Adding A Younger Judge To Dancing With The Stars Judging Panel and More Rumors
Another day, more rumors to take with a grain of salt! This time an insider has told Hollywood Life that the producers of Dancing With The Stars are considering a younger judge for the panel and Derek Hough is a “favorite” to be one of them. Note how this source is also reporting that the show may be filmed one night in New York City in a future season.
“They want to skew younger as the seasons continue and are looking to potentially add a younger, well-named judge for the show. There have been no names thought of yet, [it’s] just that they want to go younger.”
Like Paula Abdul did this past season, “They also have considered having guest judges to join the real judges from week to week.”
And here’s another shocker, “Not next season but in another future season, they are considering doing it in NYC!”
Derek Hough, who placed second in the All-star season, is a favorite for a new judge.
“Some of the dancers may remove themselves from the dancing part and may become judges themselves. The favorites like Derek have been considered for that type of role, but the Producers are aware that Derek gets celebrities to the show because they want to dance with him, so they are taking that under consideration moving forward as well.”
You can read the full article at Hollywood Life.
My thoughts if true (and that’s a big “if”)? I wouldn’t mind a younger judge added to the panel. Though really, I’d rather it be someone like SHIRLEY BALLAS instead. I also wish they’d replace Carrie Ann. Maybe they could replace Carrie Ann with Shirley and add a younger judge. I think Derek would do a super job, but, I’d rather see him dance or do movies, videos, music, and Broadway. Let’s see what Miss Heidi thinks….
Heidi: I think hell might freeze over before Derek sits in judgement of his former cast mates. He might do it for ONE night, but I just don’t see it. Not to mention that that was NOT in the list of things he recently gave a “next steps”. Yeah, he did say he would always be connected to the show in some way, but I don’t believe this is what he had in mind. I think someone took the NY Post story (which was later modified), saw all the discussion around the next about needing new judges…and got creative. All that said, I’m still not sure we need new judges as much as we need “judging RULES”. The dancers have rules…seems to me the judges should as well. And not those that they can disregard whenever they want….lookin’ at you, CAI, and your ridiculous, misused, lift rule.
Thanks, Vogue! 🙂
Gee, PH, tell what you really think! LOL! I would like to see scoring rules followed, as PH stated, but I’d also like to see another judge, so either get rid of one or add one. I like the idea of Shirley Ballas very much! And don’t give me the “she’d be biased” line! She couldn’t be worse than what we have now, and I’d bet she’d be a whole lot for objective!
Derek, as a judge, is not going to happen!
I agree on Shirley, it would be great, even if Mark is still on the show. ” And don’t give me the “she’d be biased” line! She couldn’t be worse than what we have now, and I’d bet she’d be a whole lot for objective!: so true, it can’t get worst than this last season with the judges scores.
I’d rather see Derek cut loose from DWTS altogether and explore other avenues, movies, broadway, etc. If he’s still contractually bound to the show, I would still rather see him as a pro dancer instead of a judge. That would be a waste of his immense talent. I think his PC nature will make it difficult for him to critique his collegues as well.
Let the rumor mill begin! Honestly, Derek being a judge is about as possible as a blizzard in Hawaii. Not gonna happen. That being said, I would not like to see Paula Abdul come back as a judge. I watched her and all her shananagins on American Idol and I think she would take this show back a step. She tends to have diffulty sometimes expressing what she actually means which led to some confusion on AI at times. (I tend to have that problem sometimes too, lol). As a judge, you need to be clear about your criticism and on target otherwise you’re not judging fairly. CAI is bad enough, not clear at times, but Paula would be worse. Just my opinion. So, in thinking, I agree with Shirley Ballas, but I have my doubts that she’d want to even consider the thought. So then my mind wanders to Debbie Allen. Huh? Or even Anya comes to mind. That’s if they need to replace CAI with another woman judge. I do think they need to get back to the business of actually judging ballroom dancing and stop with all the over zealousness of the sex. I liked it better in the earlier seasons when they didn’t make such a fuss over hip gyrations, but judging on hip action as it pertains to the specific dance. And every dance doesn’t necessitate bare chests on the men. Not that I don’t enjoy seeing some of them bare chested, but I think, at least for CAI, it tends to be a distraction from the actual dance. In addition, I think some of their commentary comes from what the judges see in the dress rehearsal (that’s what they’ve been doing on SCD and AI), so they do have some idea what level of performance they’ll be seeing during the live shows, but I think sometimes performances can change from dress rehearsal to live show but the judges commentary still reflects what they saw in the dress rehearsal rather than the live show and maybe that’s why sometimes their remarks make no sense. Am I being clear here? Sometimes the judges remarks are off and I’ve wondered what their looking at that I’m not seeing and even in a rewatch I still don’t see what they’re talking about. I’m wondering if their remarks are critical of what they saw in dress rehearsal or that they really think they saw, for example, a lift (CAI) in the actual live show.
