The Associated Press is reporting that the new 2012 cast of "Dancing With the Stars" has been announced. I've been watching this show ever since the very first episode and always get excited when a new season begins. Let Season 14 begin! Shine that glitter ball! The stars are ready!

Ready for the line-up? Here it is: "Family Matters" actor Jaleel White, singer Gladys Knight and National Football League player Donald Driver will be among the 12 celebrity contestants on the next season of the ABC dancing competition. Other famous faces participating in the 14th edition include "The View" co-host Sherri Shepherd, singer-songwriter Gavin DeGraw, "Little House on the Prairie" actress Melissa Gilbert and Disney Channel star Roshon Fegan.

The new cast, which also includes tennis player Martina Navratilova, "Melrose Place" actor Jack Wagner, telenovela star William Levy, operatic singer Katherine Jenkins and "Extra" co-host Maria Menounos, was announced Tuesday on "Good Morning America." The contestants will dance their first routines with their professional partners March 19 and March 26, and the first couple will be eliminated March 27. What will make this season different? I guess we'll find out.

Why is it we're so enthralled with celebrity reality shows? Maybe we just want to see that they're really humans, just like us? Maybe we like to see them have to work hard, sweat, shed tears, and be vulnerable, just like us? How would you feel if this show spotlighted regular people competing in dance, rather than celebrities? Would it have the same intrigue? Probably not. After all, we already know what regular people are like...because it's us! Watching celebrities allows us to imagine what life might be like if we were rich and famous.

This particular show has made such an impression that ballroom dance schools have been thriving across the country ever since the show first aired. Have you taken classes? Have you ever thought about it? GroupOn and LivingSocial offer discounts on classes, probably in your community. Check it out! As they say, dance like no one is watching!