TipsyTraveler, I really didn't like how she stopped to take it out of her mouth though! Isn't the first lesson of the stage to just ignore it, to not break "role" and fix your damn hair? It was when I did high school theater.

Thanks for all the support on the Rachel Hate-train! I'll have one (or four) of those martinis!!

John O'Hurley is only 48?!! I figured him to be much closer to AARP age, especially with all that white hair. I should know better, because a lot of us Irish go gray very early (my brother's hair started turning white around 30.)

Anyway, I looked up everyone else's birthdates on IMDB.

John O' Hurley 9 Oct '56
Rachel Hunter 9 Sep '69
Kelly Monaco 23 May '76
Evander Holyfield 19 Oct '62
Joey McIntyre 31 Dec '72
Trista - who cares? I didn't even bother looking her up.

Re: Kelly - that girl has got to go! She may be sexy...I don't dispute that. But she wasn't dancing..she was grinding during the Rhumba (8:00 replay last night). She is doing the steps, but isn't getting it to the point where it looks natural. Problem is, she has a great, bubbly personality and will get lots of fan support for that. She will most likely beat Rachel, not sure about Joey. And her hair should be up...at least to the point where it doesn't detract from the dancing. And removing it, again depends on the detracting factors. Is it more distracting to have it there or to bring attention to it by moving it? But more than the "bangs" area needs to be pulled up.

Re: Rachel - I really like her. I think next week, her key will be to do some more "dangerous" stuff like the falls, which no way in hell Kelly should attempt. Just don't make a big deal out of it during the pre-interviews, so it impresses people without looking calculated.

Re: Joey - he can move, but doesn't have the discipline for this style of dancing. NKOTB was a little more free-form and definitely more modern. He soared when he was able to turn the dance into a performance...enjoyable, but was it ballroom dancing or a scene out of For The Boys?

Re: J Peterman - Really like him. I think I agree and give the edge to Rachel for the last two dances, but I like how he and his partner fit together and have a similar style. I can't wait to see him step a bit out of the "elegant" style and try the Rio dancing....since we didn't see him Rhumba. It will either win him the entire competition, or even the playing field a bit more.

Phew! There's my 2 cents! I didn't plan on watching this but then people at work talked about it and about liking Kelly and I, of course, had to see what they were talking about and one thing led to another.....Gah! Damn reality TV for drawing me in time after time!

Viennese Waltz and Samba are both "travelling" dances, where you're supposed to show a lot of movement across the floor and around the room, so perhaps that will prevent Jonathan from making Rachel pose too much.

However, it also means that Kelly can't just stand there and writhe either like she did in the Rumba.

The guys will be fine...although Joey's posture will definitely get in the way in these dances. Ashly is going to have to crack the whip whether Joey likes it or not. She should just belt him into one of those "frame trainers" like the guy wore in the rain in the Japanese version of "Shall we Dance?" (I think watching this movie should be required homework for us all :-) ;-) )

Viennese Waltz, in my opinion, is rather difficult. In the "Standard" version, there's not many figures, but in order to really move you have to be more precise than most beginners can manage. And the "American" style version, with the underarm turns and spins etc. is even crazier in my book. But Jonathan is a previous US Rising Star Smooth winner and has had various beginning-through-advanced Pro/Am students dancing that style, so at least he'll know what to do to choreograph for Rachel and make her look good. I'm not so sure about Alec and Ashly on this dance.

That said, Alec will surely be able to put together a mean Samba for Kelly. It's a Latin dance, and the Latin dances are his forte'. Based on this week's Jive, he seems to have gotten the hang of not over-choreographing Kelly, which will help.

Charlotte will do great with John, I'm sure, but John needs to watch the hammieness. And, based on what I saw and heard when I was down there, I actually think the two of them and their respective significant others are all friends. It really is all very sweet and innocent despite how it looks on TV!

Until last night, I was okay with Joey. I understand that he wanted to spice up the routine and make it more fun, but it seemed like he took advantage of Ashly's crush/niceness/star-struckedness(?) to railroad her.

Ashly's the professional, but he just sort of took over. I wouldn't be at all surprised if she gave in on some key points despite her better judgment, and those key points could very well have affected the judges opinion of their performance.

