Oh god, now I'm burning in hell for ridiculing poor addledpunchbrained Evander. Didn't realize the dude's noggin was officially damaged. Maybe that's tied into to the face spasms he was having, or should I say I hope they are connected so there's a rational explanation for them.

I was watching their feet too. Their professional partners were doing the steps, but the celebs for the most part shuffled their feet and shook their hips.

How much talking will TB doing when they're down to 3 couples? I'm afraid, very afraid for that final episode.

What I thought was that six different couples were going to dance each week and the winner from each of the shows were going to compete at the end to determine "the best of the "best"" like The Swan. That would make more sense, but they probably couldn't find 36 c-lebrities willing to participate.


I feel the same way. Kelly & Bruno did more actual dancing, that I saw, and not as much "flowers" as the judges accused them of.

And, no, they never introduced the judges or tell us how the actual final scoring was going to be tabulated or what they would win at the end of this monstrosity. The whole show was probably thrown together in a week (during which time the couples were learning their dances) and found the judges two days before air time. Loved the Latin judge.

ETA: I recorded it for someone who can't watch it because she's teaching jazz dance--for real.

It's funny 'cause it's true! I guess getting an "18" on the first show gives the remaining contestants something to aspire to ("Maybe we'll get a '19' next week!") and the production people another week to make up more voting paddles.


Don't forget Motion! Denny was nothing without Motion.

I love J. Peterman. He should be on every C-list reality show. He even made me love "Celebrity Spelling Bee." That being said, if I was going to vote, I'd vote for Evander because I felt so bad for him.

The lovely Joey Mac was on local radio here in Boston (where they ripped the crap out of him for this, I'm sure - I only heard the very end) said "just a big ole tall trophy" in response to what they're competing for.

Don't forget the 42 closeups of Trista.

Hmmmmmmm. I dunnoooo.

Can it be that the show wasn't cheesy enough? Or hit the right notes, but hit enough flat notes to lose all rhythm or charm? I'd start with the judging. There's too much of it, first commentary, then kiss & cry, then scoring. The Italian guy's hilarious and the lady's perfectly sober with her critique, though she needs a little more personality. They should tighten the process up. Maybe it's the live format, made necessary for the viewer voting angle, that's the problem, but it felt uneven.

RachelRSL? Pass the Geritol. I couldn't have told you which boy band Joey came from.

My favorite cheesy thing about that show was how the male expert and female host (first Juliet Prowse, then Sandy Duncan) would "converse" while never, ever making eye contact, because they were reading the cue cards to the side of the others' head.

My second favorte thing was a couple, I think from Montreal, that always placed high; the woman had enormous shoulders and my best friend and I were convinced she was a man.

Topic? Yes, they could have introduced the judges. Perhaps they're saving that for a week with fewer dances. I hope that when they get down to three couples, each couple does two dances.

You owe me a new keyboard.

Someone mentioned Evanders brain damage. I read an article once that said Ballroom dancing helps reduce risk of Alzheimer's and Dementia because it combines physical activity w/mental activity (memorizing the steps, etc.). Maybe this is like, dance therapy for Evander.

I'm no expert in ballroom either, even though Mr. Pixel and I take lessons. We just know lots of basic stuff. But since when does someone get a good score for looking like they're having fun? The only positive to Evander's performance was that he looked like he was having a good time. Dance wise, he did NOTHING.

Also, my dance teacher told me that women just naturally seem to pick up dance steps faster and easier than men, so that's why even though it seems like it's harder stuff and more complicated for the women, they don't have as much difficulty doing it. Beside, we all know who the crowd is looking at. US! Not the guys.

Kelly & Bruno received two "4"s and one "5" to equal 13.

Pass the Geritol, y'all. I know who NKOTB are, but they definitely weren't my teen idols.

I don't see much ballroom dancing or cheerleading on anymore. A&E also had some BRD on, but not so much anymore. And ESPN2 is now too uppity to show competitive cheerleading or aerobics anymore. That comp. aerobics was some funny stuff.

