"Dance Off" Dancing with the Stars - Sept 20

[DanceMentor]

ABC hopes to end the "Dancing With the Stars" controversy once and for all with a "dance-off" set for Sept. 20.

Winner Kelly Monaco and her partner, Alec Mazo, will take on second-place team John O'Hurley and Charlotte Jorgensen in the 90-minute special (7:30-9 p.m. on Channel 30). As ABC puts it: "Both champ and runner-up have agreed to reunite for one more electrifying showdown!"

In part because of a complicated and confusing voting structure, the result of the original competition led to complaints from supporters of O'Hurley. In the finale, judges gave Monaco and Mazo three perfect scores of 10 despite what seemed to be mistakes in the program.

The viewer vote, which Monaco and Mazo also won, was based not on that week's performance but on the previous dance. To solve that problem, ABC announced that it would add a results show to the second season of "Dancing," set to debut after the football season.

ABC also had to deny charges that it fixed the competition so that Monaco, who appears on ABC's "General Hospital," would win. O'Hurley is best known for the character of J. Peterman on "Seinfeld."

In the special, each pair will perform several styles of dance, including Latin and freestyle. The judges will return for commentary, but the viewer vote will decide the winners, with the results announced two nights later, on Sept. 22.

The special will also include dance demonstrations by the professionals from the series, Ashly Delgrosso, Jonathan Roberts, Edyta Sliwinska and Louis van Amstel.

[SDsalsaguy]

No comment about the whole "politics" deal but, as far as getting more ballroom on TV, all I can say is coolio! 8)

[Laura]

Oh my.

[discovery]

The viewer vote, which Monaco and Mazo also won...

It'll be great to see yet another ballroom dance show. Simply amazing. Somebody pinch me. However, as for proving anything, it seems like Kelly and Alec have the majority audience vote, so my guess is they'll be easy winners. What would be cool is if they showed some kind of numbers either percentages or totals.

Also I wonder if this means that they've been practicing this whole time. Surely they knew about this well before we did.


The special will also include dance demonstrations by the professionals from the series, Ashly Delgrosso, Jonathan Roberts, Edyta Sliwinska and Louis van Amstel

:D

[BrookeErin]

remind us all again in another month. Television is great about abusing (or creating?)"controversy", but I'll be happy to watch.

[DancePoet]

Ayuh. :roll:

See what happens when a T.V. show doesn't get it correctly. The format was strange from the beginning. Now they are just using the controversy for selling more ads.

Gee, duh. :doh:

[Katarzyna]

Oh well, I work for media sales, so no comment..

[SDsalsaguy]

Oh well, I work for media sales, so no comment..
:eyebrow: :lol:

[Katarzyna]

Oh well, I work for media sales, so no comment..
:eyebrow: :lol:

Specifically, I work in research supporting the media sales people...

[dancersdreamland]

Looking forward to the dance off.

[Purr]

Me, too. :D

[musicchica86]

Bumping so nobody forgets! :D

[pygmalion]

I saw a commercial today during ABC daytime TV (soap opera) time slot. Surprise, surprise. :lol: Cheesy. Totally cheesy, IMO.

Shame on you, ABC. :evil:

[musicchica86]

I saw a commercial today during ABC daytime TV (soap opera) time slot. Surprise, surprise. :lol: Cheesy. Totally cheesy, IMO.

Shame on you, ABC. :evil:

Well, I didn't say it wasn't cheesy...*sigh* (I agree with you)

But hey, I'm still holding out hope that the right MAN will pull through this time, as stupid as that may be....

[Katarzyna]

hope so too!!!

[Porfirio Landeros]

Did anyone happen to read the "Did You Know" section of Michael Mead's DanceSportComps newsletter? It pretty much dissolves any ideas that the dancers on the show are directly making a lot of money from being picked up by the series. It is true that there are lots of indirect ways, like more visibility for teaching, doing shows, etc., but anytime they are going to appear on TV, they need network clearance (for 5 years). Interesting...

[chachachacat]

Did anyone happen to read the "Did You Know" section of Michael Mead's DanceSportComps newsletter? It pretty much dissolves any ideas that the dancers on the show are directly making a lot of money from being picked up by the series. It is true that there are lots of indirect ways, like more visibility for teaching, doing shows, etc., but anytime they are going to appear on TV, they need network clearance (for 5 years). Interesting...
Link?

[pygmalion]

Did anyone happen to read the "Did You Know" section of Michael Mead's DanceSportComps newsletter? It pretty much dissolves any ideas that the dancers on the show are directly making a lot of money from being picked up by the series. It is true that there are lots of indirect ways, like more visibility for teaching, doing shows, etc., but anytime they are going to appear on TV, they need network clearance (for 5 years). Interesting...
Link?

http://www.dancesportcomps.com/Newsletter2005/September/index.html

[wyllo]

That's a pretty raw deal to have to sign off on a salary for 5 years and give up any other appearances. Not like they really had any negotiating power to ask for more, though. Guess that's why so many actors on shows that become hits have disputes over salaries. Can't blame them for asking for more if the network is making money off of their work.

[saludas]

Did anyone happen to read the "Did You Know" section of Michael Mead's DanceSportComps newsletter? It pretty much dissolves any ideas that the dancers on the show are directly making a lot of money from being picked up by the series. It is true that there are lots of indirect ways, like more visibility for teaching, doing shows, etc., but anytime they are going to appear on TV, they need network clearance (for 5 years). Interesting...

No, that's not what that means. the 'salary' was negotiated by an independent producer, not the network. And if they only got $1500 per week, they were foolish - anyone doing this kind of reality show sees a LOT more than that. Probably this was the 'salary' minus perks (hotel, etc) because there is a standard contract form called 'favored nations' that makes all salaries equal (nobody can negotiate a more 'favored' rate). If they did this without an agent, they got what they deserved unfortunately.

And, the 'network clearance' they are talking about is that they cannot do another SHOW like this without the ABC network clearing it. in other words, they can't do another "DTWS" type show, for 5 years. it's a standard contract knows an 'non compete clause'. they could dance tomorrow on another network for a million dollars - just not in a reality show format with their specific roles as proam dancers with the stars. They can, for instance, go on Leno with their star, dance up a storm, and collect $$$s.

[Purr]

I'm just bumping this thread up again, as the dance-off is tomorrow night. It's listed as 8:30 p.m. EST in my local paper.

[wyllo]

Woo hoo! I'm so excited. :D Not really to see O'Hurley and Monaco dance again (although I'm sure it will be enjoyable), but to see the other pros perform together.

[SDsalsaguy]

Just saw the final on TV for the first time yesterday evening. Wow, John's dancing looked even stronger and Kelly's even weaker than either had in person--at least from where I was sitting, directly behind the judges, three rows back. I'm looking forrward to seeing th face off show tomorrow night, although I don;t think that will really quell any issues either. Still, more dancing is more dancing, right? :D

[pygmalion]

I'm just bumping this thread up again, as the dance-off is tomorrow night. It's listed as 8:30 p.m. EST in my local paper.


Thanks, purr. I'd forgotten the date. Time flies, I guess. :?

[Purr]

Time flies when you're having fun. :D

I'm just watching to enjoy the dancing, and in the grand scheme of things, it doesn't really matter who wins. You could say that we all win, because the show has focused a lot more attention on ballroom dancing. :D :wink:

[Laura]

Heh, I care. If that Kelly chippie doesn't show us some really improved Latin dancing and wins again, I'm going to storm the studio.

:-)

[dancergal]

Did anyone happen to read the "Did You Know" section of Michael Mead's DanceSportComps newsletter? It pretty much dissolves any ideas that the dancers on the show are directly making a lot of money from being picked up by the series. It is true that there are lots of indirect ways, like more visibility for teaching, doing shows, etc., but anytime they are going to appear on TV, they need network clearance (for 5 years). Interesting...
Link?

http://www.dancesportcomps.com/Newsletter2005/September/index.html

Very interesting article. thanks for the link.

BTW- I recognized some of your photos on that website, SDguy and even saw some I haven't seen before. Great photos!

