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Dust-Up on DWTS

By Jeralyn, Section Media
Posted on Mon Oct 24, 2011 at 11:06:25 PM EST
Tags: DWTS (all tags)
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The judges on DWTS sure have had their favorites this year. Their judging has been completely inconsistent. Some who dance poorly get higher scores than deserved for their "effort" while others, also praised for their effort, get low scores.

Carrie Ann Inaba's undeserved high marks to Nancy Grace are a prime example. Could it be her eyesight?

You know, I'm legally blind. I'm 20/750, since I was in fifth grade. I wear glasses and contacts. But I won't even get LASIK."

Maybe she needs to wear those glasses on the show. One thing Grace's Mary Poppins-ish, amateur dance was not, was Inaba said, a "showstopper." The dancing devil has wooden piano legs and as much grace as a bull in a china shop. (pun intended.) [More...]

Even judge Len admitted it "lacked certain fox trot techniques." But he praised her effort. Translation: Unless she falls on her as!, they're keeping her around. Why? My guess: Ratings. People tune in and watch hoping to see that happen. They want to see her get her just comeuppance.

The other celebs left this season are either boring or talentless. Only JR Martinez can dance. Rob Kardashian is a lump, Rikki Lake is propped up by Derek, David Arquette is grating and awful. There's so little drama the show has reverted to fake teasers, like ads making viewers think Rikki Lake is about to quit. Who cares?

Another factor working against the show: Brooke Hart as co-host. Her idea of an insightful question is to ask Rikki Lake how much weight she's lost while on the show. She's gone from bad to cringe-worthy.

So tonight, Maks lashed out at Len for the judge's inconsistent judging. Len blasted Hope (who was better than Nancy) over her heel moves (she was dancing in sneakers) calling it her worst dance of the season. (Her dance wasn't bad, but her grandmotherly, ill-fitting crocheted top was a disaster.) Here's Maks:

“With all due respect, this is my show. I helped make it what it is,” he said. “I love every aspect of it, I love every professional that’s ever been here and I love every celebrity that puts effort into every week. Having said that, I’m a little tired that we’re being judged, some on effort and some being picked on, on heel leads!”

Go Maks. And Hope. And J.R. Martinez. And Carrie Ann, put on your glasses.

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    Dust-Up on DWTS | 23 comments (23 topical)

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    This seems to be a particularly (5.00 / 2) (#1)
    by caseyOR on Tue Oct 25, 2011 at 12:29:17 AM EST
    untalented group of celebrity dancers. Granted, I haven't watched every season of DWTS, still JJ Martinez is the only celeb with any real dancing ability. Last time there was some real competition between Heinz Ward and Kirstie Alley and the third celeb at the end (I forget her name).

    Nancy Grace is a lump on the dance floor, very wooden. Chaz Bono, bless his heart, is trying so hard, but clearly the dancing gene skipped a generation. At least he shows some spark and personality, unlike Nancy and the equally leaden Rob Kardashian.

    Every week the criticism of Hope Solo is that she is too strong, too athletic, not vulnerable and soft and, therefore, not sexy.

    I do not get the judges crush on Rikki Lake.

    I love Maks.

    If I was a betting woman, my money would be on JJ Martinez.

    I agree with (5.00 / 1) (#2)
    by Jeralyn on Tue Oct 25, 2011 at 01:00:05 AM EST
    every one of your comments. I wonder how many other viewers see it like we do. Hopefully, they'll catch the post via Google and re-think things for next season.

    They really ought to skip the controversial guests. From Tom DeLay to Bristol to Nancy, they make watching unpleasant. And they need to pick stars, rather than the B list of have-beens and wannabes, half of whom we've never heard of.

    Parent

    Do you think they could (none / 0) (#3)
    by caseyOR on Tue Oct 25, 2011 at 01:20:18 AM EST
    get A-List stars to go on this program?  I doubt people like George Clooney or Julia Roberts or Tom Hanks or Phillip Seymour Hoffman would agree to appear.

    They could, however, choose better celebs (for the most part the participants are celebrities, not stars). Not A-List, but maybe B+ List. And for gawd's sake, please, no more people from reality TV. And definitely not another Kardashian.

    It has been a mixed bag with athletes. Some, like Heinz Ward and Kristi Yamaguchi and Apolo Anton Ohno, have been great. Others, like Ron Artest, have been dismal.

    I realize it is not possible to know definitively ahead of time who will turn out to be a good dancer. Nobody I know thought Kirstie would go as far as she did. Still, it is often possible to know who will be a dud personality-wise.

