Friday night marked the kickoff of the new Dancing with the Stars Live in Las Vegas show at the Tropicana Hotel and Casino. The show will run for 12 weeks and will feature current and past pro dancers, former celebrity contestants and anyone else loosely related to the show and in need of a paycheck/publicity.
As I’m sure you all know by now, Chaz Bono was voted off Dancing With the Stars this week. His elimination has sparked a lot of emotion (from both fans and haters), as well as many questions about the show. Is it a dance competition or a popularity contest? Are the judges comments actually constructive or just entertaining for shock value? And of course, the biggest question of all, is this Maksim Chmerkovskiy’sshow? 😉
Chaz expressed disdain for Bruno Tonioli after the judge called him an Ewok a few weeks ago and a penguin on Monday. Taking the high road (with a bit of a dig), he tells Life and Style, “I don’t have to wake up and be Bruno tomorrow, I get to wake up and be me.” That seems to be putting a positive spin on the situation.
His dance partner, Lacey Schwimmer, elaborates, “I think they need to focus on actually judging dancing skills rather than a personality or the look. The judges and comments and scores kind of set it all up [for us to be eliminated in the public vote].” While I agree with that logic, I also feel like people who get lots of audience votes can stay around longer than improving dancers with less of a fan base. Must be the nature of the beast.
Regardless, Chaz is proud of his time on the show, as any DWTS contestant should be–especially those with no prior dancing experience. He gained a lot from the experience, stating, “I learned that I was capable of so much more than I thought I was.” Kudos to anyone who is able to say that about anything in their lives!
While Chaz seems to be bowing out gracefully, his superstar mother Cher isn’t following suit. She had some very choice tweets for Bruno and Len Goodman. Taking to twitter, Cher vented, “Going Home is Fine but why insult him b4 he Goes! Maybe Rudeness & Flapping Arms take the place of TALENT….As for the Older Gentleman ….every Show Needs A Grumpy Old Man !” Hmmm….to whom could she be referring?
Carrie Ann Inaba was spared from Cher’s tirade. Chaz’s celebrity mother gave a shout out to the third judge, tweeting, “Thank u Carrie Ann 4 your Gentility u r beautiful inside & out.” Cher later continued, “The Chick is beautiful & Polite ! The Men suck.” You can’t really fault a mother for coming to the defense of her child, can you?
It’s a slippery slope…I’m trying not to take a stance, but I do have to applaud anyone who steps out of their comfort zone and sincerely seems to be trying to bring awareness to a cause near and dear, whether it is widely accepted or hyper-criticized. Do I think Chaz is a great decent dancer? He’s better than me, but that is not saying much. However, I think anyone who goes on this show, especially with no background in dance, is pretty courageous.
Photo credit: WENN
DWTS: DANCING COMPETITION OR POPULARITY CONTEST? DO YOU THINK CHAZ (AND HIS FANS) ARE MORE UPSET ABOUT THE ELIMINATION OR THE JUDGES’ COMMENTS? WHAT DO YOU THINK OF CHER’S REACTION?
Monday night’s episode of Dancing With the Stars brought us bright lights and big attitudes!
It also brought some top notch performances from front runners J.R. Martinez and Ricki Lake. It is however the dramatic showdown between pro dancer Maksim Chmerkovskiy and judge Len Goodman that has fans talking this Tuesday morning!
The hotness known as Maksim or is it ‘Mad Maks’ rather blew a fuse during the live competition last night following some harsh criticism by Len. After dancing a sexy rumba with his partner/soccer player Hope Solo, Len stated it was Hope’s “worst dance of the season.”
“I always feel like there is so much there, and for some reason it hasn’t come out,” stated Len, 67. “This is your worst dance of the season in my opinion.”
Maksim, 31, made it clear he did not agree with Len’s comments which promtped Len to tell him: “I’ve been in this business for 50 years.” Maksim was less than impressed as he promptly retorted: “Then maybe it’s time to go!”
In fact judge Carrie Ann Inabahad to step in as she scolded Maks by telling him, “Don’t be disrespectful like that!”
After receiving a low score of 20 from the judges (Chaz Bono was the only contestant to score lower with a score of 19), Maksim was unapologetic backstage! “With all due respect, this is my show. I help make it what it is,” said Maks to host Brooke Burke Charvet, leading to a slightly awkward moment.
As for Maks, the ballroom seems to be split as some of his pro dancers supported his opinion while others made it clear they did not agree with his stance.
Lacey Schwimmer agreed: “They always have their favorites, and this season it’s completely clear who they are. I won’t name names, but we are not one of them,” she said. “I’m actually proud of what Maks said. A lot of us don’t get the chance to stand up for us and our partners.”
