Official Dancing With the Stars: Season 19

[JennaDeeDooDah]

I'm going to put on my tin foil hat and leave a comment. Here's what I think. When we have weeks like this past week where someone gets immunity and then there is a dance off so that the judges can award so many more points, it is clear that the judges, not the fans, are definitely deciding who is safe and who will go home that week. I can't help but think that they do that when there is one team that isn't getting the fan support that they want and another is getting too much fan support. I feel like that was the case this week. I can't help but wonder if Val and Janel aren't getting the fan support that the producers want and so they did this to help keep them around. No doubt, they are one of the better teams, but I don't think that their dance was any better than Mark and Sadie's, Whitney and Alfonso's, or Derek and Bethany's. But they all got lower scores while Val and Janel were the only ones with a perfect score, thereby assuring their immunity. Then, we had the dance off. It was known that Michael would not win, no matter who he danced against. However, I think it was also known that he was going to dance against Tommy (who is my prediction to be the next one gone). My theory (again, I have on my tin foil hat here) is that Tommy had pretty good fan support, but nothing compared to Michael. The producers are pretty sure he will be gone this week, regardless. Michael, however, wouldn't have been gone if it was left up to how the scoring has been in the past. So, what to do? Have him dance against Tommy so Tommy is a full 4 points ahead. This makes for a more difficult hole for Michael to climb out of and almost assures he will be gone. And he was.

Now, not saying that Michael was good. I don't think that he was/is any worse than Tommy, but no, he isn't good. But I also think that there was some creative working going on to make sure Michael didn't stay much longer when the fans might have kept him there much longer than other better dancers. Just my theory.

 

[robinb]

I'm going to put on my tin foil hat and leave a comment. Here's what I think. When we have weeks like this past week where someone gets immunity and then there is a dance off so that the judges can award so many more points, it is clear that the judges, not the fans, are definitely deciding who is safe and who will go home that week. I can't help but think that they do that when there is one team that isn't getting the fan support that they want and another is getting too much fan support. I feel like that was the case this week. I can't help but wonder if Val and Janel aren't getting the fan support that the producers want and so they did this to help keep them around. No doubt, they are one of the better teams, but I don't think that their dance was any better than Mark and Sadie's, Whitney and Alfonso's, or Derek and Bethany's. But they all got lower scores while Val and Janel were the only ones with a perfect score, thereby assuring their immunity. Then, we had the dance off. It was known that Michael would not win, no matter who he danced against. However, I think it was also known that he was going to dance against Tommy (who is my prediction to be the next one gone). My theory (again, I have on my tin foil hat here) is that Tommy had pretty good fan support, but nothing compared to Michael. The producers are pretty sure he will be gone this week, regardless. Michael, however, wouldn't have been gone if it was left up to how the scoring has been in the past. So, what to do? Have him dance against Tommy so Tommy is a full 4 points ahead. This makes for a more difficult hole for Michael to climb out of and almost assures he will be gone. And he was.

Now, not saying that Michael was good. I don't think that he was/is any worse than Tommy, but no, he isn't good. But I also think that there was some creative working going on to make sure Michael didn't stay much longer when the fans might have kept him there much longer than other better dancers. Just my theory.

I agree with much of what you wrote. I do think that the "dance offs" are a way for the judges to boot poor dancers with big fan support. Since I have never wanted one of them to get to the final 3 (except for Kirstie Alley if she counts) I am more than fine with the producers weeding out popular crappy dancers. One of my biggest annoyances in the show is when a great dancer has to leave while a popular crappy dancer stays. So yeah, no tin foil needed, it's exactly what you think it is.

I also think they hoped that Tommy and Michael would go up against each other but that wasn't guaranteed. I remember a few years ago when Mark picked a bad dancer to dance off against and everyone was shocked.

 

[robinb]

I am bummed. My DD's swim team practice changed now that high school season is over (she got a personal best last Saturday in her 100 backstroke ) but now she swims from 7-9 about 20 minutes away from home. Last year she swam earlier and closer. So ... I think I'm going to try to go to the gym and hop on a treadmill and watch the show there. I'll try to comment but I ay not be able to.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

My tivo is back and I should be energized by birthday cake. So I plan to do play by play but will start a little late.