I can't remember...is this the first time they've ever been placed lower than 2nd by the judges? If so, then Joey's pushiness may be partly to blame.

That's a good point, CalumetK - although I did think his suggestion was a good one. Didn't he actually make her cry at one point? Or did she just look like she was crying?

Reuters article on ratings:
ABC still 'Dancing' with ratings win Wednesday

I'm really enjoying this show. The judges are all great -- each has knowledge, a interesting style and persona . Bruno so far is my favorite but I'm keen on the other two also. Especially the woman. Her integrity is the most evident of all of the judges and is a welcome addition.

I do hate everything about the host, Bergeron, though. He has no redeeming qualities for me. Being able to come up with an occasional funny line does not offset his overall jaded and wet blanket demeanor. And the way he steps on the judges comments introduces an inexplicable rudeness to the proceedings and makes me loathe him even more. He just seems like he wandered onto the wrong show somehow. However, I like the cohost. She seems sweet and good natured and adds sparkle and energy to the show.

The introductory dance footage added this week seemed good in theory, but unfortunately did not work in actuality, IMO. Rather than enhancing the evening, I think it undermined the performances of the contestants. During the previous weeks, it was they who would unfold and define whatever dance they were doing. It was more magical somehow to discover it through them than to have the comparison with experts seen doing it first.

I do, though, now have an awakened desire to have the opportunity to see a show where no one dances but the professionals. Maybe some special two-hour extravaganza scheduled separately. Or coverage of actual ballroom competition at the highest ranks.

So far my favorite contestant is John O'Hurley. Because while he takes the whole thing as a hoot and manages to share his sense of humor with the audience, he nevertheless brings 100% effort and passion to his dancing.

However, Rachel Hunter is, IMO, by far the best dancer among the contestants. She is in a separate universe from the others. She's not just executing choreographed steps but deeply experiencing and responding to the music. She also brings a real sense of the love of movement to her dancing.

And I'm kind of glad Trista is gone. There was something somehow very overmedicated about her relentless yet disconnected smile.

I dunno. It is cheese-whiz, after all, so it's always gonna come out of the canister like that. I agree that I hate him, but he matches. So I dunno. I remember they'd tried doing an Iron Chef series with William Shatner and it came out way too ironic.

Actually, John O'Hurley would be the perfect host. A female judge who's maybe more grande dame-ish would be better, too, and the older male judge should be more stern. The wacko guy is perfect. If there's room to play it's with the hostess, and there I would turn to my ringer, Kathy Griffin. As for contestants, cue the music now. Now. Quickly! Dammit! ...As for contestants...

...Faye Dunaway.

katie19 your wish is granted...I have been hearing that "Championship Ballroom Dancing" is coming back to PBS. Apparantly they will be taping the professional events at the Ohio Star Ball this November in Columbus. Usually the show airs on PBS the following February. So it's quite a ways off, but it seems to be coming!

Also, depending on where you live, you can go to dance competitions and see some of the pros on DWtS competing live and in person -- and some top-level amateurs who are as good as some of these pros too! The competitions just haven't been that well promoted outside of the dancesport world, but there are well over 100 of them every year in the USA alone.

There is another reality TV show about competitive ballroom dancing in the works, it should show up on TV soon since its finale is being taped this weekend at the Yankee Classic competition in Boston. The show is called "Ballroom Boot Camp" and takes a bunch of actual beginners (not stars) and preps them for a competition. I don't know much about the exact format of the show, though.

I must say that I am a frankly a bit suprised that DWtS has caught on like it has. But I'm happy about it and I love the show.

Additional comments edited in:

I've beeh thinking about why DWtS has succeeded when other ballroom competitions on TV have failed. The "reality" aspect of it is key -- I think people are more interested in seeing B-list celebrities risk looking silly than pro (or even top amateur) dancers they've never heard of and so have no connection to. Back in 1999-2000 a bunch of high-level made-for-tv dance competitions were shown on NBC, ESPN, and A&E, but the ratings just didn't "take." This time around, it's a whole 'nother story. Also, in DWtS, each couple dances their number alone, rather than the "group" competitions that you usually see in dancesport or on "Championship Ballroom Dancing."

