• by David Goetzl  @dgoetzl, August 14, 2006

Even as ABC today unveils the celebs who will perform on this fall's rendition of "Dancing with the Stars," the network is already casting for a fourth season.

The move shows that executives believe the reality-competition series--where celebs partner with professional dancers to do battle in the Fox Trot, Samba, and other fancy footwork--still has legs.

"We're hopeful the show will continue for many years to come," an ABC representative said, although she declined to confirm that a fourth season had been officially green-lit.

Another whirl would likely take place over the winter right after New Year's, as ABC did this year.

Yet, as with any successful multi-season reality show, ABC is aiming to keep it fresh by adding a new twist.

In sort of a "Biggest Loser" meets "Stars" move, the network is casting for an overweight female looking to shed extra pounds and willing to do it through rigorous ballroom dance training.

The "average Jane" (age 24 to 36, size 10 to 14) will engage in the same training regimen that the neophyte celebs go through as they look to perform at the level of their professional partners. ABC will film the "average Jane's" progress both in shedding pounds and as a fledgling dancer. She will also train with a professional partner.

Each week, a vignette will be shown during the "Stars" results show chronicling her own results. But it's simply an added draw, and will have no bearing on the competition.

This is a move by the network to link the show with the general public's increased interest in ballroom dancing. The pastime had developed a somewhat dated and stale image, which ABC would like to think "Stars" helped transform into a "cultural phenomenon."

The 11 celebrity participants for this fall's third season of "Stars" will be unveiled this morning on ABC's "Good Morning America." Traditionally, they have been of the B-list variety.

The show premieres Tuesday, Sept. 12, with the results show debuting a day later.

"Stars" was the breakout hit in the summer of 2005, finishing as the number-one show in both the 18-to-49 and 25-to-54 demos. It then returned for a second season in January, and against much stronger competition, finished the 2005-06 season in the top 20 in the 18-to-49 demo and the top 15 among 25- to-54-year-olds.

In January and February, "Stars" ran on Thursdays and became ABC's most successful show on television's most competitive night in years. That performance may have encouraged network executives to make a potent bid for Thursday leadership this fall by shifting big-time hit "Grey's Anatomy" to the night.