# Dancing with the Stars Fall 2011 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 25, 2011, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dancing-with-the-stars-fall-2011/594101 "2011-08-25T23:37:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Cubsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2011, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dancing-with-the-stars-fall-2011/594101/61 "2011-09-20T13:21:18Z")
Chaz Bono is an A or B lister? Wha? ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2011, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dancing-with-the-stars-fall-2011/594101/62 "2011-09-20T13:33:02Z")
Er, whoosh, probably? Anyway, hadn’t heard of such a promise. Who made such a foolish statement, and when? ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2011, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dancing-with-the-stars-fall-2011/594101/63 "2011-09-20T14:02:50Z")
I really enjoyed the show. No real stand outs to me at this point. I was yelling at the TV when they introduced Ron/Metta and talked about his daughter having cancer. Don’t you people make me start liking that creep! I was surprised to see Courtney there for David. That was nice. I like JR a lot. And yes, it pains me to say it…Nancy was not horrible. Her new hairstyle softens her. She should keep it. I hope the kardashian dude leaves soon. Mostly because it means I have to see the rest of that family. And he was totally unremarkable anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Oy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bc8723/32.png) [@Oy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oy)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2011, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dancing-with-the-stars-fall-2011/594101/64 "2011-09-20T14:40:43Z")
My assessment (for which I’m sure everyone has been waiting breathlessly): Ron & Peta: I didn’t think it was as bad as the judges and most of us here seem to think. I found him mildly charming, but yes, her choreography was not good, and he was stiff. Plus his hair was jarring and off-putting. Rob & Cheryl: He was trying hard, and he’s an okay looking guy, but just no talent at all. Rather reminiscent of his sister, in fact. Krstin & Mark: She was quite good - one of the better contestants, but there was Mark, trying to grab attention as usual. Chynna & Tony: I’ve been wanting Tony to partner a winner for a while, and he may finally have one. She was lovely and graceful, but her Latin may not be so good. Nancy & Tristan: I watched expecting to hate her and also expecting her to be terrible. I still hate her, but she wasn’t terrible. And, oh! the charm of the Irish! How dare she, with her godawful southern accent, mock him for his delightful Irish one? David & Kym: He wasn’t as good as I hoped he’d be from th fluff leader. I hope he’ll have time to improve. Elisabetta & Val: She wasn’t especially good or bad, but I don’t think she holds much appeal for American audiences. He’s better looking than his brother, but doesn’t have the choreography skills that Maks has yet. Hope & Maks: Grace often doesn’t follow on athletic ability; look at Monica Seles. But in her case, she has it. I think she has good potential. And it’s nice to see Maks partenered with someone who can beat the shit out of him if he gets too domineering. Carson & Anna: If he got any gayer, he’d burst into flames on stage. It must be exhausting to be professionally flamboyant all the time. Not a bad first dance, but I don’t know how well he’s going to do with the more romantic, ballroom type dances. He appears to spend all his time in character as a walking stereotype; I don’t know if he’ll be able to turn that off in order to turn on the ballroom man role. J.R. & Karina: Excellent potential, and what a delightful man! (The war hero bit doesn’t hurt a bit.) Karina must be in heaven; he’s got as good a shot at winning as Mario Lopez did. Ricki and Derek: She’s not bad, and he is terrific as always. Chaz and Lacey: Not bad. Lacey seems to have figured out how to tone herself down. On the whole, it looks like a good season. Nobody so bad that it’s painful to watch, and no one an obvious ringer. The judges clearly decided to toughen up this season, so marks were lower, and that’s good: there’s room for growth. Based on just the first night, I’m guessing the final will be Kristin, Chynna, and J.R, but this is a less-than-usually predictable season, and I could easily be wrong on all three. ---
**Author:** ![LurkerInNJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ed655f/32.png) [@LurkerInNJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkerInNJ)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2011, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dancing-with-the-stars-fall-2011/594101/65 "2011-09-20T14:55:58Z")
> [@Cubsfan](#): > > Nancy Grace is… larger… than I thought she was. Maybe it’s deceiving because I only see her little demon head floating behind the desk on CNN most of the time. She’s gotta be over 200lbs. I too had never seen any part of her other than her head, and I was really shocked at how big she is. Chaz is adorable. He’s going to look great as he drops the weight. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2011, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dancing-with-the-stars-fall-2011/594101/66 "2011-09-20T15:33:32Z")