Be sure to watch it more than once, Barkley! The first time you just can't catch everything...I think it's even funnier the 2nd, 3rd, 4th (etc!) times that it's watched :)

I'm a little surprised by all the Rachel hate. I find her very likeable! And I think she's incredibly graceful.

Oooo, I'd LOVE to see Steve Martin or Brian Boitano on this show! Great idea!

So did I. I liked John's performance too but don't think he will be in trouble.



AARP age is 50. So he's just 2 years away.

Alec did have that weasely Federline look last night. I thought maybe I had Chaotic on the brain, but apparently it wasn't just me!

Bwah to whoever mentioned Jonathan Antin doing the hair for this show. Just imagine - all the women would have "babe hair" hanging in their faces. Oh wait, Kelly already has that look. Someone needs to tell her that one teeny little bobby pin isn't enough. She has had her hair sticking to her face and in her mouth for two weeks in a row. She probably thinks that she can hair fling with the best of them (see Charlotte) and she probably thinks that her hair is just adding to her sexual chocolate, but it looks messy and distracting. She looks like a sweaty second grader on the playground, especially when she starts fishing around to try to get it out of her face.



Word! This week she did improve, but she still isn't as good as Joey or John. Besides the foobs flying around, I was distracted by her flicking which was sloppy. She looked like she was trying to shake dog shit off the bottom of her shoe. And although improvement is good, I don't think that Joey and John should be penalized because they started off at a higher level than Kelly. If we're going to give points just for trying, then Evander should have been allowed to stay because he looks like he's been working his ass off. To no effect, but still.

The other reason I really dislike her is that this week when Rachel was being interviewed backstage, Kelly was standing right behind her staring at the camera with total bitchface. She looked like the bitchier, less attractive younger sister of Holly Marie Combs.

I agree that Ashly's outfit didn't really go with Joey's uniform. That dress did her no favors either. She looked wide around the middle (as another poster mentioned upthread) and since she definitely didn't look fat in her yellow dress from the first week, I blame the unflattering pink costume.



The same thing when Ashly started speaking backstage. Lisa moved the microphone in front of Ashly for about two seconds and then snatched it back while Ashly was still talking.

ETA: I just remembered that one of the rehearsal studios had a sign that said something like, "If you smell, we can tell!" Hee!

ETA2: And what's with Toxic being used on the two summer shows I am watching? Haddaway performed it last week on Hit Me Baby One More Time and now on Dancing with the Stars? It's a Britney conspiracy!

Hee. How sad is it that I totally remembered that from my fangirl days? (and Jordan? May 17, 1971! I can't remember where I put my car keys in the morning, but at least I've got those all-important NKOTB birthdays down pat!)

I think that Kelly's hair is pretty, but she needs to put it up if she's unable to ignore it when it flies in her face. She broke what little flow she had at least twice to take it out of her face/mouth.

Joey's pushiness sort of turned me off in the beginning, too. They've done well enough so far with the judges that he should have complete faith in Ashly's abilities. I'm afraid that he will try to overtake her instruction even more now that he's seen that they were placed in the bottom two by viewers. I hope she's able to assert herself with him when she needs to. That said, I still thought their routine was great and very fun to watch, and he redeemed himself a bit with his comments at the end, saying that Ashly's willingness to let him lend suggestions is a sign of what a good instructor she is. They'd better stick around...I won't really be happy with anyone else but Joey and John in the final two.

I don't mind Tom Bergeron that much, except when he keeps cutting the judges off, especially Bruno. Why are they in such a hurry? So they can cut to Lisa Canning and have her ask the contestants the exact same questions that Tom just asked them two minutes before? She bugs.

Back to the future contestant speculation...I think I read once that Alan Cumming was on an ABC show that didn't get picked up. He should come on this show! He would be awesome. I love him!

zigletto and/or ziglettospal, since you were there, the opening claims "Live from Hollywood." Is it actually being shot in Hollywood proper or is it an euphenism for a studio somewhere in the general vicinity?

The only person I can think of for a second go at this would be Rob (Sam, we're talking to you) Lowe, because, damn, the boy needs something to get some guaranteed face time after the way his last few series have disappeared.


