Afterbuzz TV Reviews Dancing With The Stars Week 6 – Video
Kristyn Burtt, Suri Serano, Diva Darv and guests Paul Karmiryan and Serge Onik review Dancing With The Stars Season 20 Week 6. I haven’t listened to the entire show yet, but, I was really rolling my eyes when Serge said Derek and Nastia’s tango was like Maks and Meryl’s. lol…he wishes. Let us know what you think….
Completely agree with you Vogue about Serge’s comment that Derek ‘copied’ Maks’ tango, I actually couldn’t believe he said that. Derek definitely likes to do versions of other peoples dances/concepts…
Not exactly surprised by Serge’s comments. Here’s the thing: biases exist, but just own them. Otherwise, it’s just the elephant in the room. And I couldn’t tell with the noise, but did Paul agree with Serge about Nastia and Derek’s dance reminding him of Meryl and Maks’s? Just no.
And dear Afterbuzz: How about a moratorium on the Nastia rehearses with other partners and only sees Derek so much per week talk? One, the hosts aren’t always accurate in their portrayal of this. Two, even if they were, it’s mentioned EVERY week. It’s a dead horse they’re beating at this point.
I do want to say I appreciated their comments on Noah and Sharna and the rehearsal edit. And kudos to Kristyn for calling out some wacky judging yet again.
Overall, though, this was not a spectacular week on either DWTS or on Afterbuzz.
Not planning on watching this, but Serge Oink who? Derek “copying” Maks’? Laughable! Okay, better read other posts on this site.
I’m surprised you guys are still posting AB every week. I mean it has turned into a pile of trash. And with Serge as a guest.. This guy has the galls to say Derek copied Maks, seriously? Maks, who is known for filling his dances with walking and staring, and Derek copy him? This just proves further how the AB crew is catering to certain fans. I haven’t watched since the Mark episode, and the comments here reaffirm that decision.
When Serge said, that all you heard was crickets…I actually cringed. Isn’t he Fam, so what do you expect….
I mentioned in another post that it reminded me of M&M tango SPEED-WISE. Len complained about this tango being too fast yet loved Meryl’s for Pary Anthem night…..guess Len forgot.
Yes After Buzz enough on the Nastia rehearses with another pro. She rehearses with Derek Tues thru Fri and Monday mornings. She rehearses with Henry or now Sasha for a few hours on Saturday and camera blocking on Sunday. Get over it. It gets old week after week as does the not connecting theme you keep putting out there along with the judges.
Had to watch just to see the comment about Derek copying Maks everyone was talking about. All I can say is that I have never heard such BS in my life. There was nothing in Derek and Nastia’s tango that was copied from Maks. For one, when has Derek ever had to mooch off other’s choreography? Secondly, I watched both and can not see what in the hell they are talking about.
As for the “no connection” thing. At this point Derek and Nastia could make love in the middle of the ballroom and Afterbuzz would say, “well I didn’t sense a connection”. What really got me angered though was after commenting that Derek was injured they say, “but Nastia is used to having multiple partners” as if Derek being hurt was of no issue and Nastia can just interchange him with someone else. It was disrespectful and so not appropriate beyond being completely false. From the outrage I saw on Twitter, I think at this point they have completely lost the Derek fans. You can make pouty faces at his injury all you want but when you back it up with crap like they were spewing it just makes it clear you have zero respect for him. At least that’s how it came off to me.
Yes Michelle, I expected shitty behavior from Serge. But Kristyn’s backing of him showed her disrespect towards Derek. Which is disappointing . Last time they talked about how indispensable Henry was, he was replaced by Sasha. Shows what they know. My respect for them are now on the same level as the producers of the show. They all seem to be in the same boat any way.
And where’s KB after the guy Serge comment about Derek? I thought she’s the one who always promote “spread love”. One of them at least should’ve spoke out and say it’s not true. I hope they read this and explain it.
I think you mean Val likes to do versions of other people’s dances/concepts – cuz it certainly ain’t Derek.
The comments about Nastia and Derek not seeing each other are just plain wrong – and the fact that they keep harping on it smacks of an agenda of some sort.
People, stop watching this damn show!! Seriously – they are THRILLED that you are watching even if you hate what you see. Ad money goes into youtube views. Just. Stop. Watching.
Why on earth do you spend an hour of your life watching something that you know is just crap??
Considering the speed with which Nastia and Derek covered the dancefloor, how could they possibly do that if they didn’t have a connection? Did it ever occur to any of those AB folks that just because they can’t see/sense it doesn’t mean it isn’t there? I’m sooooo done.
