Derek Hough Writes of DWTS Rehearsals, Special Performance, and More
Pictured above is Kellie Pickler arriving for rehearsals this week for Dancing With The Stars looking cute as always. You can view more pictures of her at Zimbio Pictures.
Also, be sure to head over to Pure Derek Hough when you can. Heidi has collected video coverage of Kellie and Derek’s guest appearance on The Ellen Show. Derek has also written a new blog where he talks of missing a day of rehearsals with Kellie. He also chats about his upcoming Results Show performance and their mistakes with the last dance! Don’t miss this and more in detail at Pure Derek Hough and be sure to give Heidi a shout out.
ADDING: Here is the part Derek wrote about “twitter” that Heidi mentioned in comments that makes you wonder if he’s reading us….
I like that they never tell us the vote rankings. I don’t think that’s necessary. What’s the point? I suppose it’s a better way to create a story and drama from a production point of view, but it’s enough to know the bottom two. Revealing the full rankings would add nothing except make people feel worse if they’re at the bottom or if they’re lower than they expected. Also, if someone is consistently in the top, fans might get complacent and not vote. I love the Twitter voting that we’ve been doing this season, even though they never put the pros’ handles up! But seriously, I think it’s cool that we’re engaging fans more. However, there’s a drastic flaw in that because whoever has the most followers is at a huge advantage. Plus, we have new pros who are unknown to fans, so that doesn’t help either. And depending on the core of your fan base, your fans might not be all that tech-savvy. Again, I like that they’re doing this, but there are some drawbacks. I also feel bad for the people who will never have a chance to win it. Andy and Sharna’s Lady Gaga performance two weeks ago was the highlight. That was just so much fun and a one-of-a-kind performance. I’m sure I’m not the only one who wanted to see that again. Zendaya and Val were absolutely amazing and they rocked their encore, but I do like when those special moments get encores. I feel like the judges have done a good job picking those over the years.
Loved Kellie and Derek on Ellen, and Derek’s blog is jam-packed with info and insight again. I just love it when he gives us his perspective on the show. It’s so obvious that he’s not fooled by anything the show does. He gets it all, figurest out the pros and cons, and either finds a way to turn it into an advantage for his celeb or if he can’t, he doesn’t whine about it or let it bug him.
Derek’s blogs have been fantastic with TV Guide this season. I really appreciate his honesty and professional take of the show, contestants and hearing about his partnership with Kellie-they are a hoot together. He continues to impress me with his maturity and understanding of the business at his young age.
#Cidra
ITA, he doesn’t complain and totally understands how to be successful on DWTS-lol
I think Kellie will be very emotional after her performance Monday night… This is going to be good.
I added the quote for what Derek mentioned about twitter voting that Heidi mentioned in another post. It’s so true and I agree Girls. He is not fooled by anything this show tries to do and knows what this show is about.
I’m with Derek on the encores actually, not sure I like the Twitter pick idea. Whatever was technically best, Andy & Sharna had the creative standout that week.
Derek is spot on, maybe he should be running the show from now on.
I’d be totally up for that idea Sandy!!
Derek has a way of telling the truth, but making it easier to bear somehow. I can’t imagine how or why anyone would vote against him and I really hope he and Kellie can win this season. Zendaya has talent and I have enjoyed watching her and Val dance, but I sense their relationship is somewhat “staged” and they appear to be “walking on eggshells” in most of their interviews. They both seem VERY conscious of the fact that they need to be age appropriate in their routines and in what they say. Kellie and Derek on the otherhand, appear much more at ease with one another and don’t appear to be putting on any airs. They just seem more real to me.
He is diplomatic and like his blog. He is honest and he is humble. He never comes off defensive either like other male pros, :). I know some feel he receives favoritism, and if they read with that point of view, they may say he is complaining because Kellie is not winning on twitter. I disagree. I think he is fine with twitter but that they missed out on an encore moment like Andy’s jazz routine which was such a moment and one many wanted to see again. He is calling it as we see it. He is smartest pro on the show. He gets how this show works.
