DWTS13 End-of-Season Award Winners – What Change Do You Most Want to See in Season 14?
Soooooo many write-in responses for this one…and the results were quite interesting 😉
Other responses:
No more theme nights – 10
No Maks/Maks taking a break/Maks sitting out a season/get rid of Maks – 9
New judges – 7 (I think this could fit under “better judging”, as it’s implied that “better judging” could be new judges altogether…)
More Tristan – 4
Better quality of dances/ringers/celebs with better dancing capabilities – 4
No troupe/troupe actually dancing in sync – 3
All of the above – 3
More Derek – 3
Replace Brooke with Carson/Carson added in any format – 2
Get rid of Brooke/new co-host – 2
Bring Chelsie back – 2
Bigger cast/more celebs – 2
I love the show the way it is/If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it – 2
Better band – 1
Start sooner – 1
TIE: Better judging & better music – 1
Less talking in between dances – 1
More traditional music (no Katy Perry/Gaga/Beyonce/etc.) – 1
Less Derek – 1
No more Carrie Ann – 1
NO MORE NANCY – 1 (Ummm yeah, pretty sure you don’t have to worry about that, ya asshat.)
Total season’s votes included in calculation of winners – 1
Better intro packages before the dances – 1 (HA! Keep dreaming…)
Courtney: Thank goodness this is the last award, because you guys (as much as I love you all) are killing me with all of these write-in responses. Anywho…I agree that improving the judging could definitely help take some of the edge off of watching the show. Looking back at a lot of my power rankings from the past few seasons, I see that I most often got upset when the judges were way off in their scoring…either for better or worse. Now I don’t think getting rid of the judges we have and starting anew is the solution – and it seems like a lot of you agreed in our poll about the judges last season – new judges altogether could be even worse, especially if those judges haven’t judged on a dance show before. However, I’m not sure how to really force Len, Carrie Ann, and Bruno to judge more fairly – it’s such a subjective thing. As for “better celebs” – I guess I should have been more specific about that one, as “better” can mean different things to different people – better could mean “more famous”, or better could mean “more skilled dancers”. And speaking of which – there is something to be said for having ringers, kids. The past 2 seasons, we haven’t really had a skill ringer – and I notice that a lot of you have complained that the dancing has not been as good as it has in previous seasons. Ringers can ensure that we get to see dynamite dances each week, and tend to raise the level of competition during the seasons in which they compete. More pro dances are always welcome for me – just as long as they’re not troupe dances 😉 Better music? Yeah, it would be nice if they didn’t ditto quite so many songs; but to whoever wants “more traditional” music, be advised that this could severely limit the music that can be used on the show, and can run the risk of alienating more casual viewers – contemporary music can make the dances more relatable. I don’t think we need more dance styles OR more couples – whenever someone starts clamoring for that, I start to worry that we might have another season 9 on our hands, aka the “Kitchen Sink” season, where there were just so damn many dances, couples, and nuances that it was hard to keep up. Now to the 2 write-ins I found most interesting: “total season’s votes included in calculation of winners” and “better intro packages before the dances”. Sorry, but I find both of these to be pretty implausible. What would including the total season’s votes in the calculation of the winner accomplish? Do you really think it would change the outcome of a season? It’s possible – but it could have unintended consequences. I think it would tend to help bad dancers who stuck around far too long (think Bristol, Marie, Hope, Kendra, etc.) and could hurt really good dancers that maybe had smaller fanbases (Mya, Chelsea, Brandy, etc.) The bottom line: as much as the whole “50 % scores, 50% votes” scheme may piss off fans who don’t get their desired outcome, it’s probably the fairest system they can use on this show – it’s equal parts popularity contest and dance contest. And as for the “better intro packages before the dances” – I have to wonder if this was written by a Maks fan, as they seemed to be the ones most concerned about the intro packages this past season. I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again – the producers are going to cut together the footage that will generate the most “buzz”…and if that means using the footage of a couple fighting or crying or storming out of the studio, so be it. The solution? Don’t give them anything negative to work with. If you’re seeing a couple fight in their intro packages week after week, it’s because they’re probably actually fighting week after week and that’s all the editors have to work with – not because the producers are conspiring to ruin them. Asking them to make a warring couple look like they’ve got rainbows shooting out of their ass is futile if all they have footage of is a couple screaming at each other. It’s a tv show, people – they’re gonna go for ratings.