ETA: Thanks ziglettospal. I was hoping for something with "Manhattan" and "Beach" in the address, but alas, it was not to be.

IseutLaBrune, excellent idea! Alan Cumming has exactly the right sense of cheeky humor for a show like this. And he's a talented guy in his own right.

I don't hate Tom Bergeron but I didn't care to see the judges interrupted as they were. I, for one, am very interested in what they have to say.

The address we went to is CBS Television City / 7800 Beverly Blvd. / Hollywood, CA Yes, it really is being done at CBS, but broadcast on ABC. Interesting...I guess it was just a matter of who had open studio space.

Rob Lowe would fun, but if we're going to get Brat Packy then I'd much rather see Robert Downey Jr. And think of all the heartwarming stories they could tell about how dancing helps him stay clean, or something to that effect.

Edit/Addition:
Alan Cumming is awesome, but isn't he much too A-list for this show? I'd love to see him though...maybe even as the host! Now that would be something, but then he's really too good for this....

I'm on the Rachel hate train. Bought my ticket about 5 minutes into the first episode. She is not a good dancer, she is not Cyd Charisse, and her lines aren't that good. What on earth are they talking about? So she can do the splits, I don't think it's pretty at all. Bitch wants to show off her damn legs, do a 6:00 panche and hold it. Then you can tell me you can dance.

Well, that's off my chest. But not off Kelly's!

On some skate fans message boards, there is talk about "Skate with the Stars." Yeah, Rachel, I'm talking to you. I challenge you!

Skating with Celebrities

On our local version of DWTS, the winners caused a lot of "are they or aren't they" speculation, partly because of their great chemistry and partly because the professional was very affectionate towards his partner. Turned out he was gay though so perhaps all the touching etc. is just a common thing among dancers?

I would say that touching among competitive dancers is quite common. I practice with my partner -- who I am not involved with -- about five hours a week (that's not much compared to the stars). We dance "Standard" ballroom, so we're always in the traditional ballroom hold like you saw with John & Charlotte in the Quickstep. So anyway, that's five hours a week holding hands, in each other's arms, torsos lightly pressed up against each other. And you know what, it's not provocative or titillating at all. (I kind of view him as a piece of sporting equipment.) However, partly because we are so accustomed to the touching and body contact, we tend to be very hugging and hand-holdy when we aren't dancing -- especially during the excitement of competition. (The first time we won an event my partner jumped up and down, threw his arms around me, and planted a kiss on my cheek. This is considered normal in dancesport circles, and not an indication that there's something goin' on.)

Every time Bruno mentions Cyd Charisse I think about having "Star Trek:Deep Space Nine"'s Nana Visitor on the show. She's the right level of D-list star at this point and she's Cyd Charisse's niece!

BWAH!!

I'm bummed I missed the beginning of last night's show, so I only got to see the last 2 dancers. I hope they show a rerun this week so I can see the yellow train wreck that was E&E.

I was quite surprised when Joey leapfrogged over whatsherface's head.

I so wanted to see a Mr. Slave/Paris Hilton incident.

I'm sad to see Evander go. I liked his attitude. But the real reason is probably I finally found someone with two left feet worse than mine. I saw Holyfield in Morton's in Beverly Hills last night around 8 pmish. He was with a big entourage and seemed to be in a good mood. So I thought he survived the cut. Then I get home and watched my Tivo'd episode, and nope, he's gone. At least he was able to have a good time at dinner.

I find Kelly very sexy. I think she has no shot against the statuesque Rachel Hunter, but I can hope.

Ditto all the comments about the annoying mugging of J Peterman. He's a character actor that plays a character even in real life. Gah.

I'm kind of wishing we can see some new competitors each week. I thought the show lacked something with just the the remaining couples. I want to see new people try new things.

I'm probably alone in this observation...

I finally figured out who Jonathan reminds me of: actor Jimi Mistry.
And I think that Lisa whatsername has been hosting shows on Animal Planet the last few years, unless I've got her confused with someone else.

Ugh, so I guess I'll have to see Joey flopping about again. He was so unbelievably sloppy this week although I absolutely love his partner.

Rachel always looks like she's about to break down during any non-dancing segments. I like her style, and hope she relaxes a little since she wasn't at the bottom this week.

