DWTS 11, Week 3 Media – Video
The next few videos are from ABC’s Local LA Affiliate. I’ve selected a few, follow the link to see all of them.
Maks, Brandy and Val – no this is not where Maks pisses me off. He’s fine here and I agree with everything he says. 
Karina and The Sitch
Derek and Jennifer
Maks and Brandy on ET – Gee, Maks, hypocrite much?? “DWTS screwed up and had professional dancers on in the past.” Let’s see, Maks. Most recently is Nicole, if I’m guessing what you’re saying. But Nicole was no more a “professional dancer” than Sabrina, Mya (although as someone who taught tap she was close) and…..MEL B!!! And many more. You know, he never complains when the professional is his partner. Dude, you wouldn’t have won with Erin if Nicole hadn’t been there – Evan would have won. No, this actually wasn’t the video that ticked me off earlier in the week either. I can’t seem to find that one – the one where he throws every other couple under the bus by claiming that he and Brandy are one of the few couples who actually get along. Right. :::eye roll:::
I’m so glad I discovered you few...
That video of Jennifer and Derek is just so cute. THEY are CUTE!
As for Maks, I agree about the judges this year. I don’t like it when they judge on years past either. I also think production is focusing too much on the negative and drama which will end up swaying votes and it has. They aren’t depicting what’s really happening. It’s sad how they are trying to turn Maks and Brandy into the next “Tony and Kate Gosselin”. Thankfully, Maks and Brandy are out there addressing the issue everywhere they can. But, there are a lot of fans out there (espeically older voters) that don’t read and see everything on the internet like we do. They’ll make their minds up only on what they see on TV.
Oh, I don’t disagree with that part, Vogue. I just hate how every season Maks finds a way to talk about OTHER couples and OTHER people in an effort to make himself and his partner more appealing. Every. Single. Season. Fact is, his packages do put some people off, and Brandy DID put some people off – that had nothing to do with the other couples at all. And the producers can’t make stuff up – they only edit together what they have. He KNOWS that – it’s part of it. After this many seasons you would think that maybe he would work a little bit harder not to give them material if it bothers him so much. As for the judges – they have always been crazy. He can’t change them OR the producers no matter how much he bitches.
You know, continually repeating the same action over and over and expecting different results is the definition of insanity. Just sayin’.
Maks and Brandy are not the first couple who got a bad edit. Do you think Cheryl liked it when the show kept showing her being that tough drill sergeant with Gilles? Maks says it is unfair when it is negative towards him.
Maks made that same professional claim when Melissa R. was on season 8. And Maks, if Nicole wasn’t on last season, Evan would have beaten Erin in a huge landslide victory. I think Maks is bummed because Brandy is not as good and not as well liked. He is best friends with Tony but I think he is jealous that Tony got Audrina. At first, it looked like Audrina was the early exit. But Audrina though vacant in the eyes is trying and in rehearsals respecting Tony. Her dances are good. I think Maks thought this would be the year he was going to win. Instead, you have two athletes who are well liked and good. Kurt or Rick are big contenders, not underdogs. Remember that male celebs who win are not the best dancers but great personalities first, then improving dancers. Kurt and Rick fit that bill. Then you have Jennifer, Audrina and Kyle.
Maks threw his best friend and his partner under the bus when he said Melissa Has Unfair Advantage. C’mon Maks. You have Brandy, the ringest this season, and you can’t pull it off. Stop focusing on the other couple and get to work.
One of the things I appreciate about Derek Hough is how he sort of blends into his partners. They really do become a couple. There’s no drama, no fighting, no insults flying back and forth. He really knows how to get the most out of whoever he works with. I love Jennifer’s attitude and energy. I’ve spent the past few weeks having to tell everyone that yes, she really IS 50.
Karina and the Situation are my next favourite couple. Mike seems like a genuinely nice, hard-working guy with a great sense of humour, and he and Karina have great chemistry.
Maks is right about the judging being inconsistent. However, the rapport between him and Brandy throws off people because they both have strong personalties and the way they let their frustrations.
heidi,
i know the interview that you are referring to when maks says the show messed up and had professionaldancers on the the last two seasons. He was referring to MYA and Nicole and maybe even Donny to some extent b/c I was a die hard MYA and Dmitry fan and I look at dances now always finding myself comparing them to that standard. Even last season when I would view Erin, I would compare her to Nicole. It has tainted the way I see dancing on the show and I have to be honest and admit that. It doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy the show, but I am less impressed these days b/c of that high level of dancing. I think the judges to some extent are viewing the dances through those lenses as well at least for the women. That is why we see the inconsistent scoring. NO way the situation deserved 7s and Brandy and Jennifer only got 8s. Hopefully the judging to level off and reflect what EVERYONE is seeing.
