199 replies to this topic

[thetempest]

Worst. Season. Ever.

Not only is the ballroom dancing incredibly bad (or "ballroom" for Lacey), but the stars of this season just aren't likable as a group. And now the hustle? West Coast Swing? Jitterbug? What the hell are they doing to this show?!

I was thinking if they had an all-star season, who I would want to return from this season, and there is no one. I don't want to see a single star from this season dance for a second run. I really don't. Every other season there is at least one or two people (some seasons have at least 4 or 5 stars) I would want to see in an all-star season, but seriously, I have no desire to see anyone from this season to compete among the best (best in terms of dancing and likability).

I hate this season! And I hate Lacey, who is the only "pro" on the history of this show that I would refer to with quotation marks.

[tip and fall]

I was thinking if they had an all-star season, who I would want to return from this season, and there is no one. I don't want to see a single star from this season dance for a second run. I really don't.

Same here. The closest would be Warren, I guess, but even he's only a middling prospect. This season I've been only half-paying attention to the dances.

[harvestbasket]

UO, but as a collective group, the top tier of this group is more interesting for me this season compared to last season. I guess because for me, you take Kristi out of season 6 or Mario, there was no one. I loved season 4 but same there too if you take Apolo and Laila out for me. I actually like Toni, Brooke and Warren. That said, I would love to see how Warren or a Brooke compare next to Emmitt, Stacy or an Apolo. YMMV.

This season stinks for me for reasons that has nothing to do with the celebs. I find the addition of Lacey awful and I hate the addition of the hustle. I have wanted salsa on the show for awhile.

If anything, I was bored by season 6 and Kristi saved it and more because it was Kristi but most of her dances were not memorable for me. YMMV. If not for a few surprises (Warren and Brooke), season 7 would bore me too. I think the show is hurt by its two in one year format which takes down the overall quality and brings predictability.

I also think the initial format for this season (two dances in week 1) ruined it for a lot of celebs. I think celebs, including Kim, would have benefitted from just one dance in week 1. It was too much all at once and then to follow with rumba and paso will less training did not help.

Edited by harvestbasket, Oct 13, 2008 @ 11:11 PM.

[Tasya]

I'll chime in with a huge UO and say that i'm thankful for the addition of Lacey. I've found this show boring in past years and i've never been able to watch an entire season. This year I have a watching group and we've dvr'd each episode, all because of Lacey. I find her an exciting addition and every week we can't wait to see what they put out there.

I don't care for the hustle, I didn't like it that much on SYTYCD and I don't expect that too change too much on this show. I do like the WCS, Salsa and Lindy Hop though. The one thing with Lindy is that if the celebs can't keep up the energy it's going to look very bad. That could spell trouble for Warren, Susan, Cloris and surprisingly Cody if they get it.

[harvestbasket]

Tasya, I join you in not disliking the addition of the other dances aside from the hustle. Will they ban their no lifts rule for the hustle? I think it will be tough for stars like Susan next week.

[Tasya]

I have to admit that I don't really get the entire no lift thing and i'm not sure how they will add content to the hustle if they don't allow lifts. I need to go and rewatch Lacey/Kam's hustle to see how many they did and if the omission of the lifts would have had a significant impact.

"Edit" Ok I just rewatched L/K and they only used two lifts in their routine, and I actually liked their routine. However I just watched some yubetou videos including some from the World Champions and I stand by my dislike of the dance. The champions included a ton of lifts in their routine so that could possibly be an issue. Any male celebs getting the hustle are going to be in trouble I think because you really have to be a strong lead. I think my problem with the Hustle stems from the fact that it looks patchworky, it just looks disjointed to me. Maybe DWTS will do a good job with it and I will change my opinion.

Edited by Tasya, Oct 13, 2008 @ 11:40 PM.

[harvestbasket]

After season 5, I was ready to give up on the show. Finding this thread again, I remember those sentiments more. Season 6 was a bore because it was predictable and aside from Kristi and Mario, no real good dancers. In season 7, I feel like the producers hand in these changes we saw encroaching on the show in season 5 is in full gear now. I enjoy the top tier more this season than last season but struggle to look past these blatant changes this season.

[drmka9]

UO, but as a collective group, the top tier of this group is more interesting for me this season compared to last season.