Blonde, you said you can’t imagine how or why anyone would vote against Derek. Let me throw out a few words…emotional immaturity and jealousy. Combine those two traits and the result is an amazing array of illogical behavior.
Believe it or not, there are some people who just don’t like Derek. Like myself. Yes, the young man is talented, very talented, but I just don’t happen to like the way Derek, the person, comes across. So I will never vote for him. However, I don’t cast votes against him either. If I don’t have a horse in the race, I just don’t vote.
Evaine, that’s a totally reasonable attitude and a mature response. Unfortunately, I think there are less of you and more of the immature types out there who do spitefully vote against pros they don’t like (not only against Derek, but also against Maks, Karina, Cheryl).
Yeah, Cidra, there is spite and immaturity on all sides of the tracks. *nodnod* It really can sour the experience.
Cidra, you are right, that jealousy and immaturity can drive people to some bad behavior. I guess I just can’t see how it’s worth going that nuts over! But to each is own. I enjoy the show and this site and love to read and share insights, but to actually vote against someone because they have “won too many times” is just really petty.
Derek just has a way of phrasing everything so that it’s not about HIM but about basic fairness – he chooses his words carefully and well. He can see both sides, too, which is why he has a ring of truth. Some could take a lesson. He’s also very caring. He was hugging DL and Cheryl after all that crap on the results show (just saw him on Extra and he said that whole exchange made him very uncomfortable), and he’s been nothing but a cheerleader for Andy from Day one. THAT’s what I love about him. His dad said not that long ago that Derek is very tender-hearted. I think that comes through in most of what he says and does.
I don’t see the difference between Twitter voting and power voting to be honest. How many people can afford to stay up all night voting with hundreds of e-mail accounts if they have to be awake for work the next day? Doesn’t that favor the retired, older demographic that can sleep in? I’d bet most of the younger generation doesn’t even know that’s an option.
I do think it would be nice of the show to allow Andy to do his jazz dance on the final show since it has become his trademark dance. I don’t think he deserves to stay as long as most on this board do, but I would enjoy an encore as much as the next person.
@katarina I see where you’re coming from, but I also have to point out that tweeting is a LOT easier and faster than voting. Also, it’s unlimited. (Unless DWTS actually figured out how to track 11 votes per account — but I highly doubt it.)
PH, to what are you referring to when you say “crap on the results show”? What happened? Sorry, I haven’t watched it yet. I’ve only watched the dances and performances via YouTube.
“Zendaya and Val were absolutely amazing and they rocked their encore, but I do like when those special moments get encores”
What makes him think that the jive wasnt a special moment for zendaya and val? Maybe it was a special moment for lots of ppl. watching at home.
Loved seeing Derek and Kellie on Ellen and love both of them. They are just perfect for each other and even though I know they work their butts off it sounds like they have so much fun together. Loved hearing about her grandfather and what a big fan of the show he is.
I know there are people who don’t like Derek for their own reasons, and believe everyone has a right to their opinion, but I find him to be an honest and humble person. I thought that was so nice of him to say he thought Andy and Sharna’s jazz number deserved to be seen as the Encore dance.
I know what Cidra is talking about regarding voting, because of being part of a site that covers all reality tv shows which includes DWTS and a good number of them have already said they won’t be voting for Derek because he has won too many times and they just don’t like him.
To be honest I have always voted for the celeb and until joining that other reality tv site I never realized that some people vote for their favorite pro. I admit I was totally surprised. Using just this year as an example I think it would be so unfair for people to vote against Derek just for the sake of voting against him, because it is penalizing Kellie, and she has never won before. I wouldn’t care how many times Derek or any pro has won because I am voting for the celeb. I guess we all have our own ways of voting and just the way I personally do it.
I just wanted to add that I am really looking forward to Derek and Kellie’s dance this week. I watched some videos on You Tube today of their wedding and the song her husband wrote with him singing it was playing in the background. Just beautiful! I am expecting this to be a pretty emotional week.