I am very much looking forward to John and Charlotte kicking butt again!

I just tuned in to the show next week, mostly because of Alec and Edyta. I actually have no clue who any of the celebs are. Yes, I'm sad.

I was beyond thrilled to see Edyta go. I know she's an awesome dancer, but I'm still not over her calling me "Hey you short girl" for six months. And I think she kind of minded my comments to her as well.

And I don't think Alec and Kelly are still in only because of the GH fanbase. Oddly enough Alec has his own fanbase here and as far as I know they're all voting for him.

Personally, I'm hoping for a John and Charlotte win because they rock.

Okay, now you have to spill what your comments were. I live for behind the scenes gossip.

Pretty please?

In all fairness to Bergeron, who totally sucks, Evander DID start this - he called himself a "jive turkey" during the rehearsal clip. And one really annoying trend on this show is the host repeating quips the celebs have made, because the hosts are too dumb to ad lib on their own.


Took this GH fan a sec, but I'm guessing you're referring to Maurice Benard.

I am the engineer, driving the Rachel Hate Train (or RHT Express, dare I hope?) She is totally banking on her long legs and ability to do splits, arch sexily. etc - a total poser. And I think the male judges are about to wet themselves imagining other scenarios involving her legs.

And that Peterman bugging has got to go. Hee! I typed "bugging," when I meant "mugging." And it fits. Part of his appeal in this contest is how elegant and scrumptious he looks in a tux.

Anyone notice that one of the has beens on Hit Me Baby blah blah blah, I think on the 1st episode, sang a cover of "Toxic" that was far better than Britney or the DWTS "singer" could ever aspire to?

One more thing - anyone notice during the 1st show, when Lisa CanMe went backstage with Joey and Ashly, that Joey made the very appropriate quippish observation that he felt just like a figure skater, being interviewed right after performing, while waiting for scores? - AKA the "Kiss and Cry" --(That was the gist, anyway - the showy costumes, tension while waiting for scores, camera in your face, etc). And Lisa totally misconstrued it - and said, "Well you don't look like one!", as if figure skaters were some abhorent subspecies. Idiot.

I TiVo the show so that I can fast forward through the hosts' comments. I just watch the training sequences, the dance, and the judges' scores. It's much easier that way.

I'm so excited that next week is Samba! That was my final dance when I took ballroom, two semesters in a row. I love samba so much. And I love watching Viennese Waltz, so I'm excited about next week. Just please please let the music be Strauss, and not some schmaltzy ballad. As far as the samba music, it could be anything. I've done voltas and botafogos on many club floors, because it works.

On second viewing, Peterman bugs even more. But what I really cannot stand is Tom Bergeron. Yes, he can be funny and witty. But more often, he's just so annoying. He asks the judges for comments and doesn't even care to hear what they have to say. Especially if they are negative.

I think Tom favors Peterman. He all but cut Bruno off when Bruno was criticizing them. "Ok. Alright. OK! OK! Alright." So darn irritating. What's the rush?

Fine, I'll ablige. (Note me smiling)

Alec was my dance teacher for two months when I was eight or so. Maybe ten at the most. He wasn't much of a teacher and really liked to yell. Quite a few mothers complained about him. I don't know how it ended, because I left for health reasons. Aka, they kept the windows open and it was giving me a bad flu.

Edyta was my teacher when I returned in eight grade. It was a group of about twenty girls, and she loathed me. She refused to learn my name, never put me in any dances, always gave me parts I couldn't dance. Her favorite thing was to have us spend half the lesson choerographing. The other half was spent with her yelling.

I got fed up and started bitching right back at her. I'm not going to repeat my comments because they had way to many swear words and won't really make sense out of context. Finally, I had it and complained to her boss who not only liked me and remembered me but was also a good friend of my Dad's. And she happened to be Alec's Mom. Edyta took a trip to Poland then, we got a different teacher, I started high school and I quit dance for a year. As far as I know, the group still exists under the new teacher. And they still don't close the stupid windows.

Alec and Edyta are wonderful dancers and I do love seeing them dance. Alec is also a very good upper level coach. He's helped take a few of my friends to nationals. However, I still like his brother better as a lower level coach. And a better personality.