I like the fact that there seems to be several dark horses, but there aren't really any celebs that I'm really rooting for yet. I liked Misty/Maks, but that went out the window. The only saving grace to this season is that Alec didn't go home in the first week. What can I say? I'm shallow and he's pretty.

I think the show just needs a breather. Two seasons a year is getting to be too much. I'd love for them to take the spring off, or do a "mini-version" with either a few all-star DWTS couples in a non-competition, or slightly competitive pro-only version.

[tip and fall]

I don't think this season has any real good dancers either. The closest are probably Brooke and Warren, and even they aren't wowing me. I'm mainly on the Warren train because of Kym. And I mainly remember Brooke because of Derek.

Toni isn't bad of course, but she's still a disappointment. Maybe it's because I had higher expectations for her. She's competent. She dances well. But once again, she's not wowing me. The same criticism applies to Lance, except in his case I also hate his personality on top of everything else (and to think that I started out the season thinking he seemed like a nice, low-key guy).

And likability and charisma are also huge factors. Dancing just isn't the sole component, no matter how much we may wish otherwise. And this group isn't cutting it in terms of personality IMO. They all seem to blur together. Brooke is like an even more low-key version of Kristi (how is that possible?). Last season, Cristian -- despite his occasional butting heads with Cheryl -- had a lot of charisma and spark (and he wasn't even one of my favorite dancers). Jason was more sedate and didn't show a lot of personality on his own, but he did contribute to the famous bromance. Ooh, and Marlee! Marlee was awesome.

This season, the only time the stars seem to come alive and seem interesting is when they're interacting with Cloris. Seasons 5 and 6 had a lot of distinct personalities, I felt. I mean, even if I didn't like the personality, at least they weren't completely mushy and interchangeable. Season 6 - Priscilla isn't Marlee isn't Monica isn't Marissa isn't Kristi isn't Shannon. Season 5 - Sabrina isn't Jane isn't Mel B. isn't Jennie isn't Marie isn't Josie. Season 7, it's just Cloris Leachman isn't anybody else, and that's about it.

Edited by tip and fall, Oct 14, 2008 @ 2:20 PM.

[harvestbasket]

Warren, Brooke and Toni dance as well as other past celebs who were similarly a novice, IMO. The quality of dancing to me is fine. What Brooke and Toni lack is charisma when they dance. Brooke's personality is as low as Kristi. I think what Kristi had though is name recognition and familiarity. Kristi fans know she is low key but also used to rooting for her. But even as a Kristi fan, if I take away knowing and loving Kristi, she's as low key as Brooke. I actually think Toni has a great personality, but just not out there. Put her on a season with a Mel, hilarious. Much like her partner, Alec.

I definitely miss Marlee, but I do not miss Priscilla, Marissa, or Shannon. Even Cristian, his personality and dancing never really stood out to me until half way through the competition. Prior to that, I felt he was like Ian and I did not like Cristian complaining about his scores in those early weeks. Take the bromance aside, I just remember Jason was a nice guy. If I was not as interested in Kristi, season 6 would probably be blah. IIRC others said that, and now I get a better sense of what they meant last season since they did not care for Kristi so season 6 was boring to them.

Collectively as a group, they lack as much charisma as season 6 IMO. I think season 2 had a good blend of charisma and quality dancing. Season 3 was all drama and season 5 had a great female season. Season 4 had a vibe similar to season 2 for me. Lance has been a disappointment for me and not a fan of his personality. I feel like some enthusiasm for the show left during season 6 that it would take more to get me excited again for this season. Instead, season 7 more or less feels flat and just a continuation of season 6.

They really need to give the show a break. I felt that since season 5 and more now after seasons 6 and now 7.

Edited by harvestbasket, Oct 14, 2008 @ 3:26 PM.

[teevee]

I don't know what it is exactly but I am not feeling this season. At all. Tried really hard but it's not working, lol. Something is missing. Maybe it's because the format changes.

And, I want Lacey to go away. The show was doing fine without her. She isn't breathing any kind of new life here. Baaah. </sour>

[tip and fall]

I definitely miss Marlee, but I do not miss Priscilla, Marissa, or Shannon.