@Diane K, I thought someone here “in the know” said that the judges don’t see the dress rehearsals. They have “stand-in” judges, I think?? PH? Court? Do you know?
Shirley would be cool but I couldn’t deal with her judging Mark. And I doubt it’ll be Derek..
I’d like a woman to ratio out the panel 2:2, although I worry they’ll copy what Strictly did up to this series for three years, and get a former champion.
I wouldn’t be surprised if they added another judge and went to NYC for a show once and a while, since there are 4 judges on Strictly Come Dancing and they do a special mid season episode at Wembley each season. Maybe they are trying to be a bit more like the original BBC show.
I think new judges would be a great idea; ESPECIALLY replacements for Bruno and CAI. I’m sick and tired of Bruno bouncing up & down out of his chair, waving his arms like he’s swatting at invisible insects, and uttering nonsense phrases about little woodland animals. And CAI….. oh boy. Giving out scores using just your “lady bits” demeans the contestants, demeans the viewers, and demeans women in general, IMO. With all the bickering, talking over one another, inappropriate sexual innuendo, and inconsistency, I think “Moe, Larry, and Curly” need to be shown the door.
The judges don’t see any rehearsals….they never have.
Er, Len seemed to be just as big a problem this season as the other two, what with his judging Shawn so much harder than anyone else. Apolo too, for that matter. Really, scoring her and Derek down for not being in hold enough when another couple got a better score for the same amount out of hold? Len is also one who gave 10s to dances right after Emmitt slipped an d Kelly missed a step. But then turned around and gave a lower score to a dance where he couldn’t complain about Shawn’s technique, only Derek’s choreo choices.
As a new viewer I’m sure this is probably not going to make a lot of sense but I’m throwing it out there.
Having watched Season 15 it appeared to me that the stars weren’t judged on meeting the criteria of the dance but on a sliding scale of ability. So where athletes (Apolo and Shawn) were expected to be capable of doing certain moves others were given a sliding scale in which to keep pace. I heard an idea from someone that if everyone – dancers and judges – were given the criteria from which the dances would be judged that week that would give the choreos more room with which to interpret the music and make for some more exciting dances. IE – two lifts, thirty seconds in hold….
I enjoy Len because he seemed to have a grasp on appreciating the art of the dance while critiquing the discipline. CAI and Len seemed to take turns being obnoxious. I think the piece of paper they slipped back and forth was their cue as to who played the good cop/bad cop after every dance.
“Len, I told *insert name of lesser skilled dance here* they were breathtaking last week. Your turn. No one will believe me two weeks in a row.”
“Carrie Ann, the audience doesn’t like me tonight because I really despise *name of great dancer here* so I need to be nice. You tell him that he broke hold and had no emotion.”
I say knock it down to two judges. One who comments on the dance as an art and the other who critiques the technical side. Too many judges means even more hot air.
A younger judge won’t boost ratings if the shenanigans continue. It was the dancing outside the box that caught my attention. I realize that DWTS is a ballroom dance competition but until someone ventured outside the ballroom i had zero interest. Then to watch as great dances were unnecessarily shot down was disappointing to me. I have no interest in watching DWTS next season if it squishes itself back inside the box.
