People Goes Into Melissa Gilbert And Maks Chmerkovskiy’s DWTS Rehearsals
Melissa explains why she decided to Dancing With The Stars to People. The timing was perfect and she was ready for the challenge even though she didn’t realize how challenging it was going to be. Maks hasn’t made her cry yet except for the nice things he’s said to her. Maks says he can’t win since he makes women cry no matter what he says. Melissa talks of her Little House On The Prairie co-star Michael Landon (LOVED HIM!) and how he would be watching her if he was still alive. She even say Maks is like him. Lots more at People.
They look so good (in my opinion)!! What do you think? I’m liking this relationship and pairing a lot!!
UPDATE: Maks has written his first blog of the season. He catches us up on all of his projects since last season. He dishes on the cast and Melissa. From TV Guide, below is a take. Be sure to read the full blog at the link.
I’m having such a fantastic time with Melissa. She’s a great person with such a great personality. It’s always tough for me every season to try to describe my relationships with my partners. How many synonyms can you come up to describe how great someone is without offending someone from the past and without sounding like you’re not being genuine? Melissa’s amazing, but it doesn’t mean she’s any less amazing than Kirstie or Hope or Erin or Mel B. or Tia or Denise. They’re all amazing in their own way. Yet again, I think I lucked out with someone I love spending time with. Melissa’s very cool and very intelligent. She has an amazing sense of humor. She can dish it out and she can take it, which I love. We’re on the same page in our banter in how we speak and how we communicate and she does not get offended. She understands everything I say and how I say it. It’s gotten to the point that sometimes I’m cautious. I’m thinking like, “Is she that strong of a person that she kinds of holds it in? Am I gonna get slapped in a second?” But she’s that strong. She is very respectful to me and I have the utmost respect for her.
Rehearsals are going really well. We have the cha-cha for the first week and then the quickstep. Melissa said she danced ballet back in the day. She showed me videos of her dad dancing. He was amazing. We’re talking Gene Kelly- and Fred Astaire-kind of amazing. So she has that type of thing in her veins. Obviously, the cha-cha is freakin’ strange to anybody. There are certainly elements to ballroom that make it hard. But to be honest, we’re way past looking and going, “This one has dance experience.” As we see every season, having dance experience or ability doesn’t mean you win. Look at Kristin Cavallari last season, she was great and got eliminated early. I just hope everybody is going to be entertained.
Right now, Melissa and I are just kind of brushing things up. We’ve already got the routines done and there’s nothing more that we can do before Monday. Melissa has to experience Monday night and the nature of the beast. And then we go from there. She understands that too. We’re very cool together. I don’t need to say a lot for her to get it. I try to find ways to motivate. I tell her, “I want you to compete with these young girls.” She understands that it’s not a derogatory statement. She knows that I want her to be amazing just in general.
I am so loving Maks and Melissa, Maks seems relaxed and happy and they seem to gel well 🙂 Melissa looks good too, she fits with him when they dance and she is very light on her feet from what i can see 🙂 Everybody looks good though this season, there does not appear to be any one who cannot at least move this time lol however we shall have to wait for monday and the wrath of the three wise ones AKA Carrieann, Bruno and Len 🙂 🙂
Vogue: I saw the video earlier today and thought how fantastic it was! She gave a wonderful tribute to Michael Landon and I thought Maks’ reaction when she compared them was priceless!
For saying she recently had back surgery, I was quite surprised at how flexible she is! Especially when he dips her at the end of the video – do that to me and I’d end up needing surgery!!!! Lol
I’m not going to let it hide, I am a hardcore Maks fan. Every time I read something bad (or what I considered to be bad) about Hope & Mask (anywhere, not just on this website) I got the defenses ready. I’m glad I kept my mouth shut sometimes though.