[SDsalsaguy]

BTW- I recognized some of your photos on that website, SDguy and even saw some I haven't seen before. Great photos!
Thanks dancergal! :D

I recently gave Michael a large new set of images, so stay tunde for some more new ones... :wink:

[pygmalion]

Heh, I care. If that Kelly chippie doesn't show us some really improved Latin dancing and wins again, I'm going to storm the studio.

:-)

:lol: :lol:

[Purr]

Heh, I care. If that Kelly chippie doesn't show us some really improved Latin dancing and wins again, I'm going to storm the studio.

:-)

:lol: :lol:

Can I come too? :shock:

[musicchica86]

I'll get in on that too.... :twisted:

[aimerrouge]

So we'll all be watching, right? 8)

[SDsalsaguy]

Need you ask? :wink:

[Katarzyna]

Thank you for the reminder, almost missed it :wink:

[SDsalsaguy]

:shock: :shock: :shock:

How could you???

:wink:

[Katarzyna]

dealing with other things in my life now.. Not very happy time

[alemana]

YAY actual pros dancing! YAY! jive!

[mamboqueen]

and an awesome jive, at that :lol:

[Katarzyna]

I know. They should show a little more of that

[alemana]

what a HORRIFIC quickstep. UGH.

[Katarzyna]

I know... I can't believe some of the judges were positive about it.... She was SOOOOO out of balance... horrible frame... eeeeeeew

[Shannon]

Yay!! finally the judges get something right on John and Charlotte's waltz.

[alemana]

i'm dialing but i can't get through.

so now we have a freestyle round.... that's not good.

[Katarzyna]

I voted by e-mail. maybe I should call too :)

[Katarzyna]

btw, do you have the numbers to dial

[Katarzyna]

Nice foxtrot, too bad they couln't have Charlotta do it with someone though...

[alemana]

TO THE PRODUCERS OF THIS SHOW

YOU ARE IDIOTS WITH THE MUSIC. I HATE YOU. PLEASE DIE IN A HELL WHERE YOU HAVE TO LISTEN TO MUZAK VERSIONS OF STING SONGS AND EYE OF THE TIGER.

thank you.

[mamboqueen]

LMAO, Alemana!

I gave round 1 to Kelly; round 2 to John.

The quickstep was AWFUL. He was tossing her around and she was desperately trying to catch up. The waltz was beautiful.

As I said in another thread....it's latin vs. standard.

But, Kelly definitely improved in her latin. I winced a bit when John was doing rumba.

[Katarzyna]

Agree with you on everything

[mamboqueen]

These kids are TOO cute! I'm dragging my daughter to the studio TOMORROW! *lol*

[Katarzyna]

very cute.. Especially since they are not super amasing like some other competing kids.. but just cute :) My sister really needs to start (she's 6)

[alemana]

could do without the kiddie parade - would've preferred another pro performance.

and what's up with the camera work? i need some dramamine.

[ACtenDance]

btw, do you have the numbers to dial

Kelly and Alec 1-866-613-0002

John and Charlotte 1-866-613-0002

[Big10]

btw, do you have the numbers to dial

Kelly and Alec 1-866-613-0002

John and Charlotte 1-866-613-0002
The same number? Some of you ballroom folks are really funny! :lol:

Why do you guys have to hate Kelly so much? :roll:

[Katarzyna]

:) 02 for both

[Katarzyna]

btw, do you have the numbers to dial

Kelly and Alec 1-866-613-0002

John and Charlotte 1-866-613-0002
The same number? Some of you ballroom folks are really funny! :lol:

Why do you guys have to hate Kelly so much? :roll:She's just so bad...

[alemana]

craptacular freestyle.

[mamboqueen]

*LOL* I didn't even notice...

I can't get through...busy, busy, busy.

Didn't like Kelly's freestyle much. It shows where they just completely skip the basics. I'm tired of watching her airplane around.

Alec is hot, though. sigh...

[Katarzyna]

was able to vote from home phone.. but can't get through on my cell

[mamboqueen]

I voted online. I'll do it again with my other 5 e-mail addresses...

[pygmalion]

was able to vote from home phone.. but can't get through on my cell

Can't get through on either. :headwall:

[Katarzyna]

my phone has automatic redialing but still can't get through...

[Katarzyna]

Hate the blue outfit on Charlotta... wonder if she chose it

[alemana]

why o why in their freestyle would they choose a number like that?

[Katarzyna]

I know... not too good for them...

[Shannon]

Can they go back to the Waltz? :shock:

Why in the world would they do something like that? I guess they were trying to keep up on the lifts with Kelly and Alec.

[Katarzyna]

finally got through

[mamboqueen]

I think that Charlotte is just trying to do the best she can with John, and I give her a lot of credit. He obviously doesn't have the physical abilities of Alec (or Kelly). I wonder if they were told they couldn't do a waltz or another standard dance, though. I mean, if you're going to go for his strengths....

[alemana]

how bitchin would it have been for them to do a very classy standard medley.....

[GalacticDancer44M]

Great show overall! It was great to see the variety with the Stars, Kids & the competion. I was for John until that last freestyle dance. Great waltz as mentioned but I really couldn't decide who I felt did better overall. I call it a tie. Now we need a tie-breaker! :lol:

[Big10]

Kelly will win again, but I guess John can feel some personal validation from the judges' scores. :roll:

The judges were obviously trying to do John a favor by giving him an undeserved 30 for that waltz -- where he mostly walked rather than danced. And how did he get a 25 for that AWFUL freestyle??? It made me think of Evander Holyfield dancing in a John O'Hurley mask. :shock:

Kelly didn't do great, but she was fairly consistent. At the very least she should have tied overall on points with John, if not being a couple of points ahead of him.

I have no doubt that the crowd at home will put Kelly over the top.

[alemana]

i wasn't able to get through by any means. disappointing!

[Katarzyna]

too bad :(

[tacad]

And here we go on the west coast.

[Chris Stratton]

The judges were obviously trying to do John a favor by giving him an undeserved 30 for that waltz -- where he mostly walked rather than danced. And how did he get a 25 for that AWFUL freestyle??? It made me think of Evander Holyfield dancing in a John O'Hurley mask. :shock:


Dancing mostly is appropriate walking, and trust me, you don't want to see beginners of that level try to add much swing. But that dance wasn't awesome for technical merits - I watched in a room nearly half the occupants of which could have done better at the drop of a hat, a few of whom just had - but it was awesome because it showed an ordinary person dancing real ballroom in a way that lives up to all the imagery culture rests on the idea of ballroom. That was a waltz that got to have it's cake and eat it too.

One concern. Len's comment on the "quickstep" interpretation not being ballroom earned cheers from a ballroom crowd. But so did the american foxtrot demonostration. How, other than the large difference in artistic quality, is the general public supposed to figure out why the seperated material was innapropriate in one case and right on in the other?

[tacad]

I really enjoyed John's waltz. It was the first dance from either couple tonight that really struck me. I actually forgot that it was a competition and got lost in watching it.

[Vince A]

I thought it was so-so . . . maybe a 6 or 7 . . . he walked a lot and did not dance to the music in parts . . . albeit . . . "appropriate walking?"

[tacad]

TO THE PRODUCERS OF THIS SHOW

YOU ARE IDIOTS WITH THE MUSIC. I HATE YOU. PLEASE DIE IN A HELL WHERE YOU HAVE TO LISTEN TO MUZAK VERSIONS OF STING SONGS AND EYE OF THE TIGER.

thank you.
:lol: The foxtrot music? I was thinking I wouldn't have foxtroted to that song but I thought their dance worked well with the song.

[tacad]

Well, I give the edge to John tonight on the basis of his waltz. It was romantic, passionate, and beautiful. Kelly tonight wasn't the same dancer. In the past she was natural, at one with the music, and on fire. But not tonight. To be honest I didn't really like any of the dances except John's waltz.

[tacad]

One concern. Len's comment on the "quickstep" interpretation not being ballroom earned cheers from a ballroom crowd. But so did the american foxtrot demonostration. How, other than the large difference in artistic quality, is the general public supposed to figure out why the seperated material was innapropriate in one case and right on in the other?
Was one inappropriate and the other appropriate?