Karina Smirnoff, who also happens to be Maksim’s ex-fiance, did not share his point of view. Karina told E! News, “We danced right after Maks so I just wanted to make sure that the judges made sure that we didn’t concur with Maks’ opinion…He needs a hug.”
Hope stated she was “so grateful” that Maks defended her while Maks has no regrets about his outburst. Maks said “I’m extremely proud of her. This is the first time she came out and she did exactly what she planned and there was no stress and no tension and it was a great performance. And I really liked dancing with her tonight. And to get comments that was the opposite of what it was, it wasn’t even upsetting, it was more like, ‘I have had enough!’ You have an opinion. I also have an opinion…The judges will say, ‘Hey, this is show business, this is supposed to be fun.’ Well, I had fun tonight.”
It will be interesting to see if Maks’ outburst turned off the voters and affects Hope’s chances of staying on the show! The results show airs tonight on ABC.
TELL US – THOUGHTS ON MAKSIM’S MELTDOWN? UNDERSTANDABLE OR OUT OF LINE?
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Three weeks into Dancing With The Stars, the audience finally got a taste of the season’s first shocking elimination!
Despite giving a strong performance on Monday night and earning 24 points, The Hills alumKristin Cavallarifound herself in the bottom three alongside other good performers such as Hope Solo and Carson Kressley.
Safe were the lowest two scorers — Chaz Bonoand Nancy Grace. Unfortunately for Kristin, 24, she was sent packing though she and partner Mark Ballas earned their highest scores of the season on Monday.
“I’m a little surprised, to be honest,” said Kristin after learning her fate. “But I’ve had such a great time and it’s been an awesome experience, so it is what it is.”
“I was really proud of Kristin,” said Mark, 25. “She had great potential and she killed it last night. I’m honored to be her partner.”
As for Chaz, he counted his lucky stars following Kristin’s elimination as he posted the following on his twitter page: “I wish I could thank each & every one of you personally for your votes. You are the reason Lacey Schwimmer and I ARE DANCING AGAIN next week!!”
TELL US – THOUGHTS ON KRISTIN’S ELIMINATION? SHOULD CHAZ HAVE BEEN VOTED OFF INSTEAD?
The new season has however not been without controversy as immediately following ABC’s reveal of the cast back in August, some fans of the show were outraged over the casting of Chaz Bonoaka the first transgendered contestant in the show’s history. In fact Chaz’s uber famous mother Cherhad to publicly defend him.
Chaz, 42, is now speaking out today on the backlash he received from some. “I feel like if people who are on the fence just watch the show, I think they’re going to feel comfortable with me pretty soon,” said Chaz to the AP. “I’m a really kind of regular guy. I think I’m a pretty nice guy. My heart is in the right place and I think if people just watch, they’ll see that.”
Chaz goes on to add that he’s more worried about his dancing skills today than any backlash. “It’s completely different because I’ve never done this before,” he said. “I can sit down and talk to Oprah about myself or subjects that I’m really comfortable with and that I really know and have information to put across, but I’m not a dancer. All I know about dancing is what I’ve learned in less than (three) weeks!”
And while we won’t know for certain the dancing capabilities of this new group of contestants until tonight, odd makers have already started making bets as to who will win the mirror ball trophy this season.
The favorite to win it all? None other than US soccer playerHope Solo, who is partnered with hotness Maksim Chmerkovskiy. Other contestants expected to fare well this season include Elisabetta Canalis, Kristin Cavallari, and Carson Kressley.
Dancing With The Stars season 13 debuts tonight on ABC at 8/7c.
TELL US – THOUGHTS ON CHAZ’S COMMENTS? WHO ARE YOU PREDICTING TO WIN IT ALL?
Above is the first glimpse of Chaz Bono, the first transgendered contestant on the show, in his dancing costume alongside partner Lacey Schwimmer. As we reported, the casting of Chaz, 42, has proven to be a rather controversial one for ABC with some fans voicing their disapproval.
In other DWTS news, TMZ is reporting today that Rob Kardashian has been slacking off when it comes to practicing his dance moves. Rob’s partner Cheryl Burke is reportedly “fed up” with him as he refuses to practice for more than 2 hours with her. Other contestants are putting in over 5 hours a day.
Cheryl now feels this shows Rob’s lack of interest in doing the show. And while he’s busy not practicing, Rob is reportedly bragging to his older sister Kimmie Kardashianthat he will top her DWTS performance by making it past week 3. Good luck with that one Robbie!
Dancing With The Stars returns to ABC on Sep. 19 at 8/7c.
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Days after ABC announced Chaz Bono as a contestant on this season of Dancing With The Stars, he continues to be on the receiving end of some major backlash by some fans of the show.
