Stars

Baltimore will certainly have something to root for on the upcoming season of "Dancing with the Stars. " We'd already heard Ravens wide receiver Jacoby Jones -- known for a little end zone shuffle -- will be strutting his stuff, partnering with Karina Smirnoff. And joining him will be a woman who should have a serious edge -- Olympic skating champion Dorothy Hamill, who lives in Baltimore. Hamill will be dancing with Tristan MacManus. The Baltimore kids will be joining a cast including Wynonna Judd, Kellie Pickler and Aly Raisman.

The nation's debt to men and women who serve in uniform can never be fully repaid. But Jane Kramer believes every little bit helps. She said that's why the Howard County Garden Club undertook the project to install a Blue Star Memorial marker, honoring present and former armed forces members, in the heart of Ellicott City. At the Howard County Welcome Center at 8267 Main St. in Ellicott City, a formal dedication is scheduled for Friday at 10 a.m., with live music, military ceremonies, presentations and comments from local elected officials.

A new holiday commercial for the NBA features Baltimore's Carmelo Anthony and other hoops stars playing a most unusual instrument: basketballs. Using nothing but bouncing balls, Melo and the other players offer a rather amazing rendition of the Christmas classic "Carol of the Bells. " Suppose it's actually "Carol of the Balls. " Behold: jill.rosen@baltsun.com @BaltInsider on Twitter

So, tonight we find out who's making it into next week's finale! (It's also the 300th episode of "Dancing with the Stars. ") And this is the next to last results show I'll ever recap, given the announcement that in the fall, there will no longer be a separate results show . I'm not feeling good about that, but we'll see. The show starts with five pro couples in a routine and then they're joined by five more couples. In case you had any doubt who the stars of this show really are, Derek Hough and Mark Ballas are choreographed at the front of the dancers during an extended section of the number.

During post-season awards, Caroline Goyne, Alyssa Meyer, Francesca Giuliani and Kiley Sweeney, of St. Mary of the Mills varsity softball team, were selected for the Prince George's County CYO (Catholic Youth Organization) All-Star team. St. Mary of the Mills coach Robert Giuliani was named as coach, along with St. Pius coach Gary Pickering and St. Jerome coach Christie Cooper .

There ought to be a law. Pop/rock singers and other celebrities who think they can sing should not be allowed to sing the national anthem, especially at large nationally televised venues. The latest insult to our national anthem was at this year's Super Bowl. Time and time again, event promoters make the same mistake, and the performance becomes the subject of ridicule even before the final note is sung. There are three basic reasons why this is not a good idea. First, celebrities all too often forget the words.

Jean Marbella's column about "Dancing with the Stars" is right on ("Politics invades 'Dancing with the Stars'" Nov. 21). I watch DWTS for it's entertainment value, and I know that's all I'm going to get out of it. And yes, it's cheesy, and yes, they do occasionally find a diamond in the rough. And yes, I get upset when my favorite doesn't win. What is happening this season may be the demise of DWTS; I hear a lot of people saying this is the last year they will be watching.

IAAM BASKETBALL ALL-STARS A CONFERENCE ADAEZE  ALAEZE                                 ROLAND PARK COUNTRY SCHOOL CAMILLE CALHOUN                             ARCHBISHOP SPALDING TAYLOR CUMMINGS                             MCDONOGH TORRI CHESTNUT                                ARCHBISHOP SPALDING ...

"DWTS" showed signs of diversification tonight with a fun performance by a guest krumper. That's standard fare for Fox's "So You Think You Can Dance?" (love that show!) but not what I'm used to on a ballroom show. Another guest performer, Kelly Clarkson, joked about her inability to dance and that she'd turn the show into a comedy. Host Tom Bergeron countered with, "We could teach you. " Hmm, foreshadowing season 14? My anticipated bottom three were: Carson Kressley, Chaz Bono and Nancy Grace.

Laurel Little League's 9- and 10-year-old All Star team placed second in the District 4 championship after losing to defending champion South Maryland, 18-3, on Saturday. District 4 covers an area from southern Anne Arundel County to Arbutus, in Baltimore County. Laurel's 9/10 All-Star team has not advanced to a district championship since 2008. On the road to the championship, Laurel defeated Arbutus, 16-6, July 5 and Forest Park, 11-7, July 6. Last week, Laurel lost its opener to South Maryland, 23-3, and then defeated Morrell Park, 31-3.