[Purr]

I thought the show was a bit disappointing. The only dance I really liked was John's waltz. I couldn't get through on the telephone line to vote for him.

[mamboqueen]

I think you can still vote online. They're airing the results on Thursday?

MInor hi-jack. I flipped on the INXS lead singer contest, which ended last night, and was very pleased to see the new singer they picked. He is fantastic and very fitting as a replacement for Michael Hutchence. And their new album hits the stores next month. Should be interesting.

(no, I"m not their PR lady...)

[Purr]

No, you can't vote online anymore, either. All voting ended at 10:15 p.m. last night.

[pygmalion]

I need you tonight ... cause I'm not sleepin. There's something about you, girl. That makes me sweat... So slide over here, and give me a moment... your moves are so raw. I've gotta let you know. I've gotta let you know.

Sorry. I couldn't resist. :lol: :lol:

I didn't even know there was such a contest. :oops: I really don't watch much TV. Unless I hear about it on NPR or read about it online, I generally miss it.

Hmm. I did see a commercial for the premier of Desperate Housewives, though. Can't remember when, but I know it's coming soon. And season one's coming to DVD. Hmm. :idea: Maybe I'll watch that when I'm done with Sex and the City. I'm already halfway through season six of that, so my mindless TV viewing time is opening up soon.


And back to topic. :car: I thought the online voting was last night only. It wasn't? I'll have to head over to the ABC website and check it out. Thanks, MQ. :D

[mamboqueen]

*raises hand*

This Sunday night...DH...!!!

I love those old INXS songs...the two final contestants both performed with the band as the final contest. I forget which song the first guy did, but the winner did "What you Need" and was terrific.

[pygmalion]

Oh yeah, girl. 8) :lol:

So when are the results of the dance-off going to be aired? 8)

[mamboqueen]

I *think* they said on Thursday night. Anyone?

[pygmalion]

I was thinking Thursday as well. A half hour show. Is that right? 8)

[alemana]

there is this magical thing called the internet. you can ask it questions, and it will answer!

[pygmalion]

True. But if I googled it, I'd be preempting the natural flow of conversation. :roll: :lol:

[pygmalion]

Thursday at 8:00 Eastern is the re-broadcast of last night's show. The results show follows at 9:00 Eastern. So there. (As if anyone could suggest that I can't google with the best of 'em. Sheesh! :lol: :lol: )


http://abc.go.com/primetime/dancing/

[dTas]

i thought John's routines were much more connected, with feeling, and "in-tune" with the music where Kelly's routines seemed cold and without feeling, more like a gymnastic routine.

[Porfirio Landeros]

Does anyone think that the choice of charities could even play a role? I mean, who doesn't want to give to Katrina victims right now. I almost wish they didn't let the public know which charity would get what from who until the results were read.... oh well.

John/Charlotte's Waltz was the best dance of the night. I also admire John for doing the slower dances, which are harder to cover any balance/footwork issues. Kelly can just keep chopping her fee away in Cha Cha and Quickstep and fool the general public. John put himself out there with long steps and lines where even the slightest rock would be picked up by the poor camera work ;-). Control is definitely the sign of a good dancer, right?

Unfortunately, they didn't give me enough time to vote, since I got home from practice at 10, watched the recording, and 10:15 had already passed :(

John's still the "real" Champ if you ask me.

[musicchica86]

Is it just me, or do all of Kelly's lifts always look awkward? Alec's wonderful, but Kelly just stinks on them. It's like she can't or won't get her body in the right position quick enough or she's hesitant about it or something...but whatever. Her lifts just bother me for some reason.

[Katarzyna]

They usually look awkward.. but not only lifts, everything that requires balance or control looks awkward since she doesn't have any...

[Purr]

I took issue with Kelly's quickstep more than anything else. I thought there was a lot of lifts and posing, to compensate for less dancing. And I thought the lifts looked awkward. As for the dancing itself, they were in an open position an awful lot for a dance that's done in a close position. As for her footwork during the actual quickstep, I thought she ran, or trotted, the steps, instead of dancing them, and I can't say much about the little hopping sequence, the way she threw her legs out. The routine might have worked better for me if it had been called a showdance. Maybe. :?

[musicchica86]

They usually look awkward.. but not only lifts, everything that requires balance or control looks awkward since she doesn't have any...

Well, true...I was just trying to be at least a little nice I suppose... :lol:

[Katarzyna]

I guess I should be nicer, but I think Kelly's dancing is really terrible.... IT's all About Alec pulling her around, moving her and holdign her up.

[Laura]

Unfortunately for the viewing audience, it's all about "the suxy." People are absolutely ga ga over the "sexiness" and "heat" they think they see between Alec and Kelly. Its crazy...just dig through the last 10 pages of the "Dancing with the Stars" forum on www . televisionwithoutpity.com to see what I mean. It's gone from cute to stupid in my mind....

I haven't actually watched the dance-off yet -- it's still sitting on my TiVo.

[SDsalsaguy]

Does anyone think that the choice of charities could even play a role? I mean, who doesn't want to give to Katrina victims right now. I almost wish they didn't let the public know which charity would get what from who until the results were read.... oh well.
That was exactly the same thought that went through my head when I saw the air that Porfirio!!!

[Katarzyna]

Unfortunately for the viewing audience, it's all about "the suxy." People are absolutely ga ga over the "sexiness" and "heat" they think they see between Alec and Kelly. Its crazy...just dig through the last 10 pages of the "Dancing with the Stars" forum on www . televisionwithoutpity.com to see what I mean. It's gone from cute to stupid in my mind....

I haven't actually watched the dance-off yet -- it's still sitting on my TiVo.Tried to find the forum, but wasn't able to :(

[Laura]

Use the drop-down box on the right side to pick "Competitive Reality". You'll then get a page with the forums for all kinds of shows, including "So You Think You Can Dance" and "Dancing with the Stars."

[Katarzyna]

thank you !!!

[musicchica86]

Unfortunately for the viewing audience, it's all about "the suxy." People are absolutely ga ga over the "sexiness" and "heat" they think they see between Alec and Kelly. Its crazy...just dig through the last 10 pages of the "Dancing with the Stars" forum on www . televisionwithoutpity.com to see what I mean. It's gone from cute to stupid in my mind....

I haven't actually watched the dance-off yet -- it's still sitting on my TiVo.
Exactly. The uneducated public doesn't realize that chemistry doesn't equal talent (we see this same effect on SYTYCD), so they think Kelly's just great--and I will concede that her and Alec do have a lot of chemistry together, even if Alec is the one pulling her around the floor and tossing her around in the air, basically doing all the work.

Not to mention the fact that half of them are blinded by lust for Kelly with all the skin she shows in those outfits. :roll: Bruno's guilty of that too...

[elegance]

I just think it's hard to compare Kelly and John- to me it really is apples to oranges. There does seem to be a Latin-Standard thing going on there.

For me, I enjoyed John's waltz, reasonably enjoyed Kelly's cha cha and freestyle (she is a bit more grounded now, i think) and didn't mind John's freestyle either. Cringed at John's rumba, and Kelly's quickstep. I think his ballroom is better than her latin- is his latin better than her ballroom though? Don't know if I'm knowledgeable enough to tell, it's pretty subjective I think.

It completely irritates me when ANYone gets 10s, anyway. I wonder if that's part of the reason us fans get so irate and polarized- the marks just seem so random. (yeah, I know it's just the viewer vote this time, but still).

[Katarzyna]

just read bunch of posts on the site Laura mentioned.. So funny.. So I guess Kelly's new name is Suxy.. hmm..

[lynn]

and john is Aged Gracefuls :shock: ???

[Katarzyna]

and john is Aged Gracefuls :shock: ??? :lol: :lol:

[lynn]

did i mention that's a nice avatar?? absolutely beautiful!

[Katarzyna]

Thank you :)

It's from Yankee

[eyesofire49]

Got my own take on some of the issues...:) :)

I'm not even going to dignify comparing those waltz routines. There is none. John and Charlotte's interpretation was by far the best dance of the competition. Period.