If Derek became that younger judge I wouldn’t watch either. I’d be mourning the fact that he was the one who leapt outside the box and it resulted in him seated behind a table.
PH (#10) – I agree with you that Len was a problem this season, it’s just that he isn’t as big a problem as the other 2….
And @Melanie (#11) – ITA! Your “sliding scale of ability” comment hits the nail on the head. That’s what they’re doing, and it SUCKS. A syllabus, and more consistent scoring, would help that. New judges to go along with it would help even more. And tossing in a third rule – Deena Katz is PROHIBITED from signing up any of her clients – wouldn’t hurt, IMO… 😉
If they want a younger judge, why not Alec Mazo, Edyta, or Katya Virshilas. I think Katya would be a great judge.
or Ashley Costa.
Sally #12,
Again being new to DWTS, I am a bit confused by this Deena Katz person. I heard her name from another board and it was tossed out that she previously was a producer for DWTS during Season 8 but is no longer associated. However, comments that I’ve seen more recently are inferring that she is a producer currently. So is she a show producer or an agent/manager?
I know there is nothing “real” in reality television. I’ve seen enough winters to not be that gullible or naive. However, I do believe that you can maintain yourself to be above reproach. There is a lot going on in the internet land with petitions and conspiracy theories being floated about. A good step for DWTS to stride towards being beyond reproach would be to clean up the judging. I didn’t vote until the end of the season being a latecomer. When I did though it was 50% in support of the couple I voted for and 50% to stick it to the judges.
Deena is the casting director for dwts…she is also Melissa’s manager. I’ve heard a few attempts to say that isn’t true, but fact is, Melissa is quoted more than once as saying Deena is her manager.
I think Len is a huge problem because so many people think he isn’t. People take his opinion more seriously and his comments sway viewers because he comes off as more serious. In actuality, he’s just as bad as the other two, he just hides it better. Go back and look at the scores he gave Shawn from week to week and tell me they make sense.
I’m thoroughly confused by Len and his harshness on DWTS. On SCD he seems to be able to critique the dances within the realms of common sense, but on DWTS, he comes over all peculiar. It’s almost as if he’s playing up to the “bad English guy” role that America (seems) to love.
@PH (#17) …and I wouldn’t be in tears if Len were to be given the boot along with the other 2 Stooges. It’s just that I wouldn’t be upset if he hung around, either – it would give him a chance to clean up his act, and behave like he did in the early seasons.
I wouldn’t be surprised if the producers hold meetings with the judges prior to the show and nudge them in the direction of their critiques and scoring. The judges do what they are told because they want to keep their jobs. So I’m not sure if new judges would make a big difference.
Ok next time I’m proofing before I submit.
“I enjoy Len because he seemed to have a grasp on appreciating the art of the dance while critiquing the discipline. CAI and Len seemed to take turns being obnoxious. I think the piece of paper they slipped back and forth was their cue as to who played the good cop/bad cop after every dance.”
I enjoy BRUNO. Len and Carrie Ann can find their way to a talent show in Poughkeepsie.
I totally disagree and don’t wanna see derek on judge’s table.
And AMEM to PH.
SCD this week used the fusion dances. I’d like to see something like Wembley week they do on DwtS.
And about the judges, I’d love to see Mary Murphy on DwtS. She’s crazy but I like her technical eye (and there’s this sytycd rumor…). Or Yes to Shirley Ballas or Louis.
And, I have to admit, CAI got enormously better after she fell.
PH…(#4)…Thanks for the clarification. I’m not sure if that makes it better or worse. I’d really like to know where the problem exactly is. Is it the judges being idiots and playing favorites, or is it the producers being idiots and playing favorites and telling the judges what to do?
Carlos, I would LOVE to see Mary Murphy as one of our judges, but isn’t she tied into SYTYCD?
They want to make it a horse race – make it look like a real competition. To do that, the scores have to be closer together, and the good dancers with lots of fans get shit on, while those who aren’t as good get praised.
The judges (and the producers, if they are telling the judges what to do) storyboard the season to make it more exciting. What fun would it be if it were Shawn, Apolo and Sabrina right from the very beginning?? I think this season they carried it too far.
PH I know exactly what you are saying but for me the fun would have been watching the horse race between Shawn, Apolo, Sabrina and Melissa at the end. I tuned in for great dancing this season and instead got WTF manipulation. I’ll never get past the disrespectful way the show treated some this season. Unfortunately I doubt the show understands what is turning off people. I don’t think they think we are smart enough to notice and probably think their clever storyboarding is the only thing keeping people interested. In their attempts to improve their demographics, I expect the show to move further and further away from the dance show it used to be to more fake drama, outrageous dancing styles and reality show stupidity. The show might need all new judges but I know it needs new producers.
@Melanie, the piece of paper you see being handed back and forth is the scores. Immediately as the dance is finished, the judges write their scores on paper, and Carrie Ann hands it off, and the paper is then ran back to the producers, and they have them ready to post onscreen.
I would think that they could upgrade their process a little, maybe an electronic pad, and they just hit he button, and send their scores to TPTB, instead of a piece o paper being run backstage.
All of this is JMO, but I have to believe that and and all storyboarding going on is by the producers, not the judges. The judges are just puppets. Puppets that REALLY get on my nerves… 😉 And I also believe the storyboarding is done to hold our interest (as PH says, make it a horse race), and also to craft, as much as possible, a semi-final/final that has the most (and “best”) eyeballs watching it – Chelsea Kane comes to mind. And I agree that the manipulation and storyboarding needs to stop. It’s taking all of the fun out of it for me.
Interesting post and comments. While I do the think this show needs a shot in the arm similar to what it got in season 10 ( which is still my favorite season ) I dont think they need to make Derek a judge, he either needs to be a pro or not on the show at all if you ask me and doubt he’d do it anyway; but I do think maybe some changes could be made to the judging panel sometimes. What DWTS really needs is not an ” A ” list cast per say as it needs an interesting cast that makes people WANT to watch, maybe a new Co-Host. They just need to keep it fresh.
I definitely agree with PH on the necessity of judging rules rather than new judges.
Being a relatively new television viewer of the show (I started watching the show on television in season 13; I was a YouTube viewer previously), I thought the judges were always slightly iffy, but I figured it was reality television, so it was to be expected. Recently though, I went back and watched the packages, judges’ comments, and judges’ scoring from seasons 8, 9, and 10, and they were actually consistent. There wasn’t any “Yes you made a mistake but I can ignore it here’s a 10!” They actually told contestants, “That was very entertaining, I enjoyed it very much, but you had slips and we have to deduct for them.” Carrie Ann was also (well, most of the time) the voice of reason during season 9, and Bruno was surprisingly harsher with his scores than Len, pointing out more technical mistakes.
I also decided to venture into the realm of Strictly Come Dancing, and I have to say, Len and Bruno are different people on SCD. They actually list out dance moves that the contestants execute well/poorly and then give good advice. Yes Bruno is still the dramatic one, but he doesn’t stand up or lay on the table nearly as much; I’d say he’s more witty than anything. Yes, Len is still the old/traditional one, but he’s CONSISTENT and gives better stylistic tips than any of the other judges.
This leads me to believe that the judges are perfectly capable of judging well, but for some reason, the producers think storyboarding is a good idea (when, really, it’s turning people away from the show). They want Bruno to be flamboyant; they want Len to be grumpy and unreasonable–a la Simon Cowell–and for Carrie Ann to get into as many arguments as possible. When the judges argue, it’s entertaining. It’s just sad that it’s at the expense of good judging.