My point isn't really about personally liking or missing the previous contestants specifically. Like I said, even though I may not have personally liked all of the people in seasons 5 or 6, I appreciate that they all seemed like distinct personalities for the most part. I used to complain in season 6 that Shannon was blah, but compared to the season 7 cast, she's a regular Marie Osmond (okay, that's going too far). So while I may not miss Shannon herself (and hey, I enjoy a nice game of "What Will Make Shannon's Head Explode This Week?" too!), I miss that sort of distinction.

Brooke really only stands out because of her scores. Which...fair enough, because it's a dance competition and everything so the scores should matter, but still. What will work for Kristi in terms of personality may not necessarily work for her. Because as you say, Kristi had a huge enough fanbase and goodwill that she could skate by on a TV-unfriendly personality. Perhaps that's unfair because it's obviously not Brooke's fault that she has a lack of fanbase, but so be it. I had a lot of fangirl love for Kristi that obviously made me biased in her favor and want to stick by her even though she wasn't Miss Congeniality. (Yeah, I'm admitted I'm biased. *shocker* Aren't we all? :D) I don't have that sort of nostalgic affection for Brooke, so if she doesn't perk up soon...well, I'm starting to sour on her.

Don't get me wrong, props to her if she doesn't want to change her personality to suit public opinion (although I don't think it'd kill her to act a teensy bit more extroverted, and this is coming from a hyooge introvert who hates being told to smile and make friends)...but that doesn't mean I have to like it on my TV.

Plus, by all accounts she's still one of the more popular dancers so I don't feel too bad for not supporting her as much. :P

Oh, and last season's new pro additions were much better than this season's. Well, I'm not necessarily counting Corky and Inna, because Corky was saddled with such a...spectacle, and we didn't get to see much of Inna at all. But Fabian v. Lacey? There's just no comparison for me.

Edited by tip and fall, Oct 14, 2008 @ 3:31 PM.

[harvestbasket]

For me season 7 is no worse than season 6 and that is more what my point. Even the supposed diva Kim did not bring the drama so I guess they just collected way too many low key personalities which make the glaring changes they are putting on the show more obvious.

Brooke is a bore, I agree but seasons of Marie, Marissa and Shannon, I guess I like the low key Toni and Brooke. For me, Brooke and Toni lack in personality they have in natural skills like Apolo but they lack Apolo's charisma. I agree with you tip and fall about Kristi and low key personalities types like Brooke. You do not have to like her any of them. I admit I am liking Maurice more because of his attitude and being paired with Cheryl. But I cannot sour on them (or any celeb) for not being that much personality wise. Give me a Toni, Brooke or Stacy over a ham like Joey Fatone. I know it does not make good t.v. but a low key personality was never a problem for me with any celeb over the seasons. I liked Stacy in season 2 and like Monique in season 3. But I know others who, as you said, had no connection to them and when they were not engaging, did not care to root for them no matter how well they danced. YMMV. I guess in hindsight a Marie or Shannon type seems like fun, but I do not remember enjoying their actual time on the show.

The show needed a break IMO after season 5 and I hope they take one after this season. TAR took a break after doing several back to back seasons and I think it got better when it did. I actually enjoyed season 5, the last season I lacked, but I did not care for the ending.

ITA tip and fall about Fabian. There is no comparison, but Lacey seems popular which is why I do not feel bad when I critique her on this show :)

Edited by harvestbasket, Oct 14, 2008 @ 3:53 PM.

[tip and fall]

I guess in hindsight a Marie or Shannon type seems like fun, but I do not remember enjoying their actual time on the show.

True. I might be bitching about those two all over again if they showed up on an all-star season, or something like that. Then again, there are just some people you love to hate (yup, I complained about Shannon, but gosh darn it, I had fun complaining about that neurotic ball of crazy). I miss having a designated season "villain." I guess Lance qualifies, but it's just not the saaaaame. (/said in a whiny voice) And Cloris might be wacky and omg-get-her-off-my-tv-now-ish, but I can't hate her because I feel too sorry for her.

[teevee]

Would the decision to take off a season be up to ABC or DWTS? If there is one in the spring, I wonder how many of the changes in format and pros will carry over?

Oh, and last season's new pro additions were much better than this season's. Well, I'm not necessarily counting Corky and Inna, because Corky was saddled with such a...spectacle, and we didn't get to see much of Inna at all. But Fabian v. Lacey? There's just no comparison for me.