It seems like I might be in the minority- but I got to weigh in on this one point. Many people on a lot of boards have been saying that all JOhn is a washed up, arrogant sore loser that can't "Take it like a man". My take is this. It's only human nature to stand up for one's self if you truly believe that you've been wronged. I'm willing to bet that there aren't too many people on this board or others (Kelly OR John fans) who would just sit down, smile and "taken it like a man" had it been THEM that was put through a wringer time and again. The way I see it, the only thing John O'Hurley MAY be guilty of is wearing his emotions on his sleeve a little too much. This doesn't make him a bad human being at all. Flawed, certainly. But I can say that about EVERYONE I've met or written to, and know I'm telling the truth. Some people see a *poor* attitude... I don't agree with that, but people ARE entitled to an opinion.

What I see is a man full of energy, emotion, passion and belief in what he's doing. In other words, the fuel that drives a competitive personality. Sometimes, a spark ignites that fuel and you get a fire. It's that fire, that drive in the pit of your soul that keeps a person going just when they think it would be easier to give up and quit. Such is the heart of a dancer...

As for the controversy cropping up over John's choice of charities...I think it took a lot of courage on his part to go with his own heart and not necessarily what may be viewed as a "politically correct" decision. Katrina was a national tragedy in the US, and it's going to take the Gulf Coast years to recover from it. People from all over have showed tremendous spirit in coming together to help the thousands affected in its aftermath.

But I also believe that alleviating the suffering of a child is truly a noble gesture in and of itself. I have to wonder where the heart is of people who think John was less than Kelly for doing what he chose to do.

In the end, I was hoping the John O'Hurley fans amongst us start coming out and doing our best (that means in a thoughtful, well articulated way) to stand up for him, when it seems all that's going on is one massive attempt at character assassination without knowing how he REALLY is. People have only gone on what they've seen and heard...

Which in reality has usually proven to be less than 100% accurate. And that makes these cheap shots all the more wrong.

Sincerely;
EyesOFire49

[Angelo]

Got my own take on some of the issues...:) :)

In the end, I was hoping the John O'Hurley fans amongst us start coming out and doing our best (that means in a thoughtful, well articulated way) to stand up for him, when it seems all that's going on is one massive attempt at character assassination without knowing how he REALLY is. People have only gone on what they've seen and heard...

Which in reality has usually proven to be less than 100% accurate. And that makes these cheap shots all the more wrong.

Sincerely;
EyesOFire49


I find this surprising. I never saw nor heard of any stories of Mr. O'Hurley as a sore loser. He semed like a pretty gracious loser to me. I haven't seen any cheap shots posted about him over here on this forum. If anything, on this forum most of the cheap shots have been taken at Ms. Monaco and most people over here are in support of Mr. O'Hurley.
(Disclaimer: I haven't seen the Dance-Off and I don't really plan on it. I am speaking soley on the basis of the original competition)

[Laura]

Angelo, there's TONS of John O'Hurley hatred on the Television Without Pity forums. And on the ABC TV boards, too.

[Angelo]

Bummer. He really seems like a funny, personable guy. I didn't care much for Seinfeld when it was on but his J. Peterman carachter used to crack me up.

[mamboqueen]

It's from Yankee

Huh??

Whoever mentioned Kelli's lifts being poor...I remember seeing her being spun around and her feet were flexed. I'm thinkin' "what's up with that?" Looked awful.

[Katarzyna]

It's from Yankee

Huh??

sorry different subject..

[eyesofire49]

Angelo, there's TONS of John O'Hurley hatred on the Television Without Pity forums. And on the ABC TV boards, too.

Laura -

Believe me, I've seen it. :( And I'm trying in my own way to get anothe point of view across. :) Just need some others to back me up a little....;)

EyesOFire49

[Katarzyna]

Angelo, there's TONS of John O'Hurley hatred on the Television Without Pity forums. And on the ABC TV boards, too.

Laura -

Believe me, I've seen it. :( And I'm trying in my own way to get anothe point of view across. :) Just need some others to back me up a little....;)

EyesOFire49The worst thing is that all the people on those forums have no clue about dancing..

[lynn]

so.... how can they comment if they don't dance??

[swan]

My question is how come Alex looked horrible in QS and Artem (not a pro yet) was great in QS. And of course, both are latin hotties. Of course, Kelly was no Melissa. Still...

I watched the waltz - I actually did not find it too special. I have the most problem w/ John's head - always in the lady's space. John's rumba...actually not overly bad. It was a bit painful to watch :)

Kelly did come a long way. QS was awful.

I totally enjoyed the pros! Anna is a beautiful standard dancer. Yes, would have loved to see Charlotte in a foxtrot again. But Jon & Anna really danced beautifully.

Louis was fantastic. Ashley was good, but wonder if Louis had performed w/ Edita, would the jive be even better? Ashley is a good performer though.

The kids were so cute - I actually thought it was great to have this piece Vs. just the pros. It would appeal so much more to the general public.

I actually LOVED Charlotte's dark blue outfit. This lady has a perfect figure & it really showed her off well! The free style wasn't bad. I actually enjoyed it very much - much better than Kelly's. Well, there were 2 accidents, but other than that, it was definitely original.

Too bad I got home too late to vote & barely finished watching the recording just now. Truthfully, I'd have given it a tie. Keeping my fingers crossed for Jon/Charlotte (but I think Kelly probably will win again).

[fascination]

Unfortunately for the viewing audience, it's all about "the suxy." People are absolutely ga ga over the "sexiness" and "heat" they think they see between Alec and Kelly. Its crazy...just dig through the last 10 pages of the "Dancing with the Stars" forum on www . televisionwithoutpity.com to see what I mean. It's gone from cute to stupid in my mind....

I haven't actually watched the dance-off yet -- it's still sitting on my TiVo.isn't that sad? and for goodness sake, you can get overt sexuality anywhere....what is so wonderful about ballroom (in less than a million words which is what it would really take) is what the two bodies moving together evoke and convey....not how the two people can gaze at one another or how much their very fit bodies cause viewers to tingle... I am not known for my puritanical nature but it's just so tired when people focus on that when something far more elegant and artful is possible...now that is sensual 8) gimme a waltz or a slow foxtrot with a slightly greying man anyday :wink:

[Katarzyna]

so.... how can they comment if they don't dance?? They comment on what they see, but it's full of ignorance.

[Swingolder]

so.... how can they comment if they don't dance??

People who have never played football can watch a game and say it was good or awful. Just a matter of opinion.

[DanceAm]

so.... how can they comment if they don't dance?? They comment on what they see, but it's full of ignorance.

Don't be vague, say what you mean.

Let's not stop being so critical of the dancers, let's start being critical of the general audience as well. I guess their opinions don't count and we should just shoot them.

[fascination]

so.... how can they comment if they don't dance??

People who have never played football can watch a game and say it was good or awful. Just a matter of opinion.I get your point but some things lend themselves more or less to the appreciation of raw talent while others are more about finesse and technique and nuance...like voice for instance...in american idol...a good raw powerful voice is possible without the least bit of training....could it be improved upon? ...sure.... but it is recognizable fairly easily to most people of all levels of competancy....I think dance is so much more nuanced than that... and certainly a vastly different experience depending upon one's level of understanding....

[Katarzyna]

so.... how can they comment if they don't dance?? They comment on what they see, but it's full of ignorance.

Don't be vague, say what you mean.

Let's not stop being so critical of the dancers, let's start being critical of the general audience as well. I guess their opinions don't count and we should just shoot them.
Those were very ingorant comments that sounded like people who wanted to have something to say, but totally didn't understand dancing. Most people focused on how sexy K & A are, and John was such a sore looser...

I agree, just shoot them... It will be terrible if Kelly wins (but it will happen)

I guess I was jsut annoyed at the discussion on the TV boards..

[ratherbdancing]

I guess I should be nicer, but I think Kelly's dancing is really terrible.... IT's all About Alec pulling her around, moving her and holdign her up.
I agree. I haven't enjoyed her dancing at all- I think John is a fabulous dancer.