But that’s besides the point. I know Courtney said in her “Power Ranking” posts that Melissa doesn’t look terrible, but she doesn’t look stellar, however, I think she’s closer to stellar than she is terrible. Not bashing Court WHAT-SO-EVER, by saying that. We all know Dancing With The Stars is a learning and growing process, so I think Melissa will only get better.
And I think Maks (please dear God) has learned from his mistakes with Hope. Melissa looks like she can take his crap, and I think they’ll do well. =)
Definitely a cute video. Not used to seeing Maks with a shorter partner. That will be an interesting change. Melissa seems to be moving quite well, a little off-balance in her turns, perhaps, but some nice stuff going on. Hope she stretching her back and doing whatever else she needs to keep those muscles strong but limber in order to avoid injury.
I’m excited about this partnership. Melissa seems very committed and willing to let Maks be the Captain. LOL
Looks like happy Maks is back. Yeah!
It’s fun getting to know Melissa as an adult through these videos, since I missed her TV movie career entirely and only knew her as Half Pint. I’m excited about the partnership, too. She and Maks seem to have each other sorted out, judging from their interaction, his remarks in the TV Guide blog and the things she says about him. Lookin’ good.
Love all of your thoughts on these two. And I agree how it’s so great to have happy Maks back again!!!
Love Maks!
Love this video! I have to say Maks came off as delightful, I hope he can hold onto that mindframe and use it to his advantage this season. I just may be pleasantly surprised by these two this season.
Michael was such an influence on Melissa’s younglife, and I believe she named her youngest son after him. I think we all loved Michael as well.
Ok,…so uhhh, I have to admit to something. Lately, to get reconnected with Melissa a little, I’ve been watching Little House On The Prairie reruns on the Hallmark channel. lol I’m finding myself liking this show more now than I did when I was a kid. I was more of a Walton’s fan then.lolllll
I loved Michael Landon! I loved him on Highway To Heaven too!
Oh, Vogue, we are on the same page. I remember loving the Waltons and must admit I don’t remember watching Prairie. Although I knew about the show and liked Michael Landon a lot.
Oh good, I’m glad I’m not the only Walton’s lover. I have seen every show so many times that I could probably recount what each person says before they say it. lollll
LOL, I probably watched Little House more than Walton’s. I guess I always wanted a dad like Michael Landon. Miss him!
The mold was broken with Michael Landon. Not only do we still watch Little House on the Prairie, (its on everynight), but we love Bonanza (which is still on as well). Classics!
I hesitate to type this, and I’m sure some of you will be upset with me but … have any of you read anything about Landon’s real life, not his TV persona? His cheating, his drinking, his violent rages, his arrogance???
I have, but I wasn’t going to say anything.
Yes, unfortunatley. I remember it being discussed by a Highway to Heaven co-star maaany years ago. I actually thought that’s why she was comparing Maks to him; arrogance, rages/tantrums, the “ladies”, etc.
I think Melissa probably remembers Michael Landon for his good qualities. And I’m sure he had some. We tend to forget most people are complex beings. Neither all good, nor all bad, but a little bit of both, depending on the circumstances.
Agreed, auntie bellum, we are complex beings and I’m sure Melissa remembers the good things. Melissa says in her book that she always fell for a guy with alcohol on his breath because it reminded her of Michael during her childhood.
I feel bad for bringing up the bad stuff, but I guess my point was just what you said,”We are neither all good, nor all bad, but a little bit of both ….”. Hope I didn’t burst anybody’s bubble! 🙂
Thanks for posting the video and blog. Always enjoy reading Mak’s blog. Might be telling my age, but I had a crush on Michael Landon ever since his Lil Joe days.
It looks like Melissa is just what Maks needs right now.
“I actually thought that’s why she was comparing Maks to him; arrogance, rages/tantrums, the “ladies”, etc.”
I’ve seen Melissa talk of the less appealing sides of Michael and thought that was possibly implied as well, though she’s been working overtime to try to untarnish Maks’ image and she has a valid point that both Michael and Maks are exceptional at their trades. In fact, Maks is a hell of an actor too.