Heidi: Correct – and any pro who’s been on the show for more than a season KNOWS this and SHOULD react accordingly. Just sayin’. 🙂 As for the total season votes? I don’t think that will work like you would want it to work. 🙂 Increasing the number of votes would likely just make the winner more of a solid winner – it’s a percentage of the whole, not a count. If they don’t have a high enough percentage at the end of the season, adding in their votes through out the season won’t likely change anything, except make the individual votes count less. Particularly if the judging portion remains the same. You wanna make it votes only, like American Idol?? Well, how often does the best singer win that show?? Like, less than half the time? And who’s to say an individual is “best” – it’s subjective. The judges may suck from time to time (particularly when they are for YOUR couple), but I actually trust them to balance out the wacko fans in the audience who will vote for Kate Gosselin just for giggles. Was Donny Osmond the best dancer? No, but if it were up to the audience alone, Mya probably wouldn’t have made it to the final two. This is an extreme case of “be careful what you wish for.” I have a feeling that some haven’t considered the potential ramifications. As for me…I don’t remember what I voted for. I may not have voted because I pretty much like the show the way it is, better the “devil you know” and all that. I would normally say “more pro (non-troupe) dances” but I was pretty happy with that this past season as well, simply because I got a lot of Derek. For a change. I do think they could use more all pro dances similar to those in seasons 5 and 6 – no musical act, just great dancing.
Vogue: I was at a loss on this polling. It seems during the last several seasons I complain the most about the judging. I really think the judges go too far sometimes when they get too “personal” instead of just judging a dance. For instance, dissing about a person’s weight or things a celebrity can’t help is just low. At the same time, I really don’t want any judging changes as all three of them add excitement and diversity to the show. In the end, I voted for “better music”. There is so many times I wish they’d stick to traditional music that fits the dancing styles instead of what they use for theme weeks that don’t match the style of dance.
*photo courtesy ABC/Adam Taylor
Totally agree with Vogue on this one. If the judges don’t want to be offended, they should not be so offensive themselves(eg. Len/Maks/CarrieAnn). Replacing the judges is not the answer as it makes one side look justified over the other when I think both sides(judges and dance pros) could just show more professionialism.
I wonder if there’s some way to split the scoring up. Like 7 points out of 10 for technique and 3 for presentation. Have Len clearly define which specific moves the couples need to show and let 30% of the score be for razzamatazz.
Thoughts?
I don’t think changing the judges would be the answer… i do think they go too far some times with the comments… i don’t like when Bruno makes inappropriate comments but i love him when he burns in flames praising a dance, a choreo or a contestant. I don’t like when CAI judges with her….well…not brain… and i really hate her Lift Police but i like when she gets emotional…and Len..well most of the times he tends to be right..the problem is he doesn’t stick to the same rule for different contestants… judging is evaluating following rules but it is a personal evaluation so…i will like to stick with this set of judges. Better music was my choice… i don;t want only traditional music…but damn…so pieces really war too far out there..and a bad music can mess up even the best choreo…or the best pro… for example Derek and the Foxtrot to Easy lover …
But by the same token, Elara, look what crazy song selections gave us from that same pro. Psycho Tango. Pretty Woman tango. Futuristic Paso. And my most favorite dance ever, which wasn’t a crazy choice, Derek and Nicole’s foxtrot to Michael Buble.
Nearly every time I’ve heard a song choice for Derek and groaned with frustration, he pulls out something amazing.
Every change you make to this show runs the risk of being one of those things that sounded like a great idea and you end up worse off. Do you think we would have gotten such amazing dances if they were strictly traditional?? I don’t – I think some pros get juiced creatively when they get handed crazy stuff. 50’s Paso?? Yup.
i am agreeing with you Heidi…some of the best performances came after a struggle and an uncommon song choice… with uncommon but suited song for the routine and the theme i have no problem with…my problem is with the songs that are not so well suited for the request style….like when they have to dance the foxtrot on a piece that it’s more suited for a jive…(i am not a pro…i remember what Courtney said about that one)
I agree with some improvements in the band.