IA. I liked the pros we had last year, as a whole. Not a huge Maks fan so, give or take with him.

ETA: TBH, I thought after the "S6 is "boring" stuff, they'd fill this one with a bunch of crazies. Except for a few celebs, most appear low key or dull.

Edited by teevee, Oct 14, 2008 @ 3:51 PM.

[harvestbasket]

Designated villain maybe the good word. Cloris is not that and I hated Marissa's antics while on the show during season 6 so she is adding to my season 6 was not that much better.

I guess Lance qualifies or Lacey but they are not interesting like Marie. There was just something with Marie and Donny in the audience and all that drama that really could not be scripted. The show seems to want to capitalize on that again and it is failing. It needs to go back to season 2 DWTS. The show sells itself. Or at least it used to.

Maybe because everyone is down on this season, but I do not think season 7's cast is that awful. I remember reading how awful people thought season 6 was last season too. But I agree that I am not liking the direction of the show as it seems to be in full force this season. Seriously, go on a break DWTS.

I thought after the "S6 is "boring" stuff, they'd fill this one with a bunch of crazies. Except for a few celebs, most appear low key or dull.

I thought the same and instead, thankfully they toned down the crazy and drama but instead casted too many low key types. That, I do not mind. Maybe some of the "roles" are not turning out as they planned. Kim was not crazy diva and Lance is not much of a ringer or a villain. It seems to be going back to the producers storyboarding everything out. That is what I dislike about this season.

Edited by harvestbasket, Oct 14, 2008 @ 4:10 PM.

[sussudio]

I do like this season's cast with a couple of exceptions. The two things that made me continue to watch season 6 was Kristi and the 100th anniversary episode - which I got to see Apolo/Julianne and Mel/Maks dancing. It's also great to see the former cast as well.

I'm wondering if DWTS has taken a toll on the cast and crew. It seems like people are getting burned out - from the judges (Len and Bruno having to travel every week to England and LA) to the dancers (who keep getting overworked and often injured). I agree with the posters who mentioned that DWTS should take a season's break - like American Idol. However DWTS is one of the more popular reality TV shows out there and even though I complain about how boring this season is, I can't imagine not having it each season.

I just think this season has started off wrong since it's first week's format in which the couple have to do two dances in one week. I still like season's 4 concept in which all the couples had to do a Latin the first week and a Ballroom the second week. I think it gives the judges and the viewers better perspectives on who they think should stay or who should leave. Season 4 to me is still one of my favorite seasons of DWTS.

[bedazzled]

I fully agree about that trailor trash Lacey. She is ruining the show for me.

[itsjfitz]

The show sells itself. Or at least it used to.

One thing I've noticed in reading these boards is how many posts start with "On SYTYCD..." Now, I never watched SYTYCD, this is the only dancing show I watch, so maybe I'm just feeling left out, but between the addition of Lacey, the four new dances, the serious lack of ballroom pro dances (and ballroom pro dancers) in the results shows and the number of comments that begin with "On SYTYCD..." I feel like the producers are trying to turn DWTS into SYTYCD. If I wanted to watch SYTYCD, I would. I want to watch DWTS. I like ballroom dancing. Yes, I'm a geek, but there must be a lot of us, because DWTS is still #1 in the ratings. To quote Len, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

I also think they should go to a single season per year, because I do think the pros, judges and crew are getting burned out and since they feel like they have to make it "NEW!! IMPROVED!!! BETTER THAN EVER!!!!!" each season, they are making all these changes that feel really gratuitous to me.

Get back to ballroom dancing and a single season per year, and I think things really would be improved and better. Maybe not better than ever, but better than the last season or two. And can we please keep producer meddling to a minimum?

