Dancing With The Stars Carrie Ann Inaba Wants Apolo Ohno To Turn It Up A Notch and More
Carrie Ann Inaba writes about the tumble out of her seat on Dancing With The Stars at Ladies Home Journal. Last night wasn’t the first time she fell. Also, she chats on the dancing this week. In particular, she mentions Apolo Ohno and how she wants to see him step it up a notch. Read this through for more and let us know what you think.
Speaking of which, the cause is dancing! Don’t forget to tune in tonight because there are five more dances to see. Last night’s dances were pretty darn good—I especially loved the group number. I found the choreography to be quite dynamic and exciting. The transitions from couple to couple were really innovative and they left no moment of that routine unfinished. There were no throw away moves in the high-pitched choreography. High energy and high impact!
I think Apolo and Karina need to turn it up a notch tonight and add more difficulty into their choreography. I don’t think Apolo is being physically or mentally challenged enough with Karina’s choreography and he’s such an amazing athlete. Sure, he’s sexy, but you can’t play that card in every routine, especially when he’s got such incredible talents outside of that. Look at Shawn Johnson’s routines—she uses every trick she possibly can to make her routines better and she’s pushing her limits all the time. That’s what is exciting and Apolo should have that same approach. He’s got to pull out the big guns from here on out if he wants a breakthrough. He’s the only one of our celebrities left (besides Kirstie) who hasn’t been on the top of the leaderboard yet. But let’s see how everyone does tonight. Tune in to see what happens in the “Gangnam Style” group dance!
HUH? Apolo hasn’t just pushed the “sexy” card every week? Is she watching the same show as the rest of us? I admit..his dance last week wasn’t as good, but, I blamed the hip hop theme. Plus, even sick with a stomach bug last night, Apolo still brought it last night during the team dance. Geez, let’s see her dance while being sick.
Shut up, the reason why he was never on top is because you underscore him on his quickstep, that as the best dance of that week.
How come she says that Karina is not challenging him when she gives a 10 for Gilles posing rumba, is she on drugs or something, get your shit together.
I would like to comment, but don’t think Karina’s Mom would approve of how many times I was to say the word “fuck.” I think I’ll try to think of a replacement word, compose my anger, and come back in a few.
Sad, realy sad. And the sadest thing is, she already knows the results of “today”.
“Sure, he’s sexy, but you can’t play that card in every routine”
Um, isn’t that what Gilles does?
CAI especially love Team CMM – high energy – high impact – dynamic & exciting! So, CAI, just where was the problem that you deducted .5 pts. Saving something for Team Ego! More and more I have very little faith in DWTS and all TPTB’s manipulations. What has happened to my favorite show? There is a virus on the set and gets worse and worse. I thought last season was bad, but shame on me to expect this season to be any different. Knew TPTB just couldn’t resist the temptation to mess around with the “All Star” season. I am tired of all of this. I miss my happy dancing show. Now, it’s Dancing with the Stars – Survivors Edition! What they are asking of the pros and celebrities is absolutely crazy – just for a crystal mirror ball trophy. They really shouldn’t have to work this hard. If this indeed is Derek’s last season, there will be nothing to draw me to watch this show anymore. Unless, Derek comes back to dance on the results show.
I’m sure Apolo can’t do the same flips and tricks as Shawn. Karina’s choreo less challenging than Cheryl’s or Peta’s, really?
+1 for everything said so far!!
CAI is the most inconsistent and irritating judge. She says she is the lift police and inconsistently applies that rule. I turn the sound down when she talks because she is aggravating
Well its obvious CAI just helping to prop Gilles and take down Apolo? Why are the judges comments for Apolo “amazing” and “bloody good” but then the give them low scores?
The scores from last night were pre-planned. Really a 4 way tie for second place?
@Mel – I agree, the show is somewhat fixed. They know who needs their help to push them through to the next week and who doesn’t. Bar any catastrophes, they probably already have an idea which contestants will be the final 3.
The judges probably have a Judges PowWoW before each performance show, and pass around the PeacePipe, cause they have to be smoking something.
#6 alicia beat me to it. What “tricks” can a speedskater bring to a routine? I remember in his first season Julianne inserted a sliding/skating motion into one of their routines and they were quickly warned (by Len, I think) to not overdo that kind of stuff. Apolo’s quickstep was incredible — and underscored. Ditto that hot foxtrot. The hip hop wasn’t the best — but he carried his pro in that one, which ought to count for something. He was indistinguishable from the three male pros in the team dance (he was dancing sick, and struggled with the lift with Karina, just as Louis struggled with the lifts with Sabrina in their disco number.) I really don’t know what she’s looking for. Maybe he should stand around looking brooding while Karina lifts her leg over her head for a minute and a half.
Gilles is totally playing the sexy card every dance and even admits it…then has the nerve to call out Shawn for relying on tricks (and better dancing than he can do). Peta did all the work in their rumba, yet CAI calls out Apolo and Karina?? She’s an idiot. I’m grateful to her for confirming it.
