DWTS: Chubby men, Chaz, Cher and the cha cha cha

I am thankful that Chaz Bono was voted off–not because he was transgender, not because he was an overweight man, but because he could not dance. His dances lacked content and he lacked stage presence.

Hope Solo, who is famous in her own right because of her athletic skills as a soccer player, is ungainly and needs to learn how to walk in heels (I’m afraid she only knows heel lead and her pivoting skills are closer to basketball than ballroom), but she has a mega-watt smile. If she were really angry, she’s be frightening as well.

Bono had been treated kindly by the judges and he’s been whiny–about how much physical discipline hurts at his age. Yet he’s not the oldest person on stage. Ricki Lake is about the same age and overweight, but she can perform.  And you’d think with a war vet in the cast, Bono would zip his lip about his suffering.

Now Chaz Bono’s mother has jumped into the fray. Bono forgets that Bruno Tonioli was a professional dancer and he’s still in pretty good shape. He recently posed nude for a charity. I’m not sure why Cher decided to lash out at Len Goodman.

I COULD TEACH HIS LITTLE ARM WAVING ASS SOME MANNERS ! Critique CHAZ’S DANCE STYLE, MOVEMENTS ETC,.BUT DON’T MAKE FUN OF MY CHILD ON NAT.TV

IS IT DWTS Or LOOKING PERFECT WTS? ITS EASY 4 HIM 2 TAKE CHEAP SHOTS AT CHAZ ! LET HIM COME 2 “MY” STAGE

Enough time wasted on Bully Judge! The nite I was there I had GREAT TIME!I Loved watching every1! I was So excited ! Laughing,talking FUN!

As for the Older Gentleman ….every Show Needs A Grumpy Old Man !

Goodman and Tonioli have been kind, perhaps too kind to this Los Angeles-born kid who is acting spoiled. Tonioli didn’t call Bono a troll. He called him a penguin. A cute penguin. Men in tuxes have been called penguins before. Nothing new. Tonioli called someone else a penguin. You can see below.

Tonioli also called Bono an Ewok. That is the warmest and fuzziest creature in the Star Wars universe.

If this is seriously a question of talent, Cher should admit her son doesn’t have it. If not for his famous mother and father, he wouldn’t be there.

How did other chubby men get treated? Let’s look at a few of them.

Kyle Massey (b. 1991)

• Season 11
• Partner Lacey Schwimmer
• Week 1: 23 (8,7,8) Cha cha cha
• Week 2: 22 (8,7,7) Quickstep
• Week 3: 23 (8,7,8) Waltz
• Week 4:  18 (6,6,6) Rumba
• Week 5: 20 (8,5,7) Foxtrot
• Week 6: 23 (8,7,8) Tango
• Week 7: 35 (10,9,8,8) Paso doble
• Week 8: 27 (9,9,9) Viennese waltz
• Week 8: 29 (10,9,10) Jive
• Week 9: 29 (10,9,10) Samba
• Week 9: 29 (10,9,10) Argentine tango
• Week 10: 27 (9,9,9) Foxtrot
• Week 10: 29 (10,9,10) Freestyle

Massey did well enough to make the finals and finished second. I don’t have time yet to check out Tonioli’s comments, but will try to post them later.

John Ratzenberger (b. 1947)

• Season 4 (Spring 2007)
• Partner Edyta Sliwinska
• Sixth couple eliminated
• Week 1: 17 (6,5,6) Cha cha cha
• Week 2: 21 (7,7,7) Quickstep
• Week 3: 20 (7,6,7) Tango
• Week 4: 16 (6,5,5) Paso doble
• Week 5: 18 (6,6,6) Samba
• Week 6: 19 (7,6,6) Mambo

Ratzenberger had a week less time to prepare than his fellow competitors as a replacement. Carrie Ann Inaba called him “charismatic.” Tonioli and Goodman talked about heel lead, but thought he had content.

Ratzenberger was 60.  Tonioli said there was “plenty of life in the old wolf.” Inaba said he gave it pizzaz. Goodman was smiling, and said it was a great performance.

Goodman said Ratzenberger got into character well. Tonioli called it a mafioso tango.

Ratzenberger’s mother was sweet as apple pie.  Tonioli said he lacked Spanish lines and was a bit lost.  Goodman said he thought the dance didn’t suit him and the dance was “a bit of disaster.”

The samba wasn’t good either. Low on content. Tonioli said Ratzenberger “tapped into his inner child” and one of the “best worst” samba. Inaba stood and applauded him. Goodman thought he gave the character of the dance.