I was late coming home from work so I thought I'd missed the show, but my roommate knows what a cheese I am for ballroom dancing, so she taped it for me. AWESOME!

Man, I used to love watching CBD on PBS, there was this one team that the woman had this short flaming red hair, and they were baaadaaaaasssss. I think they retired from competition in one of the last programs I watched, but I can't remember their names for the life of me. Anyway, I hope they show up to guest or maybe next year, if they focus more on Latin.

I have to agree that Kelly got hosed, John and Joey Mac were awesome, Evander was not good but adorable, normal-sized Rachel is a good thing to see, and Trista needs to die right now, or at least get "accidentally" kicked in the teeth by her dildo-haired (hee!) partner.

mrsdalgleish, that show is the only reason why I could tell they were doing the American Smooth and American Latin styles last night instead of international ballroom and Latin. I remember that Canadian couple and the couple from New Jersey ----they coulda danced circles around the dancers and celebs from last night.

I think they were going for a "American Idol" flavor in terms of the judges last night. I'm still waiting for the judges to call them "Dawgs"....

The only reason I can is because I have a little sister who was into them. I remember she even had a pillowcase with their pictures. That's kind of creepy, if you ask me. And you didn't. Oh, and I used to love Juliet Prowse "commentating" on ballroom dancing. Classic TV.

As for me, I was fascinated with the concept from the beginning, and am mainly watching it because of my love for Peterman. I know his real name, but can't seem to use it. I voted for him and his lovely partner online. I also think it's sweet that they matched him with a more mature dancer.

I'm hoping the dancing improves over the weeks. I can't help wondering what exactly they were doing for 5 weeks, if that was the best dancing some of them could put together.

Count me in as another huge fan of Strictly Ballroom, which is why I'm watching this show, and also because I love summer reality cheese. I liked it overall, but I loathe Tom Bergeron, and there was much too much of him.

I believe Trista's partner actually said: "I love being worshipped." Shup up, five-head.

I'm with everyone who loved Evander. He looked like he was having a good time. And during the practice session, he was wearing shorts and black patent leather shoes with white socks. Hee. John Hurley is my overall favorite though. And his partner seemed cool. If I cared enough to vote, I vote for them.

Trista was surprisingly stiff given that she's a dancer. And I thought Rachel did well, but her constant whining and bitching about the hard work is already wearing a bit thin.

Seriously. I'm wondering if the dancing is going to get worse and worse.

" Reality " television & ABC may have another hit on its` hands if last nights` ratings`re any indication, DWTS was the highest rated show on network TV last night as reported here http://www.thefutoncritic.com/cgi/ratings.cgi?id=wednesday

They were dancing for 5 weeks before hand, not one? Sheesh...ok, it is hard work, but still--5 weeks?

I was waiting for instructions from Patrick Swayze's Johnny to Baby to keep her head up, chest out, etc, especially during the Kelly & Bruno training segment since she did fling into him a couple times during rehearsals. Where are the lake rehearsals? Damn, I feel old!

Pass some over here too. Now if Shawn Cassidy, Andy Gibb (RIP), Donny Osmond, or Rex Smith were out there I'd be squeeing. I was all about the Bay City Rollers and not NKOB.

I used to watch Juliet Prowse and Sandy Duncan on the PBS show with my mom, who is a former ballroom dance instructor. Of course, at that point I only knew Juliet as the lady from the pantyhose commercials, but Mom told me she used to be a great dancer.

I loved this show. I thought all the men were adorable.

I notice that several people have commented on how "big" Rachel Hunter is. Do you mean big as in tall, or big as in fat? Because I know she has struggled with her weight for the last few years and when I saw her I turned to my husband and said I thought she was looking slim and healthy. And, of course, she can't do anything about her height. If she were with a taller partner, perhaps she wouldn't look like such an Amazon.

That said, Rachel's routine was much more "flowery" than the Soap Opera actress's. I agreed with the judge who said he didn't see much waltzing in that routine.