I thought Karina’s choreography for his quickstep was really challenging, but Kirstie got a higher score for her quickstep this week. I like Kirstie but come on! I think he should’ve topped the leaderboard that night.
Hey CarrieAnn, are we bitter about something?
She was ready to throw herself at “3,000 times sexier” Apolo in week 1, but unlike Gilles, Apolo didn’t respond to that subtle (not) hint to flirt with her. So he’s on her s-list. As a male on the show, you earn your points from CAI by making her feel “pretty”.
Technically, CAI said “every trick in the book” with regard to Shawn. That’s an expression and not to be taken literally – as in actual “tricks”. And really, Derek is the one with the “How to go far on DWTS” handbook – not Shawn. 🙂
She swooned over Gilles and Peta for making babies on the dance floor, but Karina is playing the sex card? Stfu bitch.
Can I say it again? +1 Everyone!!
She’s writing this because she knows the backlash coming from her comments on Apolo tonight. Scared Carrie Ann? It’s unfair to compare Apolo with Shawn, she’s a gymnast! And is CAI encouraging couples to do tricks now? I think Melissa’s injury is a fair warning to TPTB to stop it until at least the finals.
Agreed – +1 Everyone! Cidra – that was funny & so true!
#18, They don’t plan to stop it. Actually next week the best trick will be awarded. Guess what, Apolo isn’t going to win again.
I feel like I’ve seen more of Gilles nipples the last 5 weeks than I have my own. Kelly and Val are molesting each other the entire show last week and going on EVERY INTERVIEW implying how hot they are for each other. Has Val worn a closed shirt yet this season?
And Apolo has danced (in clothes – SADLY, IMO ;)) BETTER than his first season to BETTER choreography and she has the fucking nerve to say he’s relying on sexiness? LMFAO! Sorry, I can’t think of another f-word. So stop reading if you’re Mrs. Smirnoff.
I’m glad Shawn’s bringing it – and focusing on her gymnastics while still dancing. IT’S A HELL OF A LOT BETTER THAN STANDING THERE LETTING DEREK DANCE AROUND HER. Ahem, Gilles! A balance between dance and entertaining is the idea of the show, no?
Just go to YouTube and rewatch Apolo’s quickstep with Julianne (fabulous!) but his footwork and the difficulty of this QS with Karina is BY FAR superior and harder in choreography. I’d say the same of his lines with his Foxtrots. So saying Karina isn’t challenging enough is utter bullshit.
Not sure if CAI’s problem is with Apolo, Karina, or both, but I can’t believe she said something this stupid, when she’s literally drooling over Gilles and has nothing to say about him using sexiness in place of talent. Give me a FUCKING BREAK FLY GIRL!
#21 “I feel like I’ve seen more of Gilles nipples the last 5 weeks than I have my own.”
You made me spit my Pepsi on my monitor, I was laughing so hard. As Homer Simpson would say, it’s funny because it’s true.
I actually like when the couples can turn the sexy on and off when it’s needed for the performance. Don’t get me wrong, I like sexy, but you don’t need to be sexy for every single dance (ahem, Gilles). I like that Apolo and Karina can be fun (the team dance, the cha-cha-cha) and sexy (that foxtrot!) when it’s necessary.
“I like that Apolo and Karina can be fun (the team dance, the cha-cha-cha) and sexy (that foxtrot!) when it’s necessary”
EXACTLY!
I agree with every poster here, can’t say it any better. I also agree if Apolo were flirting with her and throwing himself all over her he’d probably be getting better scores. She’s disgusting and pathetic.
Did Karina get every man CAI wanted in the past or something? Did she have the hots for Maks before Karina got him?
ROTFLLLLL
CAI has her nerve calling out ‘playing the sex card every dance’ when that is what Gilles does every dance. WTF
They pad the ones they want to pad and take away the ones they don’t like the most.
If they cry the judges tack on another point. No wonder they all resort to crying for points and votes.
The ‘ass wiggle’ got team macho heads nowhere tonight but to say how much they are bringing the ratings down for the show.
So ready to see team macho heads go out the door one by one by one by one.
Here’s what they do, guys. They storyboard. They generally go two different ways: They pimp the hell out of their hot guy (and it’s always a guy – hot women like Nicole get relentlessly underscored especially by Len) and keep down one or two (or three) very good or even better dancers. Then, if the better dancers appear to be getting the votes, the storyline changes around week 8 so that the high vote getters can get a big growth arc (Shawn and Apolo). There’s a bit of EGO involved here, IMO. They want to be RIGHT at the end of the season, in addition to having a great “come from behind” story. And it’s especially sweet if someone like Apolo or Shawn come from behind Gilles and kick his butt. I think they want him there in the end, but they love a good, juicy story like Shawn gave them first time.
That’s one of my many theories, anyway. 🙂
More difficult choreo?!?!?!?!? What does CAI want? Apolo dancing blindfolded?!?!?! Oh wait, he’s already done that.