[TruBrit]

I don’t mind the changes, whatever they are. I don’t think the changes are the problem. The lack of competitive drive, on the other had, is problem.
There is no Stacy vs. Drew that made millions glued to TV. There is no Emmit vs. Mario that made fans write pages on message boards. There is not Apolo vs. Joey. DWTS jumped the shark on season 5 when Marie put the fainting spell. Sabrina who was the only one who was able to create the competitive drive was eliminated. Mel was to busy to create the stir. I never heard her say “I’m going to win, bring it.”
Season 6 - Kristy was unreachable so Jason and Cristian focused on bromance instead. This season has potential but Cloris is eclipsing everybody. Misty had that fighting attitude, but she’s gone. I see Warren bringing the fight. Toni has potential. Derek/Brooke better not go the Derek/Shannon way. The sooner Cloris is gone, the better. TPTB need to bring characters that have the fighting spirit….not characters prone to fainting, meltdowns, and heart attacks. That’s what makes a good show.

[spanana]

There is no Stacy vs. Drew that made millions glued to TV. There is no Emmit vs. Mario that made fans write pages on message boards. There is not Apolo vs. Joey.

I don't hate the celebs this season, but I agree with this to a degree. In the sense that in the seasons that are generally considered fan favorites, there were two dancers (or maybe 3) that not only stood out, but were competitive and sparked a bit of a fan war to boot. People were solidly in a corner and stayed there. These celebs were the watercooler talk week after week. I hold S3 up as the ultimate example of this since the Emmitt vs. Mario Lopez wars were endless.

S2 is still my ultimate season, but there was little doubt from day one that is was a horse race between Drew and Stacy. I realize Kiebler ended up third, but in the grand scheme of the season it was Drew vs. Stacy. S3 was full of heated debate of the Mario vs. Emmitt variety, but there was little doubt that they would be the two standing there at the end. And while I wasn't fully invested in S4, there was the whole Apolo vs Joey showdown with a dash of Laila thrown in for good measure.

Since S4, I argue the show has never quite had the same sort of showdown. In S5, as much as I loved Jennie and Mel it never really felt like a celeb ran away with the season. I had no idea who would win for a long while. S6 was the absolute opposite since the winner was evident from day one.

With Kristi, I know many felt she was boring, but the problem wasn't her so much as that there was no other dancer last season who could even come close. The season would have been way more interesting and probably considered a success if there was another celeb who came off as legitimate competition instead of making it a one woman show.

This season reminds me of S6. I have no idea who is going to win and while there are some talented celebs, no one celeb is clearly running off with the hearts of voters.

I guess what I don't hold against the show is that the casting people can only do so much. They really can only guess as to how the celebs will not only respond in the competition, but how the viewing public will respond to them. There are so many variables at play that I get the sense that even casting is a bit surprised sometimes with how things play out.

[TWoP Pembleton]

Bump

[definitelywrite]

Great thread.

Reading this thread got me thinking back. I've watched all the seasons. I was a huge fan of John O'Hurley (season 1), Drew Lachey (2), Emmitt Smith (3), Apolo Anton Ohno (4), and Mel B (5). With Drew and Emmitt, this was in spite of my dislike of Cheryl.

While reading on this thread about Kristi (6), who I refused to vote for because of my intense dislike for Mark, I was stumped in trying to remember who I DID vote for last season. And I had no trouble coming up with my list of favorites from seasons 1 thru 5. With further reading I finally remembered Christian and Jason being in the final, and that I had been voting for Jason. WTF I voted for Jason? No, I was voting for Edyta. She was the only pro I didn't dislike.

For me, I didn't even know the pros names in the first three seasons, in spite of being a devoted fan of the show.

Now, more often than not it is the pros that cause me to vote. I refuse to vote for Derek after he ruined my illusion of him as a sweet young man with the whole Shannon debaucle. I refuse to vote for Julianne after her season with Helio ruined any like for her I had developed with Apolo. Lacey, well she's new and I am sick of new pros winning when I have plenty of "old" favorites.

Kym, I like. I've been voting for Kym and Alec since the beginning. Then just Kym when Alec and Toni were eliminated. My usual favorite is Maks but Misty sort of creeped me out. So I do consider the star in my voting and fan choices, but the I have to like the pro first.

I guess my point and why this post is in this thread, is that over the years the pros play an increasingly bigger role as to my enjoyment of the show and of the pro-star pairings. And thus it has affected my enjoyment of the show, which has gone down. When a group of pros (Derek, Julianne, Mark, Lacey, Corky - I am looking at you) annoy the crap out of me, it is not good.

