Julianne Hough Interviewed On Judging Dancing With The Stars, Won’t Be Mean And Malicious
People interviewed Julianne Hough on her new role as a judge for Dancing With The Stars and why she decided to do it. She also comments on what she hopes to bring to the table. Note how she isn’t going to be mean and malicious. More below and at the link.
“My role is to encourage and be supportive, and to also be candid and honest and try not to beat around the bush, to be too politically correct,” Hough tells PEOPLE. “I want to give critiques so they can improve. I’m not there to be harsh or cause a controversy. I won’t be mean or malicious. That’s not who I am. That’s not my role at all.”
Hough, a two-time pro champ on the show, has served as a guest judge in previous seasons, but she felt the time was right to make it a more permanent gig this fall.
“After being on tour with my brother [Derek], it felt like time to move on,” Hough told PEOPLE. “I felt like I really reconnected with fans, and the people have supported me since day one. They have followed me from Dancing with the Stars to my other aspirations. It just feels like the perfect time to reconnect and be a part of where it all began, with my family.”
Julianne talked with E News too. Great interview…a must listen!
You can also see some gorgeous new pictures of her at the Daily Mail attending the US Open Kick Off Party.
ETA: Erin talked about Julianne in a new Fox interview as well…
She’ll be as frank as she always is. And if it comes out wrong and causes controversy, who cares? The producers will say there’s no such thing as bad publicity. But here’s what I think: The moment she shows disrespect, I’m done with the show. Maks was by far the better choice. He would have brought viewers IN; having Julianne is bound to chase them away.
Ken, I couldn’t disagree with you more. She has a huge fan base and will bring in just as many viewers in if not more so than Maks.
Also, if you are worried about “disrespect” from her, then you would think you would have left the show a long time ago with the negative comments from Carrie Ann, Len, and Bruno at times….and same with Maks who has a huge history of disrespect on the show than anything Julianne has EVER done.
“Disrespect” is in the eye of the beholder, Ken, and most Maks fans have made it quite clear that a sneeze from Julianne would be “disrespectful”. Maks bringing viewers in and Julianne chasing them away? On what do you base that theory?? I’ve graphed many seasons of ratings and the proof just ain’t there.
This whole idea that Maks fans have about ratings is ridiculous. There are too many variables that go into the ratings of a show like DWTS for the average fan to point and say, “Look, Maks made the ratings go up” – that is a fool’s point of view. Or at least someone with no critical thought process. Not to mention that I read just the other day that all the Broadcast Networks consider the niesen ratings to have a TEN PERCENT margin of error. That is huge. And it tells the smart person something….
I agree all of the judges have said mean (and tasteless) things and I think most of us have been offended by them and they take away our enjoyment of the show. I’ve skipped a few seasons when I get fed up enough with the judging, the manipulation, etc., then take a cleansing breath and figure I’ll give it another try. Personally I think Bruno has owed a few people on-air apologies.
If I recall, Julianne has prefaced some of her more memorable comments by saying she has to be honest, like she says above, so we’ll see how it goes. There is honest and there is tactful honest. I really enjoyed her giving couples specific things to work on. Those I thought were much more helpful than the usual judging and actually made the other judges step up their game. I know her more colorful comments made me feel like she was being a mean girl in high school. Just my opinion and I know others feel differently, which I respect.
I think Julianne has an added burden, which isn’t her fault, but is coming into play here. Julianne used to work with a lot of these pros on the show as an equal. As viewers we knew them as equals. Now she’s coming back as their “boss” and is giving them their evaluations in front of millions of people. Topping it all off she is younger than most of those she worked with before and that has to add an extra sting to her comments, no matter how mature people try to be about all of it. I think all of that adds to the angst of having her as a judge.
I know Julianne, when she was competing, stood up in front of the judges and looked hurt and humiliated by some of their comments. As long as she remembers how that felt and the show doesn’t force her to deliver controversial zingers, she should be fine.
I think some people are forgetting that the role of a judge is not to have rainbows shooting out their a** all the time, but rather to provide constructive feedback about the couple. This role occasionally entails a little scolding and admonishing, which is to be expected and required. I’m beginning to think that any negative remark Julianne makes, whether it be as simple as a comment about poor musicality, will become her being “disrespectful” — where that is not the case. There will be times she has to speak somewhat severely to contestants to help them improve, and THAT’s OKAY. Tough love — deal with it. This ain’t preschool.
And really, I don’t like her as a person and didn’t care for her as a pro, but you can’t deny that girl’s got street cred, way more than 2 of the existing 3 stooges. And here’s the thing about those two “out of line” comments — yes, they were directed at the pros, because that was the BEST WAY TO HELP THE PARTNERSHIP. I’m sure if Christina or Danica had danced those numbers poorly, she would have spent time critiquing their own performance — problem was, it WASN’T their fault those two numbers weren’t A-grade work. It was their partners’, specifically pertaining to their inadequate choreography. Therefore, she addressed her critiques for the couple to the pro to help the couple advance in the competition. That should truly be the judges’ goal — to say whatever they need to, without being flagrantly rude or biased (which she wasn’t!!). I’m glad we’ll have at least one this season who knows how to do their job.
Well said, Penny. I couldn’t have said it better myself.