Inaba called him a “dancing teddy bear.” Goodman thought the actual routine was awful and that Ratzenberger waddled like a duck, but Goodman liked that he enjoyed himself. Tonioli compared the two to the owl and the pussycat.

Steve Wozniak (b. 1950)

• Season 8 (Spring 2009)
• Partner Karina Smirnoff
• Fourth couple eliminated.
• Week 1: 13 (5,4,4) cha cha cha
• Week 2: 17 (6,5,6) Quickstep
• Week 3: 10 (4,3,3) Samba
• Week 4: 12 (4,4,4) Argentine tango

This dance was hard to watch. Goodman said he held his attention, but “overall it was a disaster.” Tonioli said it was “hilarious or delirious.” Inaba was encouraging. The Woz had fun.

The Woz had a fracture in his foot and wore a walking cast. Goodman thought he had the fun quality. Inaba enjoyed watching it. Tonioli compared him to WALL-E.

The Woz pulled a hamstring on Friday and still danced on Monday. Amazing. He did a knee walk and a worm. Inaba called him cute and adorable, but disliked the lack of content. Goodman thought the “dances are killing you” and the dance was terrible from start to finish. Tonioli called it the worst samba he had ever seen.

Inaba couldn’t find something positive to say. Goodman admired his spirit. Tonioli thought it “really stunk.”

WORST DANCERS

Master P (b. 1967)

• Season 2 (Winter 2006)
• Partner Ashly DelGrosso
• Fourth couple eliminated
• Winner: Drew Lachey and Cheryl Burke
• Week 1: 12 (4,4,4) Cha cha cha
• Week 2: 16 (6,5,5) Quickstep
• Week 3: 14 (6,4,4) Jive
• Week 4: 8 (4, 2, 2) Paso doble
• Winner: Apolo Anton Ohno and Julianne Hough

Master P only had one week to prepare.  Tonioli compared Master P to an Emperor penguin.  Goodman thought he had good posture, but needed to practice. Goodman wanted to see Master P in ballroom shoes.

Goodman told him to get real dance shoes. Inaba called him heavy-footed. Tonioli said the “dancer is starting to emerge.”

Inaba thought he gave effort but not enough content. Tonioli found it was the “ghost of rock n’ roll” and not up to the level they were looking for. Goodman called it “ponderous” and thought it was time that this show and Master P parted.

Tonioli called it a nightmare as if Master P was a lost child on the dance floor. Goodman thought it was cruel to the judges and everyone for his fans to bring Master P back.

Buzz Aldrin (b. 1930)

• Season 10 (Spring 2010)
• Week 1: 14 (5,4,5) Cha cha cha
• Week 2: 12 (4,4,4) Foxtrot
• Week 3: 13 (5,4,4) Waltz
• Winner: Nicole Scherzinger and Derek Hough

Goodman commended him for his bravery on the dance floor. Tonioli asked how could he criticize a hero, but commented it looked like Aldrin still had his moon boots on.

Inaba called it tender and charming. Goodman just said Aldrin inspired people. Tonioli thought Aldrin looked like he was avoiding moon craters on the dance floor.

Tonioli thought Aldrin was regal when he was standing still. Inaba thought the storytelling was touching. Goodman found it had an innocent charm but the technique was poor and the routine oversimplified.

Michael Bolton (b. 1953)

• Season 11 (Fall 2010)
• Partner Chelsea Hightower
• Week 1: 16 (6,5,5) Viennese waltz
• Week 2: 12 (4,5,3) Jive
• Winner: Jennifer Grey and Derek Hough

Inaba thought Bolton needed to smile and provide the frame. Goodman thought he had musicality and good posture. Tonioli told Bolton he needed to relax.

Goodman found the dance didn’t fit him. Tonioli said “it was a doggy mess of a jive” and this was the “worst jive in 11 seasons.”

Maksim Chmerkovskiy and his mighty mouth

Maksim Chmerkovskiy bills himself as the bad boy of the ballroom, but he knows what he’s talking about.  Haven’t fans been a little uneasy since Bristol Palin? So he had something to say last night on “Dancing with the Stars,” when Len Goodman told his celebrity partner Hope Solo that she had just performed her worst dance of the season.

That rumba wasn’t great, it wasn’t sexy, but at least Solo looks happy. She has such an electric smile, but it’s her footwork that is hard to watch.

So what exactly did Chmerkovskiy say?