[loveisthedrug]

From the results show thread:

My view is after Cheryl's two winners she got an early fortysomething - Ziering - who was a challenge. After Julianne got her two winners she also got a fortysomething - Corrolla - who was a challenge. Both men had fan bases, and IMO Julianne's Corolla had the edge on Cheryl's Ziering in the personality department. Yet Cheryl took hers to the semis. Julianne went out fourth with hers.
...
Cheryl's record stands up to Julianne's any day of the week and more.

I don't think a fair comparison of their records can be made unless everything about each of their celebrities was equal from the start. How can we know that Cheryl would have taken Adam any further than Julianne did, or vice versa with Ian? And besides, I don't think Ian and Adam match up that evenly besides the fact that they're both in their forties.

Obviously, there is no sure way to tell so this is all based on reasonable speculation (though YMMV). Ian came in with a sizeable 90210 fanbase. Adam, IMO, is a lesser known celebrity. And while neither of these two celebs has the most desirable personality, I'd say that right out the gate, Adam was certainly more polarizing than Ian. Plus, based on natural dancing ability alone, I'd also have to give Ian a slight advantage. Add in the fact that Carolla admittedly only practiced a couple hours a day and the scales are tipped in Ian's favor.

As for Cristian, even with his injured arm, it's impossible to say that Julianne or Kym or Karina or any other pro for that matter wouldn't have been able to choreograph a good routine around that because they haven't had the opportunity. Not to take anything away from Cheryl, because she did an impressive job given the situation, but I just don't think it's fair to say she's the only one who could have possibly gotten Cristian to the finals.

That said, I think both Julianne and Cheryl have both done phenomenal jobs during their tenure on this show. In terms of whom the producers seem to be pushing more, I feel that Julianne has more name/face recognition in the mainstream media right now than Cheryl has. Aside from weight-gate earlier this season, Cheryl hasn't had too much publicity other than TMZ's obsession with her (though I haven't seen much of her there lately). Julianne, on the other hand, is actively pursuing a career outside of the show and has a team of people working to get her name out and I just see the whole Julianne push as the producers of DWTS taking advantage of the cross-promotion that it brings.

[spanana]

I agree that's it hard to compare celebs like that. Ian and Corolla weren't exactly the same and I do give the edge to Ian there if mostly because I felt he had more dance potential than Adam ever had. I also agree that it's impossible to know how celebs would have worked with other pros. Both Julianne and Cheryl have stellar DWTS records, though Cheryl has an extra season under her belt which gives her the edge in having more final/semi appearances.

As for celebdom, no doubt Julianne is the "it" girl. But in terms of celebdom, I also think it's hard to compare Julianne with the other female pros so much since the others aren't blatantly reaching for crossover fame in other professions. Which isn't to say the others might not want fame, but none of the other females are reaching for singing or acting careers and Julianne seemingly wants both of those too. I can't really blame the show for taking advantage of the built in publicity.

[TWoP Pembleton]

Use this thread if you want to compare and contrast various seasons.

[willmore]

I was looking at pro Pasos on DWTS and it hit me how much this show has changed.

Season 2
http://www.youtube.c...h?v=5TibOlF3iFM

Season 3
http://raphaelpungin...r-pasodoble.ram

Season 4
http://www.youtube.c...h?v=Jzqvbt0KQ8Y

Season 6
http://www.youtube.c...h?v=wUUoBCbEF5E

Season 8
http://www.youtube.c...h?v=p2cs-j5WcqI

[SweetAndSour413]

Wow! I never really watched Dancing With The Stars religiously until recently, but looking at the pro Pasos through the years really has made me realized how much the show has changed. The biggest difference in my opinion is that it is less about the dance and more about the performance. I mean for the paso doble in Season 2, I could definitely tell it was the paso. It looked like a real ballroom dance to me. However, looking at the paso from this season, I could barely tell it was the paso. In fact, if it wasn't for that one move Julianne/Derek did, I wouldn't even call it a paso doble. To me, the dance was just about the pros showing off what they can do.

[mustbeme]

Wow this years looked like the solid gold dancers (opps I just really dated myself).

I had forgotten how much I loved season 2.

[alldance]

According to Carrie Ann's blog, Derek choreographed the Paso from Tuesday night.

Edited by alldance, Apr 2, 2009 @ 4:02 PM.