You have to remember that when Julianne competed on DWTS she was what? 18 or 19? And was not aware of how the show worked at that point – now, if anyone on that show isn’t aware of how it works, they need to sit in a class led by Derek. 🙂
ETA: I think the REAL problem here with many people is that everyone expected the new judge to be Maks. And it’s not. All those Maks fans had really hung their hats on getting to see him every week and now they are very disappointed and it’s making them act like children.
I didn’t want Maks AT ALL, and didn’t want Julianne to a lesser extent of not wanting, but now that it’s so, I’m sure going to keep watching the show, probably going to tune out most of what any of the judges say like always, and understand that it’s a reality show and that they want water cooler talk so there will be things said, done, manipulated, etc that I don’t like like usual, but that mostly I’ll enjoy the show ALOT because I love the dancing, the pros, the journeys.
If I stopped being a fan of the show every time a judge said or did something stupid or off color or anyone on the show for that matter, I would have missed out on some pretty incredible performances out on that DWTS dance floor. I for one am not someone who wants to “pick up my toys and go home” every time something doesn’t go my way. Instead, I’d rather have a “just roll with the punches and see where the game takes me” attitude. 🙂
Exactly KKat, you just learn to roll with the punches because you never know what’s around the corner that might be one’s loss if you stopped watching. I love dancing, so I will always love this show even if there are things I disagree with sometimes.
I love the idea of adding a fourth judge, but I’m afraid that Julianne might end up severely underscoring Derek on occasions just because they’re related and people will bash on her if she gives him high scores. Also sorry to disappoint all you Maks fans who wanted him as the fourth judge, but he has no business being a judge on DWTS with Val there. It’s obvious he would favor Val and his partner over everyone else. Why do you think they waited until after Elizabeth and Val were eliminated to put Maks as a guest judge in season 17?
At a recent BWAT show, Maks told the crowd that either Val, Karina or Sharna should win the next MBT. I presume by that point he already knew he wasn’t sitting at the judges table, but did not know Sharna was cut? I thought he might be filling in as a guest judge during this season, but after hearing that comment, I am not so sure.
While I do think that Julianne might be inclined to underscore Derek on occasion, I’m hoping she’s stubborn enough to not let a few loud mouths influence her. Maks would certainly favor Val and Tony (family first, after all), whereas I think Julianne and Shirley would be inclined to go the other way and underscore.
But really, unless it’s a very obvious bullshit score like Len throws out once or twice a season to Derek (especially if he has someone really good), do we care?? Derek has won the MBT five freakin’ times. I’m a huge Derek fan and even I don’t think he needs another one. If his celeb works hard, dances good and deserves the MBT, then she should have it – but I won’t cry (and I don’t think Derek will either) if he doesn’t get it. At this point, Derek fans should just be grateful to see him every week. And be grateful for all the amazing success that he’s having.
The comment related by Rose1 exposes EXACTLY the problem. It’s all about the pro, no consideration for the celebrity. Rose’s presumption that Maks already knew he wasn’t sitting at the judges’ table gives Maks way too much credit for anything approaching a sense of discretion. Furthermore, we now have a glimpse of how he would be thinking if he were sitting at the judges’ table. And to name Sharna when he was the reason she and Charlie were summarily dismissed — the man has no shame.
See, that’s just the sort of thing that irritates me about Maks and his ilk. Without even knowing the partners, he’s saying that Val, Karina or Sharna should win?? Why? Because it’s their turn in the pee wee lineup??
I will be curious to see if Val gets yet another ringer…all that bitching in the Cbros fandom about it being structured for Derek to win (like Julianne has some sort of magical, mystical power) and they seem to forget about the ringers Val has gotten every season except the first one.
Last season was very, VERY clear. They desperately wanted Derek on the show but he wants to be challenged so they give him Amy and set him up with Creative oversight of Macys, assuming that he won’t last with Amy (Derek straight up said that no one expected them to last, that he hadn’t planned on taking a partner to the end, Macy’s AND getting ready to tour). That way, they get to keep him visible on the show after he’s been eliminated. They have the amazing get of Meryl (who had previously expressed a desire to dance with Derek) and Charlie, so they get Maks to partner Meryl, and guarantee his first win. TPTB have their cake (Derek) and eat it too (Maks/Meryl/Charlie). Many big stories – Derek dances with double amputee, Maks on the road to finally winning after 17 season, Olympic Ice dancers, two teen heart throbs, two TV icons – really, the season was set up perfectly. Great season beyond the barfitude. 😉 This is the sort of set up they try to get EVERY season – one that hits on all cylinders…not just Derek, not just Maks…but all cylinders. That’s what they’ll try for again this season. We’ll see if it cuts it.
Maybe he was feeling guilty, Susan. And you’re right…if he didn’t know Sharna was out, he certainly didn’t know he was out. I didn’t connect the dots…but you sure did. That is exactly the reason why he shouldn’t be sitting at the judges table.
#14
I only get to hear about these BWAT gems from Maks’ mouth over here. WOW! Yes, the man has no shame. Now I’m really curious to know what caused it. It is very possible that all along his PR team has been building this fake hype because they felt it would be given to him like the MBT. If we go by what Maks thinks, the show should be renamed-Dancing with the Pros LOL. Is Sharna in his “fam” now? She always comes across as being neutral and not picking sides.
#17 Kate, Sharna is Peta’s best friend. She became fam while Maks was dating Peta.