As the television networks announced their fall schedules during this week's upfronts, news was pretty mixed for TV's LGBT characters. The good news first: Former "Will & Grace" star Sean Hayes is returning to NBC with a new sitcom bound to touch on gay issues. In "Sean Saves the World," the openly gay Hayes stars as a divorced gay dad raising a teenage daughter (Sami Isler) with the aid of his overbearing mother (Linda Lavin). Judging by the trailer , the show will tread on conventional multi-camera sitcom ground, especially with that pushy laugh track.

"Mom. Do you have that gene? Do I? Have you been tested? I thought Grandma had breast cancer . Why weren't you ever tested?" The questions from my 27-year-old daughter were coming fast. Angelina Jolie published an essay in The New York Times on Tuesday, saying that she had had both breasts removed, and then reconstructed, after learning that she carried the mutated gene that can predispose women to breast and ovarian cancer. And Jessie was on the phone to me. Family history had moved the actress to get tested.

It's semifinals week on “Dancing with the Stars,” and Jacoby Jones and Karina Smirnoff had two dances this week: Argentine Tango and Lindy Hop (chosen by Twitter users). First up was the Argentine Tango. Karina and Jacoby are losing their patience with each other in rehearsal this week. During rehearsal on the ballroom stage for camera blocking, Karina had a flip over Jacoby that ended with her landing on her jaw, and it sounds like she might have had a slight concussion. She goes to the hospital, but we don't follow her there.

Could "The Bachelorette" go for a Bawlamer boy? Could be... When the ABC show has its season premiere Monday, May 27, one of the contenders for the hand of bachelorette Desiree Hartsock will be introduced as Brian, a 29-year-old financial adviser from Baltimore. Brian is, in fact, Brian Jarosinski, a financial services representative for Gateway Capital Financial, an office of MetLife (although the website misspells Brian's name as "Jaronsinski," it's him). According to his bio on ABC.com, Jarosinski was born in Olney; is 6'-2", wears size 13 shoes and has no tattoos; lists his three favorite movies as "The Rock," "'The Notebook" and "The Count of Monte Cristo"; and professes to be "very neat.

An eighth Preakness starter has been named, and he will bring jockey Rosie Napravnik back to the state where her career began to ride for the first time in its premier race. Mylute, fifth at the Kentucky Derby, will run in the 138 th Preakness on Saturday. Trainer Tom Amoss informed Maryland Jockey Club officials of his decision after the colt went to the track Saturday morning. Napravnik is a blossoming star on the national stage, having appeared on “60 Minutes” and in The New York Times Magazine in the wake of signing an endorsement deal with Snickers.

Results show! When they're down to this few couples, there's more time for filler. Yay! Filler! I don't even like DoubleStuf Oreos, y'all. What this means is we get a troupe performance right off the bat, that isn't even themed to anything, other than, "Hey, we need to fill time. " Highlights from last night -- let's see if they show us anything we didn't see last night. Ok, I don't remember seeing Zendaya's parents' reaction to her perfect score. They are up on their feet and cheering.

It was no contest Sunday between the finale of ABC's Dancing with the Stars and the last night of the Olympics on NBC -- Stars trounced the Olympics by 12.3 million viewers. Furthermore, the dance contest attracted more than double the number of viewers ages 18 to 49 than did the Olympics. Overall, an audience of 27.1 million viewers tuned in to the two-hour finale of Stars, while only 14.8 million watched the Olympics' closing ceremonies from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. During the last half-hour of Stars, the audience grew to 29.6 million viewers as Drew Lachey was announced winner of the competition, according to Nielsen Media Research.

One thing TNA needs to do a better job of is creating TNA stars. Almost all the TNA wrestlers on top right now made their names in WWE and/or WCW. (For more, go to baltimoresun.com/ringposts)

Episode 6 starts with Lydia joining Heather and Tamra for a champagne lunch. Heather wants to build a relationship with Lydia and doesn't want to lump her into a category just because she hangs out Alexis. Tamra compares Alexis to a little puppy that needs to be guided and helped and then when you turn around it craps on the floor. Tamra declares she doesn't hate Alexis she just feels sorry for her and hates the way Alexis flaunts her wealth. Tamra and Heather appreciate Lydia's ability to open up and be honest which allows them to bond.