There have been very few celebs that I have really been excited to see dance over the years. Many I have never heard of and others I just never had any interest in. For me, the pros are the “true” celebs of this show. DWTS for all it’s imperfections, has really brought ballroom dancing into the forefront of tv entertainment. Gene Kelly was ahead of my time, but I have to admit that when I heard one of the pros compared to him, I googled his dancing to see for myself. And though I didn’t start watching until season 3, it really is interesting to see how not just their choreo evolves and refines(or stagnates in some cases), so have the pros “personas”.
Katarina, I got a giggle out of your comment about the “older, retired demographic” being able to stay up all night voting with their hundreds of email accounts. I see two improbabilities in those words: First, I don’t think retirees or mature people in that stage of their lives are so crazy over a dancing show on TV that they would stay up all night to vote, and secondly, I’d be very surprised if the majority of them knew how to set up more than one e-mail account in order to vote. That sounds more like something the younger generation would and could do more easily.
I love that Derek is writing a blog this year. It’s nice to get his POV on everything finally! 🙂
@Meggie – In my house this “older, retired demographic” is Snoozing at times, while sitting up and watching a television show. Oh the joys of getting older. 🙂
Hee! You know, Meggie, we “older, retired demographic” folks aren’t ALL Wilford Brimley clones. 😉 And while I don’t stay up all night to vote my numerous email accounts, I do get many of them done before my usual crashing time of 1AM. And there’s always Tuesday morning as well. It’s relaxing not voting this season though, I have to admit.
@kelly, if was a special moment for them and Derek said ow great they were but Andy’s jazz number is one we will again. He is also not in for the long haul like I assume Zendaya is. Also while that jazz was good, it was not so impressive or special that it was the best jive ever or so unique. Andy’s was special. He can praise Andy and even criticize the flaws of twitter voting without it being a it at Zendaya or even complaining bc he did not benefit from it.
Of the pros, I find that Karina and Derek are great at choreography. I prefer Karina’s style. Her style to me is fresh and innovative with a good traditional mix. Mark reminds me of a petulant child. Sharna looks like she has the potential to become a very good choreographer. I can honestly say that I am not a huge Derek fan but can
@blonde – I see Zendaya and Val’s relationship differently than you. Val is a teacher. Zendaya is a student. I saw warmth in their relationship on quite a few clips. Val looks at Zendaya like a “proud papa.” You can tell she enjoys him. Their relationship reminds me of my daughter’s with a club basketball coach in her teen years. He tried to play like he was hardnosed and could make a player cry in a heartbeat if they did not play to their potential, but really was a softy. My daughter thrived in that relationship and is still in touch with that coach today. Zendaya even said that people do not see that side of him. That he is actually funny and Val tried to play it off. I feel that it is a comfortable age appropriate relationship. I am sure that I like that pairing because it is reminiscent of my daughter and her coach (Not to mention that Zendaya looks a lot like my daughter did at that age in body type and facially). I, also, remember my daughter always having to compete with the “older kids” because of her ability and felt that she had to prove she belonged. It is a tough spot to be in. That said, I still have not voted this season. I do like Jacoby’s journey and am leaning that way.
Meant to finish the sentence, but can enjoy his dancing and choreography.
LOL, Evaine! Fair enough! I, too, don’t usually hit the hay until at least midnight (that’s 1AM your time!) 🙂 and I have several e-mail accounts for voting, but that’s a far cry from staying up “all night” voting with my “hundreds of” accounts!
Not having to vote will be the one consolation when Derek decides to move on from the show. 😉
Katarina, I got a great mental image of a bevvy of blue-haired (in curlers) grandmas pulling all-nighters in front of their computers power-voting for their favorite couple. 😛 Sadly, I think Sara, Meggie and Sandy exposed some weaknesses in your hypothesis, although I’m sure there are a few exceptions who do power-vote.
Gail, I tend to look at the whole package (celeb & pro) when deciding whom to vote for, but as long as the choice is to vote “for” someone instead of “against” someone, I can respect it. It’s the pettiness of the “anti” vote that bothers me.