I don’t really think the judges should be changed either. I just feel sometimes they are either “compelled” or maybe “urged” to altar their voting for various reasons….or maybe they just get carried away by all the distractions just like some viewers do.
I just really wish there were a way to balance out the “notoriety” or “cause” factors in the voting so that the best and most improved dancing is what most determines the winner. I don’t wanna watch weeks of bad dancing just because a particular cause is being voted for.
And for all the whiners–Bruno has always made the same kind of comments.
There have been seasons where I have felt the judges, production and PTB have hammered at certain celebrities and brought them down just to make it look like they weren’t running away with a win or to give an advantage to another contestant. The most recent IMO was Ralph Macchio–don’t know what was goin on but that is about the only real change I’d like to see stopped.
Also lose the troupe and give Maks and Mark a season or 2 off. Again JMO. Otherwise it’s mostly okay.
Derek and Nicole’s 50’s paso is my favourite dance on all DwtS franchise. I think he never did a bad choreogrphy. His worst are at least OK.
But I can mention some bad song choice tragedies: Situation’s foxtrot, Evan’s chacha (theme dance, I know, but), nancy’s jive, hope’s samba. kendra foxtrot (foxtrot, really?). horribles.
I can talk by myself, Maksim off next season.
The only theme week I really enjoyed was classic week. Simply amazing. But I don’t care about them. I like the DANCE not VISUAL EFFECTS.
About the judges, I have to agree with Vogue, Jimmbboe and Elara. I like them. Don’t like when they are over. (and i don’t think Len was wrong about Maksim).
Last season troupe just sucked. Except Oksana S2. ahahaah
I don’t mind about pop music to a chacha, samba or jive. But other dances, specially standard ones, not good, not good.
I’m really looking for more argentine tango and, please, salsa back. And pros dancing ballroom dance. I know Chelsie dance beautifully contemporary, Derek, Mark and Lacey can hip hop, I know. I just want to see more samba, paso, waltz… Want to see they doing what tey can’t do with a celeb… Wanna more Jonathan and Anna. Group dances like that one to Ozomatli… that’s what I want for a DwtS season. And, of course, less recycled songs! ahahaha
OK, Sally will now play the part of the “resident contrarian”… 😉
I actually do think the judges should be changed – or, at least, the judging style should be changed. Watching Season 4 on GSN, I’m seeing a Len, Bruno, and CAI that I somewhat enjoy. But they’ve changed over the years. All of this is one (cranky) gal’s opinion, but they’ve gotten too over-the-top, too likely to bicker and argue with each other, and in the case of Bruno, too likely to say things that are hurtful. I think Bruno does it to stand out, be controversial, and generate buzz, but it winds up being just tacky and out of line. So, I’d say either make them watch Season 4 again, and tell them “Be JUST LIKE THAT!”, or try to find some new blood.
Another thing I saw on Season 4 that I’ve missed the past few seasons are the little bits talking about the dances, the techniques, what they are looking for, etc. I found those really informative and something that made the show more fun for me to watch. Wish they’d do it again… sigh… 😛
Lol, I have to say that these are my favorite write-ins:
Replace Brooke with Carson/Carson added in any format – 2
Get rid of Brooke/new co-host – 2
I would love to see Carson as co-host, but I’d be afraid he would overshadow Tom!
I think the band is good, it just seems that the songs don’t match the style the couple has that week. Some turn out good and some don’t…. I think the only solution to that is to let the couple pick their own song once they know what dance style they are doing. But that will probably never happen.
“…rainbows shooting out of their ass…” LOL Thank you Courtney, you made my day. 😀
I said more(or better) song choices. They could do new songs as long as they fit the theme and aren’t a “WTF?” song(like in season 10 or 11 when margaret cho got “we are the champions” for a waltz.) As for judging I thinketh that be the case of “oooh we be celebrity too” on the judges and the pros(think in season 4 the pros were seen not heard during the critiques, and the judges were actually semi decent.) As the pros get more vocal the judges get more witchy-with-a-B.
Get rid of (or fix) the BrookeBot 2.0 should definitely be on the ‘improve for season 14 list’. So should ‘ get the troupe to dance in sync’ and ‘bring back Chelsie’ Oh yeah and ‘get carson on the show somehow’ 🙂
i would love to see mike rowe from the show dirty jobs as one of the dancers