I was really surprised Paul who danced on Move tour agreed with Serge. Serge is a FAM member who loathes Derek but secretly wishes he could be him. He couldn’t even make DWTS troupe. I was surprised by KB, first she said she couldn’t believe judges were watching same dance as her cuz she thought it was good. Then she let them have their Derek Hatefest. That Diva chick is Mark’s school time pal and made it pretty clear in her first show she has no love for Derek. Not sure why. Just said they were never close. I attribute it to her jealousy that Derek is a bigger star than her buddy Mark.
I stopped watching a long time ago, Princess H. One of the best decisions I’ve made. Reading the comments here are far more enjoyable and enlightening, especially when you mods throw in your thoughts/views.
This was probably the most boring and awkward episode of AB yet.
Actually I don’t see the resemblance to Meryl’s tango in Nastia’s dance, at all (No faux kisses in this one, and she was spinning on the floor BY HERSELF).
I remember S19 watching Janel’s Paso (I think it was a Paso) and immediately think of Meryl’s tango. There I can see it.
Funny they say “Is week 6, we need to stop comparing Chris to himself and start comparing him to the others” and than keep comparing the others to themselves.
Compared to the others Nastia and Derek should have been 9’s and 10’s. And Chris wouldn’t have made it to week 6.
Oh well…
No way was Dereks Tango like Max and Meryls. Derek does not have to copy. That is What Max and Val do. Watch both videos.
Serge and Paul you are both jealous. Derek has more talent in his little finger than you have in your whole body. It is really sad that two grown men could be so jealous and say such untrue things about a fellow dancer. Sorry that not one girl could defend Derek. JEALOUSY IS THE FUME OF LITTLE HEARTS. You all have little hearts.
AND quit nit picking Nastia, she is the best. She started out the best and gets no credit. Their dances are outstanding and you all know it.
Won’t watch this show again. You are all Losers.
Liz #14 you don’t think that Darv might actually just not like Derek because they don’t care for each other or had a falling out between them? Why would it have to be jealousy because of HER insecurity over Mark’s success? That doesn’t seem to jive with the reality, which is that Mark and Derek are best friends and brothers. They may have had a rough patch here and there, but it’s obvious that their friendship has stood the test of time and varying levels of success.
It almost made me laugh to hear Serge defend Rumer & Val’s Jazz. But then again, he’s part of “The Fam,” so to him, walking = great dancing.
Also, I think it’s a bit hypocritical for them to defend Rumer & Val’s song choice not being the typical jazz song (& the reason why they felt their dance fell flat) when Nastia & Derek had a song last week that wasn’t “jazz” as well, yet they called their dance “a missed opportunity.”
No plans to watch the nonsense. I agree with PH. They don’t give a rat’s a$$ whether we agree or not as long as we watch. I actually believe they are doing some of it purposely to create more buzz.
I really hope everyone does what Heidi advises them to do and stop watching/listening to afterbuzz. I can attest that when I stopped listening to them my Tuesday night’s were so much happier.
I’m right there with nobleze#15. I watched once this season and haven’t been back since. Really, who really needs AB? We have PureDWTS to get our groove on with.
I really wish comments had a like button. 🙂
I didn’t watch this show but I certainly don’t think Derek copied Maks’ tango at all. I adored Maks and Meryl’s tango and I also like Derek and Nastia’s tango but sorry – I DON’T see any similarity!! Serge, honey, do ya need glasses???
I haven’t watched since the middle of last season. My life is so much better because of it. lol I don’t waste my time on things that I don’t enjoy, and these people suck the joy out of my favorite show. Susan2 I am with you. Who needs AB when we have PureDWTS.
Serge needs to go to Jelly School. 😉
Why do they even bring Serge as a guest? He is a dancer but I don’t think he adds any helpful comments as a dancer. I like people who dance and really bring that knowledgeable perspective to the table. He is just like sitting there in pain because he is not in the show and everyone around him has more access/knowledge/relationship with the show than himself.
I don’t even remember Meryl and Maks tango…
BTW can’t you make comments have a like button? That’s a great idea Court!! 🙂
Maybe Serge was trying to get back at Derek for getting rid of their boy Henry.
Serge is not even a great dancer. It took him 3 or 4 tries to make the top 20 in SYTYCD. He has no versatility. His partner constantly outshone him in all the dances. I remember the skeleton themed dance, and he was horrible, which especially stood out cause his partner was so good. He couldn’t make the top 10 even with all the DWM pros tweeting for him. And add to that the fact that they took someone who finished lower than him to the tour instead of Serge, it speaks volumes of how people feel about him.
Kristyn was aware of the backlash when Serge came on last season, yet she chose to have him on again as if he’s a legitimate guest.
