» The Old Dancing With the Stars Thread Options

[ANikki]

The Clyde debate is interesting! Since I have no dancing knowlege/ability whatsoever - it has been interesting to read what some of the dance experienced posters have to say. I've always liked Clyde - dating well back into his NBA years. Which is why I have a hard time believing that he could half-ass anything. The whole issue with the judges bringing up practice time is silly because I can't think of any type of competition where practice time matters (although maybe Clyde is taking a page out of Allen Iverson's book) or where practice logs have to be kept, or where it has any bearing on score (come on, Len gave Clyde a 4!!) I must a lot of learn about DWTS - this is only the second season I've watched from start to finish.

It's true that just because Clyde was good at basketball doesn't mean he should be a good dancer, and while I understand that some peope think that his career in the NBA should have no bearing on how well he does on the show, I disagree. His career in the NBA is why he is on this show, it's what makes him the "star" half of the dancing duo. So, understandably, he's bringing with him a huge NBA fanbase - just as Joey is getting all the rabib NSYNC fans and Billy Ray has probably cornered the market on 'tweens as far as voting goes. Futhermore, Clyde is probably getting all of the voters who once voted for Jerry Rice and Emmitt Smith because they're all high profile male athletes. If the producers wanted to avoid weaker dancers outlasting better dancers - then they should not allow celebs to compete, and make it more like American Idol, where the contestants have no real solid fanbase to carry them through if they happen to suck (Sanjaya debacle not taken into account. Yikes!).

[Emilie45]

according to the AEG Website , there will be a dwts tour this summer!!!

[shortpplfedup]

As a recent immigrant to the US, it amused me no end to hear all the complaining about how mean Bruno and particularly Len are on DwtS

As someone who is also not American, I do think that American viewers, as well as non-dancer viewers in general tend to be a little oversensitive about 'meanness'. They'd have run crying from some of my dance teachers. I haven't found any of the judges to be 'mean'. Brutal, yes. To excel at anything, you sometimes need to be told exactly how much you suck at doing it. If you wither at that, well yes, maybe it isn't for you. If you use it to push yourself, your effort shows. You may never be the best, but you'll be a damn sight better. I don't know, it just seems a little...wimpy? to me to boohoo that the judges aren't nice enough or that they're picking on somebody. I've almost never disagreed with any comment Len or Bruno has made in 4 seasons of DwtS, and hardly ever disagreed with Carrie-Ann either, although sometimes I find her a little soft and not forceful enough with the criticisms she does put forward.

[rebecca21]

I don't know, it just seems a little... wimpy? to me to boohoo that the judges aren't nice enough or that they're picking on someone...

I think a lot of the questions being raised about the judges are concerned with whether or not they are really independent agents giving a candid critique or whether they are often times mouthpieces for the producers and the producers' agenda. To quote Clyde -- "that sounded a little too rehearsed." And then this unexpected statement from Clyde was followed by knowing laughter and spirited applause from the other contestants.

Not to mention the results show the next night where it was obvious that damage control was being done for the judges with that little scripted exchange between Tom Bergernon and Drew Lachey.

Tom -- Drew, what advice would you give to the contestants?

Drew -- Always listen to the judges... blah blah... more praise for the judges... blah blah

Followed by this imagined comment afterwards backstage:
Drew to the producers: Ok, so ABC will adding me on as a character in one of their sitcoms, right?


*(Which they should have already done anyway, IMO. I think ABC should build a sitcom around Drew Lachey.)

This post has been edited by rebecca21: Apr 16, 2007 @ 1:44 pm.

[Carrick]

I tend to only listen to Carrie-Ann and Bruno with half an ear, considering they don't have ballroom or latin training. At best, they should only comment on things they do know, like timing, line and posture and so forth. When they start talking about the steps, I tune them right out. I have yet to hear Carrie-Ann even name a step in the syllabus.

[rebecca21]

I'm thinking Len may have become besotted from afar with Ian.

This post has been edited by rebecca21: Apr 16, 2007 @ 1:39 pm.

[DarkVamp70]

There are times when the judges seem to push an ABC/producer-led agenda! That's why the judges are lame!! Len and his corny-ass metaphors! Bruno and his histrionics! Carrie-Ann and her harshness on other women! They suck!

[SanLynn]

Len mentioned that he was wondering all of the celebs were getting such similar scores and why there were no standouts.

Maybe if there was at the very least an attempt at accurate scoring he wouldn't have to wonder.

Shut up Len.

[shortpplfedup]

I suppose I just find all the conspiracy theories a bit ridiculous. It's a television programme. I don't think anybody gets 'scripted' or the judges are told what to do or any of that. And I can believe that Drew would, in his own mind, say that listening to the judges is important, because he did always listen to them and take their criticisms into his work with Cheryl. They got on him about his shoulders, and he worked on them. He had the advantage of being a decent natural dancer, but I don't think that he was 'told' to 'big up' the judges.

I just don't agree with the idea that Clyde is being shafted. He sucks, he looks bored, he has zero grace, he gives it almost no effort and his performance skills are close to nil. He doesn't bring character into any of his dances, which is why they all look the same. He isn't working on his fundamentals (hold, posture, core, floor). He's not just bad, he's boring, which is the cardinal sin of any art. Billy Ray is also terrible, but he has three up on Clyde: he's giving it effort, he gets into the character/performance of the dances, and he's working on his fundamentals, so much so that despite his gracelessness and lack of any proper footwork, he's improving his posture from week to week and at the very least is entertaining. I may gag at his dancing, but at least it elicits a reaction from me, which Clyde's fails to do at all.

[Glark]

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