By Frank Barron

Dancing With the Stars pro Derek Hough.

When ABC’s Dancing With the Stars debuted in 2005, it was a novelty show. Everyone wanted to see Hollywood stars trying to dance in a professional ballroom style. And they showed off their terpsichorean talents to the nth degree – they were professional, indeed.

To their credit, the first relatively unknown actors and models participating absorbed their lessons quickly, no matter what dance – from the Tango, to the Quick Step or Waltz – was called for. You name it; they did it. Viewers tuned in to see the “stars” strutting their stuff. That was the allure, hence the title.

Then, as the show grew in popularity, casting the dancing “stars” changed. We got to see Olympians and professional athletes, politicians and billionaires, ad infinitum. Even an astronaut, Buzz Aldrin, gave it a whirl.

As the seasons have gone on, the show has featured more personalities than stars, with too many reality celebrities sharing the spotlight. We watched anyway because it became the water cooler topic the next morning.

Well, the participants for Dancing With the Stars’ 11th season, starting at 8:00 p.m. on Sept. 20, have been announced and there are some good names, along with a couple of really dreadful choices.

For me the real stars are the professional dancers who get their toes stepped on and work tirelessly to make their clumsy partners look good. So here is a list of the hot pairings of stars and pros.

Giving the show true status is the star of stage, screen and TV, Florence Henderson, best known as The Brady Bunch’s classic mom, who will dance with Corky Ballas (Mark’s dad). Jennifer Grey, star of the classic movie Dirty Dancing, is paired with the always great Derek Hough (last season’s winning pro). David Hasselhoff of Baywatch fame is lucky to get Kym Johnson, who would even make me look good. Singer Michael Bolton dances with Chelsie Hightower, another gal who brings out the best in her partner.

The Hills’ reality hottie Audrina Patridge gets coupled with lucky Tony Dovolani (hope she dances as good as she looks). A talented youngster from the Disney Channel’s hit sitcoms Cory In the House and That’s So Raven, Kyle Massey, gets Lacey Schwimmer. Comedian Margaret Cho, co-star of Lifetime’s Drop Dead Diva, dances with Louis Van Amstel. Moesha star and cool R&B singer Brandy gets the hot-tempered Maksim Chmerkovskiy.

Sports stars include NFL’s Kurt Warner, who gets Anna Trebunskaya, and ex-Laker Rick Fox dances with Cheryl Burke, who always impresses with her choreography.

In the “what were they thinking category,” the Jersey Shore’s Mike “the situation” Sorrentino will put the moves on Karina Smirnoff. And Bristol Palin, the daughter of former Alaska governor Sarah Palin who is famous for all the wrong reasons, is partnered with a beleaguered pro Mark Ballas.

Brooke Burke, the champion of season seven (thanks to partner Hough), will be back to help with hosting duties. But, as always, we expect super-likable emcee Tom Bergeron’s quick wit will make the contest entertaining – no matter which “stars” are dancing.