    I loved Kristen Chenoweth's performance, by the way.

    Parent

    I stopped watching DWTS this season (5.00 / 0) (#14)
    by Romberry on Tue Oct 25, 2011 at 01:37:36 PM EST
    I've really liked DWTS in season's past, flaws and all. But this season?  Not interested. Invited celebrity dancers are for the most part just not very good, judging is all over the place and plus they have Nancy (she wishes she had some) Grace.  No. Just no.

    Somewhere, Arthur Fonzarelli is thinking that what this show really needs is some water skis and a shark.

    I'm with you (none / 0) (#16)
    by TeresaInSnow2 on Tue Oct 25, 2011 at 01:48:20 PM EST
    The show has become a bore.  I guess they figure it's popular enough that they don't have to pay  to attract the big stars.

    And yes, it's ridiculous how the judges overcompensate for some -- while ridiculing others who are much, much better dancers.

    I watched a few minutes of it last night because I was in the mood for something light.  But it isn't worth following anymore.  And I say that as someone who used to be a dedicated follower for its brain candy effect ;-).  I guess I needed it then.  I don't need it now.

    And yes, I'm one who believes all of the "controversy" is fake.  If it was real, certain people wouldn't be there anymore.

    Parent

    I'm with you on the controversy (none / 0) (#20)
    by sj on Tue Oct 25, 2011 at 02:08:09 PM EST
    promoted in the video packages.  Disagree on Maks' outburst.  It really was an outburst.  It was said clumsily and really irked more than cast member.

    Parent
    not just DWTS (5.00 / 1) (#18)
    by CST on Tue Oct 25, 2011 at 01:55:09 PM EST
    "What people don't understand was the world of ballroom dancing was about to go "lights out". Without DWTS, it would have faded from American life just like light bulbs made in America."

    Also So You Think You Can Dance - they do a great job of this.  They are like the American Idol of Dance, showcasing some serious talent.

    I've never watched DWTS but I've gotten into dance a lot from SYTYCD.  And while it's not strictly ballroom they do a decent job featuring it.

    Masks was out of line (none / 0) (#4)
    by mexboy on Tue Oct 25, 2011 at 02:23:33 AM EST
    Telling a judge who was a professional dancer that after 50 years in the business is time to go is disrespectful and agist. Glen has a lot of wisdom that cocky Maks can learn from. If he doesn't want to be judged he should resign.

    I think Carrie Ann is overcompensating. She is very liberal and I'm sure she doesn't want to be viewed as a right wing hater. I agree with you that number with Nancy gray was awful and boring.

    Rickki Lake is actually very good. Her technique is right on and she does perform well. Jj is of course the best but Rickki can snatch the prize from him if he falters.

    The judges were right about Hope. She was stiff and disconnected from her body. The choreography was horrible and that is Maks fault; it was pedestrian and boring. He needs to take responsibility for his work and he needs to stop telling Hope to be sexy. He's stressing her out and she is sexy, plus you can't play sexy. His direction is horrible. He should give her things she can actually do, like, walk like a panther. Seduce me here, reject me here etc.

    You don't think (none / 0) (#5)
    by jbindc on Tue Oct 25, 2011 at 08:20:58 AM EST
    that "dustup" was staged?

    Nope (none / 0) (#8)
    by sj on Tue Oct 25, 2011 at 10:31:08 AM EST
    I don't think so.

    Parent
    Just to be pedantic, but she's not legally blind. (none / 0) (#6)
    by tigercourse on Tue Oct 25, 2011 at 10:17:51 AM EST
    You aren't legally bling unless you have vision of worse then 20/200 even with the best corrective lenses.

    Maybe you read the number as 20/150, (none / 0) (#7)
    by Anne on Tue Oct 25, 2011 at 10:29:38 AM EST
    but the quote shows 20/750, which sounds pretty blind to me...

    Parent
    I know, right? (none / 0) (#9)
    by sj on Tue Oct 25, 2011 at 10:32:17 AM EST
    How does someone with vision that bad get a job as a judge of a performance competition?

    Parent
    But unless her vision is 20/750 with the (none / 0) (#10)
    by tigercourse on Tue Oct 25, 2011 at 10:54:08 AM EST
    corrective lenses she's not legally blind. It doesn't matter how poorly you see without glasses/contacts.

    It's a little hard to tell from the quote (I think she means without glasses) but yeah if her vision is 20/750 (which I'm not sure is even on the scale) with corrective lenses, she is legally blind and it is impossible to see how she could judge a visually competition.