It began with Goodman commenting, ”This is your worst dance of the whole season.” He continued, after admonishing Chmerkovskiy for encouraging the audience boos, by saying, “I’ve been in this business for nearly 50 years…”

Chmerkovskiy couldn’t resist adding, “Maybe it’s time to get out…”

At which time, Carrie Ann Inaba told Chmerkovskiy, “Don’t be disrespectful like that.”

Chmerkovskiy defended his comment by saying it hurts when the dancers and celebrities “hear you guys a little judgmental comment.” I think we can fault his English, but perhaps the comments of the judges go a bit far out of line.

Chmervkovskiy later said, “This is my show…I helped make it what it is” and he was tired of having the celebrities ”judged on their so-called potential.”

We also had high hopes for Hope Solo and didn’t figure out that her biggest challenge was learning to walk in high heels and be girly.

Yet, don’t you think the judges are being a little bit too easy on someone like Chaz Bono? We found Bono a little whiny, particularly since he’s not the oldest contestant. He’s also not the first overweight contestant either.

See the clips from “Access Hollywood” with Billy Bush and Kit Hoover

“Cute little penguin,” is what judge Bruno Tonioli called Bono and I thought that was kind. Bono and Schwimmer feel that the judges have a personal dislike of him. Seriously? Tonioli might have been unnecessarily cruel to singer Michael Bolton (“It was a doggy mess of a jive. You did it all very, very, very badly”), but he’s been quite kind and even indulgent to Bono in my opinion.

I think Goodman could have been stricter with Bono. Bono doesn’t have much personality on stage.

Remember, Chmerkovskiy spoke out about that season when the dancers and the celebrities were being overworked. That was the season Donny Osmond and Kym Johnson won the mirrorball. Season 9 the contestants were asked to perform:  cha cha cha, jive, rumba, tango, paso doble, samba, waltz, quickstep, foxtrot, Argentine tango, Viennese waltz, salsa, salsa/Viennese waltz relay, foxtrot/cha cha cha relay, two-step/Charleston/bolero/lambada, hustle group, mambo marathon, team paso doble/tango, megamix and freestyle.  Compare that to season 5. Marie Osmond made it to the semi-finals, but consider there were only these dances: cha cha cha, foxtrot, quickstep, mambo, jive, tango, Viennese waltz, paso doble, rumba, samba, and freestyle. That’s 11 dances during season 5 compared to 20.

Season 11 had only 15 dances, including one team and a winner-take-all cha cha cha. That season was won by Jennifer Grey who sometimes got tens when there were obvious missteps, but the judging seemed to be more generous when it became clear that Bristol Palin was going to make it to the semi-finals.

Chmerkovskiy’s partner that season was Grammy Award-winning singer Brandy. Brandy was cut, but Palin moved to the finals. Luckily the energetic and ever entertaining Kyle Massey with Lacey Schwimmer finished second. Chmerkovskiy’s partner during season 5 was Mel B who finished second behind Helio Castroneves (with Julianne Hough).

There are personalities that make DWTS interesting and certainly Maksim Chmerkovskiy is one of them. He makes the show interesting–in terms of choreography and his clashes with his partners.

Without personalities like Chmerkovskiy, Julianne Hough, Derek Hough, Tony Dovolani and Cheryl Burke, I don’t think the show would have been successful.

And when things get a bit dull, it’s good to have pros who liven up the situation (or even a judge like Bruno Tonioli).

DWTS 12: Adele and Michael Bolton

“Natural Woman” by Delta Goodrem

Dancers: Cheryl Burke & Louis Van Amstel

“I’m Not Ready” by Michael Bolton and Delta Goodrem

Dancers: Dmitry Chaplin & Anna Trebunskaya

Adele “Rolling in the Deep” on DWTS

Dancers: Travis Wall, Nick Lazzarini & Jaimie Goodwin

original video with Adele

Jonathan Groff and Lea Michele

DWTS: Compare jive routines (VIDEOS)

The dance category had the high and low of the night. Jennifer Grey and Derek Hough were the high, repeating their score from last week.  Michael Bolton and Chelsie Hightower would be the low.

People were critical of the dog house and making Bolton act the part of a dog, but seriously, folks…the guy can’t dance. His musicality is all in his voice.

The athletes, Rick Fox with Cheryl Burke and Kurt Warner with Anna Trebunskaya were a joy to watch.