(lowercase)kelly, I think Derek was defining “special moment” from the overall show and audience perspective rather than from the narrow point of view of one couple.
You know what’s REALLY annoying? My damned Twitterfeed during and after the show with all the hashtag voting! Blocks and blocks of #whateverteamname over and over. And the thing is, I’m sure that those types of tweets, in those types of numbers, land people in Twitter Jail or something like that. I really think this Twitter voting is dumb. They should have instituted something like they have on American Idol this season where you either agree or disagree with the judges or Jimmy Iovine and it live scrolls across the screen with fluctuating percentages. But then maybe they don’t want to see that in black and white. *LOL*
Evaine, “blocks and blocks of #blahblah” *shudder* Thank you! You just reinforced my decision to not get invovled with Twitter!
Heh,heh, I’m sure TPTB don’t want to see how many viewers disagree with the Stooges!
Derek is one of a kind. He’s been able to teach ALL skill levels in the celeb partners he’s had how to dance. Look how far he took Maria Menounos last year. He himself referred to her as “Bambi on ice”. And she made it to the semi-finals! I for one thought she should’ve been in the finals because I thought she was better than Donald Driver but there again, the ‘pee wee baseball’ mentality of “Peta has never won and Derek has won three times” comes in. Same thing happened last season as well.
I started watching DWTS regularly when Shawn Johnson was on in Season 8 and was THRILLED when she won. I paid attention to the celebs then. I watched Season 10 because of Evan Lysacek and voted for him till the end and I know I whined that it wasn’t fair for Nicole to win because of her PCD experience. That season, Derek caught my eye so I was happy when he won again in Season 11 with Jennifer Grey. Dirty Dancing is my most favorite movie of all time! Derek would make a perfect Johnny Castle 😉
He just seems so genuine and caring that it’s hard for me to understand how someone can’t like him. Oh well, to each his own.
YES to #5 Sandy and #6 Vogue. Wow,if Derek ran the show, I can only imagine how amazing, classy, exciting, and fun it would be. What a fantastic idea!
@kelly: Ok, a lot of people seem to be reading that statement and trying to make it into a remark against Zendaya. Just because Derek is showing support for Andy, doesn’t mean he is undermining Zendaya. Things are not black and white. He specifically praised Zendaya and Val’s performance, but he’s also stating the obvious that Andy is no where near as good a dancer as Zendaya and is likely not going to last as long. That much is apparent. Andy shone in his jazz number, and it’s probably going to be his one number that stands out; Derek’s just saying that they should have given Andy the chance to relive the experience while they had the chance, since Zendaya’s going to have many dances in which she is fantastic.
But then again, encore dances aren’t that big of a deal, and hopefully, Andy’ll get to perform it again in the finale, when more people watch the show.
Personally, I think they should have had them both perform, but hey, I guess TPTB would rather waste time showing pointless backstage footage.
Well I am of the older generation – not blue-haired, don’t used curlers (anymore), stay up until midnight, don’t pull an all nighter to vote but I do vote for my fav celeb and pro.
#27 Cidra – your last statement “I think Derek was defining “special moment” from the overall show and audience perspective rather than from the narrow point of view of one couple” is how I read into his comments.
He did priase Zendaya & Val’s dance so was taking nothing away from them.
Most people DON’T stay up all night power voting. Most people also WON’T create a new twitter account just to vote for prom king and two extra points. When it comes to voting, I wager most people pick up their phone and/or do one email account or one facebook account. However, there is only ONE contestant that has more than two million twitter followers who will spend hours tweeting for her on twitter. And as I’ve said 5000 times….the person who wins all the twitter contests gets more face time on the show. That is a HUGE advantage to have over the other contestants. Just another form of convincing the audience who deserves the votes. Regular voting does NOT have that effect.
