TV Watch

Source: Dancing Season to Begin with ‘Shocking Reveal’

03/06/2009 at 12:00 AM EST

What will become of Dancing With the Stars this season? Days before the Monday premiere, celebrity contestants Jewel and Nancy O'Dell had to withdraw due to debilitating injuries.

"We're quite used to dealing with emergencies at our show," Dancing's executive producer Conrad Green tells PEOPLE.

While Green says "casting changes" will be announced live on the premiere, a source close to the production tells PEOPLE that the two new celebrity dancers will perform on Monday night with only several days' worth of rehearsals under their belts.



"It will be a shocking reveal to viewers because these have had little to no rehearsal time," the source says.

This will mean that 13 contestants, as originally planned, will hit the ballroom floor for the two-hour premiere night show on ABC.

When contacted, an ABC spokesperson declined to comment. … Monica Rizzo