Other than Trista, I don't want to see anyone voted off! This is the perfect summer show-light, cheesy, and entertaining.

Oh, I was a huge NKOTB Fan-girlie. It just makes me feel ancient when someone says they loved Joey when they were 5....I was in college! She was in kindergarten! I refuse to accept the fact that I'm that old. I suspect Joey will go far because he's a pretty good dancer and the two of them make such a cute couple. (Did someone mention up-thread that he's married? Because I want him to hook up with his fan-girlie partner!)

I really hope we ditch Trista or Kelly this week. Kelly seemed to have zero personality and Trista...well...she's Trista! I don't mind Rachel sticking around for a while. I liked her on the The Real Gilligan's Island (yes, I watched it *hangs head in shame*). She seemed like a decent, down-to-earth person. It's unfortunate that she towers over her dance partner because it makes her look, somehow, less graceful. If that makes any sense.

Kelly should be used to working with a partner who thinks he's God's gift - after all she works with Maurice Benard and Steve Burton on a daily basis. It must suck for her to have to work with assholes day in and day out and then go to something that is supposed to be a little more "fun" and end up with Alec the Iceman.

It was me and sadly tis true: he got married on August 8, 2003. And for me to know that information shows how hardcore a fan I was and how sad I'm truly am.

And for kicks I'll in this info: Donnie appeared in a movie that shown at Sundance called "Marilyn Hotchkiss' Ballroom Dancing and Charm School." You can only guess what his character is: a egotistical wannabe ballroom dancer.

As for Rachel...hell, I'd kill to have her body but she needs to work on that hair. It was like she was driving around with the top down on her car.

Boy, I thought she looked just fine.



Absolutely agree. She is IMHO ideally proportioned for her height. Girl has curves and looks good.



While I don't disagree at all. For me, she is way down on the list of those that should go into permanent exile from my TV. Leading the list now are Rob & Amber. Please, please no more of them. Omarossa comes in 2nd.

On topic. I'll watch some more. I think the old English dude in the middle is trying to be the older Simon Coldwell.

But the lake rehearsals were used to practice lifts. Didn't that judge say there will be no lifts? That cracked me up. I wanted to start chanting: "No new steps! No new steps!"

I hadn't commented on this earlier, but I thought she looked slim and fit during the rehearsals and large during her dance. I'm not sure if it had to do with the relative size of her partner or the flowing dress. But in the rehearsal spandex workout wear you could definitely see that her thighs and glutes were solid muscle. We should all be so lucky.

At least Rob and Amber are entertaining and good at the shows they participate in. Trista's just there with her vapid grin.

My sister used to take dance lessons from Alex's parents dance studio in San Francisco, and he would dance/teach there sometimes. She confirms is as assy as he appeared on the show, very full of himself, and thinks he is all that and a bag of chips. small voice: he is HOT though...

Evander's partner (Edyta) is his dance partner and current girlfriend.

My sister also met Rachel's partner at dance competitions, and he is supposedly nice enough in person, at least nicer than most of the dancer guys, so there could be some coaching there.

I think so too. The judges held back in case someone else was better, and no one topped them.

I tended to agree mostly with the judges. I thought Joey and partner were overall best - he seemed to be enjoying himself and got into it. J Peterman was awesome because he put some flair into it. Evander was just fun to watch. For the women, I thought Rachel was good and I agree with the comments about her undersize partner. I liked her leg lifts and overall, I thought she looked decently graceful. Trista was pretty and pink and way too smiley and that walk off at the end was stupid.

I don't think Kelly was screwed. Of all the couples, I found hers to be the least interesting to watch. She looked stiff, uncomfortable and she bobbled a step or two. I didn't think it flowed, I didn't get that lovely airy feeling a waltz should have. And the chemistry with her partner sucked. And of course, the idiot hostess there mentions how much they seem to like each other. Really? I was getting full on hate there.

Tom Bergeron can shut it.

