No Same-Sex Couples For DWTS

The producers of Dancing With The Stars have decided that "America isn't quite ready" to see a same-sex couple compete on the show. The decision comes after Portia de Rossi declined an invitation to be the show's first contestant to dance in a same-sex pair.

"If Portia had agreed then this would have been a done deal," an ABC insider tells me. "She was the only star that could have pulled this off without completely offending the program's conservative viewers." But since the 'Arrested Development' beauty has rejected their offer, producers have decided to wait a few years and "not rush into creating a same-sex dancing couple just to get attention and publicity." The show has a soft spot for stunt casting -- Kate Gosselin, Florence Henderson, Bristol Palin, anyone? -- but isn't yet ready to invite on a same-sex couple. The last time a contestant did anything remotely gay -- Margaret Cho's rainbow dress -- she was promptly dumped by viewers.

Last week the same-sex couple on Israel's version of the show was eliminated.