Good lord, if only Derek would move on. It’s not just the voting that’s annoying, but working TWO blogs full out, instead of just one. Yep…it’s all about me. 🙂
KellyK, clearly a shit ton of people love Derek. So much so that I wouldn’t worry about a few who don’t. I doubt most of the dislike is rooted in Derek himself, in any case. Besides, as I’ve theorized before, internet message boards are populated with EXTREMES – extreme love or extreme hate. There is very little middle ground – only the extremes are willing to spend the time. It certainly doesn’t reflect the average viewer. This site, I think, is as close as you’ll get to middle ground. And, ironically, Twitter seems to be less extreme. They’re still there, it’s just that there are a lot more of the middle ground types. Probably because it’s so fast and easy.
First have to say how much I love the references to pee wee baseball. It so aptly captures the infantile perspective of that activity and by extension …
Second, a question for PH — I ordinarily discount all the “ringer” speculation; people have lived lives prior to coming on DWTS and have had lots of different experiences and influences, all of which combine into who they are when they enter this competition. That’s just life. However, I came across this video which feels different and am interested in your opinion. Thanks for taking the time — http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Mt2R4JS537M
Oh, yeah, most everyone knows about that video, Susan. And yes, I think that most everyone considers Zendaya the massive ringer of the season. But no one cares cuz she has the wrong partner. 🙂 But there are those of us who’ve not cared about ringers ever…we just protest when all the complaining is about one pro when all the pros have had ringers before. And Derek has’t had the “most ringers” either. At least, he hadn’t pre-All Stars.
I saw that video once and equated it to me, my dad, and my escort learning how to waltz or do whatever that was for my debutante ball that I was forced to do. Hated it at that time. That was a life experience just learning it for that event. We had practice/lessons once a week for about three months. Could not stand it but appreciate it now. I was reminded of those lessons back in my early twenties when I went to some event and a very distinguished “elderly (to me at the time)” asked me to dance and I was able to follow his lead. He was a wonderful dancer and it was fun. Took some ballroom dancing lessons with my beau at that time and loved it. Made my husband take some with me and now we have a ball.
Faye, you were a “debutante”? Wow, who knew? Did you have to go to etiquette classes and learn which fork to use for each course and how to lift your pinkie finger? 😛 As long as you take it with a grain of salt and a big grin, I think it could be fun. At least you were able to impress the distinguished “elderly” gent who asked you to dance. 🙂
Yeah, Zen’s a big ringer (and a sweet girl), and she’s bloody lucky she got Val instead of Derek. She has a decent chance of winning this season with Val and all the Twitter help from TPTB. Jacoby will be a bit of a stumbling block for her, but he’s nothing compared to the mountain she’d have to overcome if she’d been paired with Derek. For Kellie’s it’s going to be like scaling Everest with Sir Edmund Hillary.
Cidra, I can’t tell you how I look back on that time with pain. Very pretentious. Couldn’t get out of it and Lord knows I tried. My southern Mother and her crew were a force to be reckoned with. Must be a ladylike. My father and I laughed about it for many years. Must be a proper lady. You were more likely to find me playing football or basketball with my brothers and their friends. The guys loved me. Married one of them after college.
I could not put Zen in the same category that I would put Katherine Jenkins, Mya, etc. She is 16 and still has a lot to do in order to get to their level. To me, she is using this as a stepping stone to achieve her dream and I commend her for her focus.
Ringer-ness has nothing to do with youth. The only time age would impact, I think is when you are OLDER.
LOL at the all the comments regarding us grandmothers and the images some must have of us. I don’t have blue hair (actually have red or aburn color) and don’t use curlers either. I have 4 email accounts, not set up for just this show, but for various reasons over the years. I have one landline and my cell phone as well as my husbands. I vote on the phone during the show (near the end) and then before I go to bed I submit my email account votes. So I am not a member of the all nighter, power emailing regular grandmother club either.
@Cidra I should have been more specific as I do take both the celeb and pro into account because they are a package. What I meant was I don’t just take a Pro and automatically vote for them regardless of who they have as a partner. For those that do I am not saying they are wrong and I am right I just never realized before joining that other site that people do vote that way. Before that I was just home watching on the TV and never had any inclination about all the things I now have become familiar with.
