What do you do after you’ve been dumped on national television?…Extend your fifteen minutes of fame!

Jilted “Bachelor” fiancée Melissa Rycroft is joining “Dancing with the Stars,” according to People.

Executive producer Conrad Green told me there was a surprise in store for Monday night’s premiere, and it looks like the cat’s out of the bag.

Melissa joins one of the Blondes Next Door, Holly Madison, as the two replacements for Jewel and Nancy O’Dell, who were forced to drop out of the competition due to injury just a week before the premiere.

The last-minute additions, who’ve had only four days to rehearse, won’t catch a break from the judges, says Green.

They do have a few advantages, however.

Like being a Playmate. Whether you care for that or not, it is attention getting.

As for the 25-year-old “Bachelor” babe, her former job skills may come in handy: Melissa was a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader.

She may also ride the wave of her current notoriety to land some sympathy votes.

The pop-culture universe exploded in outrage last week when Jason Mesnick proposed to Melissa on the finale of “The Bachelor,” only to break up with her on the “After the Final Rose” special for his runner-up Molly. Melissa called him a bastard, returned the ring and walked off the set.

Is the casting of Melissa a genius move on ABC’s part…or is it just setting her up for even more humiliation?

ABC declined to comment. The cast announcements will officially be revealed on the Season 8 premiere of “Dancing with the Stars,” airing Monday night at 8pm/ET on ABC.

More on These Topics: Dancing With The Stars | The Bachelor