[Laura]

Let's not stop being so critical of the dancers, let's start being critical of the general audience as well. I guess their opinions don't count and we should just shoot them.

If you read hundreds of pages of commentary on Television Without Pity gushing on and on about how hot and sexy Alec & Kelly are, complete with school-girlish speculation that they're really 'doing' each other, etc etc., you'd be wanting to shoot someone too :-)

It's not so much the general audience I'm annoyed with, but rather the constant "squee"-ing on the usually excellent TWoP forums. The only thing that will fix that is a new season...I hope they put Alec with someone like Bea Arthur next season :-)

[fascination]

so.... how can they comment if they don't dance?? They comment on what they see, but it's full of ignorance.

Don't be vague, say what you mean.

Let's not stop being so critical of the dancers, let's start being critical of the general audience as well. I guess their opinions don't count and we should just shoot them.
Those were very ingorant comments that sounded like people who wanted to have something to say, but totally didn't understand dancing. Most people focused on how sexy K & A are, and John was such a sore looser...

I agree, jsut shoot them... It will be terrible if Kelly wins (but it will happen)truly I think this goes to what I just said to swingolder....not all things lend themselves to the "anyone has a right to an opinion and its just as good as anyone else's" sort of format...if I had my druthers....I'd rather se real jusdges and no phone in at all...and much more of the nuance of the practice sessions and the degree of progress.....silly me

[Porfirio Landeros]

My question is how come Alex looked horrible in QS and Artem (not a pro yet) was great in QS. And of course, both are latin hotties. Of course, Kelly was no Melissa. Still...Did you happen to notice Artem's watchful eye from the audience? He and Mary Murphy were behind the judging panel :shock:

[SDsalsaguy]

My question is how come Alex looked horrible in QS and Artem (not a pro yet) was great in QS.
That's just the thing though swan, the pro vs. am distinctions and cattegories just don't hold up in a lot of circumstances (like this one) any more. Keep in mind, for instance, that Artem (w/Giselle) placed over Alec (w/Edyta) when they last competed against each other at the USA Dance (USABDA at the time) Nationals.

[DanceAm]

Let's not stop being so critical of the dancers, let's start being critical of the general audience as well. I guess their opinions don't count and we should just shoot them.

If you read hundreds of pages of commentary on Television Without Pity gushing on and on about how hot and sexy Alec & Kelly are, complete with school-girlish speculation that they're really 'doing' each other, etc etc., you'd be wanting to shoot someone too :-)

It's not so much the general audience I'm annoyed with, but rather the constant "squee"-ing on the usually excellent TWoP forums. The only thing that will fix that is a new season...I hope they put Alec with someone like Bea Arthur next season :-)

I am sorry, I thought we were talking about a TV show. I didn't know a crime had been committed. People should know what they are doing when commenting on a reality TV show. Have they no restraint? Next thing you know they will give women the right to vote in our elections. I think we need to nip this in the bud now.

[Big10]

...if I had my druthers....I'd rather se real jusdges and no phone in at all...
Well, as we all know, they did that for years on PBS.....and not many people (relatively speaking) watched.

I have found it interesting how several of the posters in this thread seem to be in favor of results based on the merit of Kelly's vs. John's dancing technique -- but were openly talking about voting for John before all the dances were completed.....including his abominable freestyle! :shock:

It's obvious (to me at least) that many posters on this thread are simply "fans" of John, just like Kelly has her fans. Nothing wrong with that -- just be honest about it. I like Kelly's spunk and I think John was/is a sore loser, but I wasn't going to voice my opinion on Tuesday night's "winner" until all the dances had been completed. I still think it should have been a tie, or Kelly ahead by 1 or 2 points. Even so, is my opinion of how each person danced clouded by my perceptions of their personalities? Perhaps.

Dance isn't always about technique. For example, some people have already commented about how those little kids were fun to watch -- and not necessarily because they had better technique than Kelly and John. Personally, I like getting compliments from people who have watched me dance, whether they are beginners or experienced. Beginners may notice my energy or connection with my partner, and experienced dancers might be aware of how difficult it is to execute a particular step. I just take the compliments for what they are worth, realizing that each observer was focusing on different aspects of what it means to "dance."

If the general public prefers to watch dancing with a better demonstration of chemistry between the partners, as opposed to some abnormally stiff technique, then maybe the ballroom world should take notice of that.

[aimerrouge]

..I think John was/is a sore loser...


I think he's acting. It's so over the top, it can't be real.

He's taken the schtick to the bank. Since the orginal show aired, I've read he's been offered a book deal and a few roles.

[Swingolder]

truly I think this goes to what I just said to swingolder....not all things lend themselves to the "anyone has a right to an opinion and its just as good as anyone else's" sort of format...if I had my druthers....I'd rather se real jusdges and no phone in at all...and much more of the nuance of the practice sessions and the degree of progress.....silly me

If you are out for entertainent, and want the viewers to feel a part of it (and watch ---- great for sponsors) then let them vote. If you want professional dancing with real judges, your audience would be way down. How often do you see any National Ballroom Championships on network tv?
I know little about ballroom, but I enjoyed watching the show. And I reall don't care who wins or loses. This is just fun television!

[fascination]

...if I had my druthers....I'd rather se real jusdges and no phone in at all...
Well, as we all know, they did that for years on PBS.....and not many people (relatively speaking) watched.


It's obvious (to me at least) that many posters on this thread are simply "fans" of John, just like Kelly has her fans. Nothing wrong with that -- just be honest about it. I like Kelly's spunk and I think John was/is a sore loser, but I wasn't going to voice my opinion on Tuesday night's "winner" until all the dances had been completed. I still think it should have been a tie, or Kelly ahead by 1 or 2 points. Even so, is my opinion of how each person danced clouded by my perceptions of their personalities? Perhaps.

Dance isn't always about technique. For example, some people have already commented about how those little kids were fun to watch -- and not necessarily because they had better technique than Kelly and John. Personally, I like getting compliments from people who have watched me dance, whether they are beginners or experienced. Beginners may notice my energy or connection with my partner, and experienced dancers might be aware of how difficult it is to execute a particular step. I just take the compliments for what they are worth, realizing that each observer was focusing on different aspects of what it means to "dance."

If the general public prefers to watch dancing with a better demonstration of chemistry between the partners, as opposed to some abnormally stiff technique, then maybe the ballroom world should take notice of that.given that the folks on pbs were not celebrities...I think your analogy falls apart....also while I have a soft spot for smooth and standard and therefore favor the strengths of john and charlotta (sp?)...I have no particular horse in this race....(squelching desire to draw analogy to kelly there....)truly I don't care.....am too busy dancing myself to get enmeshed....regarding passion and connection versus technique...why oh why must it be an either or?..... FOR ME the passion and connection is the natural part...the technique IN ADDITION....is what makes the winner.....and personally, I don't see anything special going on with her connection that any other sultry woman couldn't pull off....of course praise from all levels of viewers is nice.....but you can't fault people who spend a significant amount of time in their lives practicing for being exasperated by public opinion...

[Big10]

..I think John was/is a sore loser...


I think he's acting. It's so over the top, it can't be real.

He's taken the schtick to the bank. Since the orginal show aired, I've read he's been offered a book deal and a few roles.
No, he's been given enough chances in various media outlets to behave like a gracious loser -- and he hasn't taken even one of them, in my opinion.

By the way, I actually liked his over-the-top schtick on Seinfeld, and I thought he was surprisingly extemporaneously funny with his comments during the original episodes of the show. But then he lost in the finals and became overtly bitter towards Kelly. There's no hiding the fact that he's a very competitive person who was not happy losing. He's not an evil person and it would be great to have him over for dinner....but I wouldn't want him to be holding my finest crystal glass when I beat him at Scrabble. :wink:

[dTas]

i thought John's routines were much more connected, with feeling, and "in-tune" with the music where Kelly's routines seemed cold and without feeling, more like a gymnastic routine.

i said it before but let me say it again...

i think John's routines has personality and emotion where Kelly's routines looked like a bunch of gymnastic flips.

i'm not talking about dance technique at all. i'm talking about the feeling i got from watching the routines. one had feeling and the other was a circus performance.