    Parent

    Oh, sorry - I see what you're saying now. (none / 0) (#11)
    by Anne on Tue Oct 25, 2011 at 11:02:45 AM EST
    That makes sense.

    I don't watch the show, but I get the feeling that people feel it isn't her vision that is the problem, but how she analysis and rating of what she's seeing.

    I've often wondered, with singing and dancing competitions, if the perception is different when one is actually there, as opposed to seeing it on TV.  I know with American Idol, for example, I've heard performances I thought were dreadful, that judges just raved about - and could only conclude that it sounds different in person than it does coming through the TV.

    Parent

    TV does flatten out (5.00 / 1) (#21)
    by gyrfalcon on Tue Oct 25, 2011 at 02:31:54 PM EST
    what I guess for lack of a better word I'd call charisma.  That's probably some of what's going on with Rikki Lake.

    Towards the end of her life, I was dragged rather unwillingly to a Judy Garland outdoor concert, with seats in about the 7th row, and I was wiped out from the first phrase.  Somewhere in the back of my mind, I registered the shaky singing, the occasional flat note, etc., but the flaws were completely overwhelmed by her sheer power as a performer.

    That's an extreme example, and a singer, not a dancer, but that undefinable ability to put over a performance is something that often doesn't come across at all on TV.


    Parent

    You're absolutely right, Anne (none / 0) (#23)
    by mexboy on Tue Oct 25, 2011 at 09:39:08 PM EST
    The way a performance is filmed for TV can make it seem more exiting or less, depending on the angles and the cuts they use.

    Also, the camera loves some performers while others not so much.

    Parent

    Have you (none / 0) (#17)
    by TeresaInSnow2 on Tue Oct 25, 2011 at 01:51:06 PM EST
    watched him dance?  Several other MUCH better dancers have already gone home, but for some reason he stays.  

    Of course, the same thing pretty much happened last year too.

    DWTS is not a real dance contest, (none / 0) (#22)
    by mexboy on Tue Oct 25, 2011 at 09:35:01 PM EST
    therefore, the judges have to find different criteria to judge the performers. Also, keep in mind that the public is really who is keeping certain performers on the air.

    When you are judging a show about dancing with non-dancers you have to judge each dancer according to the level where they start and how they develop. If it was only on ability there would be no drama and therefore no show.

    I know a lot of people don't think Chaz is very good but he actually learns the choreography and does it without mistakes. He keeps improving from week to week and he was more polished than Hope and that woman from Faux this week.

    Chaz (none / 0) (#25)
    by NMvoiceofreason on Wed Oct 26, 2011 at 11:24:53 AM EST
    Carrie Ann defends Chaz to the end. Chyna's worst dance was (and is) better than Chaz's best dance. Yet Chaz is still on the show.

    Max has a point. The judges aren't out there performing every week. Derek and Ricki are the odds on favorites to win, simply because his choreography is so much better than Karina's (even though JR is a better dancer than Ricki).

    What people don't understand was the world of ballroom dancing was about to go "lights out". Without DWTS, it would have faded from American life just like light bulbs made in America.

    Len has his point too. He is a traditional judge. He deducts points for poor hold, floppy footed David Arquette, and yes, even Hope's wooden presentation (so stiff you can fly flags on it).

    So when Carrie and Bruno are giving out tens and Len gives out a nine, what was it that he saw?

    And by the way (none / 0) (#28)
    by sj on Wed Oct 26, 2011 at 01:26:00 PM EST
    Thank you for reposting without the gratuitious insult.

    Parent
    Clarification (none / 0) (#26)
    by NMvoiceofreason on Wed Oct 26, 2011 at 11:29:06 AM EST
    Whether Chaz is transgendered, mutant from Mars, or just a wonderful person trying to make something out of his life, his dancing is atrocious.

    I certainly didn't mean to offend anyone by voicing my discontent at good dancers going home while the worst one was kept.

    If you perceived any slight to the LGBT community, then I completely apologize for that perceived slight, as it was not my intent.

    The good news, for me, was that Chaz went home last night. It seemed like a good, growing experience for him. I hope the good stays and the bad is forgotten.

    I don't think the bad (none / 0) (#27)
    by sj on Wed Oct 26, 2011 at 01:21:55 PM EST
    should be forgotten.  Bruno needs his a$$ dragged to a diversity awareness class.  A whole series of diversity awareness classes.  And then he should still have to stand still for being judged on national TV for being the horse's a$$ that he is.

    imo.

    Parent

    Dust-Up on DWTS | 23 comments (23 topical)

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