Fatone to preside over 'Celebrity Circus'

LOS ANGELES, June 10 (UPI) -- U.S. singer Joey Fatone is to act as host of the upcoming television competition series "Celebrity Circus."

USA Today said the show, which is to debut Wednesday on NBC, follows a similar format to the "Circus of the Stars" specials that ran from 1977 to 1994.

Slated to compete during the six-week series are model Rachel Hunter; actors Christopher Knight, Antonio Sabato Jr. and Stacey Dash; professional skateboarder Jason "Wee Man" Acuna; R&B singer Blu Cantrell and Olympic gold-medal swimmer Janet Evans.

"I was asked to do celebrity boxing, and I was able to dodge that bullet. I said no to celebrity bull riding. But when 'Circus' came up, there was no hesitation," Knight, former star of "The Brady Bunch," told USA Today. "Not many 50-year-olds get to run away and join the circus. This is a life-affirming opportunity."

The newspaper said several of the stars suffered injuries during the course of the show.

Knight, for instance, broke a bone in his arm shortly after training began, while Dash cracked a rib and other competitors sustained muscle pulls and bruises.

"We've had more hospital visits on this show than I had in 150 episodes of 'Fear Factor,'" executive producer Matt Kunitz told USA Today.