[fascination]

i thought John's routines were much more connected, with feeling, and "in-tune" with the music where Kelly's routines seemed cold and without feeling, more like a gymnastic routine.

i said it before but let me say it again...

i think John's routines has personality and emotion where Kelly's routines looked like a bunch of gymnastic flips.

i'm not talking about dance technique at all. i'm talking about the feeling i got from watching the routines. one had feeling and the other was a circus performance.ditto...I think we are becoming less and less sensitized to the fine art of subtlety :roll:

[dTas]

i really doubt that the network would have put together a rematch based upon the ranting of one of the competitors, John. there had to be a lot more ranting and raving (namely by the viewers... ie RATINGS!) to get the producers to want to put together a 2nd show.

so there had to be more "sore losers" out there, enough to think that Kelly really didn't deserve the win in the first place and want to give John a 2nd chance to prove it.

[Big10]

given that the folks on pbs were not celebrities...I think your analogy falls apart....
I used the PBS analogy because you seemed to imply that the show would be better if the judges' decision on the "best" technical dancer won -- and where else would you get the best of the best ballroom dancers than on those PBS shows? (Of course, by the way, some people seem to overlook the fact that the judges voted for Kelly as the winner in the final of the original series.)

ABC made the modification to include B-list "celebrities" and have the audience participate because it was obvious that pure technical merit would not draw an audience for 6 weeks. That's all I'm saying. DWTS was a success largely because Kelly (and other modestly skilled celebrities) were there trying hard every week and people could vote for them. The ratings were NOT simply based on people's saying, "Oh you've gotta see John O'Hurley dance." :roll:

[Big10]

i thought John's routines were much more connected, with feeling, and "in-tune" with the music where Kelly's routines seemed cold and without feeling, more like a gymnastic routine.

i said it before but let me say it again...

i think John's routines has personality and emotion where Kelly's routines looked like a bunch of gymnastic flips.

i'm not talking about dance technique at all. i'm talking about the feeling i got from watching the routines. one had feeling and the other was a circus performance.
Didn't John lift Charlotte a couple of times during the freestyle last night? And what was up with Charlotte's wiggling her hands through his crotch that one time? :shock: Not to mention the freestyle from the original finale where Charlotte jumped up to wrap her legs around John's waist. :roll:

I can't argue with how you "felt." I simply felt differently. I think the show was prone to gimmickry from all the competitors, and it's kind of funny to me how John's gimmicks are frequently viewed as "classy" even though they weren't that different from Kelly's, in my opinion.

[dTas]

true John's routines had lifts and tricks as well, of course the "hand wiggling".

but his routines also had heart and touched an emotion, even the "hand wiggling" was a touch of comedy.

Kelly's routines were void of emotion and looked hap-hazard. there was little flow from one trick to another.

[tacad]

All the dances from both dancers looked devoid of emotion and passion to me this time except for John's waltz. That was nice.

[Another Elizabeth]

Personally, I thought J&C's freestyle was great. It had some dancing, it was funny, and it played to both dancers' strengths. I also thought it was a clever theme in that it could disguise bobbles in the routine as "I meant to do that." I also liked Charlotte's outfit, and the Ginger Rogers hairstyle.

[tacad]

What dance were John and Charlotte doing on that freestyle? I couldn't figure it out. But then I may not understand the term freestyle.

[Laura]

It seemed like it was loosely based on Hustle.

[fascination]

given that the folks on pbs were not celebrities...I think your analogy falls apart....
I used the PBS analogy because you seemed to imply that the show would be better if the judges' decision on the "best" technical dancer won -- and where else would you get the best of the best ballroom dancers than on those PBS shows? (Of course, by the way, some people seem to overlook the fact that the judges voted for Kelly as the winner in the final of the original series.)

ABC made the modification to include B-list "celebrities" and have the audience participate because it was obvious that pure technical merit would not draw an audience for 6 weeks. That's all I'm saying. DWTS was a success largely because Kelly (and other modestly skilled celebrities) were there trying hard every week and people could vote for them. The ratings were NOT simply based on people's saying, "Oh you've gotta see John O'Hurley dance." :roll:my point is that viewer ship wouldn't neccessarily change just b/c people couldn't call in ....and I never implied that the best dancers(non-celb) should be dancing but that the celebrities that were dancing should be judged by a more authentic standard.....not sure the current judges fit that bill either

[Medira]

All the dances from both dancers looked devoid of emotion and passion to me this time except for John's waltz. That was nice.I agree.

Personally, I found the show to be very anti-climactic. There was this huge buildup to the show that just didn't deliver the spellbinding performances that I had hoped to see.

Kelly's chacha was definitely her best dance, but it was still less than spectacular. John's waltz was wonderful. Both freestyle numbers were lacking. It seemed like neither John nor Kelly were that into it.

If the professional performances hadn't been in there too, I would have been completely disappointed in the show. As it was, I was pretty close to that point anyway.

[wyllo]

Finally got around to watching the tape of the show (I've been at dance practice!) I don't think either person is the clear winner. You can't deny the "fun factor" of Kelly's dancing, but she is messy at best, clumsy at worst. I do think her lifts are much better. John's waltz was very nice, but I'm not sure the non-dancers can appreciate how much time he spent in closed dance position.

The pro performances were stunning (but I expected no less!). John Roberts and Anna Trebunskya (sp?) were mesmerizing -- does anyone know if they still compete?

Dancing kids are just so darn cutel I wonder how many parents are signing their kids up for lessons after that.

[Laura]

John & Anya compete in Latin. After that performance, they should try Smooth, too!! (John is a previous US National Professional Rising Star Smooth winner, with Roberta Sun.)

[Vince A]

If it were not for the kids and John and Anya . . . the show would have been a dismal failure.

All that buildup and it flopped . . .

Kelly looked like her early days in dance - a rookie! She lost her quick legs and soft arms/hands, and . . . she didn't come off as looking as sexy as she did in previous shows! I never noticed her large nose before this show!

John looked like an older male dancer - the older you get, the less flexible your upper body is, so your upper body, arms, shoulders, neck movements look stiff. He looked very stiff and danced flatfooted - kind of a march!

I actually thought John looked terrible.

Kelly was so-so - the cha cha being her only OK dance.

I hope they don't do a third show, say if John wins this one, and then the producers will have to have a tie-breaker show. I won't watch . . . I'd rather save my tv-dance-watching-time for the "So You Think You Can Dance" show - now those last six can dance!

[tacad]

I never noticed her large nose before this show!
:shock:

:lol:

...rather save my tv-dance-watching-time for the "So You Think You Can Dance" show - now those last six can dance!
I watched it for the first time last night. They're good!

[fascination]

Kelly looked like her early days in dance - a rookie! She lost her quick legs and soft arms/hands, and . . . she didn't come off as looking as sexy as she did in previous shows! I never noticed her large nose before this show!what on earth were you looking at before? :wink: does this belong on the looking at cleavage thread?

[mamboqueen]

Nick Kosovich is hot. Just had to say it.

[fascination]

Nick Kosovich is hot. Just had to say it.careful, africana has decided that all of us married folks have way too much sexual energy going on

[musicchica86]

YEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!! JUSTICE AT LAST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:D :D :D :D :D :D :D

[mamboqueen]

careful, africana has decided that all of us married folks have way too much sexual energy going on

Hey, us married folk have blood running through our veins, too! I don't know who I'll dream about now...Alec or Nick?? Tough choices!

I thought the result was fairly predictable. The only dance I was really impressed with this time around was John's waltz. And impressed in the sense that it was nice to see some fairly basic movements done very well by a newcomer. I could have done without all the lifts, quite honestly.

Edita and Alec were awesome to watch, though....

[musicchica86]

Yeah, Alec's pretty hot too...and Charlotte's just so stunning. Edyta and Alec's samba was fabulous. He finally got to really show off how good he is!

I can only imagine how tough it's going to be to get a lesson with him now. And how much it'll cost. :roll: Guess it's a good thing I'm not on the West Coast, or I'd be sorely tempted...