The only time I’ve ever really watched was a few weeks ago when Mark was on and everyone raved about the content – and they were right! It was positive, enlightening, fair, and fun. If AB was like that every week – with whomever their guests were – I’d make sure to carve out an hour of my week for it. But in the few moments that I’ve tried to listen to it since, it hasn’t been the case.
The show doesn’t bother me….you just can’t take it seriously. It’s just their opinion and that’s fine, and so ridiculous sometimes you just have to laugh! I’m not heavily invested in any of the pros so maybe that’s why I can tolerate it.
I do my laundry on Mondays so I save the folding for AB. That’s how much thought I put into watching……
To be fair: I think if you watch Meryl/Maks’ tango again, and then take a look at Nastia/Derek’s, you may see that they are very reminiscent of each other. Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing because Meryl’s was so wildly successful. The music was very similar between the two routines, which is a major contributing factor. And Serge wasn’t alone in thinking this, as Paul definitely agreed with him. Simply put…quick, staccato movements (like what was found in Meryl/Mak’s tango) lend themselves to the techno-style music.
However, I think where Nastia’s routine fell short (if we are simply comparing it to Meryl’s at this point), is that the routine was fast and staccato throughout. Meryl’s, on the otherhand, occasionally “luxuriated” in the slower, more sensual patterns in tango. The give and take, ebb and flow (much like what Len was trying to express) are a big part of what makes tango so dynamic to watch. Without those aspects of sensuality, tango can look rushed or frantic.
In my opinion…it was a good routine, but not a great routine.
I watched both tangos just now, yep, they were both tangos.
Too me, since I have several favorite couples I like how they find the good in most of the people.
But I despise how all the great things about Nastia are just globally dismissed by saying “it’s Nastia, of course she’s great”, that great technique was taught and worked on!!! She works her butt off and she has a teacher who works his butt off to teach her that great technique, and his name is Derek.
Perhaps the thing someone like Serge dislikes most about DH is that probably DH doesn’t even notice who he is beyond just caring about him as a human being.
@indi – I think you’re missing the point: Serge basically implied that Derek set out to copy Meryl & Maks’ tango, which is utter bullsh*t. Sure, the music may have been similar, and almost all tangos include some “quick, staccato movements”, so there’s bound to be comparisons – but I also think their tango looked like every other tango on the show, so for Serge to act as if they specifically set out to copy them? Just makes him look like a jealous fool. Derek has no need to copy Maks – last I checked, he has 5 trophies and an Emmy, and Maks has (1) MBT that they had to engineer for him and reputation for being a diva. And as for Paul agreeing – I daresay guests on AB have learned to fall in line and not rock the boat with too many dissenting opinions, lest they get a ton of hate for it on Twitter later.
Indi, I sgree…the techno/party theme was the same (no one to blame other than the people who assign the music) and the disco lighting was similar as well. I wont pick one over the other, but I did think of Meryl’s dance right away. Sorry, I couldn’t help it.
Both were faster and non traditional selections for a tango, but Nastia and Derek’s music didn’t have any place to to the slower moves. Len complained about the speed which didn’t bother me, but I’m not a judge. I just don’t get all the nit-picking!
I forgot to add that the word “copying” was out of line. First! Derek doesn’t need to copy and unless he can prove it, it’s best not to throw that out there carelessly.
Or, Rose1, we hurt their widdle feelings. 🙂 We’ve been pretty much no holds barred on Afterbuzz here for quite some time. No matter what one says, that does have an impact on what they say. Much like Val’s vile fans have an impact on how I see him. Oh…wait, Val also tweets and says really stupid shit, so his fans are just a side effect. 😀
It was very humerous when Serge said that Willow has the same score as Derek right now, no not Nastia, he said Derek as if Derek is a competing celebrity on the show. He was subtly throwing shade all throughout the show, maybe thinking nobody would notice. anyways, I hope he wont be back for any future recaps.
Serge got some nerve to say that shit about Derek!
LOL Jill L….I don’t think I could have said anything meaner about Afterbuzz. Kill them with indifference. 🙂
#Courtney, I think whether or not this routine was “Derek’s version of Meryl and Maks’ tango” is a matter of opinion. I will say that when I saw a clip of the rehearsals from a few days ago and heard the music, Meryl and Mak’s tango came to mind for me too, BEFORE I had even seen the full performance.
I am curious, though. You argue that Meryl and Maks’ win was engineered. Who (other than Charlie, whose win I would have TOTALLY been behind ) was more deserving, based on performance, than Meryl?