I’m just about positive if you had Apolo and Gilles dancing to something impossible to dance to, like a tornado siren, Apolo would be mules better. Sick of this crap. How many people to recognize her favoritism does it take before Carrie Ann gets of her high horse and starts judging fairly?
Much of Melissa’s pain is in her head. She puts alot of that out there for sympathy and Tony encourages her all the more.
To say that Apolo and Karina have to work on chemistry is ridiculous. Maybe (just possibly maybe) they were a little flatter than usual tonight (or last night, when it was taped), but Apolo is fighting the flu!!! How much chemistry could CAI pull together if she were running out “to the office” (as Karina put it) all the time???
OOOOOOOOH SNAP! Carrie Ann says Apolo needs to stop playing the sexy card?! Um… then what is Gilles doing exactly? Because that’s obviously not the sexy card. What a hypocrite. I can’t stand her.
Yeah, you could definitely tell Apolo wasn’t feeling well. Little reaction to the scores, and then the photo OfficialDWTS twitter sent out, you could see in his eyes he wasn’t well. And he still kicked ass.
Yeah – another +1 to everything said here… I like PH’s theory. I believe Apolo has gotten higher scores each week, so the trend line is there. And he himself has mentioned they weren’t giving it all yet (and Derek said he was) so much as we may be miffed, there is a gear or two left for him to kick in…
For what it’s worth, I think Apolo is much, much better dancer now than when he was with Julianne, better choreo too (sorry Julianne fans). He is feeling the dance more & better footwork instead of running through the steps like he was 5 years ago. I’m not sure if the same thing could be said with the other 2 male dancers on the show though…
The only way I can take CAI’s comments, about Apolo not relying on the sex schtick in every routine, while that’s what Gilles does constantly, in every routine he dances…..
MAYBE CAI knows that Apolo CAN handle very difficult routines, and can rely on his dancing, and his charm, and his ability to work hard and match Karina, while Gilles “sexy” is pretty much the most that he has going for him….. Because to me, I am not seeing chemistry between Gilles and Peta, and he does have the ego that Apolo doesn’t, and I don’t know how willing he is to work hard…. Apolo DOES!
Maybe she wants to push Apolo, because she knows he CAN easy surpass Gilles…. Although why does she keep overscoring G-boy? Her hormones just get in the way… [rolling eyes]
Kind of like Len, who continually underscores some, like his mind can see the contestant and he feels that they can reach a level 12, and their professional partner is only getting them to show at a level 10 on performance nights, so he grades harder, at a level 8, for instance, to try to get them to show him MORE, and reach what he wants. Then he goes and scores someone who may peak at a level 7, at a higher rate, because they actually reached what he expected, even though that person may not be as good a dancer as the underscored. Does that make sense at all?
Someone used the word pathetic above and it’s very appropriate. CAI is pathetic and I can’t decide if she is acting for the storyboarding or if she is just this off reality. I agree with PH, watch this show long enough and storyboarding is evident. Donald and his quest for a 10 from Len comes to mind. I think that Shawn and Apolo are killing it in votes and they want Gilles in the third spot for the redemption story line with Shawn. “Can Gilles win that coveted mirror ball trophy against two previous champions/Olympians”. But if Gilles doesn’t get the third spot then it may be American hero Olympians go head to head. Just my opinion.
I agree with Carrie Ann only to the extent that I think Apollo needs to put more “oomph” into his dancing (kinda like Melissa, but she needs even more “oomph”). Apollo is dancing really well technically (maybe the best among the men?), but I find I forget about him when I’m voting (same with Melissa). Nothing wrong with Apollo putting sex appeal into his dancing. Maybe the sex appeal doesn’t go over big with CAI because Apollo is probably not her ‘type’, whereas Gilles clearly is her ‘type’, so she’s moved by one man but not the other on that level. But I agree with CAI that Apollo can show us more than he has so far (maybe Karina does need to up her choreo like Tony has done with Melissa, and he should start doing so ASAP so he doesn’t get forgotten among the remaining men and these pocketbook-sized crackerjack celeb women dancers in All-Star season.
And Len certainly does have his own grading system, which I sometimes understand, but most of the time don’t. I remember how he score Mya back in her season with Dmitry. He decided that Mya had the potential to be a great dancer, so he said he graded her based on how far he felt she fell short of that ‘greatness’ and gave celeb dancers who admittedly did not dance as well as Mya higher marks than Mya. I just don’t get that. Now, Mya still made it to the finals, so she had her shot even though she didn’t win, but it just seems unfair to grade 1 dancer on a curve like that, and it has to be somewhat dispiriting for the celeb dancer.
If Carrie Ann is back next year and she doesn’t change her tune (no pun intended) I will not be watching. I have been a loyal viewer since season 1 and am really done with her biased judging. Gilles is so in love with himself he doesn’t need her adoration but she brings it each week. No one else stands a chance with her. Oh, and please don’t bring psycho Paula back.