“Dancing with the Stars” pairings announced
Debi Mazar and Maksim Chmerkovskiy - ABC photo
The professional dancer pairings for “Dancing with the Stars” ninth season cast have been announced, with four previous champions returning: Mark Ballas, Cheryl Burke, Derek Hough and Alec Mazo.
I like the odds for Karina Smirnoff and Aaron Carter, Mark Ballas and Melissa Joan Hart and Maksim Chmerkovskiy and Debi Mazar
Kym Johnson and Donny Osmond just might sneak up from behind, though, and grab that disco ball trophy.
Two-time champ Cheryl Burke appears to have her work cut out for her with Tom DeLay, and Louis Van Amstel and Kelly Osbourne are quite an odd duo, as well as Jonathan Roberts and Macy Gray.
But personalities do come into play, and who knows whose chemistry will ignite on the dance floor.
The complete list of professionals and their partners is:
♦♦♦ Karina Smirnoff and Aaron Carter
♦♦♦ Alec Mazo and Natalie Coughlin
♦♦♦ Lacey Schwimmer and Mark Dacascos
♦♦♦ Cheryl Burke and Tom DeLay
♦♦♦ Jonathan Roberts and Macy Gray
♦♦♦ Edyta Sliwinska and Ashley Hamilton
♦♦♦ Mark Ballas and Melissa Joan Hart
♦♦♦ Tony Dovolani and Kathy Ireland
♦♦♦ Anna Demidova and Michael Irvin
♦♦♦ Derek Hough and Joanna Kruppa
♦♦♦ Anna Trebunskaya and Chuck Liddell
♦♦♦ Maksim Chmerkovskiy and Debi Mazar
♦♦♦ Dmitry Chaplin and Mya
♦♦♦ Louis Van Amstel and Kelly Osbourne
♦♦♦ Kym Johnson and Donny Osmond
♦♦♦ Chelsie Hightower and Louie Vito
The three-night premiere of “Dancing with the Stars” begins Sept. 21 from 7 to 9 p.m., when eight teams will compete, with the other eight appearing the next night during the same time period. On Sept. 23 from 7 to 8 p.m., two couples will be sent home.
Best of luck to all!
– Melissa Hayer
“Dancing with the Stars” Season Nine cast announced
ABC has announced the cast of the Season Nine edition of “Dancing with the Stars,” which includes two Grammy Award-winning artists, a former Dallas Cowboy and a former House Majority Leader.
The 16 stars making their ballroom dancing debut are:
♦♦♦♦ Aaron Carter – music artist, songwriter, producer, actor
♦♦♦♦ Natalie Coughlin – Olympic swimming gold medalist
♦♦♦♦ Mark Dacascos – host of Food Network’s “Iron Chef America”
♦♦♦♦ Tom DeLay – former House Majority Leader
♦♦♦♦ Macy Gray – singer
♦♦♦♦ Ashley Hamilton – actor, songwriter, comedian
♦♦♦♦ Melissa Joan Hart – actress
♦♦♦♦ Kathy Ireland – CEO, former supermodel
♦♦♦♦ Michael Irvin, former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver
♦♦♦♦ Joanna Krupa – model, actress
♦♦♦♦ Chuck Liddell – Ultimate Fighting Championship world champion
♦♦♦♦ Debi Mazar – actress
♦♦♦♦ Mya – singer, actress
♦♦♦♦ Kelly Osbourne – singer, actress
♦♦♦♦ Donny Osmond – singer, actor
♦♦♦♦ Louie Vito – professional snowboarder
This is probably the most eclectic of casts so far, so it should be interesting to see how everyone fares. I wasn’t sure how entertaining last year’s cast would be, but it turned out to be another exciting season.
We’ll have to see whether Donny Osmond has an edge because his sister Marie is a “Dancing with the Stars” alumna – or Ashley Hamilton, as well, as his father, George Hamilton is also an alumna of the show.
The Pro Dancer Competition and “Macy’s Stars of Dance” will return this year.
The two-hour season premiere of “Dancing with the Stars” will be at 7 p.m. Sept. 21.
Any projections on who will be eliminated first and/or who will win?
I’m going to go way out on a limb and guess Tom DeLay will be the first eliminated and Aaron Carter will be the proud owner of the disco ball trophy.
– Melissa Hayer
“Dating in the Dark” reality show fascinates
"Dating in the Dark" (ABC Photo)
While I’ve never been a fan of reality shows (with the exception of “Dancing With the Stars” – and I don’t think it counts – but that’s another blog!), I have to say I’ve been fascinated with ABC’s “Dating in the Dark.”
The show airs on Mondays, starting at a new time Aug. 10 at 8 p.m.
I have found it interesting to watch these men and women meet in the dark, first in groups, then decide who they want to get to know better individually and then have dates in the dark.
They talk about their likes and dislikes, goals and sometimes about more intimate, serious feelings and experiences.
We, the audience, get to witness all of this through an infrared camera while they can’t see their hands in front of their faces, much less who they’re talking to.
But even when some of these couples really seem to click (sometimes cuddling and kissing) and pass compatibility tests, most of the time when they do actually get to see each other, their feelings change.
♦♦♦ Is it because they’ve gotten a certain vision of this person in their heads that they’ve been connecting with and what they really look like doesn’t match?
♦♦♦ Is it because they’ve gotten their expectations too high?
♦♦♦ Is it because they’re superficial?
♦♦♦ Is the way a person looks given so much more merit than their personality – or is this just human nature?
♦♦♦ Is a person’s appearance even more important today than it used to be?
Unfortunately, the ending of the show each week is exactly why I don’t usually care for reality shows – the humiliation factor.
