NEW YORK, Feb. 28, 2007
"Dancing" Too Tough For "Big Pussy"
"Soprano's" Star Said Training Was Too Hard
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Vincent Pastore played Sal "Big Pussy" Bonpensiero on "The Sopranos." (AP)
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Paul McCartney and Heather Mills announced their split in May. (GETTY IMAGES/Frazer Harrison)
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Interactive This Thing Of Theirs Get deep into television's hit series "The Sopranos," with background, trivia and photos.
Actor Vincent Pastore, who played gangster Salvatore "Big Pussy" Bonpensiero on the HBO mob drama, has dropped out of ABC's "Dancing With the Stars" after one week of training.
Pastore, 60, said that he had no idea it would be so hard.
"When I initially committed to joining 'Dancing With The Stars,' I didn't realize just how physically demanding it would be for me," Pastore said in a statement. "Unable to put forth my best effort, I felt it appropriate to step aside and give someone else the opportunity."
No word yet on if he'll be replaced.
ABC announced Feb. 21 that Paul McCartney's estranged wife, Heather Mills, will be among the competitors.
Mills will be the first contestant with an artificial limb to compete on the series, which returns for its fourth season March 19. She lost the leg in a motorcycle accident in 1993.The Sopranos
Olympian Apolo Anton Ohno, boxer Laila Ali, and former basketball star Clyde Drexler are also in the cast.
Jerry Springer, one of last season's competitors, teased ABC's "Good Morning America" audience before tossing out Mills' name.
"She may be a sentimental favorite," said Springer, even though Mills has Yoko Ono-like favorability ratings among many Beatles fans. Her selection delivers a message that whatever challenges people face in life, they can dance, he said.
Mills is an activist for animal rights and elimination of the use of land mines.
"Dancing With the Stars" has proved to be a substantial hit for ABC, although this is the first time it will air when a season of Fox's "American Idol" is under way. ABC will air its dancing competition on Monday and Tuesday nights to avoid going head-to-head with "American Idol."
Actor and former country star Billy Ray Cyrus, former 'N Sync member Joey Fatone, Miss USA 2004 Shandi Finnessey, former "Entertainment Tonight" host Leeza Gibbons, model Paulina Porizkova and former "Beverly Hills, 90210" star Ian Ziering round out the cast.
© MMVII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Add a Comment See all 14 Comments
- Good for him...he did not want to make a farce of what is an entertaining program.
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- I guess "BigPussy" lived up to his name :)
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- Well CBS, you're really asking for it now!
What happens when she gets her butt kicked off th e first show?
You bet she's gonna sue your butt and whine and castigate you for your bad attitude toward handicappers and her personnally. You already know she's not above anything short of eating what she's shoveling! - Reply to this comment
- Heads up CBS - I will not be watching Dancing with the Stars if Heather Mills is there.
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- Posted by jjreding at 03:58 PM : Feb 21, 2007
Sorry you feel that way, JJ; no doubt you would have now qualms making out with a female with a stump? LOL
Handicapped people should 'compete' with handicap people.
They are not pleasant to look at when they try to give the ILLUSION that they are just one of the guys!
THEY ARE NOT! - Reply to this comment
- Isn't the program called "Dancing With The Stars?" Good heavens, I agree with many of the comments...famous how, when? Paul took her everywhere, used his fam getting her on shows to talk about her foundation. Talked about the charity during concerts, TV, helping her get support. He met and asked her out while at a charity benefit. They went out and dated him for many months, proclaiming her love. Meanwhile, her fiance picks up the paper and sees Heather's picture with Paul stating they're in love. Paul trusted her and believed her when she said she had already broken the engagement off and that the fiance just didn't want to let her go-so Paul believed her. Soooo let's get back to famous for what--being a golddigger, user, soft-porn star (model-right!), adultress, liar, looney, did I mention liar? Yep, I'd say she's pretttttty famous! AND NO CBS, I WILL NOT watch Dancing With The Stars this going season....
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- Heather Mills {x-Porn star}doesn't have a leg to stand on. I'd hope she gets booed off the show.
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- This woman's only claim to 'fame' is that she seems to have somehow conned Paul into marrying her. What a letdown after his storybook romance with Linda. And now that she's doing this nasty divorce business, it's not right to give her this kind of publicity.
Oh, and Agnim's comment is disgusting. - Reply to this comment
- Her having a disability is not the problem - It's her in general. I will not watch until she is voted off. Hopefully - first episode. I agree she is no star.
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- THIS DANCING WITH STARS FAN WILL NOT BE WATCHING THIS SEASON UNTIL HEATHER MILLS IS GONE. SHE IS NOT A STAR, OR EVEN A HAS BEEN, MAYBE A GOLD DIGGER
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Ex-NBA ref Tim Donaghy 
