Reality TV stars on cast hook-up rumors, their fears and what they’re excited for most on the season premiere
By Lie Shia Ong
MSN TV
The Season 13 premiere of “Dancing With the Stars” is almost upon us! MSN TV spoke with two of the twelve contestants, reality TV stars Kristin Cavallari of “The Hills” and “Laguna Beach” fame, and Carson Kressley from “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy.”
While it’s yet to be determined if either of them can dance, both have a funny outlook on the cast hook-up rumors, ‘Dancing’ fashions and what Kristin-“Tosh.0”-“Funny or Die” fans will know as the new “it flash” in Hollywood. If you don’t know what we’re talking about, read on!
MSN TV: What has been the most challenging for you both?
Kristin Cavallari: I think the biggest challenge for me is going to come Monday night—which is dancing in front of a live audience, just trying to calm my nerves and be Zen.
Carson Kressley: That’s totally my fear, too, because we’ve had about two weeks of rehearsal and I can totally do my cha-cha, and then there are moments where I panic at the first note of the song. My partner’s like over here and I’m still here and she’s like “what are you doing?” and I’m like ‘I’m freezing!’ So that’s a little nerve wrecking. We’re kind of running out of time. Now we’ve just gotta rehearse, rehearse, rehearse and bring it!
Did either of you have dancing backgrounds before being cast on “Dancing With the Stars?”
Kristin Cavallari: No. None. I’ve never danced before. So, this is all very new for me.
Carson Kressley: I watched “Dirty Dancing” 19 times once.
What are you most looking forward to come premiere night?
Kristin Cavallari: I’m excited to see everybody dance and have fun. I think it’s going to be a really, really fun night.
Carson Kressley: We’ve all been rehearsing in different places so we haven’t had that bonding that everyone talks about. All my friends who have done the show say, “you’re going to be friends with everybody.” We’re already inseparable! We’re moving in together. There are a lot of love interest rumors happening. I want to dispel those right now. We’re not in love.
Kristin Cavallari: No. [Laughs].
Carson Kressley: We just really like each other and we’re now friends on Facebook…and Twitter. I’m looking forward to seeing everybody dance and I’m also looking forward to the costumes, because it doesn’t seem real yet. We’re getting around in sweat pants. What have you been practicing in?
Kristin Cavallari: Just little work out pants and T-shirts.
Carson Kressley: Do you have leg warmers?
Kristin Cavallari: No. I haven’t gotten that far.
Carson Kressley: I do!
What advice have you gotten from past contestants? I know, Kristin, you’ve talked with Audriana Patridge (who competed in Season 11 of “DWTS” and was Kristin’s co-star on “The Hills”).
Kristin Cavallari: She said to really enjoy it. She said it’s such a great experience. She did say it gets extremely difficult as the weeks go on, but to just have fun.
Carson Kressley: I’ve heard the same. I’ve also heard to work hard, to take it seriously—have fun with it, but try, and go to all your rehearsals and do it!
Do you have any funny stories form rehearsals so far?
Kristin Cavallari: I don’t think I have any funny stories. I haven’t fallen or anything crazy like that so far. Knock on wood.
Carson Kressley: I’m just learning a lot of Russian. Like “da” and “nyet.” For like 3 days I thought “da svi da niya” meant thank you, but it means good-bye. So, every time I would thank my instructor, I was saying ‘good-bye.’ So that got a little irritating for her. After a while, she’s like [in Russian accent], “No, da sci da niya is not thank you. It’s good-bye.” And I said, ‘all right, da svi da niya’ and then I hit it and came right back.
Who is the team to beat right now? What are your early predictions?
Kristin Cavallari: You know, it’s hard to say because we haven’t seen anybody perform. I think just based off of personality, I think David Arquette is going to be very entertaining, but I also think Ricki Lake just because she’s just so sweet and I think America’s going to fall in love with her.
Carson Kressley: I would have to agree. I would add Hope Solo because she’s an athlete and very competitive. She’s obviously probably in better shape than any of us since she was just in this World Cup thing. Right over my head. I don’t know what it was, but it sounds like she had to run around a lot so she’s probably quite fit.
Any message you want to send out to your fans?
Kristin Cavallari: Oh gosh, just I hope you enjoy watching me. I’m out here which takes guts. I’m extremely nervous and I hope you like all my dances.
Carson Kressley: My fans have always been so great and so supportive. I’m going to try to do my very, very best to give back and also have cute outfits I hope you like!
Kristin, some of your fans will remember your appearance on “Tosh.0” in the “Funny or Die” video clip “Unsolicited Advice Starring Kristin Cavallari.” Is “DWTS” going to give you your chance to get your “flash” on?
Kristin Cavallari: [Laughs] Oh God! Hopefully not. Hopefully—what did I say? ‘The butt flash?’ Hopefully everything will stay in place.
Carson Kressley: That’s my job! That’s where I come in!
Season 13 of “Dancing With the Stars” premieres Monday, Sept. 19, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC.