How to Fix DWTS – An Open Letter to Producers (Part 4)
This post is the 4th and final part of a series where I basically tell the producers of DWTS how they should change the show – it’s for their own good. 🙂 This part is more to the audience, but also for the producers. If you want to read parts 1, 2, and 3 you can find them here:
A reminder for those easily induced into righteous indignation – this is NOT about the various couples but about the JUDGES and the Producers – I’ve provided examples of problems that I remember from season to season. If you get your knickers in a twist about Melissa or Shawn or Mya or Nicole or Maria, I’m not going to waste time arguing with you, I’m going to call you names (maybe to myself, maybe publicly – we’ll see) and then ignore you. Keep it on topic.
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I’ve never been one to believe in a high degree of manipulation of the show via the packages. I mean, let’s face it – no one MADE Maks be an ass with half his partners. And I’ve had people who work on the show tell me that what you see is usually what you get. Not to mention that after many seasons on the show, these pros know if you give the producers exciting footage, they are going to USE it. So, don’t be stupid. Take up the song “The Camera’s really on me now” by Derek Hough and Nicole Scherzinger. And suck it up. I get that the job of the producers is to get ratings. You get ratings by getting people talking. Be it a showmance or a knock down drag out fight. If you’re not smart enough to realize that camera really is recording everything you do, then it’s on YOU. Maks and Hope really WERE awful, Karina and Apolo (sadly) really were stressed out and boring, and Drew and Anna were indeed too intense and serious.
That said, they find plenty of other ways to manipulate the audience’s view of the show, and that does include the packages to a limited extent. For one thing, the couples rehearse 40 hours a week, more or less – using all footage from a ten minute time frame as the entire package?? Yeah, that can give a rather skewed perception of the couple, if that’s the only time they cried or the only time they fought out of the entire week. But it doesn’t necessarily have to be bad. There was week 5 or so of All Stars, when in her package, Melissa mentioned Shawn’s name and how hard a time she was going to have being as good throughout the entire thing. Shawn’s name was mentioned about 5 times in that 30 to 60 second package. Yeah, beat it into our heads that Shawn has a supposed advantage and beg for that sympathy. No, I haven’t counted yet how many times Tony and Melissa mentioned that neither had won before. I sense it was a LOT. They talked about how they couldn’t compete with Shawn’s tricks so they would have to do something different. So they proceeded to do….tricks. I did actually count. Melissa did *8* tricks in her lindy, to Shawn’s 4 in her mambo. So, STFU already about the tricks.
I’m sure there are tons of other examples. And it’s not just the packages, it’s every single word that is said on the live show. What Len, CAI and Bruno say has an impact on the audience, although I don’t know if we should give them so much credit for intelligence as much as a very simple desire to make their favorites (and non-favorites) known. I challenge all of you this upcoming season to open your ears and listen to everything that is said and think about it and it’s potential impact on the outcome of the show. Not that the outcome is always bad – sometimes the crap they say make people vote harder. But sometimes it does work against a couple. Take notes. I’m sure we’ll be having this discussion again. 🙂
Of course, there is the “fan” filter that will make you (and me) pre-disposed to think your favorite is being picked on. This is a much fluffier area than ridiculous scoring. But in hind sight, what helped your favorite?? What hurt the competition? Not just the judges, but what Brooke says in the celebraquarium – remember, she has producers talking in her ear all the time telling her what to say. Do you think it hurt or helped Derek and Shawn when Brooke asked Derek if it was “fair” that Shawn is a gymnast?? Do you think that when some members of the audience heard that they might have thought “Hey, wait a second!! That’s totally not fair!!” How’s come we never heard discussion about the fact that Melissa was a cheerleader who had experience in both dancing and gymnastics?? Not on the same level as Shawn, of course, but she wasn’t some neophyte. Melissa had a lot of advantages – being taller and of Len’s preferred body type for a dancer not being the least of them. But all that got play was how Melissa was the underdog. Hell, WE even portrayed Melissa as the underdog on this site – but we don’t have an audience of 16 million. 🙂
That question of Brooke’s to Derek is, I’m sure, FAR from the only example of Brooke doing damage or a favor to a couple. It’s just one that keeps coming to mind because as soon as the words were out of her mouth I started swearing at her. As soon as you start to imply that there is ANY fairness in DWTS at all, you’re off your rocker. How fair is it that Shawn was continually underscored and criticized by Len while Melissa got rave reviews even when she blew a lift?? I dare you to go listen to what Len says to Melissa after her Lindy. Then listen to what he says to Shawn after, say, her Rumba. And why was Derek never asked about Len?? He’s been asked that before, more than once. “What do you have to do to please Len?” At least acknowledge that Len was a bastard to Shawn much of the time. Undeservedly so.
Here’s another one – do you think it hurt or helped Kelly and Val that Brooke kept harping on the showmance?? I think it helped them, at first, but later became neutral when Kelly and Val bought their own PR and started playing it up. That’s an example of the Law of Diminishing Returns. Do you think that Kelly would have lasted that long without the showmance card?? I don’t. Maria clearly didn’t want to talk about all her injuries, but Brooke kept harping on them – help or hurt?? Okay – give me more examples.
Now, I don’t know that the producers are SO Machiavellian as to use this commentary to affect the outcome, or if they are just going for ratings and PR beyond the show. But if they want people to perhaps watch the show again, maybe they should put more thought into what is said by their Brooke puppet. Of course, it’s entirely possible that they let Brooke go off script and ask her own questions – if that’s the case, STOP.
It’s also possible that only in the All Star season would this sort of manipulation be an issue. Let’s face it, most of the time we have a pretty good idea of who is going to win before they even step on the ballroom floor. We can at least call the top three. But in an All Star Season, everything becomes important. I would say that I hated the All Star Season for this reason and all the reasons outlined (in all parts) – but it’s hard to hate a season that showed Derek’s best work. The best choreography in the history of the show thus far – and no, I don’t think that’s my bias talking. Time will tell, of course. Derek, win or lose, raised the bar once again and I think that the remaining pros will have a difficult time making the same impact. But besides that…yeah, in hindsight I did kinda hate the all star season. It just brought to light how little reality there is in this “reality” show. Before, it was just something I sensed – now it’s something that is glaringly obvious. And maybe the ratings are down because I’m not the only one who caught a glimpse of Oz the Great and Powerful and realized he was just a balding, over weight guy pulling levers.
In any case, I think I’ve exhausted this subject for myself – I’ve had my say. They likely won’t listen, but I did get it off my chest. I DO hope that the show gets its mojo back, stops with the games and lets the next crop dance. Just dance and get scores they deserve. I hope that Derek stays off the show and becomes hugely successful in whatever he decides to do – or ALL that he has decided to do. I hope that for most all the pros, actually – those are creative beyond this show or those who aspire to be. Then this show will really have made a great contribution to ART. That’s not a bad legacy, really.
Now, maybe if you all ask nicely, Courtney will share her thoughts on the All Star Season.
Derek has already said he’ll be back for the Fall season.
“As of now I’m not sure if I’m returning for this season. I’ll be back for the fall season.”
He’s not going anywhere.
FYI – Julianne said the same thing before never coming back. Also, FYI – after making it sound for sure, he back peddled. Also after making it sound unsure for this coming season he definitely said he won’t be back this season. He then said that things change daily.
I wouldn’t be so sure, Steve. Derek certainly isn’t. But besides all that…THAT is what you choose to comment on?? Something that isn’t even the topic of the post??
Thanks for your insights, Heidi! I loved reading these.
Courtney- I’d love to hear your thoughts:)
Thanks for writing these, I loved reading them! I really hope tptb read and take action, just one change would make me a happier viewer.
Agree with you mostly but question one statement—that most of the time we have a pretty good idea who’s going to win before they step on the ballroom floor. Are you insinuating that most people pick the most well-known person to win? If so, I’m definitely NOT most people. I don’t even know who most of them are, but I will wait and see their performance before I decide who’ll get my vote. Do the judges influence me? Maybe, if their critique appears honest. I’m not at all knowledgeable about ballroom dancing—I just love watching it. A judge will turn me off if I feel they are too hard on one couple and easy on another. I want it to be a fair fight. Love reading PDWTS comments, but even you guys get a little snarky sometimes and make it about a star’s personality and not their dancing.
I was speaking about those of us who work on this site – we often figure out who’s going to win early, sometimes before the show airs. Are you going to honestly claim that you didn’t know that JR, for example, was going to win? If you didn’t, you’re extremely naive. Of course we don’t go by the most popular person. You need to read this site for a while before commenting perhaps.
You also overestimate your own vote. We read tea leaves – what the general audience thinks. Sometimes we’re right, sometimes we’re just close. What we don’t care about is an individual vote.
As for us being snarky…we aren’t judges on the show. We aren’t seen by 16 million people. If you don’t see the difference…well I can’t help you. I will thank you for crazily overestimating our influence. 🙂
I adore both Derek and Julianne, but I’m with Heidi on this one. I think he’s telling us what we want to hear but regardless of Derek does I will always be a fan!
Thanks for a series of very insightful comments, Heidi.
If Courtney has anything to add to the debate (rant?), then I’d be glad to have her point of view as well.
I haven’t said anything yet about these volumes of fixes. In fact, way too much for me to even read. But, I am always excited to see the show come back every season! In whatever way, shape or form it comes back. Perhaps a bit of tweaking here and there is necessary. But, too much fixing can be counter productive. Gee, I just love the show, have watched every season, every show!
Heidi, once again. Outstanding. You speak for so many of us.
I so agree about Maks and Hope too. I use to be a major fan to him as you know, but, since that season, he’s lost me pretty much!!!
Anyway word! I have so enjoyed this series and can’t wait to read Court’s rant. lol xxx
Great post, Heidi.