I forgot to mention this earlier, but when the judges were all "no lifts," I immediately turned to Mr. Fraoch and said (in the quavery Baby Houseman voice) "We didn't do the lift, but it was good." And then I booed, because, dammit, lifts are awesome! I want those "crowd-pleasing steps" and illegal moves!

Man, I have GOT to stop posting in this thread.

Me, too! I couldn't watch it any more after she died - Sandy Duncan was just not the same.

When it first came on, I was under the impression that the teams were going to do both dances, and I was disappointed that they didn't.

I'm truly sad, because I'm about to correct you. Joe (I hate that he is going by Joey now!) was actually married on August 9, 2003.

God I hope Joe stays until the end, so I can get my fix of him on a weekly basis!

When hubby and I were first married, we sometimes watched that show together! It was AWESOME! Hadn't thought of that show in years... ah, the memories.
I'm a big fan of old movies, so I knew Juliet Prowse from some of those, and also knew that she'd been involved with Frank Sinatra as well. She still looked pretty damn fabulous when she hosted that show. I believe that she tragically died from cancer sometime in the last 10 years?

Anyhoo...ballroom dancing's just fun to watch, IMHO. And it is just pure sexy.

BTW...my era of music was, I believe, between Bay City Rollers and NKOTB. It would be more the Kiss, Journey, AC/DC, The Cars era. Though, none of those guys were lookers, that's for sure! So I can understand you Joey/NKOTB fans! He's awfully adorable. And he can shake that booty, too! Very niiiiiiiiice.

She is Danish, the "e" in "Charlotte" is not silent in Danish. Coincidentally, her ex partner (and ex boyfriend I think) is a judge on the Danish version of DWTS, Satuday is the big finale and I care wayyyy too much about the outcome - I'm kinda sad I can't watch the American version.

Just in case anyone was as curious as I was, here are some photos of Joey and his wife.

Is Trista as insufferable on this show as she is in everything else in life? Because if so, I'm not watching. I really loathe her.

GucciHoochie Thanks for the correction...I hit 8 instead of 9.

John O'Hurley's recently remarried, too [sigh].

Hee. Sorry to make you feel old, Rachel RSL. The Joey love knew no age limits.

Is there any way to know how the internet voting is going? Is it an all week thing, or only last night? I forgot last night to vote last night, but I still want to vote for Joey because I love him, and because I thought he was the best and Kelly because I felt so bad for her.

They did a piss-poor job of explaining the voting procedures, how the judges' scores would work, how long the phone lines were open for, how long internet voting was available, whether you could vote more than once, etc. The production values are worse than American Idol, and Tom Bergeron is no Ryan Seacrest.

And I mean that as an insult rather than a compliment, which means the apocalypse is nigh.

I thought the show was fun for the most part. I'll definitely check it out again next week.

As long as Joey and Ashley, John and Charlotte, Evander and Edyta, and Kelly and her partner advance I'll be satisfied.

So......is there anyone else besides me [pervert] who while watching this was trying to guess if any couples are going to ummm, do the horizontal mambo before this is over? I think Kelly and her partner will totally do it. [/pervert]

In other news, Defamer rips on Trista. A circulating email supposedly from Trista herself.

Add me to the list of ballroom dance/cheerleading competition watchers! I used to love Dance Fever and Solid Gold. I have Girls Just Want to Have Fun and both Breakin' movies on DVD. Should I be admitting all this?

Joey and his partner were so cute that I didn't even notice that notBeyonce was singing. They seemed to dance pretty well together - and I'm not just saying that because my sister and I sing "I Still Believe in Santa Claus" from the NKOTB Christmas album every year.

I guess my question is are we/the judges supposed to vote according to who is the best celebrity dancer or which couple is the best? Evander did look like he was having a good time, which I liked, but honestly when the judges started talking about his "footwork" I was perplexed. Footwork implies moving the feet, and for most of the routine, his feet were planted firmly on the ground while he bent his knees and moved his arms. There was no footwork to speak of!

