last week.

Which means the big reveal on Monday night wasn’t so surprising…but rather confirming the rumors.

Last season, the OMG announcment of Kate Gosselin took center stage. (Kate, to her credit had fun with her moment with a funny cameo in the opening number at the Emmy Awards.)

This time around the OMG moment has got to be young mom Bristol Palin! (And of course, with her comes her mom, Sarah Palin, too.)

I got to hand it to the producers/casting directors of “Dancing with the Stars.” They know how to capture those “stars” of the moment. In the early seasons, the casting was never this outrageous.  

In addition to Palin, you’ve got The Situation from “Jersey Shore;” Jennifer Grey (from “Dirty Dancing” fame, with a different face/nose;) Superbowl QB Kurt Warner; Brandy; Florence Henderson (yea! Mrs. Brady!;) Michael Bolton; NBA star Rick Fox; comedian Margaret Cho; The Disney Channel’s Kyle Massey, Audrina Patridge from “The Hills”  and last but never least…the Hoff – David Hasselhoff.

The mind reels with all the possibilities. Think of the guests in the audience! Palin, or course. Snooki? Barry Williams (Greg from the Brady Bunch!) Maybe (gasp) Yasmine Bleeth (The Hoff’’s Baywatch co-star.) The sidelines will be as much fun to watch as the dancing on the floor!

But who has the best shot at winning?

In seasons past, you can generally look to the athletes to be contenders. But this time around it seems like it could be a wide open field.

Brandy’s musical performing background would seem to favor her a little. Jennifer Grey was quick to point out in the announcement on Monday night that “Dirty Dancing” was decades ago…and the actress is now fifty years old.

It’s a wide open field this time around.

The two hour season premiere is set for Monday, September 20 at 8PM on ABC and RTV 6.

“Modern Family” won Best Comedy. 

That was what I was hoping for and thankfully The Television Academy didn’t disappoint.

I was hoping for some shake-up in the awards. But they gave Best Drama to “Mad Men” yet again. Don’t get me wrong, the show is fine…but how many years in a row? “Dexter” was amazing. And shockingly different. Oh well… 

The show itself was an interesting mix of humor and surprises. Jimmy Fallon did a decent job. The opening was fun. As a long-time Springsteen fan, seeing Fallon, the Glee cast, Tina Fey, Jon Hamm and Jorge Garcia (Hurley from LOST) rocking it was great.   

The acting awards were spread around to some deserving new winners. (But didn’t Bryan Cranston win it last year?) Oh well…

I enjoyed seeing Eric Stonestreet from “Modern Family” win. His Cameron is a joy (though I would have enjoyed seeing any of his co-stars win it too.)

As much as I love “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” I didn’t like seeing it win the Best Variety Show yet again. Com’on, share the love with “The Colbert Report.”

Loved seeing Al Pacino win a Best Actor for his HBO role as Jack Kervokian. Would have loved it more if he’d had a better speech prepared.

Tom Hanks wins again this time for producing “The Pacific.” This is an actor who knows how to give an acceptance speech.

But hey, for me it was all about “Modern Family” winning. Bravo.