Speaking on Val and Kelly – that showmance DEFINITELY made them stay in it – NOT talent, because looking at her dancing, she shouldn’t have been top three at all. I liked watching them in the first two or three weeks, and after that it got old – and not only did Brooke talk about the showmance, Carrie Ann mentioned it on at least two occasions (I remember because I wanted to strangle her for being tasteless).
Yeah, Brooke definitely talks too damn much.
I mean, I’m heavily biased towards Derek and Karina, but even I don’t pick my favorites right away, but first just watch and see who I end up loving (didn’t much dig Derek with Maria, didn’t really care at all when he was with Ricki. I didn’t like the idea of him with Shawn, but they became my all-time favorite couple). But the judges were absolutely unfair to them all season long. And the thing is, that after a while, people start believing the judges, and that’s why we had that absolutely undeserved top three.
Here’s what I didn’t understand. Frankly, this past season, out of everyone, I was most looking forward to seeing Gilles. I always thought he was an amazing dancer, but I didn’t by any means think he was worthy of all that praise and the scores he was getting (William Levy flashbacks *retch*), and I noticed Peta as a pro isn’t much. And this went on for weeks until suddenly the judges decided they didn’t like him anymore and got rid of him.
How the hell did that happen?
Anyway, the All-Star season ruined a lot for me. If it were any other season, it wouldn’t have mattered so much, but this one was supposed to be different, and the person who won should REALLY have been the best dancer of all the 15 seasons. And lovely as she is, I don’t think anyone can honestly say that that was Melissa. And as much as I adore Tony, he DEFINITELY does not deserve the title of The All-Star pro.
Anna, I think that the judges read the tea leaves and saw that Gilles was not much loved the second time around. OR they were told he wasn’t getting the votes so they stop wasting points on him. They had been seriously over scoring him – his Bollywood score caused him to be tied with Shawn and Derek that week they did the Mambo and that was probably the biggest travesty of the entire season, besides the final outcome. And the scores on the instant dances. Kelly was not my favorite, but she and Shawn both were miles ahead of Melissa. Especially considering that Melissa had just done Samba the night before.
Totally agree that neither Melissa nor Tony were the best dancers. But we were bound to get this outcome when you put previous winners against non-winners. The natural tendency is to vote for someone new. Add in that Derek had won 3 times and that Tony had NEVER won in 14 or whatever seasons and we should have seen that mess coming.
PH, I’ve enjoyed every installment of this open letter to TPTB. Thank you.
The all-star season wasn’t what I wanted it to be, but it produced a handful of performances I’m so glad we got to see. So I can’t regret it. Unfortunately, it highlighted a lot of what I don’t like about DWTS, and I admit it eroded some of my investment in the show.
I’m curious to see what changes, if any, the producers make this coming season. If they don’t make any, could that be an indication ABC is getting ready to put the show out to pasture?
PH, I’m loving reading all your letters to TPTB. I hope they are actually reading them. Something you said in #12 – putting winners against non-winners. From the very first announcement of the celebs chosen I knew there was going to be trouble. I had said all along make it only the MB winners b/c bringing in non-winners made it a non-level playing field. That is what the All-Stars should have been. Supposing that MB winners are the best dancers, that would make them the star of their season. If I’m not mistaken they called the season ALL – stars. It was never set up fairly from the very concept. That’s why I’ve said also that the winner is decided from the initial pairing. You can almost tell who the top 3 will be based on which celeb is paired with which pro. They always seem to give their favorite pros the celebs with the best chance of winning. There have been few exceptions to that.
Thank you Heidi for this extremely insightful series of posts. I really hope that people on the show read these and actually try to improve the show from what it has now become… a joke. You are on the money when you wrote this is no longer a “reality” show. I could tell halfway through the competition, maybe after Sabrina was eliminated that the show was pushing Melissa so hard on us. I have nothing against Melissa & Tony in general, other than I think their win was completely manipulated. Everyone kept saying it was Shawn and Derek’s to lose… but maybe it was never theirs to win in the first place… dun dun dun… lol! But seriously, with Derek leaving the show (and I do think he is leaving) and the show becoming such a farce in the last few years, I don’t think I am going to tune in as much. Don’t get me wrong… I still enjoy the concept of the show and I love to watch people dance, but I just won’t care as much. Now if they do get a great cast next season, I will still be watching. But I am very tired of the producers’ manipulations and all of the shenanigans of what used to be a great competition show.
Good job Heidi. No need to reiterate what you have said. I think you hit the nail on the head on every topic. You get a 10 10 10.
Just one thing regarding the All Star Season: Raise your hand if you think by week 5 or 6 that the Celebs realized where all of this was headed? So WTH, break the rules, dance for your fans, cash that DWTS check, and move on to the next thing!
The All Star Season was something I highly anticipated. I knew we would have great dancing. But excuse me, I thought this season, above all others, would be fairly judged. Fool me once……
Another example of “Brooke damage” is when she kept saying in the semifinale that Melissa started the season aiming only to week for. She said that time and again, and yet I remember clearly that in the première Melissa herself claimed to be aiming for the win (she said something to the extent that if she really had to be away from her daughter it better be worth it). I guess they really did event thing in their power to portray