Skating With the Stars: Controversy Already!

ABC just announced the cast of celebs who will take to the ice on Skating With the Stars. Among the group: Former Real Housewives of New York City star Bethenny Frankel. Not on the list: Frankel's costar, Jill Zarin. And SWTS's casting director, Deena Katz,is none too happy about reports on some blogs that claimed Zarin passed on doing the show. "That's the part I don't like," says Katz. "You weren't asked, so don't act like you were."

Zarin's reps at Bravo declined to comment. But an episode of the reality show last season made much of Zarin wanting to re-live her childhood dream of becoming a world class skater with a lavish holiday skating party at Bryant Park. During the party, Zarin fell on the ice.

As for casting Frankel, Katz says, "she is it. If you're going to go with a Housewife Bethenny has transcended all the other housewives. She has her own show [Bethenny Getting Married?]. She is her own person. She's really athletic, she's charming, she's ballsy, she's great. On the record, I have never asked another Housewife. Bethenny is the only one I asked."

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