Our 'Dancing with the Stars' correspondents Chuck Small and Lenni G will be back on the job for us with recaps throughout Season 12. Chuck starts things off for us with thoughts on tonight's premiere episode.

There hasn't been as much buzz factor going into Season 12 as there had been the previous few seasons. That's not necessarily a problem, as it could refocus attention on what the competitors are learning from the pros, instead of off-stage shenanigans from the likes of Kate Gosselin or Bristol Palin. And with dancer Derek Hough sitting this season out, we can avoid watching the double standards he gets from the judges (excusing his excesses with Nicole Scherzinger and Jennifer Grey, for example, while calling Maksim or Tony for similar stunts).

Today on "The Wendy Williams Show," the brassy host (and "Dancing With the Stars" contestant) got an exclusive TV interview with Aretha Franklin -- the first since her reported health issues. (There was some speculation she had cancer, but that doesn't seem to be true.)

If you missed the interview, you can see the re-run tonight on BET at midnight. Or you can watch here. Or here.

But first this: in part 2 of the interview airing Thursday, Miss Aretha gets in a little dig at Halle Berry. Franklin had openly stated that she wanted Berry to play her in her biopic. Berry declined. Wendy asks her about that:

The new cast of 'Dancing with the Stars' was announced last night during 'The Bachelor.'

Here's the cast:

-Sugar Ray Leonard is a former Middleweight Champion and sports icon of the 80s, and is considered one of the greatest boxers of all time. Leonard, who was born in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, is 54 years old.

-Kirstie Alley is most famous for her role on 'Cheers.' She has been nominated for seven Golden Globes and eight Emmys, winning one Globe and two Emmys. The actress is also well known for overcoming a drug addiction and for struggling with her weight. She most recently she had a reality show on A&E called 'Kirstie Alley's Big Life.'

Click below for the rest of the cast.

Today, little Diyana Johnson from Fuquay-Varina, will get some national acclaim when she appears with her mom Briana on "The Wendy Williams Show."

The show airs at WRAZ Fox-50  at 4 p.m. You can catch it later on BET at midnight.

You might remember that the first-grader at Lincoln Heights Elementary School helped deliver her new baby sister Madisyn, when her mother's water broke early on September 16. Diyana got a blanket for the newborn and opened the door for emergency crew.

The two are Wendy fans, and will appear during the opening announcement of the show.

We expect to hear Diyana do a mean "How you doin?" That's Wendy's signature phrase.

Talk show host Wendy Williams may have had an infamous run-in with Whitney Houston on Williams' now defunct radio show, but she is a Whitney fan.

Ever since Whitney announced the release date of her album and her chat with Oprah, Wendy has engaged her audience in Whitney fandom -- literally handing out fans with the singer's face. And Wendy's been campaigning to get Whitney on her show. (Here, Wendy's show is on at 4 p.m. on Fox 50 -- opposite Oprah on WTVD 11.)

This afternoon at 4 on WRAZ Fox 50 the so-called "Queen of All Media" Wendy Williams premieres her talk show.

If you're not familiar, this is no Oprah show.

Typically described as brash, over-the-top, bewigged, much-boobed, Wendy's been a hit on NY radio air waves for a while, and is known for
her gossipy, will-ask-anything style.

So I'm driving home and decide to tune in to WAUG's (AM 750) broadcast of "The Wendy Williams Experience" and who is Wendy interviewing?

Sheree!

She says she was in town (New York) working on her clothing line She by Sheree. She claims she doesn't know anything about Big Poppa moving in with Kim, although Kim is supposed to be her "sister."

In fact, she claims she doesn't know anything.

Wendy asks her about her divorce settlement, and in fact, reads it! She asks Sheree whether she's dating. And she tells Sheree she is mean and hard. And finally, boring.

You can listen here.