Thank you so much for the inside scoop!!!

As for the Viennese Waltz song selection, I was searching for videos online and saw an competition with "Once upon a December" from the movie "Anastasia". That would be a good choice.

Thanks for the heads up about upcoming programs. I think I'd like to see professional performances, but I really am enjoying this enormously. I think the fun is watching someone TRY, and there being some suspense as to whether it will be amazing or eh.

I'm setting up a "ballroom" keyword wish list on my TiVo.

I have a "ballroom" wishlist and also a "dancesport" wishlist. Just in case. So far they've only triggered an episode of "Rosanne" and another one of "Even Stevens." But that could change! Interestingly enough, the wish lists did not trigger DWtS.

I have a feeling we're going to get schmaltzy pop music for the V. Waltzes. Although, the Goo Goo Dolls' "Iris" makes a nice Viennese Waltz...but I can't imagine it with the singer in the DwtS house band. Grrrrrrr.

The real burning question for me, though, is what kind of trashy get-up will they put Kelly in for the Samba next week? And will she be able to get her legs under her for Samba rolls, arguably the sexiest step in the repetory? It looks like this: imagine the couple in usual dance position, facing each other. Then, as they are travelling, the man bends way forward over the lady while she bends backwards away from him, their lower torsos and hips together. Then, as they continue to move, they roll their upper bodies so that the lady is now bending way forward over the man while he bends backwards away from her. Lather. Rinse. Repeat. Hose the Kelly and/or Alec fans down.

Watching Seinfeld, the one where George takes the book into the bathroom. J Peterman cuts a mean rug in that episode. I knew he was a ringer!

I get the impression the Bergeron is rushing the judges' comments due to time constraints...I could be wrong, but it doesn't sound so much like he doesn't want to hear what they've got to say, as he wants them to make their comment and then stop. Because he's stepped on both positive and negative comments, mostly from chatty Bruno.

I'm not saying it doesn't bug, but I think that TB might be responding to a producer giving him the "hurry up" sign.

I dutifully logged my vote for Kelly again this week and am eagerly awaiting more boobage next week. I hope when the competition is over, Kelly's lurking outside the stage door to deliver a beat down on Carrie Ann Inaba.

Which means they definitely won't use it.

Finished watching the show.

Comment's
Tango:
John O'Hurley seemed like he was trying to emulate Gomez Adams with the facial expressions and only really mugged directly at the camera once. His moves weren't as crisp as they should/could have been. I have to give credit to Jonathan & Rachel for having crisper moves but didn't actually dance as much as J&C. J&C should have gotten higher marks than Rachel & Jon just on their dancier moves. I enjoy J&C's opening with him dragging her.

Jive:
Kelly & Alec--I can see what Carrie Ann meant about hearing the music, but I'll give Kelly a break because I thought her footwork was impressive and didn't wimp out as they did last with with the rumba. Rachel would have looked like Evander if she had had to do the Jive. Kelly needs better support. Edyta's outfit was nearly as revealing and yet she didn't jiggle. Duct tape?

Joey & Ashly--His moves were pretty sloppy compared to hers, but it was a lot of dancing after last week's pretty good quick step. I'm surprised they tied with Evander & Edyta for last place. I didn't really care for the "story" aspect. I wasn't paying 100% attention, but it didn't really seem all they story-like to me.

That was interesting, Lady Lana! I had no idea Edyta worked with such young children... I'm guessing she would interact better with adults.

Do most of the pros have to teach to make a little more money?

I don't think rabid GH fans will ultimately rule the results with a voting bloc. The latest DWTS ratings show 15 million viewers, and GH at best has about 4 million. And that's assuming all 4 million GH viewers are watching and voting, which I doubt.

I think Joey is the best, and Rachel is a close second. I don't get the bitch-hate for Rachel. She was neither her nor there for me until I saw how real and cool she is on The Real Gilligan's Island (I know, I know, shameful). But she rocked! I think she's awesome. Her awkwardness isn't snobbery; it's just human uneasiness.

