Dancing with the Stars?

[EricaR]

Anyone want to give me a quick lesson about Dancing with the Stars? I get that they dance and people vote but I''ve never watched the show. My friend''s husband is going to be on it this season so I''ll be watching. Is there a different theme each show? Do they really only get a week to learn a whole routine?

His partner is Kym Johnson. Is she any good? I really want him to do well!!!!! I know he''s already lost a ton of weight practicing but I don''t know anything else.

 

[somethingshiny]

Hi, Erica!

miss Skippy may stop in here too and give you some more info, but here's the jist.

Each "star" (12 to start) is matched with a partner. I really don't know how they match them, but if your friend got Kym, all the better for him! Kym was Joey Fatone's partner, and they were the runners up.

Each week the contestants learn a dance. The professional partner choreographs the dance for themselves and the "star". Half of the contestants will perform one dance, and the other half will perform another.

They perform stuff like the cha-cha, foxtrot, mambo, Samba, tango, waltz and a few others.

When they're finished, they are judged by 3 professionals. Sometimes they are harsh, but usually well-based in their critiques.

After each performance, there is a call-in number for voting. At the end of the program, they play a snippet of each dance and list the call-in again. The following night is the results show where they send one contestant home. Then they start rehearsing for the next week.

During each show, they have a montage of the "rehearsals" that are shown prior to the contestant taking the stage. This is when you get a feel for the Person.

When they narrow it down a bit with cuts, the contestants start performing two dances per show.

So cool that your friend is in!

ETA- I just looked at the DWTS page...you're friends with Penn???

 

[Skippy123]

SS, you are too funny; I dunno.

I just know that SS didn't like "that Mark guy." hehe

I read this thread earlier and meant to tell you to look at ABC.com dancing w/the stars. I just watch it; I don't pay attention to how they figure out dances. hehee I love that show!!! I got hooked when I had to travel a lot for work and the little hotel gym had only the major channels so I would workout and watch DWS to keep me entertained.

Go EricaR's friend!! Go to the website and you can see pics and see what people say about the dancers there.

 

[EricaR]

I''m mostly friends with Penn''s wife. Penn is, well, intense! But his wife is a total sweetheart and I''m so excited to see him on the show! He lost a bunch of weight over the past few months and I know he''s lost even more since he started practicing.

I''ll check out the ABC website this afternoon (it is blocked from work

). I think the show starts in two weeks and I can''t wait!

 

[Beacon]

How fun! Kym Johnson is awesome, really pretty and a great dancer. Sounds like you''ll have so much fun watching your friend on TV.

 

[Tacori E-ring]

She is VERY good IMHO.

 

[EricaR]

Thanks for all the info! I''m getting super excited to see the show now!!!

 

[Tacori E-ring]

When does it start?

 

[VRBeauty]

I looooove DWTS! I missed season one, but was a pretty faithful viewer for seasons 2 and 3... when DWTS and Idol were going head-to-head, I was watching the dancers! I''m always amazed by how much they progress, and how good these dance novices are if they make it to the end.

The only thing I can add to the tutorial is that you can also vote on-line, which can be easier. Each couple''s fate is determined by a combination of the judges'' score, and the "popular vote."

It can be very annoying in the early rounds when some of the stars are kept on way beyond their dance-worthy date because they have a popular following, or name recognition, or they appeal to a specific part of the audience. It happened to Billy Ray Cyrus (who seemed a little uncomfortable about it all), and arguably to Marie Osmond (who really made the most of her DWTS stint, commercially)... and probably others who aren''t coming to mind. That also means some more worthy competitors get kicked out earlier than they should. I think it tends to sort itsself out by the end, but there are usually plenty of rant-worthy votes before then.

In true multi-tasking fashion, I have checked out the DWTS forums while watching the show. Suffice it to say that the discussion here is bound to me more civil.

BTW, doesn''t (or didn''t) Penn Jillette own a MINI? He''ll get a least one of my votes just for that, two if it''s still pink!

 

[EricaR]

Yes, he owns a bright pink mini. It is amazing watching him fold himself in half to fit in it.

 

[VRBeauty]

At least two votes it is, then!

Hmmm... I''ll have to alert the MINI board...

Penn Jillette and his MINI participated in a huge MINI event in Vegas one year -- the year before I attended, unfortunately -- so he has some friends in the MINI community.

Hijack over!

 

[diamondfan]

Julianne Hough is stunning. Who is she dancing with this season?

 

[diamondfan]

I love the show. And so many of the stars lose weight on it, it is amazing. Look at the girl professionals, they all have figures that are incredible.

 

[somethingshiny]

The line-up


ADAM CAROLLA & JULIANNE HOUGH (comedian)
CRISTIÁN DE LA FUENTE & CHERYL BURKE (CSI Miami)
SHANNON ELIZABETH & DEREK HOUGH (That 70''s Show) (and yes, they''re related--siblings)
STEVE GUTTENBERG & ANNA TREBUNSKAYA (movie star)
PENN JILLETTE & KYM JOHNSON (aforementioned illusionist)
MARIO & KARINA SMIRNOFF (R&B star)
MARLEE MATLIN & FABIAN SANCHEZ (Children of a Lesser God actress, and Fabian''s new)
PRISCILLA PRESLEY & LOUIS VAN AMSTEL (she''s listed as an actor and business woman)
MONICA SELES & JONATHAN ROBERTS (tennis champ)
JASON TAYLOR & EDYTA SLIWINSKA(NFL)
MARISSA JARET WINOKUR & TONY DOVOLANI (Tracy Turnblad in Hairspray)
KRISTI YAMAGUCHI & MARK BALLAS (Olympic Champion figure skater)


premiere is March 24th.