[mamboqueen]

Guess it's a good thing I'm not on the West Coast, or I'd be sorely tempted...

Me, too! I can't imagine paying $100 for a quart of drool...*LOL*

Charlotte did look absolutely stunning. My screen was smoking when she and Nick danced. It was "suxy"!

[musicchica86]

Shall we review what we'd be paying for? :lol:

Just ignore the Kelly-ness:

http://abc.go.com/primetime/dancing/images/gallery/ep105/ep105_20_240x360.jpg

Sweet Jesus... :shock:
http://abc.go.com/primetime/dancing/images/gallery/danceoff/09_360x240.jpg

*drools* Yep, definitely worth it.

[mamboqueen]

My kids are going to think it's funny that mommy has a poster of a Alec hanging on her bedroom wall. :lol: :wink:

drool...drool...drool...

[Katarzyna]

So what happened today.. any results yet?

[mamboqueen]

Yes, it's over. They said the results were within 1% of each other (yeah, okay...). What would you guess?

[mamboqueen]

Yippeee! Finally found the *perfect* avatar!

Thanks, Musicchica!

[Katarzyna]

Yes, it's over. They said the results were within 1% of each other (yeah, okay...). What would you guess?
Kelly? :( ?

[mamboqueen]

I'll just chat by myself a while longer....

I think if you cropped the first picture to show Kelly's flat little belly with Alec's perfectly round little derriere, it would be perfection. I'm willing to give credit for all that hard work they must be doing to look like that.

Maybe I need to re-do my avatar.

Naaahhh.....

[mamboqueen]

Kelly? ?

Guess again.

[musicchica86]

Yippeee! Finally found the *perfect* avatar!

Thanks, Musicchica!

Hey, no fair, I want one! :lol: *begs* Wanna make me one too? :wink:

[mamboqueen]

Any particular parts you want?

(geez...do I sound like a cat in heat, or what? *LOL*)

[fascination]

Any particular parts you want?

(geez...do I sound like a cat in heat, or what? *LOL*)ditto...yummy avatar

[tacad]

[John's freestyle] seemed like it was loosely based on Hustle.
You're right. They did the basic hustle step for a few bars (as I saw on the encore). Loosely is the word. :wink:

[tacad]

Well, I enjoyed it. It was a lot of fun and I'm looking forward to the next one. Wow! A reality show I actually want to watch. Amazing.

[chachachacat]

Wow, what a fun show! The samba was incredibly hot!

Let me be the first to say it, then,
the show be-eth over now,
the victor standing tall.
Not Veyrasset
nor Fung, you see,
the victor none O'ther than...
John O' Hurley!




c cec
YAY!!!!!!!!!!!! :bouncy: :applause:

[Laura]

Yes, it's over. They said the results were within 1% of each other (yeah, okay...).

When I was watching, I thought it was tie-worthy. I felt that both Latin numbers were "eh," and tied in their badness. John's Smooth was better than Kelly's, and Kelly's freestyle was more entertaining and fun. So that was one dance for each, and one dance tied, and it seems the voting public basically agreed. I'm so proud of my self for guessing how it would go :-)

And as for the winner...well, how about that. I didn't actually think it would go that way.

[chachachacat]

Well, I enjoyed it. It was a lot of fun and I'm looking forward to the next one. Wow! A reality show I actually want to watch. Amazing.

Me 2.

[chachachacat]

Thank you, mamboqueen, for your new avatar!!!! It's gorgeous!

[Katarzyna]

Kelly? ?

Guess again.

Really, I am so happy J ohn (I mean Charlotta) won :bouncy: :bouncy: :bouncy:

[Purr]

Let's hope there's not a 2 out of 3 show.

[Katarzyna]

Hope it's not

[wyllo]

aagh! I missed Alec and Edyta. I did manage to catch Nick and Charlotte which was worth the few minutes of mindless patter from the announcers. I hope this means he will have a more active role in next season -- wasn't there talk of having him judge? Maybe he can replace Carrie Anne. Or, maybe they will add another celebrity for him to train!

[eyesofire49]

OK...this is going to be a long one...but I had quite a bit on my mind and didn't want to quit until it was done to relfect my true feelings...so bear with me, OK?

Incredible. That pretty much summed it up for me.

I didn’t think the voting would be that close...and honestly, I also thought that given the strong showing from her fans during the original series, John and Charlotte stood about as much a chance of winning the dance-off as a snowball does of freezing in Hell. As for the phone problems...I had ‘em too. Mom tried to vote on my behalf 10 different times (5 on my home line, 5 on my cell)...3 calls got through for John and Charlotte on the cell, 4 on the home line. Seems like a lot of people on both sides had the same problem. So to me, that makes the phone argument pretty much a moot point. Should the system in place be changed?!? Yes, absolutely....whether it’s including more lines and/or increasing the time allowed to vote in the first place.

On to the dancing, OK? It was truly a treat to see how Kelly Monaco’s overall presentation improved. While there will still plenty of problems, in my eyes she was making an awesome effort when it came to selling both the choreography of the routine and the story the routine was trying to portray. In an earlier post, I had stated that once she could fit the right feeling, the right emotion to its proper dance she (and that never-say-die attitude of hers) will have finally done her talent the justice it so richly deserved. She was more of an active, engaged partner this time around - and I was blown away by the overall quality of her DANCING. From a fellow dancer, Kelly...welcome to this wonderful world. You fought incredibly hard to earn the respect of the people....and it is my sincerest hope that you don’t put your dancing shoes away in the closet. Please take these comments as a token of my respect, one dancer to another. Because you’ve EARNED it.

What can I say of John? I’ve gone over the tape time and again, and quite frankly I don’t see a *poor attitude* that many of you claim exists. I tend to read a lot into people’s tone, and while the words may seem suspect to some...to me the soft, quiet tone in his voice made me think that his *poor attitude* was anything but. Note that most of the time too, there was a smile on his face and a chuckle in the air. BTW - trash talking goes both ways. Kelly herself was no saint in this regard. As for John himself...the tone in his voice and the look in his eyes to me reflected a determination that even he probably never knew he had. It’s clear that the man loves to dance; he’s got an incredible passion for the art and it shows, both in his demeanor and his considerable skill.

In the Latin round, Kelly and Alec brought their usual flair into their cha-cha routine. With all the improvement she’s made from a presentation standpoint, I was pleasantly surprised by how good they looked together here - and for me, I just ate this routine up. This go-round, she was a more active, engaged partner and I loved it...even if from a technical standpoint, it was far from perfect. For John and Charlotte...that rumba, while the weak point in their program (in my opinion, not enough action in the hips) was still pretty good. The “feel” or story behind this dance is one of sensuality and passion between a man and a woman...Bruno making the analogy of “a 12 episode steamy soap opera” was right on target. And boy, did J&C NAIL it that night. Together with their fine sense of control, the ability to get the “feel” of this dance I think is what got them through what I believed was a weaker round . Oh and by the way...I may be in the minority, but I thought the outfit Charlotte wore for the rumba was actually quite nice. Color wise, maybe not. Think back to the Paso Doble...the lady indeed looks good in red. But then again, who knew Charlotte could pull off “sultry” and “sexy” as well as Kelly could?

On to the ballroom round. Again, I was pleasantly surprised by Kelly in particular. For only having about a month to get it down, and Standard/Smooth not being her strong suit, the quickstep came off better than even I thought it would. I really enjoyed that routine...not from a technical standpoint (finding the beat I think was harder for her here than it was in the cha-cha), but because it had that light, airy sense of fun and hold on a minute...Kelly CAN and did actively dance in this routine. She became more a part of the dance itself - and looked much better in doing it. Well done Ms. Monaco.