I have never voted against anyone and agree with you completely on that. My votes go for who I feel who has grown and at the end of the day entertains me the most. I don’t start out with saying that I like this celeb and therefore vote for them just for that reason. Believe me there have been many celebs that I have been familiar with and like, but can’t dance or don’t entertain me at all. I realized after reading what I typed I wasn’t very clear about that. lol I start out seeing a list of the celebs and if I know anyone and then wait to see them dance. Once I see them dance I begin to form in my mind those who I think have potential to dance and entertain me. I almost always have more than just one to start with and then start narrowing it down as I see them dance more. I don’t approach it as I absolutely dislike such and such a pro so therefore won’t give the celeb they have a chance. Like this season I was familiar with Wynonna and loved her as a singer, but quickly saw that she couldn’t dance and wasn’t showing any improvement. I was also familiar with Dorothy and like you love Tristan so I thought for sure she had a good shot at going fairly far, but we know what happened. On the other end was Andy who I knew nothing about and that goes for Sharna a new Pro. I don’t expect them to win, but they are a pair who surprised me and because I want him to stay around longer than a couple of others I have giving them some of my votes. I really like several Pros for different reasons. I also have some that I may have liked at one time, but my opinions have changed on a couple. Yet, they are not struck off my list forever and am willing to give them a chance each season. So you are right it is a combination of the two and hope I have explained it better this time.
I guess I am very dense today and am curious what you would consider an anti-voter to be?
@Sara #32 I agree with you and Derek regarding Andy’s jazz routine and the reason behind it. I wanted to see that routine as well. The way I saw it was that he may not get a lot of chances to shine like he did during that routine, and nothing against Derek and Kellie’s routine because it was amazing and Zandaya and Val did a fantastic jive.
@KellyK #30 I so agree with you regarding Derek and Maria Menounos. I loved her personality and what Derek was able to do with her was amazing. I was pretty sure Donald or even Katherine would win, but I always looked forward to Derek and Maria’s dances. I picked Jennifer Grey from Day one and loved, loved “Dirty Dancing” and you are right Derek would make a perfect Johnny Castle. I loved Julianne as well and rooted for her and Helio (another one who did amazing things with him). For me he brought such entertainment and joy to the dance floor. I also loved and rooted for Karina with JR.
Gail, Chelsie danced with Helio. Not Julianne that I know of.
@Diane K – I believe that Gail was talking about Helio’s first season, not the All-Star Season.
Oh, ok Butterfly. I didn’t remember that. Thanks for the correction. It gets confusing after so many seasons and the All-Star pairings, lol.
@Gail, you were right afterall. 🙂
The bottom line with all of this, I just want to see dancing. I want to see effort. I want to be entertained with dancing, not judges trying to prove themselves worthy of their jobs or to see them people rudely put down. I want happiness. Call me a flower child flitting around. I just want to see the celebs putting an effort out there and judges fairly giving out scores. Celebrities need to think long and hard before going on this show. It is brutal.
Gail, “anti-voter” is my term for someone who votes based on whom they don’t like instead of whom they like. It’s a negative rather than a positive choice. You don’t really like any of the remaining couples, but instead of folding and getting out of the game you pick the couple you dislike the most and cast your votes against them hoping to get them eliminated. I just find that ugly. If I get to the point where I don’t like anyone enough to vote for them, I stop voting.
Faye, since the guys loved you for your tomboy ways, and you married one of them after college, I’d say you got the last laugh. 😛 Way to go, girl!
Ah Derek – Oh wise one…so young, yet so very wise on ALL things.
I definately see the “pee wee football mentality” with some DWTS fans. It’s one thing when you are dealing with a bunch of first graders who are just learning to play a sport and learning that there is a winning team and a losing team, but in the end it’s about doing your best and having fun while learning to play the game. But when you see adults(sorry if I’m wrong but I’m making an assumption on this)who appear to have never learned this lesson in grade school,it truly is sad.