 

[Tacori E-ring]

Thanks SS! I can''t wait!

 

[Skippy123]

Date: 3/7/2008 3:02:06 PM
Author: Tacori E-ring
Thanks SS! I can't wait!

Meeee too! Penn just finished dancing; their dance was cute!

I can't wait to see Priscilla Presley and Kristi Yamaguchi!!! I bet Kristi will do well

Dang only the men are dancing tonight!

Are you watching Caroline, Beacon, Minni, Somethingshiny, Tacori, Mrs. Salvo, and Erica??

 

[diamondfan]

I have been peering at it here and there, I cannot lie. I am not totally watching it though...I have been reading to Jordan and have been organizing a bit, I am waiting to see the Bachelor though!!!

 

[Skippy123]

Date: 3/17/2008 9:22:37 PM
Author: diamondfan
I have been peering at it here and there, I cannot lie. I am not totally watching it though...I have been reading to Jordan and have been organizing a bit, I am waiting to see the Bachelor though!!!

I am debating on the bachelor after what happened w/the last one (not picking a girl). Did you see the Bachelor after show of all the Bachelors? Deanna is going to be the new Bachlorette.

I always watch here and there while watching Dancing W/Stars until they narrow it down more, then I am glued to my set and ready to vote. hehe

 

[Harleigh]

I plan to watch DWTS and the Bachelor tonight...I am so excited for something to FINALLY be on again on Monday night''s that I''m nearly beside myself with glee!!!

 

[Skippy123]

Date: 3/17/2008 9:45:34 PM
Author: Harleigh
I plan to watch DWTS and the Bachelor tonight...I am so excited for something to FINALLY be on again on Monday night's that I'm nearly beside myself with glee!!!

Yay, we can jump up and down w/joy Harleigh,lol

, Monday night tv is back, whooo hooo

 

[Harleigh]

LOL, Skippy! You are too darn cute!

Too bad I''m the last of the PS''ers to get to see it...only a little over an hour to go here in California...I am counting down the minutes over here on my end of the world!

 

[Tacori E-ring]

Date: 3/17/2008 9:58:15 PM
Author: Skippy123

Date: 3/17/2008 9:45:34 PM

Author: Harleigh

I plan to watch DWTS and the Bachelor tonight...I am so excited for something to FINALLY be on again on Monday night''s that I''m nearly beside myself with glee!!!

Yay, we can jump up and down w/joy Harleigh,lol

, Monday night tv is back, whooo hooo

Oh I agree!!!

 

[Harleigh]

That was so fun! I actually thought Penn Gillette and Adam Carolla did a really good job...I know they are the underdogs, but kudos for all of their efforts!

I have a feeling Christian and Mario will go really far as the judges really seemed to like them.

Can''t wait to see the girls tomorrow night!

Now, onto the Bachelor drama...woo hoo!!!

 

[Mara]

i''m behind watching tonite...just on cheryl so far...it takes a while to get into it for me!!

too funny that penn has a bright pink mini!!

one of my personal trainers is a dancer as well and she was telling me tonite during pilates that she knows a few of the professional dancers and was telling me some fun stories...hehee. she said she was invited to attend the LA premiere tonite because she was going to be local for some performances, but her plans changed. so she was like..you have to watch the show!!

 

[VRBeauty]

Date: 3/18/2008 1:01:13 AM
Author: Mara
too funny that penn has a bright pink mini!!

Reportedly, he refers to this shade as "stripper pink!"

The guys look really promising this year. Can''t wait to see the women tomorrow!

 

[monarch64]

Just DVR''d the first episode tonight...saving it for a bored moment tomorrow...I haven''t watched every single season as I have with AI but I really like DWTS, so I will try to make more of an effort this time around! I did happen to see the football star as well as Steve Guttenberg tonight before I sent the whole thing into recording mode. I''ll tell you what I think tomorrow!

 

[EricaR]

I have it on my TiVo. I did manage to see Penn dance though, and I think he did a pretty good job! They flashed to his wife a few times and I was happy to see her. For someone as big as Penn he moves really well. It was almost surreal watching it since I''m not used to seeing him move like that!!!

 

[Tacori E-ring]

I can''t wait to see the ladies dance tonight!

 

[decodelighted]

I thought Mario was amazing. I watched that routine twice ... which is unusual for this early in the season!

The all-pros number at the beginning was cool too. Do they usually do that? Great way to get us excited for DANCING!!!

Penn was much better than I expected ... as was the football guy ... nobody else really caught my eye. Poor Julianne!! It was funny when Adam Corolla said "Well, at least you''ll be free soon to promote your country album" (She has a record coming out).

Anyhoo -- on to the ladies. Shannon Elizabeth could be a contender. She''s paired with Julianne''s brother. And she''s a poker champ.

 

[isaku5]

I''m a faithful DWTS devotee, and tuned in faithfully last night. DH had the remote and was surfing channels so fast, our HD box got confused and quit. We had to call our sevice provider to re-boot and by that time, it was all over!!

DH isn''t getting within 20'' of the remote tonight!