Having said all that, I’d really love for DWTS to get Craig Revel Horwood on as a judge. Although, that might destroy the image DWTS has crafted for Len, seeing as on SCD, Craig is the mean one, but he’s absolutely fantastic as a judge. Technique-wise, he lays out everything in detail, naming moves that are done well, moves that need improvement, and moves that simply suck. In interviews, he also makes it clear that he’s aware of his image as a stuck-up, difficult-to-please judge, but while he wishes people would get to know him outside the show, he doesn’t regret cutting the celebrities down to size. In his words, “If celebrities think they can come into this ballroom and, in the course of a few weeks, master a discipline that I’ve worked at my entire life, they’ve got another thing coming to them.”
I don’t think Derek is going to be judging DWTS. That rumor should probably be squashed. I’m hearing that he’s going to be a judge on SCD. That’s probably a rumor that needs to be squashed as well. So much speculation here. We won’t know anything until it’s announced. In the meantime, I hope the producers are being made aware of the inefficiencies in their ridiculous over the top storyboarding, as well as how completely frustrated the viewers are with the judging. Wouldn’t it be a breath of fresh air if they actually cared enough to make all the changes that should be made because they are really paying attention and give a crud?
I get that it’s a rumor (and an unlikely one at that) but oh god. Derek, please, for the love of every deity in every religion in existence, do NOT become a judge. On any show. Please. That would just be the biggest waste of talent and skill to ever take place in the industry.
Sara, #32, wow Craig Revel Horwood sounds exactly like what we need. I would be thrilled to watch that show every single week and would be pacing around between shows just to see that kind of expert judging. After 15 seasons, it sure is time to get someone not only knowledgeable, but tough so that the dancers are encouraged to concentrate on the dance, not only entertain. I understand the entertainment part of it, but at the expense of executing the dances correctly? uh uh. That’s not what this show started out as.
Diane K, I definitely agree. Craig would be the stabilizing factor in an otherwise destabilizing show. Unfortunately, the issue with getting him on as a judge is that he isn’t nearly as manipulable as the other judges. He’s stated many times (in interviews, not on the show) that he takes his role as a judge seriously because he takes dance seriously. Of all the judges, I’m pretty sure he’s the only one who still choreographs as his primary job (unless CA, Len, and Bruno also choreograph numbers and I’m just unaware). He’s a respected stage director/choreographer in the U.K. and still feels the integrity of being a dancer/choreographer. (The fact that his day job is directing/choreographing could also interfere with getting him on DWTS. Unless they offer him a LOT of money. Which, of course, is unlikely, since they probably know he isn’t one to budge on his views.)
Again, I do believe all the judges are capable of good judging. They’ve proved it in the past. I just wish the producers would stop interfering.
I agree that story boarding is killing this show. Judges are too inconsistent because of this. They need posted criteria to judge correctly. Dancers must follow rules, why not judges? Let the judges judge fairly.
Stupid question…living in the USA, how do I get to watch SCD? Help anyone?
I don’t see how making Derek a judge would increase viewership because everyone would rather see Derek dancing. If he wants to continue being on the show I would think even he would rather be out there dancing than judging. Only way I can see it happening is if he wants to continue on the show but in a more limited capacity with only having to be there 2 days a week as a judge versus every day as a pro. The show would keep him any way they could get him imo.
I would bring in one of the outstanding pros from the earlier seasons who has been long away from the show as a new judge. Nick K., Charlotte J., someone like that. Why is younger better. I think X Factor makes that mistake. Does someone really tune in to see Britney Spears or Demi Lovato be a judge or mentor. Look what Cowell could do with a Philip Bailey or Chuck Negron as a judge/mentor. Same reasoning here, someone good and fun while credible. Shirley Ballas fits in that category, also.
#37..Carole…Did you say dancers must follow rules? I’m pretty sure some of them weren’t following rules in the All-Star season. Perhaps everyone goes by the mantra “Rules are made to be broken.”
I don’t mind if the judges use a slightly skewed scale to apply accordingly for celebrities that are clearly inexperienced, older, whatever may be hampering them in terms of ability. I also don’t mind when they hold the obviously talented or experienced to a slightly higher standard. If they didn’t do this, what’s the point of a Florence Henderson or Kirstie Alley on the show at all? I think where the judging has gone wrong is to be hyper-critical and over-effusive in their praise when it’s undeserving. Too harsh or too much praise, both done for too many weeks will produce irrevocable perceptions in a large enough part of the viewing audience for it to matter, as we’ve seen.
