Penn Jillette and Shannon Elizabeth by Bob D’Amico/ABC
As Dancing with the Stars' newbies get ready to dazzle on the dance floor — the hit reality competition returns Monday, March 17 — we've got a week-long guide to who's hoofing for Season 7. Check back each day for our profiles of more pairings. — Deborah Starr Seibel
Shannon ElizabethAge 34
Best Known For 1999’s breakout comedy American Pie and a Playboy pictorial that same year
Lives In Los Angeles
Partner Derek Hough
Advantages Eight years of ballet, tap and jazz as a kid, from ages 2 to 10. "I think she and Derek might be the couple to watch," says DWTS executive producer Conrad Green, who also credits her "strong male following." Elizabeth, a masterful poker player, calls herself "super crazy competitive. I have to win all the time."
Disadvantages A bad left ankle: "We haven’t been able to figure out what’s wrong with it," she says. "I’ve got some tape on it now, but there are some mornings that I get up limping because it really hurts."
Penn JilletteAge 53
Best Known For Being the taller, talking half of magic act Penn & Teller
Lives In Las Vegas
Partner Kym Johnson
Advantages A master illusionist, Jillette may be able to trick the audience into believing he can dance. And he has terrific balance and coordination: At 18, he rode a unicycle and was a tightwire walker.
Disadvantages Jillette, a frequent Howard Stern guest, can be X-rated. "We’ve got our five-second delay, and we’ll be ready on the button," says Green. And Jillette will continue his live show in Vegas. "When the producers offered me the gig, they said, 'You're not the youngest, not the smallest, not in the best shape, and you're the only one who has another job,'" says Jillette. "Everyone else will be able to rehearse all day long."
Poll: Which Dancing duo are you rooting for? Vote here.
Don't miss TV Guide Network's 25 Things You Didn't Know About Dancing Favorites, airing Sunday, March 23, at 8 pm/ET.
More Dancing profiles:
• Marissa Jaret Winokur and Mario
• Kristi Yamaguchi and Adam Carolla
• Marlee Matlin and Jason Taylor
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