Vivian Leigh and Clark Gable in “Gone With the Wind”. What a memory, and what a waltz. That routine literally got chills running down my spine and took my breath away. And people can think what they want about what I say next - even if they think I’m a few apples short of a full tree! Be it in a tail-suit or a tuxedo, John O’Hurley wears that elegant, formal look very well. Classically sophisticated, he was definitely handsome in his own right next to his equally stunning partner. That *30* was no pity mark. It definitely was earned. The hold, John’s frame and strong lead, the great lines, the effortless rise and fall, the footwork, the choreography- all of it came together to produce a routine full of both technical difficulty and artistic grace. Simply beautiful to watch. Dancers in future editions of the show will have a hard time topping this routine, if it could ever be done at all. Personally, I don’t believe it can.

For me, the free-styles were a tale of the unexpected. The couple I expected to come out with an athletic routine that pushed the envelope (Kelly and Alec) clearly didn’t and the couple I expected to be technically sound, yet a little safer (John and Charlotte) was anything BUT.
To be perfectly honest, I was expecting to see MORE from Kelly and Alec here than I did. It was OK, but after the finale I believed that the freestyle and not necessarily the Latin dance was where they were going to really shine. In John and Charlotte, I saw a routine that was aggressive, athletic and that for them, raised the bar completely out of their comfort zone. Carrie Ann was right - earlier in the program, that spark, the natural connection they’ve both become known for was not all there and that once they got it back, they’d be alright. In the freestyle, that connection was not only important. It was necessary, especially when the lifts came into play and their safety was at risk. There can’t be a moment’s hesitation on either count, nor can stuff like that be done as two separate dancers. You’ve got to think, act and dance as a single unit. The biggest way such an ideal can be achieved is if the connection between partners is complete and their faith in each other is total. Kudos to John for having it in him to even attempt some of that all or nothing stuff (that overhead lift with a twisting entry was something I thought NEITHER of them would do). And props to Charlotte for placing enough trust in her partner to allow him to pull it off. It was the aggressive, all or nothing nature of this dance that for me, made it incredibly fun and entertaining to watch. Even if it was lacking technically.

Excellent demonstrations by both pro couples at the results show. Alec and Edyta - what can I say? That samba was as a samba should be. It was incredibly fun to watch. Fast, sharp and quite frankly, sexy as hell. And what of that costume Edyta was wearing? Sure, it made anything Kelly Monaco wore during the series look tame in comparison. But I don’t see anything on this board marking her a “slut” or a “pole dancer”. I’ll bet anything the folks here that have been slagging Kelly wouldn’t have it in them to call either her OR Edyta Sliwinska a slut to their faces. Do yourselves a favor. Head to a Latin dance competition (especially a professional one) sometime and see for yourself. Showing some skin as far as the women go is the rule, not the exception. Does that mean all those women who dance Latin are trashy? You, me and everyone else already knows the answer.

If Nick Kosovich didn’t already have a partner and a World Championship title under his belt, am I the only one on this board who thinks that he and Charlotte Jorgensen would make an awesome (and nearly unbeatable) professional couple in their own right? The words I heard from the folks in attendance at my Mom’s studio were unanimous.... “Brilliant”, “sheer genius”, “stunning” and “ballroom at its very best”. After having seen it for myself, I’d have to agree. That was quite possibly one of the finest exhibitions of Standard style ballroom dancing I’ve ever had the privilege of seeing. After that routine, I’d be surprised if top male pros in the Standard division looking for a partner WEREN’T knocking at Charlotte’s door trying to talk her out of retirement.

As for the amateurs in this event...both Kelly and John have been un-necessarily and unfairly portrayed at times, whether it was by the media or the public at large. Kelly Monaco has had many things including her past, her morals and the validity of her and Alec’s series win called into question. Her past is just that. The past. Sure - baring all for Playboy is something that I personally would never do. But as a grown woman, that decision was hers and hers alone. If she is happy for having done it, who am I (or anyone else passing that judgment for that matter) to think that one moment in a lifetime makes her somehow less of a human being than you or I? For those who have been calling the validity of her series win into question - I’ve come to the realization that you were asking the wrong questions all along. Instead of trying to drag Kelly’s good name through the mud, perhaps your energies could be better served by questioning the validity of an inherently flawed system that the dancers were forced to work under.

And what of John? As I stated earlier, I did not find his attitude to be poor at all, and I stand by that statement. Could he have chosen some of his words better? Sure. But I’m willing to bet there is not one person among us who hasn’t said something at some point in time they’ve come to recognize as a regret. But I also heard him say that quite possibly, he was the luckiest man alive just to get the opportunities he’s been given. That isn’t the mark of selfishness. To me, he came across as being truly grateful....1.) For the lifelong friend he’s made in Charlotte and 2.) For the good fortune that’s come his way, all as a result of him having learned simply how to dance. By the time the winners were announced, I personally found some things very striking about both him and Charlotte. Bad attitude? I don’t think so. Was John happy at having won? Sure. But take a good look. He wasn’t his usual witty, effusive self. If there was a celebration going on, it was one inside himself... a private moment within in a very public arena. A poor sport with a bad attitude would have used their happiness as an excuse to rub their opponent’s nose in it. Charlotte was the picture of class as it should be - a poor sport would have let Kelly alone as she celebrated and not been the first to offer a hug, some positive words and a shoulder to lean on.

I could see something else too. Never saw John as an emotional guy...at least, not in the outward, public sense. When he got that check, his voice got softer and it took on a bit of a crack. Cradling it in his hands and holding it near his heart, he looked like a guy on the verge of tears. That demeanor, the emotion he showed made it real clear. The money that those votes raised for Golfers Against Cancer meant more to him than the title of “Champion” those same votes garnered he and Charlotte ever will.

In that closing dance sequence with Kelly, I did not see a bragging, over the top crybaby. I saw someone who carried himself with dignity, grace and was a gentleman in every sense of the word. That’s not being a *sore loser* or a *poor sport*. That was the true essence, the real spirit of the ballroom world at its best.

Both John O’Hurley and Charlotte Jorgensen embodied those ideals as champions truly should.

In the end, best wishes and congratulations to both championship couples. May you enjoy your titles and all the rewards that will undoubtedly come your way as a result of all your hard work. For your passion for dancing, for baring your emotions and your souls week in and week out and for enduring all that you’ve had to just to entertain us, this fan would like to say a simple, but heartfelt...

Thank you.

Sincerely;
EyesOFire49

[swan]

I actually do agree that Kelly deserves a lot more credit. I was just telling my friends that my feeble attempt of doing some free style dancing convinced me that what Kelly's 'showing off' was not as easy & trivial as everybody thought.

Sure, her knees were not straight in latin steps and she might be selling her 'suxy' self too much. But she does have a fluid & beautiful spine which compliments the latin dancing well.

John's got the formality & 'character' down for the dancing. But Kelly has a lot more potential - IF she didn't put her dance shoes in the closet!

Oh well...I've heard this a lot & it's once again proven true - talented people sometimes take it for granted & then all talent goes to waste w/o being further developed.

This dance off - as I said, I'd have given it a TIE! I could live with either winning :) Unlike the first time which I thought John was ROBBED!

[alemana]

i wasn't surprised when kelly said her dancing shoes were in the back of her closet.

i suspect she is done dancing. john - i seriously doubt it.

[pygmalion]

Agreed, agreed, and agreed.

[Katarzyna]

Agree as well!

[tacad]

Agreed.

[pygmalion]

Yeah. It looks like John is hooked. Woohoo! Maybe we'll see him at OSB next year. :wink: :lol:

[Katarzyna]

Wonder if he would consider an am partner, or would prefer to go wiht pro am.. (I think pro am might be better for him... would interfere less with his life )

:)

[tacad]

Boy, he'd make a fine ballroom representative to the country.

[Katarzyna]

Boy, he'd make a fine ballroom representative to the country. :D :lol:

[pygmalion]

Fine is a multi-purpose word.








Just figured I'd mention that. :wink: :lol:

[fascination]

Fine is a multi-purpose word.








Just figured I'd mention that. :wink: :lol:fine as in fine wine or fine posterior 8)

[Katarzyna]

fine as in fine wine or fine posterior 8)
:uplaugh:

[chachachacat]

Fine is a multi-purpose word.








Just figured I'd mention that. :wink: :lol:
He's so fine!
(Doo lang doo lang dolang)

[tacad]

:doh: :doh: :doh: