Karina Smirnoff News

According to Access Hollywood, newly crowned winner of ABC's DANCING WITH THE STARS J.R. Martinez has been invited by Defense Secretary Leon Panetta to visit him at the Pentagon.

Broadway Theatre Project, one of the nation's premier training grounds for students of musical theatre, announces that award-winning dancer and choreographer, Karina Smirnoff, will join the Project's 2012 season in July as a Guest Artist. Smirnoff will speak with and teach dance technique to a class of approximately 200 high school and college students on one day during the program's three-week session to be held July 8-29, 2012. Exact date of her appearance will be announced separately.

DANCING WITH THE STARS Champions J.R. Martinez and Karina Smirnoff appeared on Good Morning America this morning to celebrate their victory. After ten weeks of the most riveting performances, dramatic eliminations and shocking moments of the show's 13 seasons, J.R. Martinez and Karina Smirnoff were crowned 'Dancing with the Stars' champions, on the two-hour Season Finale of 'Dancing with the Stars the Results Show' last night.

GSN (Game Show Network) announced today that it has acquired the exclusive off-network rights to ABC's DANCING WITH THE STARS from Disney-ABC Domestic Television, which will make GSN the only network on which previous seasons of the mega-hit dance competition can be seen.

The semi-finals have arrived and the competition is nothing short of intense as the four remaining couples charm audiences with three routines. Their first performance is an Argentine Tango, their second dance is either a Paso Doble or Samba - one of which is a style dance they have not yet performed - and their third dance will be the Cha Cha relay, in which all couples will dance to the same song.

On last night's episode of ABC's DANCING WITH THE STARS, with only five remaining couples, the competition heated up as each couple performed two individual dances

DANCING WITH THE STARS contestant JR Martinez tweeted that he is 'over the moon' from scoring a perfect score of 60 from the judges. Martinez and his partner Karina Smirnoff danced a waltz and an insta-jive on Monday night's show.

With only five remaining couples, the competition heats up as each couple performs two individual dances. They will first hit the dance floor performing a ballroom style dance that they have not yet performed, then will face their biggest challenge yet with the 'Instant Dance' - in which they will have to master a jive to music they've been given during the live show - MONDAY, NOVEMBER 7 (8:00-10:01 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

Triple-Platinum Recording Artist Aaron Carter, who burst onto the pop music scene in the late nineties and quickly achieved worldwide superstardom and the adoration of millions of loyal fans, will join the cast of The Fantasticks, the world's longest-running musical, on Monday, November 7, 2011.

While GLEE is on hiatus until its long-awaited return on November 1 and X-FACTOR was pre-empted and moved around as a result of the World Series games, DANCING WITH THE STARS has kept up the Broadway quotient on prime time TV in the interim in a major way thanks to this week's two-night Great White Way salute featuring Tony-winner and Emmy-winner Kristin Chenoweth. Fan favorites J.R. Martinez and his partner Karina Smirnoff made their mark with CHICAGO'S sizzling "Hot Honey Rag" and this week's InDepth InterView participant Ricki Lake - along with her partner, show favorite Derek Hough - made a splash with a rollicking "The Lady Is A Tramp" from Frank Loesser's classic score for GUYS & DOLLS, and even Nancy Grace got into the snazzy act with a spirited and jolly "Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life" from SPAMALOT with her partner Tristan MacManus. Yet, some groups fared less well - Chaz Bono and Lacey Schwimmer failed to find the music or the magic of the night with "The Phantom Of The Opera" and they were sent home on Wednesday as a result (penguin critiques and Cher tweets notwithstanding). And, so, too, did Hope Solo and show-standout Maksim Chmerkovskiy falter with their less than impassioned performance of an outright odd head-scratcher of a quickstep song selection, RENT's "Seasons Of Love". Yet, on the ever-improving side of things reside Rob Kardashian and Cheryl Burke, who managed to bring some JERSEY BOYS-esque swagger to The Four Seasons smash "Walk Like A Man" from the Tony-winning musical revue. Additionally, David Arquette and Kym Johnson ended up somewhere in the middle, with a somewhat tentative treatment of the GREASE warhorse "We Go Together", which still managed to minisculely evoke John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John in the movie. While some stars certainly shone much brighter than others - J.R. and Ricki undoubtedly seem to be battling it out for top honors - Broadway Week on DANCING WITH THE STARS was generally a resounding success for many concerned. And, that's not even mentioning the spectacular group performance mash-up of "Hey, Big Spender" from SWEET CHARITY and "Money, Money" from CABARET (choreographed by Kevin Maher); Kenny Ortega's specialty number encompassing three famous theatrical standards, specially designed for HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL and IN THE HEIGHTS star Corbin Bleu; or - most of all - Kristin Chenoweth's two stupendous star turns; first, singing a song she made famous for a whole new generation alongside Lea Michele on GLEE - the classic Kander & Ebb CABARET's "Maybe This Time"; which was followed by MY FAIR LADY's 'I Could Have Danced All Night' - and, on the second night, performing the title track from her new solo album, SOME LESSONS LEARNED. Broadway stars to dancing stars to reality stars and beyond, Broadway Week on DANCING WITH THE STARS managed to sparkle and shine with panache.

Triple-Platinum Recording Artist Aaron Carter, who burst onto the pop music scene in the late nineties and quickly achieved worldwide superstardom and the adoration of millions of loyal fans, will join the cast of The Fantasticks, the world's longest-running musical, on Monday, November 7, 2011.

Last night on DANCING WITH THE STARS, the celebrities went retro to deliver some personal high scores in an 80s flashback episode. Tonight, the pros kick things off by bidding goodbye to the theme with a Madonna medley - even pulling in a choir - and with that, it's time to find out the results.

The competition gets heated as the remaining eight couples perform any style dance to favorite classic '80s hit songs. And iconic pop group The Bangles visit the ballroom with a special performance, singing some of their biggest hits, 'Manic Monday' and a medley of 'Eternal Flame' and 'Walk Like an Egyptian,' on MONDAY, OCTOBER 17 (8:00-10:01 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

Talk show listings for Monday, October 17.

Talk show listings for Monday, October 17.

A dynamic lineup of stars - including a U.S. veteran, an NBA champion, a film and TV star, a TV host and journalist, a Grammy-nominated singer, a supermodel, a reality TV star, a showbiz legacy and activist, and a World Cup star -- will take the stage for the two-hour season premiere of 'Dancing with the Stars,' MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 19 (8:00-10:01 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network. Check out photos of the Season 13 couples below!

A dynamic lineup of stars - including a U.S. veteran, an NBA champion, a film and TV star, a TV host and journalist, a Grammy-nominated singer, a supermodel, a reality TV star, a showbiz legacy and activist, and a World Cup star -- will take the stage for the two-hour season premiere of 'Dancing with the Stars,' MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 19 (8:00-10:01 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

Starting this week, Discovery Communication's Military Channel will air a series of PSAs produced by The Creative Coalition in partnership with Blue Star Families, with support from the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) and Health Net, Inc. Directed by actor and President of The Creative Coalition Tim Daly, the PSAs promote a toll-free suicide prevention help line.

Starting this week, Discovery Communication's Military Channel will air a series of PSAs produced by The Creative Coalition in partnership with Blue Star Families, with support from the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) and Health Net, Inc. Directed by actor and President of The Creative Coalition Tim Daly, the PSAs promote a toll-free suicide prevention help line.

Last night on Dancing with the Stars, Pittsburgh Steeler Hines Ward and his partner Kym Johnson won the ultimate rize and went home with the coveted mirror ball trophy. Check out photos from the episode below!