Jive:

• Jennifer Grey and Derek Hough: 24 (8,8,8) “Shake It”
• Brandy Norwood and Maksim Chmerkovskiy: 21 (7,7,7) “Magic”
• Rick Fox and Cheryl Burke: 21 (7,7,7) “Tush” – ZZ Top
• Kurt Warner and Anna Trebunskaya: 21 (7,7,7) “Danger Zone”
• Margaret Cho and Louis van Amstel: 18 (6,6,6) “Dreaming”
• Michael Bolton and Chelsie Hightower: 12 (4,5,3) “Hound Dog”

During week 5, Bristol Palin and Mark Ballas performed the jive to the theme from “The Monkees” for an 18.

Week 8, Kyle Massey and Lacey Schwimmer danced to “Good Golly Miss Molly” by Little Richard for a score of 29 (10, 9, 10).

DWTS: Compare the Viennese waltz (VIDEO)

Viennese waltz

• Jennifer Grey and Derek Hough (8,8,8) 24
• Bristol Palin and Mark Ballas: 34/40, 24 adjusted.
• Brandy Norwood and Maksim Chmerkovskiy (7,8,8) 23
• Rick Fox and Cheryl Burke (8, 7, 7) 22
• Kurt Warner and Anna Trebunskaya (7,5,7) 19
• Michael Bolton and Chelsie Hightower (6,5,5) 16
• Margaret Cho and Louis van Amstel (5,5,5) 15

Week 7, Bristol Palin and Mark Ballas danced the Viennese waltz to “Trouble” by Ray LaMontagne for a score of 33 (9, 8, 8, 8). Adjusted score of 24.

Week 8, Kyle Massey and Lacey Schwimmer danced the V. waltz for a score of 27 (9, 9, 9)

Dancing with the Stars: Chelsie Hightower

Chelsie Kay Hightower was born in Las Vegas, Nevada and raised in Orem, Utah as one of six children in a Mormon family. She’s the only girl.

At nine, she began to learn to dance and by 11 she won her first national title.

She was on the team that represented the US at the Blackpool Dance Festival in 2005. They placed third.

At 18, the competed on “So You Think You Can Dance” during season 4 (Summer 2008) and her original partner was Mark Kanemura. They made the top six.

Dance achievements:

• With Derek Hough, nominated for a Emmy for “Paso DobleMalagueña” dance choreographed by DWTS-2010.
• U.S. Representative to the Worlds – 2005
• U.S. National Standard Finalist – 2005
• International Latin Finalist – 2006
• 10 Dance National Youth Champion – 2005

AGE: 21

BIRTH DATE: 21 July 1989 (Cancer)

FORMER PARTNERS:

• Ty Murray (Season 8 )
• Louie Vito (Season 9)
• Jake Pavelka (Season 10)

CURRENT PARTNER: Michael Bolton

Website: www.ChelsieHightowerdance.com

Michael Bolton can sing, but can he dance? (VIDEO)

Michael Bolton shows his partner Chelsie Hightower that his voice is all his. What we do see is that, Bolton needs to work on his posture before he can think about moving his hips.

Bolton would not be one of those singer accused of lip-synching because he’s too busy dancing when he performed in the past.

• Michael Bolton rehearsal photos.
  
• More on Michael Bolton.
  

In the rehearsal video, we see he’s looking at his feet which adds to his slightly hunched over posture. He doesn’t flick his feet or point this toes. The aspect of remembering choreography doesn’t seem to be natural to him. His stiffness might not be so bad for his Viennese waltz.

This might mean trouble for him with the judges, but will his fans be watching, and, more importantly, voting?

Dancing with the Stars Season 11: Michael Bolton rehearsal photos

Photo: ABC/Vivian Zink.

Michael Bolton and Chelsie Hightower will perform the Viennese waltz and salsa. Also performing those dances will be Jennifer Grey and Derek Hough, Margaret Cho and Louis Van Amstel, Brandy and Maksim Chmerkovskiy, Florence Henderson and Corky Ballas and Kurt Warner and Anna Trebunskaya.