Apolo and Shawn were such superior dancers to everyone else this season, but the judges fawned over Melissa like she was the second coming – and she was a good dancer, but didn’t have near the technique or difficulty of the other two. But she was good enough that the judges swayed people, I think. Add that to very favorable packages and a “Tony deserves to win” attitude, this was all bound to happen.
Anyway, they are storyboarding to a point where it doesn’t pass the sniff test for a lot of people and that is a turn-off. The judges don’t need to change, just their agenda a little bit. Add in some truly sparkling celebrity personalities – not necessarily good dancers, but people like Kelly Osborne or someone that people can connect with, some innovative routines, and I think the show will regain some of its former luster.
I really don’t think we have to worry about Derek judging on DWTS – it’s never been on his list of things to do and I just don’t see him judging people he used to compete with. As someone else said – he’d get bored really fast. When he said he would always be involved in some capacity, I have to think he was talking about pro dances.
Ahem – there are “rules” and then there is “lack of content”. Don’t confuse the two, Diane. The only one who actually broke rules, that I recall, is Derek – in ONE dance. The rest of the time it was a question of content or lack thereof. That is MUCH more subjective, which is why I think they need to have more judging rules so that they can’t just use that when ever they like (and not when they don’t). The problem isn’t as much in the rule breaking or the lack of content as it is how it’s called out. Right now, they ignore it for some people and use it as a hammer on others.
I think the skewed scale is fine – until week 6 or so. Then that has to stop also. By that point, you’re just getting by on fanbase and that should only account for half. The judges throwing around 8’s to Kirstie AND Apolo tilts it unfairly to Kirstie. The judges are supposed to have their scores weight as part of the mix, not aide and abet the audience vote.
Well there’s a slightly skewed scale, which is what the judges had always done in the past, and the ridiculously over-padded, over-complimentary or way too harsh and outrageously underscored scale that they’ve been unleashing in recent seasons. And yeah, they’ve been doing it for too long too – five or six weeks should allow the real shakeup to happen while giving fan favorites the chance to do some dancing without stinking of judge manipulation.
And Derek as a judge in DWTS? No way, no day. Maybe a guest judge appearance, but no way in hell does he do that regularly. He’s someone that strives for creative inspiration and what better way to quash all of that than to sit at the table.
@Carole, I use tv links. Just search “strictly come dancing tv links” on Google and you should be good. The putlocker and sockshare links are usually the best in terms of video quality.
At least for me, the problem is determining between a “slightly skewed scale”, and the underlying storyboarding (which brings in the over-complementary or outrageously underscored crap). Personally, I believe they should use the same scale (syllabus) for everyone. But if you’re going to do some sort of “easy/medium/hard” gradient, then at least tell us UP FRONT what you’re doing, so we don’t think it’s just the silly “story arc” getting in the way.
Please, Please, lets not have Carrie Anne OR Paula Abdul. I know so many viewers are really sick of Carrie, And to make it worse, to see Paula Abdul that would be a huge stomach ache. Much better judges to pick from.
Been suggesting before that the show needs to get young if they want to compete in the ratings game and keep good business going. Traditional ballroom dancing has never been a hit for American average viewers.
IMO, not only the judges, but it’s time to bring in new younger pros that a lot of young audience can relate to;More outside the box styles that’s never seen before;New styles and new excitement;New young generation of dancers w star qualities.
Need a new era of what a young Cheryl, Julianne, Mark and Derek brought in to the show when they first came on. A lot of the pros are now on their 30s and some heading on their 40s
And judges and producers blatant manipulation needs to stop. Viewers are not stupid not to see how they try to influence the outcome. At times, makes me wonder if they even count the votes at all.Jmo
Keep it young and fresh, exciting, different, and
fair…and maybe they can regain their old glory days.