ABC’s ‘Splash’ features Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Katherine Webb, Louie Anderson and more taking the dive for TV

ABC’s Splash premieres tonight and TV executives will be interested to see if audiences across the country are really as interested in seeing celebrities dive as they are seeing them dance. The cast includes professional athletes, models and some celebs you probably wouldn’t expect to see in a bathing suit. One of those is comedian Louie Anderson.

“Of course, every fat person does not want to put on a bathing suit,” Anderson told USA Today. “On Twitter, people say I can't wait to see Louie in a Speedo.”

Anderson notes that he didn’t learn to swim until he turned 55 and this is the first time he’s dived in his life. “I'm doing it for every fat person or every person who's afraid to do it. I represent all the people on the couch,” he said. “Seven weeks ago, I was on a couch watching TV. I want to inspire people who are on their couch and laying in bed to find their pool or their Splash or their thing. I've never been more active in my life.”

Four-time Olympic champion Greg Louganis was recruited to mentor the celebrities, reports ESPN.

“Each diver is on their own personal journey. It's like a metaphor for life,” Louganis said. “They are taking their own leap of faith.”

“This should be fun,” adds Anderson. “Whoever would think they'd make a show where you dive and that they would pick me as one of the celebrities?”

Splash was first called Stars in Danger, an appropriate title since Chelsea Lately sidekick Chuy Bravo broke his heel last week. Soccer star Brandi Chastain will dive in his place.

The rest of Splash’s cast includes:
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, basketball legend
Ndamukong Suh, Detroit Lions
Rory Bushfield, action sports star
Drake Bell, actor
Nicole Eggert, actress
Katherine Webb, Miss Alabam
Kendra Wilkinson, TV host

Splash premieres tonight before Dancing with the Stars at 8 p.m.

image: ABC