I do not think Maks is trying to push any other couple under the bus, your mixing up what he said. What he said was the Judges should not be comparing this season’s cast to previous seasons cast, who where professional dancers probably meaning Mya and Nicole. I supported Nicole and Derek last season, and I supported Mya and I agree with Maks, they where both professional dancers, Nicole does dance for a living, every music video she does, she has a lot of dancing in, and she did dancing at school, Mya trained in tap and did dancing in her music videos.
John not true at all, Brandy and Maks I think have had more votes these past two weeks when the producers have edited them badly than than they did the first week. We have rallied far more votes than before. Nicole and Derek got edited bad too and they won.
Jennifer, Brandy a ringer? You are laughing right. Jennifer Grey is the ringer. All Brandy has done is one waltz 15 years ago in Cinderella, and swayed to and fro in her music videos. Jennifer Grey on the other hand, do not get me started, just watch Dirty Dancing.
Please, Karla, Maks pushes other couples under the bus every season and he’s doing it again now. YOU are the one mixing up what he’s saying. The part you are referring to is not him throwing other couples under the bus – that’s the part of him being a big, fat, hypocrite. Mel B was just as much a dancer as Nicole, Mya, Sabrina and so on. He’s throwing other couples under the bus when he says that he and Brandy get along better than most other couples. Bullshit. He said that last season too and it’s not been true either time. The producers can’t make up fights for Maks and I doubt very much they ignore fights of other couples. It makes GOOD TV.
And sorry, but Brandy is the closest thing this season has to a ringer, whether you like it or not. She’s 20 years YOUNGER than Jennifer Grey and probably had as much dance training, which wasn’t that much. Anyone who thinks Dirty Dancing make Jennifer a ringer isn’t thinking very clearly or has another agenda. That was 23 years ago and it was MOVIE DANCING just like Brandy’s. When you can take an entire day and multiple takes to get a dance just right – you ain’t dancing.
I agree Heidi on the ringers this year. I really don’t see any. The top 8-9 contestants are all pretty evenly matched. We saw that last week in the mistakes Jennifer made that she’s not a ringer. Really…it’s going to be all about “execution” this year….which is a good thing and what makes this year so interesting.
Heidi,
I think that Jennifer’s type of dance training better suits her for ballroom than someone who has only trained in hip hop. However, the age does even things out a bit. I will disagree that Mel B is nowhere near the level of ringerdom that MYA and Nicole were. I know you are a die hard d hough fan and would never say one negative or unflattering thing about his partners but I am trying to be objective.
John,
I don’t think Maks made any assumption about winning. He knows that fanbases and demographics win votes. Someone like Jennifer Grey has a fanbase that crosses perfectly with the average DWTS voter. This is the reason Donny got through to the finals vs Derek and Jennifer two seasons ago. Popular athletes are always going to go far. Maks knows more about DWTS than we do and I am sure he made no assumptions. If Brandy were so hated, I think she would have been in the bottom two week after week like we saw with Aaron 2 seasons ago.
Oh please, Jeanmom, don’t start with that “I’m trying to be objective” CRAP. NO ONE here is objective. The only difference between you and me is that I’m not trying to claim that I’m objective. You are a diehard Maks fan every bit as much as I am for Derek. To try to claim otherwise would be pretty disingenuous on your part. Everyone is biased toward or against someone – that’s a fact.
I really despise that attempted discussion style too – trying to fool people into believing that your view is more solid because it’s based on objectivity. Wrong.
Heidi, I supported so many ringers in the past, I am sure you saw my comments supporting Nicole and Derek last season, if training in tap makes Mya a ringer then training in Latin makes Jennifer a ringer. Age does not come into this, Jennifer looks young and she is fit.
I class a ringer as someone that has extensive dance experience, Brandy does not fall in that category. She did not do more than one dance in a movie, she has not done a load of dances in a movie, she has not danced on stage, she did not train in dance at college or school, she has not danced in her music videos. So Brandy is not a ringer.
Maks never said that he and Brandy got along better than the other couples, where are you getting that from.
No offense to the site or people who are commenting on this issue. But the whole Maks’ throwing people under the bus thing is getting old. As long as Maks’ stays on the show, he WILL continue to do that!! And it’s not going to stop unless he leaves the show.
So why not talk about more interesting things than Maks?
