I agree that this season seems lackluster. I have to fast-forward through Kate’s part because I dislike her so much, and Buzz’s part because it’s just sad. Derek shines, as usual. Chad was better than last week, but that’s not saying much. The skater understands the total concept (pleasing the judges but remembering the audience keeps him in) and has a good shot. Neicy is appealing, but her waltz didn’t have any rise and fall.
Mostly I fast-forward to the dances, and scores. Still not liking Brooke in the back and the “Celebriquarium” or whatever they’re calling having the stars out front.
There’s no question in my mind that Derek is one very sharp cookie, and deliberately choreographed that routine to get lower judges’ scores without reflecting on the PCD’s actual ability. Nicole is too obviously a ringer, and he needed to make her appear vulnerable. I also suspect that the bit of drama they showed in the training footage was, if not staged, certainly played up. I’m guessing that some time in the next few weeks, the PCD will either have a slight stumble or a wardrobe malfunction, or something else that makes her less than perfect in one of her dances.
I agree that this season’s field is less than stellar. Other than the two ringers, Evan and the PCD, there’s very little ability being shown. Niecy’s terrific foxtrot last week seems to have been an aberration. Pamela and Erin show a little potential. The rest were more painful than pleasant to watch. Kate did a Paso that Aldrin could have been proud of, but no one else, and her crocodile tears for the woes of being famous were laughable. Buzz is sad, although I’ll continue voting for him until Kate is gone.
Wow, Kate is really, truly, godawfully bad at this. And she looked like crap, too – usually at least hair and wardrobe manage to pull their shit together on this show. The overblown-even-for-DWtS makeup and the ill-fitting corset were both abominations, and yet neither of them was even half as ugly as the ratty hair extension.
I’ve seen a few instances of Pammy speaking when she was just being a person instead of being PAMMY!, and she actually comes across as surprisingly smart and sincere. She takes a lot of flack for being involved with PETA, but I don’t think her activism is as knee-jerk ‘aww, cute widdle animals’ as it’s sometimes perceived. It’s PETA, so it’s obviously extreme, but it does seem genuine and like something she’s thought a lot about. I’ve also seen clips of her emceeing a Fashion Cares event where she seemed really, well, real.
Is anyone else already thinking ahead to how awesome Derek & Nicole’s freestyle is going to be?
Perhaps I was just comfortable with the old co-host, the old set and the old graphics, but phooey on all the changes this season.
And I think they’re playing up the backstage drama, to the detriment of what made the show a success in the first place. It was always just fun and goofy…now they’ve given us a cast full of drama queens so they’re trying to make lemonade, by giving us video clips of tears and door-slamming. And it stinks.
Yah, that was not a message that can be described as subtle, and Louis’ orientation has been publicly known for a long time. I didn’t know that he was in a serious relationship, but it sounds like he may be if he is crying on his partner about how he can’t get married. He’s been campaigning pretty heavily in California for same-sex marriage, too, as I understand it.
I would love to see Charo on DwtS. She’d be a ringer, but a ringer old enough that she might not actually be a problem like Nicole.
What’s the DWTS formula again? I’m really working on this dream team concept in my head.
One old person
One football player/ex-jock
One soap star
One former teen star
One Olympic athlete
One current pop singer
One pin-up girl
One curvy girl
One reality star
One younger star (usually Disney related)
So this season we have:
old person: Buzz Aldrin
football player: Chad Ochocinco
soap star: Aidan Turner
former teen star: Shannon Doherty
Olympic athlete: Evan Lysacek
pop singer: Pussycat Doll
Pin-up girl: Pamela Anderson
curvy girl: Niecy Nash
reality star: Kate Gosselin, The Bachelor
younger star: none
I hope others think the same way. It would probably cruel to keep him around long enough to have to do the fast Latin dances but I’d like to see him outlast some annoying people.
Nope, he’s outta there – for which I thank god. Let’s get rid of Kate next, and that will take care of the worst of the “please don’t make me watch this” non-dancing, we can pick off the rest of the mediocre (the jock, the soaper), and go on to watching some entertaining dancing for a few weeks till they coronate the PCD.
I can’t believe that Kate wasn’t even in the bottom two. Somewhere out there, apparently she has a following. Strange, since she not only comes across as unbelievably awkward on the dance floor, but extremely obnoxious in person. I mean, I could get it if she were presenting as a lovely human being, but thus far, she’s only been whiny, self-indulgent, and annoying.
I figured sentiment would prevent what happened last night, although I can’t say I’m terribly sorry. But I was surprised (and, if not for Kate, would have been gratified) that The Bachelor was in the bottom two.
twickster, I don’t think the PCD is a done deal. I think Evan has a shot. That’s the only thing that’s making this season interesting at all - which of the two ringers will win? If Nicole had anyone but Derek or Maks as a partner, I’d say Evan was a shoe-in, but both Derek and Maks have followings of their own, and thus to some extent overcome the fact that Nicole is a Pussycat Doll, which I think will work against her otherwise. On the whole, the voting audience is not a demographic which applauds being beautiful or sexy in and of itself. Models and beauty queens usually go down fast (Brooke being the obvious exception), and remember, Pamela was in the bottom two last week after very good judges’ scores. The Pussycat Dolls are not exactly a super well-known pop group; basically, a PCD is a Playboy Bunny who can carry a tune and dance.
Seeing Kate, Buzz Aldrin and the other real novices dance has been a revelation.
The format of DWTS is somewhat of a sham. It’s really not possible to teach someone a new dance every 5 days. If you grabbed any typical housewife or factory worker they’d look just as terrible as Kate Gosselin or that football player.
DWTS needs people with some performing background. Actors, musicians etc. At least they understand the concept of creating a character on stage.
In a weird & painful way, it is interesting to see complete novices attempt DWTS.
I’m looking forward to the later episodes, that only feature people that can actually dance.