I prefer seasons where they let everyone do a ballroom dance and a latin before the elimination. It helps to see if someone can handle both styles. This time they want to eliminate someone the first week. I’m thinking it will be Ron or Elisabetta. I thought Ron’s dance was the worst. Elisabetta didn’t do much better and there’s no fan base. Rob K. is another that will leave soon too. Doesn’t really matter who goes first. Ron and his Dennis Rodman hair bugged me the most. But, any of these three won’t be missed. I hope there’s no shocker eliminations for awhile. ---
**Author:** ![Oy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bc8723/32.png) [@Oy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oy)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2011, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dancing-with-the-stars-fall-2011/594101/67 "2011-09-20T15:36:27Z")
Yeah, I had thought the idea of letting each contestant dance one of each style before the first elimination was a good one, and I’m sorry they dropped it for this season. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2011, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dancing-with-the-stars-fall-2011/594101/68 "2011-09-20T15:44:22Z")
> [@Oy](#): > > On the whole, it looks like a good season. Nobody so bad that it’s painful to watch, and no one an obvious ringer. The judges clearly decided to toughen up this season, so marks were lower, and that’s good: there’s room for growth. Exactly. And I’m on the bandwagon for being sorry they’re doing a week one elimination – which is, however, traditional. Wasn’t last season, when everyone got a ballroom and a Latin before the first elimination the second week, the anomaly? ---
**Author:** ![Oy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bc8723/32.png) [@Oy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oy)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2011, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dancing-with-the-stars-fall-2011/594101/69 "2011-09-20T15:54:35Z")
I think the last two seasons have been two dances before first elimination, but I could be wrong. In any case, I thought it was just about the only _good_ innovation they’ve had in the time I’ve been watching. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2011, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dancing-with-the-stars-fall-2011/594101/70 "2011-09-20T17:03:25Z")
I thought Ron Artest legally changed his name to Metta World Peace? ---
**Author:** ![LurkerInNJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ed655f/32.png) [@LurkerInNJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkerInNJ)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2011, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dancing-with-the-stars-fall-2011/594101/71 "2011-09-20T17:14:42Z")
> [@Gangster\_Octopus](#): > > I thought Ron Artest legally changed his name to Metta World Peace? I think they are keeping it as is so people don’t vote for “world peace”. ---
**Author:** ![well\_he\_s\_back](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/3ab097/32.png) [@well\_he\_s\_back](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/well_he_s_back)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2011, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dancing-with-the-stars-fall-2011/594101/72 "2011-09-20T17:28:45Z")
Didn’t watch - can someone tell me the name of the war vet/AMC actor? How did he do? ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2011, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dancing-with-the-stars-fall-2011/594101/73 "2011-09-20T17:50:53Z")
My wife watched it, so I watched it to be a good husband. I SWEAR. I couldn’t believe the judges were telling Hope that she’s not feminine enough and her arms are too muscular. That woman is about the finest specimen of female _Homo Sapiens_ on the planet right now. Nancy Grace is evil. My wife and daughter didn’t get to enjoy her dance because I was reading her wiki page out loud to them, making sure they know of her evil. Chaz Bono - it’s not that he’s transgender; it’s that he’s a fat slob whose costume accentuated his fat slobness. And here’s a tip, from one guy-who-can’t-grow-an-adult-beard-even-though-he’s-an-adult to another guy-who-can’t-grow-an-adult-beard-even-though-he’s-an-adult: don’t grow a beard. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2011, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dancing-with-the-stars-fall-2011/594101/74 "2011-09-20T18:23:38Z")
Are the stars out of alignment or what? #1) I didn’t hate Nancy Grace!! That alone is newsworthy because I loathe her on her “Let’s lock 'em all away!” show. #2) Chaz did much better than I expected. I guess it’s not surprising that he has musicality given that his parents were in the music business, but I guess his bulk had me believing that he’d embarrass himself. #3) Another black man that can’t dance! (Ron Artest). This show has done nothing to cement the black men can dance sterotype. #4) For years, I was wondering what Courtney Cox saw in David Arquette and I saw it last night. He’s really charming. #5) Courtney, on the other hand, who I’ve always throught was beautiful looked like an emaciated Botox lady. #6) Chynna’s first dance didn’t wow me like it wowed the judges. She’s got a lovely figure and did fine, but I thought that it was just okay. #7) There’s ANOTHER Kardashian? Do any of them have jobs? Never mind. I just can’t muster up any energy to care. #8) George Clooney confuzzles