Karla, come on. Are you being serious here? Because Jennifer never “trained in latin” the way you are claiming. She learned a few dances for a movie and then didn’t dance for 23 years. They were “movie dances” just like Brandy’s. Mya trained for YEARS in tap and then taught tap. Huge difference there. I’m saying that neither Jennifer nor Brandy is a ringer, but Brandy is closer to one based solely on youth. Bunch of dances in Dirty Dancing? I remember 2 actual dances that she did – the rest of the time she was acting the part of someone who couldn’t dance and was acting it quite well. She was “being taught on screen”. Brandy and Jennifer are exactly the same in my book. When you can do 15 takes to get it to look right, it isn’t actually dancing.
Maks is absolutely on camera saying that he and Brandy get along better than most other couples and when I find that video again you can be sure I will post it. Since you used the word “never” I guess you better hope I never find it again.
Maks said he was going to win this season. It was interviews and blogs.
Jennifer had dance doubles in Dirty Dancing too along with multiple takes. Her age does play a part. Jennifer might be fit but she is still 50 and her body is not going bounce back as quickly as Brandy or Bristol who are decades younger than her. Not to mention Jennifer had neck surgeries that limits her from doing some of those crowd pleasing lifts or stunts.
Jennifer might have fans that cross overly perfectly with the show’s viewers but so do Kurt Warner and Rick. Kurt is the Cinderella story of athletes. He is a good character guy and he is a winner. Kurt’s improving as a dancer. He is the frontrunner, not Jennifer, Audrina or Kyle.
I’ll just say two things: 1.) People seem to be forgetting that Derek is dancing with a woman old enough to be his mother, and 2.) Jennife would not be doing as well if she were matched with another pro, except for possibly Mark Ballas, and I say only possibly. Neither Maks nor Tony would know how to choreograph around her fused neck limitations as well as Derek is. No offence to Jennifer – she is lovely and talented in her own right – but she looks as good as she does because of Derek. Every one of his partners has said this – Derek knows how to make his partners look good.
I don’t have an opinion on Maks throwing others under the bus but I think his problem is that he really struggles with making a connection. He never really connects with his partners or at least that doesn’t come off on tv or in the dance. He also has trouble connecting with the viewing audience. Its all excuses and whining. Boring!
I have felt that way about other dancers too but my opinion has changed based on their progression on dwts. I love derek and have always appreciated his relationship with his partners. When Louis was partnered with Kelly O – I dug him then and since. Poor Tony always got the older woman until Melissa – now I think he is a sexy dancer and awesome teacher. Unfortunately, Maks peaked at Mel B and has gone downhill ever since.
I have to disagree about Maks not being connected to his partners. I thought he had a connection with Willa and Erin the most. Brandy?? The verdict is still on that one I will admit.
And I agree about the comments how Derek knows how to make his partners look good and he blends right into them naturally somehow. How does he do that? They guy is almost magical in that way.
Carlie, Mark did not make Shannen Doherty or Melissa Joan Hart look good so not sure how he would have done with Jennifer. He does work well with younger celebs like Sabrina, Bristol, and Shawn.
Tony’s had young partners sometimes. Sara Evans, Marissa, Stacey and Kate was in her thirties.
I actually think that Bristol would do better with Derek, because I just don’t think Mark highlights her that well. Derek isn’t content to come up with an idea, he wants to create something that makes the celebrity partner watchable.
Granted Bristol is a tentative dancer, but there are ways to pull out a performance by finding that what they do best and making it a feature. For instance, I thought the story on the Foxtrot, Mark tried to make homelessness a focal point, he was interesting as an actor, but it was obvious she isn’t an actress and instead of making her more sympathetic,( (possibly she could have been the homeless, and in a dream she becomes a princess dancing) the disconnect happened well before the dancing started because she could not pull off mean. When that happens the errors in the dance technique were more pronounced, because you didn’t have a reason to root for her.
Derek finds good things to highlight, and makes them interesting. For example, Tony might have his partner do a routine arabesque in a Waltz for four bars, but Derek finds a way to highlight a leg extension at the edge of the desk, which is basically showing the same sort of fluidity and flexibility in the celebrity, but it’s more watchable because it’s unexpected.
@ John – Point taken. I said “possibly” because I was assuming that with Mark’s teaching background, he might know a few tricks for someone like Jennifer with a fused neck. However, I believe Derek is the best male pro on the show.
@ Andie – I agree that Bristol would do better with Derek than with Mark. Then again, I think everyone would do better with Derek as their partner.
I forgot about their foxtrot. Mark’s choreography was centered on him and that story was a mess. I take it back. Mark is good with younger celebs who have some training or ability.
Yeah, I really like Derek and Jennifer together. They are cute together, and the age difference is neat, they are learning about each other’s lives wow Studio 54 Jen? Well that’s awesome. Jennifer is uninhibited but also respectful of her partner. Not everyone he’s danced with has been like that. I think Jennifer and Derek are quickly becoming my favorite pairing of all of Derek’s partners.