Someone is shown waiting on a balcony for the person they want to continue dating and we watch as either their “potential companion” comes out to greet them – or we watch as this “potential companion” leaves with their luggage out another door downstairs while the person on the balcony is left rejected.
Though this is obviously uncomfortable to witness, the rest of the show definitely offers up some food for thought.
– Melissa Hayer
Here we go! SYTYCD Live blogging the results show
8 p.m. The show has just started. I always love the opening music and seeing some of the previous dancers.
The opening dance (boom boom boom) was good, but the group numbers never do it for me.
Let’s see, what’s Cat wearing? It’s a neutral wrap strapless shortie.
Introducing the judges … Will Mary be as annoying as she was last night? Some people think she adds excitement to the show.
8:06 Cat Deeley hosts reviews of last night: Kaylas and Max. It’s Kayla’s samba — quite possibly the best dance of the show. Hot pink dress and sexy hair extensions. Helps the number every time.
Evan and Randi. Great jazz routine. Sultry and wonderful
Jeanine and Phillip’s hip-hop dance got good reviews, but I think they got outshined as the night went on. Who’s in trouble?
8:09 Not Kayla and Max. They’re safe. Randi and Evan are, too. In a surprise move, Phillip and Jeanine are safe, too. People expected them to be in the bottom.
8:13 After the first commercial break. Cat Deeley is on to the next three couples.
Kaitlin and Jason’s Bollywood routine was great, but not as wonderful as Joshua and Katee last season. America liked it, however, and they are safe.
Ade and Melissa (the oldest dancer and a ballerina) did a flowing contemporary number, one of my favorites. They’d better be safe! They are! Yay!
Now, Ashley and Kupono’s weird jazz routine. Nigel called it a completely different world. I agree.
Tony and Paris did a hip-hop routine. The judges said it wasn’t memorable. Nigel said their stank stank.
One couple is safe, one isn’t.
It’s Paris and Tony at the bottom. Not rocket science, that one. They go on to dance for their lives with solos. Judge Adam said he checked his twitter friends and “thousands” showed love to the couple. Second commercial break.
8:23 We’re back. Three more couples to judge. It’s the Broadway number with Asuka Vitolio who is in the bottom three along with Paris and Tony.
Now we’re seeing Brandon and Jeanette. The judges loved their foxtrot. Carla and Jonathan did a cha cha, which I thought was just OK. Who is in the bottom? Carla and Jonathon.
Bottom three couples: Tony and Paris, Carla and Jonathan and Asuka and Vitolio.
SYTYCD brings talented dancers to the results show, and that’s one of my favorite parts. Tonight we saw a wonderful Tango. Talk about fancy foot work! Very entertaining.
8:34 We’re back! Now the six dancers in the bottom three must do their solos. First Paris. There were inspired moments, but overall I wasn’t impressed. Tony’s next, in a lock and pop solo routine. That is his strength, but I want more variety from him in his solos.
Asuka (Cat pronounces it Oscar) is next. She did a quick step, and I liked that. Vitolio did a grand routine with lots of leaps and air. I like him, but it will be tough. He’s probably the best man.
8:43 Next two solo dancers are Carla and Jonathan. She’s the one girl who I felt was dancing for her life. I felt her passion. Jonathan did latin, and backflips. Not sure about that combination.
The judges go back to deliberate. Nigel jokes about going back to tweet.
Sean Kingston comes out perform he form of rhythmic, island-flavored hip-hop. The crowd goes wild. The dancers wait for the outcome.
Hey! Nigel isn’t kidding. He’s tweeting right now!
It’s very strange. We are live on television deciding the fate of two unfortunate dancers. It is so subjective but we are in agreement!
Commercial break. Ergh! Get to it already!
8:51 We’re back! The judges have made a decision. Nigel said the judges are unanimous with the girls.
Carla is safe.
Now it’s between Paris and Asuka. Asuka looks like she’s scowling.
Nigel said Paris Torres didn’t bring it tonight. I called it. Asuka stays. Paris just wasn’t passionate enough. I bet it sucks to go home the first week.
Nigel said the judges also are unanimous with the men. He said NONE of the men danced particularly well. But …
Tony Bellissimo goes home. He looks like he’s going to cry — again. He really does not look happy. At least Paris keeps a good face. And that’s how it goes, dear readers.
Come back Friday afternoon for my podcast. Good night!
– Yvette Walker
SYTYCD: Live blogging tonight
Welcome to the “So You Think You Can Dance” portion of the TV blog. I’m Yvette Walker, and I’ll be your host as we discuss the best realityshow on TV (IMHO). Tonight, I’ll live-blog the results show. Stay tuned!
We’ll have news and updates, along with a weekly podcast on Fridays. Last night’s first top 20 show ranked well in the ratings. It will be the summer show to beat, says Media Life Magazine.
Last night, I tweeted during the show. Here’s what I said (each less than 140 characters):
- 1st couple. Phillip and jeanine. Freaking amazing dance by Tabitha and Napoleon.
- Randi&Evan. So cute and great routine
- Paris and Tony. I thought Paris was great. Tony was a little weak
- Bollywood! I love Bollywood. Caitlin and Jason were good. C was weaker though. Hai Jo!
- Janette and Brandon. I know why mia and Lil C don’t like Brandon cuz he’s cocky. But those lifts were incredible.
- Wade. Weird but fun choreography. Kupono and Ashley were so fluid.
- Very nice contemp dance. Moving. Adam cried. Mary screamed. Nigel?
- Ade more appealing than Brandon
- Woooooooooo! Kayla! I’m going to rewind that one. One hot number. Great way to end the evening.
Also follow out these twitter feeds — dizzyfeet and sytycdism — for more tidbits about the show.
– Yvette Walker