It appears ABC’s decision to put Chaz, the first transgendered conestant in the show’s history, on the show is drawing attacks from some people on the ABC message boards. An example of one of the comments posted includes: “This show has completely lost a viewer(s). I am DISGUSTED that you would have Chaz Bono on there. He/she can live however he/she would like to live, but do we need to flaunt it for ratings? Really? I hope your ratings sink as low as you have sunk in having Chaz on there.”
Chaz’s uber famous mom Cheris now speaking out to defend her son. “Chaz is Being Viciously Attacked on Blogs & Message boards about being on DWTS! This is Still America right? It took guts 2 do it,” Cher tweeted about Chaz, who legally changed his gender and name last year. “I support him no matter what he chooses 2do! God! will there always be haters! It took COURAGE 2 do dwts! TG Chaz has an Unlimited supply,” added Cher who also referred to the critics as “Bigots.”
Chaz, 42, showed his appreciation to his mom when he tweeted, “Thanks for all your support mom. The haters are just motivating me to work harder and stay on DWTS as long as I possibly can.”
Also coming to Chaz’s defense is his DWTS pro partner Lacey Schwimmer. “It’s disappointing,” said Lacey to The Insider of the negative reactions to Chaz and the cruel jokes made at his expense on late night TV. “No human is perfect, so why are they pointing out what they perceive to be an imperfection in someone else? It’s not cool. We’re all taught to not bully, or harass, and treat everyone as equals yet all these people are doing exactly the opposite,” added Lacey.
In a separate interview, Lacey makes it clear that Chaz is all man. “The fact of the matter is, he’s a full man, in every shape or form,” she said of her partner. “Everybody should just get over it and accept him and accept him as a human being … he’s so brave and its really good to be a part of it with him!”
In other DWTS news, the Huffington Post is reporting the show wants absolutely nothing to do with Bravo housewives! If you recall, Teresa Giudice has spent the last year trying to get on the show to no avail.
“They have no interest in having any of the ladies on the show,” reveals a DWTS insider. “Season after season the housewives pitch themselves to grace the dance floor and season after season the show says thanks but no thanks.” In fact a spokesperson for Bravo confirms none of the housewives have ever been asked by ABC to do the show including the very popular Bethenny Frankel.
“They never made Bethenny an offer,” a friend of Bethenny’s reveals. “She went to the show with a friend of [host] Tom Bergeron’s who was kind enough to get his pal-plus-one two front row seats next to the head of ABC. But even that couldn’t get her on the show.” But Rob Kardashian is a-okay?
Photo credit: WENN.com
TELL US – THOUGHTS ON THE CONTROVERSY INVOLVING CHAZ? SHOULD DWTS CAST A BRAVO HOUSEWIFE?
The revelation was made this morning on Good Morning America. One of the biggest surprises is the addition of Val Chmerkovskiy to the cast! Val is the younger brother of DWTS hotness Maksim Chmerkovskiy. And despite the speculation that we might be getting the first same-sex couple this season, openly gay style guru Carson Kressley is paired up with a female partner.
Returning this season is three-time champ Derek Hough after taking a break last season. Derek is paired up with Ricki Lake.
Below are the full pairings for DWTS Season 13 –
Nancy Grace and Tristan MacManus
Hope Solo and Maksim Chmerkovskiy
David Arquette and Kym Johnson
Kristin Cavallari and Mark Ballas
Rob Kardashian and Cheryl Burke
Elisabetta Canalis and Val Chmerkovskiy
Ron Artest and Peta Murgatroyd
RJ Martinez and Karina Smirnoff
Ricki Lake and Derek Hough
Chaz Bono and Lacey Schwimmer
Carson Kressley and Anna Trebunskaya
Chynna Phillips and Tony Dovolani
Meanwhile this season’s Kate GosselinNancy Grace, who is arguably the biggest casting surprise this year, is speaking out on doing the show.
In a new interview, Nancy reveals she thought she was dreaming when she got the call from DWTS. “I feel like Cinderella that got invited to the ball. I don’t know how to dance,” Nancy, 51, states. “I don’t know what I’m going to wear, but I know I have been invited.”
Nancy adds, “I want to have fun. Ever since my fiance was killed in ’79, my whole life has been about putting bad guys away, going to law school, making law review, trying cases, representing crime victims – and this is such a departure, to get to dress up in crazy outfits and dance. Are you kidding me?!” Nancy also states she is NOT counting on Casey Anthony’s vote!
The new season of DWTS premieres Sep. 19 on ABC.
TELL US – THOUGHTS ON THE PAIRINGS? WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE TO WIN IT ALL?