I just wanted to smack that fake smile off of Trista's face. I was specifically watching her feet (whenever I could see them peeking out from under that pink dress that reminded me of the Barbie that came with a pink maribou boa) and for someone who was coordinated enough to be a professional cheerleader, she's pretty sucky at waltzing.



Hee, that immediately made me think of Baby dancing in her tennis shoes then the transition to the silvery high heels!

ETA: Is it weird that Joey was reminding me of Hugh Grant last night?

One of the things I did like about Trista's partner is that he said even though she acts like she's just doing this for fun, she's really very competitive. Hee!

Well, if it makes you Trista haters feel any better, according to my inside source (a friend who is a competitive dancer and owns a dance competition), Trista is paired with the biggest arrogant jerk of the lot. My friend took some private lessons with Louis and said that he's a huge a-hole, and that he dumps his partner every year for a new one.

She also complained a lot about the judging and the technique on the show, but what do you expect? She's a lot more into it than I am. I wouldn't know the right things to look for at all. She did say that Kelly was really awful, though.

Evander is dating that panther chick?

Nope. I kept thinking he was the love child of Hugh and some random Kennedy spawn.

Speaking of the celebs reminding us of other celebs, don't Trista and her partner look like brother and sister? What with the giant foreheads, and all.

I don't think so...isn't he currently married? In his DWTS bio it says "A father of ten children (yikes!), Evander currently lives in Atlanta with his third wife Cindy."

Edited to add:

And...


It reminded me of my father. Shiver.

A quick note from an ABC release on The Futon Critic, ABC has scheduled a replay of the first DWtS episode this Sunday at 7 p.m. EDT in place of "America's Funniest Home Videos."

Wow, you guys sure got busy "overnight"!

Next week the couples will all dance again, and at the end of the episode, in no particular order, they'll announce the first 4 through to the round next week. Based on that week's dancing scores rank and last weeks home viewer voting rank. Leaving two poor schmucks with the lowest 2 totals.

The home viewer rank is more important than the dancing rank. So in the case of a tie, the one with the higher home viewer rank wins out. Then they announce the loser, who gets to do a farewell dance.

And don't think the less contestants you get that the show will get any shorter. The Oz version was meant to be approx 1 hour. But between all the lame jokes, guest singers/dancers etc it followed the common trend to go over it's scheduled time. Now our version is at least 90 minutes long each week. But then again we had 10 dancers last time 'round.

So this means you'll get more craptacular host jokes. BTW you only have 3 judges??? so there's 25% less judge snark? What a shame.

BTW in the 2 finales for Oz, all dancers return for a big dance-a-rama show.

The Mrs. and I watched because she's a GH fan (although working interferes with such guilty pleasures...damn growing up sucks). Even though I'm not a soap fan, I have to say that I agree with all above that Kelly got hosed. They critiqued her on things that they didn't say a thing to anyone else about.

ITA on the problems getting through--is ABC controlling the voting by limiting calls that get through? (Nice to see my grassy knoll will still be in use this summer, even after Idol ends...)

Another source for ratings. They do seem good.

I have to admit that Trista's letter to her fans doesn't bother me. I'm not a big fan of hers, but the show is about voting, and all she did was tell her fans about how to vote for her. Does that make her desperate and famewhorish? Yes. But then, that's the reason most of these people went on this show anyway.

Evander isn't dating the panther chick, she's currently dating Kelly's partner Alec.

Me, I can't get enough of Trista and want to see her on my TV more. (Ducks objects thrown directly at head).

Anyway, I thought she was great. My only criticism would be that she smiled too much during her routine. A more serious, focused look on her face would present it much better.

I totally agree, especially during a waltz...it must be the cheer experience that did it. Those girls always have that wooo let at me and my sexy smile thing going on during games. I think she'll do much better at the Cha Cha, given her past dance experience. As far as I know, she's the only one with more "professional" dance experience and I'd like to see her again. She's wicked annoying, but I want to see the good dancing. And I loved me some Charlotte and JP, they rocked it.