me. He’s currently dating Stacy Kiebler, who appeared on the show a few years ago. I remember her as being loads of fun and a firecracker. But his former girlfriend, Elisabetta, has zero personality. Or maybe it was that she didn’t speak all that well. In any event, I wouldn’t be surprised to see her go. #9) Val is cute, but he’s not as handsome as Maks. However, I did love how Val threw himself, and her, into the dance. #10) I haven’t watched the show for a few seasons and thought the same thing that others have said about Mark. He seems to enjoy showing off. #11) I thought that Brooke would get better as a commentator, but no, she’s still TERRIBLE. It’s obvious that she has one question lined up, but just doesn’t have the smarts to follow-up with another question or to fly off the cuff. Hint: Brooke, you’ve got to LISTEN to them. #12) Carston or whatever his name is was hysterical. Yes, he did put the “C” in Caucasan but he also put the “F” in “fun.” #13) It’s nice to see that there are no obvious ringers in there, like an Olympic ice skater… #14) Did Len suck on a lemon before the show? ---
**Author:** ![Oy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bc8723/32.png) [@Oy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oy)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2011, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dancing-with-the-stars-fall-2011/594101/75 "2011-09-20T19:18:20Z")
> [@well\_he\_s\_back](#): > > Didn’t watch - can someone tell me the name of the war vet/AMC actor? How did he do? He’s J.R. Martinez - partnered with Karina, and was the best of the male contestants, I think, thus far. Also, a very fetching personality. [QUOTE=PunditLisa] #11) I thought that Brooke would get better as a commentator, but no, she’s still TERRIBLE. It’s obvious that she has one question lined up, but just doesn’t have the smarts to follow-up with another question or to fly off the cuff. Hint: Brooke, you’ve got to LISTEN to them. [/QUOTE] Brooke to J.R.: Did you ever think, while you were back in Iraq, that you would someday be on DwtS? J.R. (straight-faced): Absolutely. Holy Christmas, the woman is a bimbo. Good dancer as a contenstant, but she makes Sarah Palin sound coherent. Melissa Rycroft would have been a far superior replacement for Samantha Harris, who was not exactly the brightest bulb in the box herself, if they really wanted a previous contestant to step in. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2011, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dancing-with-the-stars-fall-2011/594101/76 "2011-09-20T19:41:30Z")
> [@PunditLisa](#): > > #14) Did Len suck on a lemon before the show? Nah. He’s always like that. ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2011, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dancing-with-the-stars-fall-2011/594101/77 "2011-09-20T21:08:45Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#): > > Er, whoosh, probably? Yes, I was being sarcastic. > [@](#): > > Anyway, hadn’t heard of such a promise. Who made such a foolish statement, and when? After season 12 the producers told the booking agents to get A list celebrities for season 13 (this season). Googling, it looks like TMZ is the source of the [info](http://www.tmz.com/2011/07/24/dancing-with-the-stars-abc-contract-creative-control-music-costumes-rehearsal-times-good-people/1/) ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2011, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dancing-with-the-stars-fall-2011/594101/78 "2011-09-20T22:26:56Z")
> [@Oy](#): > > Brooke to J.R.: Did you ever think, while you were back in Iraq, that you would someday be on DwtS? > J.R. (straight-faced): Absolutely. Definitely one of the best moments of the night, if only for her WTF reaction. Since she never listens to the answers, you rarely get to see her react. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2011, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dancing-with-the-stars-fall-2011/594101/79 "2011-09-20T23:04:48Z")
I LOL at poor Tony in rehearsals. He nearly got a finger twisted off when Chynna didn’t let go in a clip released last week. Then in last nights rehearsal footage he got an arm chop to the neck and a kick in the nuts at the end. Thankfully there wasn’t a lot of force behind the bumps. 😉 I guess all the pros get little accidents like that. It paid off for Tony. Chynna was my favorite last night. ---
**Author:** ![tumbleddown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@tumbleddown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tumbleddown)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2011, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dancing-with-the-stars-fall-2011/594101/80 "2011-09-21T00:24:44Z")
> [@PunditLisa](#): > > #11) I thought that Brooke would get better as a commentator, but no, she’s still TERRIBLE. It’s obvious that she has one question lined up, but just doesn’t have the smarts to follow-up with another question or to fly off the cuff. Hint: Brooke, you’ve got to LISTEN to them. Brooke is approaching this like she approached her “acting.” She’s memorized her lines and she just waits for the quiet so she can recite the next one. She’s not actually capable of improvisation or _conversation_, it’s sad, really. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dancing-with-the-stars-fall-2011/594101.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dancing-with-the-stars-fall-2011/594101.md?page=5)