I agree with the judging conspiracy theories. I do think there is some flexibility in how the competition is formatted so that they can neutralize the audience bite if needed. But given it is a competition show, I think they do have some limitations on how much they can neutralize.

 

[mandy200587]

lisa I look forward to your play by plays.

Tonight is America's choice and Trios

 

[mandy200587]

Not bad for Alfonso. However with Tommy safe whose going home.

 

[mandy200587]

I shall plead the fifth on lea and artem

 

[robinb]

Just in time to see Lea. She is awesome for 53, but I wasn't all that impressed.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Up first Alfonso and Witney dancing Fox Trot to Ain't that a Kick in the Hay (both dance and song were America's choice)

They went on the streets for fan choice on a dance move
Her costume---all red but chest looks on fire and the "dress" looks like g-string with see through skirt. Going for a kick in the hay, I guess

Len: what a way to start the night
Julianne: tall and vibrant (she liked)
Bruno: Alfonso Astaire and blonde bombshell--bygone era with Justin Timberlake touches = brilliant
Carrie Ann: picky picky picky...so smooth, needed a little pizzazz.. Maybe dancing in just the g-string would have helped.

I liked--well done dance. Carrie Ann needs a glass of wine to loosen up a bit.
Though she gave then a 9 like the others. Bruno must have had wine, he gave a 10.

And hostess chick is wearing a pant suit.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Just in time to see Lea. She is awesome for 53, but I wasn't all that impressed.

I think it must be the slouching.

 

[mandy200587]

Was good, it felt shorter then normal.

 

[robinb]

Was good, it felt shorter then normal.

Bethany? I thought so too.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Tommy and Peta, Viennese Waltz and a lot of ridiculous suggestions about unicorns and puppies

They are safe this week--reaction indicates extreme surprise for him to make it to the semi-finals.

Tommy has a cyst behind his knee that broke last week. Doc gave the to ahead so he can kick Alfonso's.....tush

For an elder guy, Tommy looks pretty suave tonight. And poor guy stumbled a little. :-(

Not too shabby...

Giggles all around--he forgot his arms.

Julianne-proper Viennese waltz (it looked it to me, but I can never be sure).
Bruno--so watchable. A few quaky moments--but her loved the turns
Carrie Ann--still trying to figure him out...but good job
Len--76 years old and dancing terrific. "From one old geezer to another old geezer", Tommy is hero.


Yes he is old. No he doesn't always dance proper--but he does have a certain je sais quoi (can't spell that last French word) that just makes him enjoyable to watch. And he did do a Proper waltz. That is impressive!

7s and one 8.

 

[mandy200587]

Bethany? I thought so too.

Yeah, I don't know if it was the song or what.

 

[mandy200587]

There are times Sadie's arms look awkward in the dance,unless I'm just seeing things

 

[robinb]

Hated Sadie. She looked lost.

 

[mandy200587]

Hated Sadie. She looked lost.

She did.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Lea and Artem dancing Samba

Animal they should be---ewwww!! Cats, lions, and cougar. Please, no.

She wants to do turns and he says no for the Samba. He points out she turns every single week. They need to do steps. But she doesn't want a lecture. Cougar wants to tame the kitten.

Ewww eww eww ewww ewww..


If a lap dance was involved, this would be worse than the stripped routine. But Artem choreographed skanky again.

Bruno: thought I saw ***** cat, but more like a feral cat. Confidence.
Carrie Anne: Confidence, tiger outfit yay--do that all the time. (Oh good lord, please NOOO!!!)
Len: Thought it was terrific. (I need a shower now.)
Julianne: oooh, I wore that costume. (Well, it is age appropriate for you. Too bad they recycled.)

I need wine after that. Too and I must wait until March.

Oh Lea--I don't consider shake and shimmy a challenge.

I think Artem is in lust.

Men 9s, women 8s.

Alrighty then.

And what is up with these trip costumes we do not want to miss?

 

[robinb]

Omg lisa. That was spot on about Lea.

 

[mandy200587]

Janel is trying, I saw a stumble at one point.