I like Jennifer and Derek together too Andie. Perfect match. But, my fave Derek partner will always be Joanna Krupa I think. It’s that signature move he did with her that I loved so much where she would turn and fall backwards. Then he’d hold her neck with one hand while bouncing her up and down with his other arm and hand up in the air. Wow, I’ll never forget that.
Not a fan of Joanna Krupa, at all. Very self centred. Very bad personality, when she threw Derek under the bus last season it just validated what kind of person she really was. She would never have got anywhere near top 4 if he wasn’t for him, whereas Lil Kim has a good personality, Nicole had great ability, and Brooke had a season without any real challengers.
Yeah, Andie, I am a bit soured on Joanna as well. Not only did she throw Derek under the bus, but she’s just very…reactionary and unbending. I also think that she and Derek had a falling out for some reason. She was in the audience a few times and Derek never acknowledged her.
I do not remember her throwing Derek under the bus. She called out Nicole though. That is Joanna. I do think she is reactionary and unbending. She would have left early with any other partner. She did support Pamela Anderson last season and that seemed more to do with her animal activism. Derek not acknowledging Joanna means nothing. There are a lot of former celebs there and their partners do not acknowledge them during the show. Derek tweeted a congratulations to Joanna about an award she won and Joanna replied back and seemed friendly and sweet.
Not a fan of Joanna either.
Andie, I love your comment about Bristol and Mark doing better if they had reversed roles in that Foxtrot. Mark does indeed seem to do better with yourthful and able partners.
I have to say that after David and Michael were eliminated, the 10 teams that remained all had a shot at the top 4 or 5. Even Margaret. I still think it’s anyone’s game. Yes, some teams have advantages over others. But they also have disadvantages. No ringers at all, IMO. Week 4 – I think Bristol and Florence are on the bubble. Florence will do well with the Performance (please Corky, don’t gross us out) but will be lacking in Technique, vice-versa for Bristol. I think The Sitch is going to surprise us once again. Kyle needs to step up his technique if he is to survive into the top half.
@Linde, I feel that Jennifer has an overwhelming support out there, if any of the polls are indicating fan strength. She’s pulling in viewers who haven’t watched the show. I do think she has the kind of numbers that Shawn Johnson enjoyed, but like Shawn she has to watch her back because there are others who are making a move.
I’m not sure if Brandy will go this week. I do think she has the potential to have the strongest Rumba. If we recall some of the rumbas that Len liked in the past, it is people like Mel B, Laila Ali, Toni Braxton, who can pull off sexy and not be intimidated by hip action. I think Brandy showed some strut in her Samba, so I don’t think she’s going to be a disjointed Erin Andrews disaster on this dance, I think Maks knows he’s up against the wall and should pull out something mainstream that will please Len.
If they don’t then it’s curtains.
As for the others, I think Kurt Warner may have some real problems on the Rumba. He’s got an adoration committee but I don’t see a latin god here, it could be god awful. I think he is very stiff and has yet to be tested with hip action. I think the producers made sure he didn’t get a latin dance until this week for that very reason.
Kyle s going to do sexy, but it might be a bit of a turn off, considering his age. He also doesn’t really present a strong line, the overall presentation may not be as pleasing. We’ll see.
Florence won’t be fluid, but she’ll be persistent, it might turn out okay, but Corky has to lay off the overt stuff, it’s not really working for them.
Karina is excited about the Situation and the AT because he probably won’t be doing too much. He’ll walk around pidgeon toed, and everyone will applaud, but I hope they at least give him something to critique.
Cheryl has an opportunity to make Rick’s height a feature rather than a liability. He can lift her like she’s a feaher, and if they do some dramatic passionate movement, this could be a slam dunk. If they keep the footwok clean, and somewhat minimalist like she did for Gilles and Ocho, we could get something special. Physically the foot size for him is an obstacle to precision. But he can do passion and that will count here.
At the other end, Jennifer and Derek are limited in the lifting so they must get the footwork clean and precise. I do think Jennifer can bring a real passion for this dance to the “salon” it will be however a challenge for Derek to bring excitement without the flying engaunchos he did with Nicole. I see more straight up and down lifts and a lot of dance.
Audrina might be able to do the flying moves, but she is vacant. There’s absolutely no emotion in her dancing, and this could spell problems on this dance. It will be obvious to everyone if she doesn’t connect with Tony.
Bristol and the Rumba. Well it might not be awful, but it will be very elementary. Mark’s challenge will be to loosen her up and make it interesting.
Awesome posts All! You have me so excited again for tonight!!!
xxxx