LOS ANGELES (February 28, 2007) ? The fourth season of ?Dancing With The Stars? has yet to begin, but one contestant has left the show.
After just one week of training ABC confirmed actor Vincent Pastore has made the decision to quit the program.
The former “Sopranos” star, who was offed from Tony?s gang, left the program after concluding ten weeks of cutting a rug would be too difficult for the 60 year old.
?When I initially committed to joining ?Dancing with the Stars,? I didn?t realize just how physically demanding it would be for me. Unable to put forth my best effort, I felt it appropriate to step aside and give someone else the opportunity,? Pastore said in a statement. ?I?d like to thank ABC and the show?s producers for inviting me to participate. I wish my partner, Edyta, and the other dancers the best of luck.??
Photo: AP
Pastore, who previously starred on ABC soap ?One Life To Live,? was paired with pretty brunette Edyta Sliwinska, who previously danced with Joey Lawrence.
ABC will be announcing a replacement for him shortly.
?Dancing?s? Executive Producer Conrad Green expressed dismay at Pastore?s leaving.
?We?re sad that Vincent felt he was unable to continue in the competition, as he would have been great on the show — but we appreciate him standing aside now rather than having to withdraw later. ?Dancing with the Stars? is physically demanding and it pays to know your limits. We respect his decision.?
The remaining stars who will compete on the show are:
Laila Ali (partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy)
Billy Ray Cyrus (partner Karina Smirnoff)
Clyde Drexler (partner Elena Grinenko)
Joey Fatone (partner Kym Johnson)
Shandi Finnessey (partner Brian Fortuna)
Leeza Gibbons (partner Tony Dovolani)
Heather Mills (partner Jonathan Roberts)
Apolo Anton Ohno (partner Julianne Hough)
Paulina Porizkova (partner Alec Mazo)
Ian Ziering (partner Cheryl Burke)
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