• For more on Michael Bolton
  
  
  
• For more Dancing with the Stars coverage
  

Viennese Waltz

1. Michael Bolton and Chelsie Hightower
2. Brandy and Maksim Chmerkovskiy
3. Margaret Cho and Louis Van Amstel
4. Jennifer Grey and Derek Hough
5. Florence Henderson and Corky Ballas
6. Kurt Warner and Anna Trebunskaya

Cha cha cha

1. Rick Fox and Cheryl Burke
2. David Hasselhoff and Kym Johnson
3. Kyle Massey and Lacey Schwimmer
4. Bristol Palin and Mark Ballas
5. Audrina Patridge and Tony Dovolani
6. Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino and Karina Smirnoff

Salsa

1. Michael Bolton and Chelsie Hightower
2. Brandy and Maksim Chmerkovskiy
3. Margaret Cho and Louis Van Amstel
4. Jennifer Grey and Derek Hough
5. Florence Henderson and Corky Ballas
6. Kurt Warner and Anna Trebunskaya

Foxtrot

1. Rick Fox and Cheryl Burke
2. David Hasselhoff and Kym Johnson
3. Kyle Massey and Lacey Schwimmer
4. Bristol Palin and Mark Ballas
5. Audrina Patridge and Tony Dovolani
6. Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino and Karina Smirnoff

“Dancing with the Stars” season 11 premieres 20 September 2010 on ABC.

Photo: ABC/Vivian Zink.

Dancing with the Stars season 11 Q&A

This interview was taken before the pairs were revealed, but find out who was willing to get naked to be on the show, who has some great stripper moves and who has better abs.

OK, really, not all the answers to those questions will be revealed, but the competition for best abs is on between David Hasselhoff, Mike Sorrentino and how can we forget Maksim Chmerkovskiy?

Oddly when the cast was asked if any of them had dance training, none of them replied. Did any of the reporters do any homework?

Kate Gosselin was there as a reporter. Is that a comment on the sad state of American journalism?

You know that isn’t true. After all, check out my profiles on each of the contestants at the links below.

Women:

1. Brandy and Maksim Chmerkovskiy
2. Margaret Cho and Louis Van Amstel
3. Jennifer Grey and Derek Hough
4. Florence Henderson and Corky Ballas
5. Bristol Palin and Mark Ballas
6. Audrina Patridge and Tony Dovolani

The men:

1. Michael Bolton and Chelsie Hightower
2. Rick Fox and Cheryl Burke
3. David Hasselhoff and Kym Johnson
4. Kyle Massey and Lacey Schwimmer
5. Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino and Karina Smirnoff
6. Kurt Warner and Anna Trebunskaya

Cheryl Burke has won the mirrorball trophy twice during season two and three (singer Drew Lachey and former NFL player Emmitt Smith, respectively). She finished second during the hotly contested season eight when she danced with French actor Gilles Marini. Season six, she was third with actor Cristian de la Fuente.

Mark Ballas won during seasons six and eight (Olympic gold medal figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi and Olympic gold medal gymnast Shawn Johnson, respectively).

Derek Hough has also won the mirrorball trophy twice–once with current co-host actress Brooke Burke during season seven and then last season, season ten, with Pussycat Dolls lead singer Nicole Scherzinger.

Kym Johnson has been second twice (seasons four and seven) when she danced with singer Joey Fatone and Warren Sapp, but won with singer/entertainer Donny Osmond during season ten.

“Dancing with the Stars” season 11 premieres on 20 September 2010.

Dancing with the Stars Season 11 pairs

The official announcement of the “Dancing with the Stars” season 11 pairs was made today on “Good Morning America,” but others had been leaked earlier. Here is the official line up below.

Women:

1. Brandy and Maksim Chmerkovskiy
2. Margaret Cho and Louis Van Amstel
3. Jennifer Grey and Derek Hough
4. Florence Henderson and Corky Ballas
5. Bristol Palin and Mark Ballas
6. Audrina Patridge and Tony Dovolani

The men:

1. Michael Bolton and Chelsie Hightower
2. Rick Fox and Cheryl Burke
3. David Hasselhoff and Kym Johnson
4. Kyle Massey and Lacey Schwimmer
5. Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino and Karina Smirnoff
6. Kurt Warner and Anna Trebunskaya

Cheryl Burke has won the mirrorball trophy twice during season two and three (singer Drew Lachey and former NFL player Emmitt Smith, respectively). She finished second during the hotly contested season eight when she danced with French actor Gilles Marini. Season six, she was third with actor Cristian de la Fuente.

Mark Ballas won during seasons six and eight (Olympic gold medal figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi and Olympic gold medal gymnast Shawn Johnson, respectively).

Derek Hough has also won the mirrorball trophy twice–once with current co-host actress Brooke Burke during season seven and then last season, season ten, with Pussycat Dolls lead singer Nicole Scherzinger.

Kym Johnson has been second twice (seasons four and seven) when she danced with singer Joey Fatone and Warren Sapp, but won with singer/entertainer Donny Osmond during season ten.

“Dancing with the Stars” season 11 premieres on 20 September 2010.