Ballroom dancing is not a sport where one can earn a living competing. All competitors, whether pro or amateur, have to pay the rent. Most pros (and a fair number of upper level amateurs) do so by teaching. Pay ranges from inexcusably low for a beginning teacher at one of the franchise studios (Fred Astaire, Arthur Murray's, and a few other chains), to reasonable for staff teachers at the above and independent studios, to very good for teachers with reputations of producing good dancers, to practically extortion $ for coaches who are former world champions now teaching in Japan & Hong Kong.

In the US, most competitive pros not only teach, they compete with their students in a division called Pro/Am (isn't logic scary sometimes?). This is what Jon is a champion at...and why he makes Rachel look so good. Admit it, she does look good and he keeps her within her abilities. Teachers/coaches at Charlotte & Louis' level do not do Pro/Am; they train professional and high ranking amateur couples to compete. Charlotte, however, spends most of her lessons in dance position with one or the other of her students, and that is why she's making John look good. Deceptively simple looking choreography with clean posture and great movement across the feet taught in a consistent and insistent manner. Works every time.

Alec & Edyta teach mostly children; this is very difficult teaching and completely different from teaching adults. My hat's off to them, as this is not an area in which I would be effective. It's much more teaching by rote repetition of physical movement, and much less by analysis and explanation. Also, they have no experience of dancing in a Pro/Am situation, which DWTS emulates.

I've changed my tune on Bruno. I liked him much more than Tom B., this week. :)

I wonder what would happen in a final 3 situation where team A wins the judges vote gaining 3 points. Team B comes in second with 2 points and team C last with only 1 point. Now the popular vote is exactly the opposite; C gets 3 points, B 2 again, and A 1. Now we have a 3 way tie of 4 points. Hmmm interesting thought anyway although I'm sure they have something worked out for that type of situation.

I can't stand Lisa, whomever dubbed her 'Dunkleman' several pages ago was spot on. Hee!

I'm on the 'Love Rachel-Hate Kelly' train...all aboard!

Actually, I was in my early teens, so not so much "young". And as far as I know she didn't do much better with the adults either. Her good classes were the more advanced ones. Same goes for Alec. However, it has been a few years since I've been on that dance scene so things may have changed some.

It says on the ABC website that in tie situations, the viewer votes are the tie breaker. Therefore, couple C would be safe and couple A would be going home.

In the absolute unlikely event that two teams would have the exact same number of viewer votes, Len Goodman breaks the tie.

Oh, yes, it's a rip-off. I didn't even listen to the words because I was singing Hernando's Hideaway in my head. I looked up this person (never heard of her before now), and it seems like it's acknowledged to be a rip-off, but more positive terms are used.
Thank you. I knew I wasn't imagining that. Every time I hear that song it drives me crazy because it's so obviously the tune from Fiddler on the Roof.

Man, I am almost sorry Trista got cut, then. I would love to see her squirm and agonize over doing the forbidden movements with someone other than Her Fireman.

Not to mention Lady Saw's version of "Rich Girl" that came out before Gwen's.

Oh, good reason for me to vote for Kelly. I actually thought she did all right this week, but I just wish she'd pin up that twirling, swirling hair. From her practice clips she seems to be working & having a pretty good time, so I like that part. I'm not a big Sam fan on GH (although she has been making some serious sense along the Mikey-may-become-a-mass-murderer line) but I will go vote for her now if I can in any way bring a little unhappiness to MB who, IMO, is pushing GH down into a dark abyss of suckiness.

In other news...Peterman is beginning to annoy me with his mugging as well. I do think he dances well & he & Charlotte seem to work well together, but he needs to tone it down.

I don't hate Rachel (add me to the sad list that saw Gilligan's Island), but she doesn't make me want to rush & vote for her either. Her dancing still seems odd to me. I can't quite put my finger on it, but it seems like she stands out as weaker than her partner, maybe even more than the others, or maybe it's just me. I do appreciate how truly nervous she seems & the fact that she seems to care if she does well or not with the judges & fans.

I thought Joey & his cutesy partner were, well, cutesy, but that is getting a litte tired. He moved well, but compared to her wasn't nearly as crisp. Still, I enjoyed them.

As for Evander, I enjoyed his attitude, but I was ready for him to go. It was just cringe-inducing watching him try.

I'm still enjoying this show scads more than I thought I would. I'm in cheese heaven & in line to order more.