Yeah, and Paul might find himself out of a job this summer too.
indi, of course most of us have watched both Tangos. And both were tangos. With Staccato movements. Wow. But beside that, yes, you completely miss the point. Reminiscent (even if I did agree) is not the same as copying.
And really, Val has been a weak derivative of Derek for a season and a half now so perhaps Serge should just keep his comments to himself.
Just like DWTS the show I feel like Afterbuzz has turned a corner as well. Obviously biases are going to come in no matter what but I just don’t see the need to have someone on the panel like Serge. No offense to him personally but his bias is just so glaring that it takes away from the show. Even Paul spent the offseason on tour with Val and I think anyone that is a part of the “fam” (even as a fringe member) for some reason transfer the massive chip Maks and Val have on their shoulders to themselves as well. I think Kristyn tries her best to create an informative show and I realize sometimes things come down to the wire and you get who you get but I would rather just watch a panel of three people than five if it’s balanced and fair.
That being said, I have to admit when I watched Nastia’s tango I did say to my sister it reminded me SLIGHTLY of the Maksyl tango just in the sense that they are both techno songs, the lighting, the dynamic energy but I don’t for a second think Derek choreographed that routine with the intent to copy anyone. It had its similarities but was still very much its own routine. I knew that was going to come up eventually and shocking it was by a fam member.
Val is not even in the same realm of talent choreography wise…I would be worried if i was rumer…because if he can’t choreograph a good jazz routine…what makes you think he can choreograph an amazing freestyle…she just got a glimpse of what to expect…and if i were her I wouldnt be too thrilled..
@Susan…I also see and hear it all the time about Derek being compared to a celebrity of another couple. If it isn’t Derek compared to Rumer, it’s Derek’s score compared to Willow, and so on and so on. This show is about the celebrity’s journey not the Pro. The Pros have had their journey, or they wouldn’t have made it to be a Pro Dancer on DWTS and be in the cast list. I am hoping for a speedy recover for Derek, and however this plays out, I will keep on voting for my favorite celebrity, which is the beautiful and amazing Nastia. I don’t get this “nitpicking” Nastia apart since week 1, and Derek doesn’t copy from other pros; and all these negative comments from AB is just “ugly jealousy” and so pitiful.
As far as AfterBuzz….I’ve been done with that stupid NONSENSE!!!
Love your website. The power ranking column and member’s comments are much better than this AB recap. They didn’t provide any interesting insights and I feel they are jealous of good dancers.
BTW, can anyone explain to me what or who is the “fam”?
LizS the Fam is Maks, Tomy, and Val and any partner that to allow into their circle. Zendaya is Fam, Janel is not. Meryl is Fam, Hope is not. Leah Remini is Fam. This list includes girlfriends until you break up.
I don’t them all but all, but Henry and Serge are Fam. I think Artem is. Peta or course, Danica……not sure about Sharna….
@indi – Ok, indi, you’re entitled to think that Derek copied Meryl & Maks’ tango. You’re also entitled to look a bit foolish, considering that Derek has absolutely no incentive to copy Maks and has done just fine on his own for years now. You’re also entitled to conveniently overlook the fact that ALL TANGOS ARE GOING TO LOOK SIMILAR, and eventually one tango is going to remind you of another. Tangos looking similar, however, does not equate somebody “copying” another tango. Again, I reiterate: what incentive would there be for a 5-time MBT winner with multiple Emmy nominations and one Emmy win under his belt (and a slew of other accolades & opportunities that Maks has not been given) to copy a 1-time winner that isn’t even on the show anymore? That’s like Leonardo DiCaprio suddenly deciding to mimic the acting style of Ashton Kutcher – it’s a downgrade. It makes no sense.
As as for Meryl’s win – I didn’t say Meryl didn’t deserve to win. I said there was manipulation & engineering going on that ensured their win. Meryl was great enough to win on her own – I’m not debating that. But the fact that Meryl, Maks, AND the show itself decided to hone in on their fauxmance at every turn, and the judges chose to gush over the “originality” of routines like their freestyle (which, arguably, looked strikingly similar to Kellie’s freestyle – if you really want to talk about similarities), the results of the switch-up got manipulated, and the fact that anyone that wasn’t Meryl got scored much more critically leaves a sour taste in my mouth. She didn’t NEED the manipulation, but they did it anyway – and then after she won, they decided to make the win all about Maks.
I don’t know who Serge Onik is, but I will say Suri drives me crazy! She is a terrible fan and not knowledgeable. They usually just buy into what the judges are saying (Nastia nit-picking and really, Chris Soules improved so much?!) It’s not like they have so much access or inside knowledge – NOT! Truth be told, I started watching this last night and fell asleep in front of my laptop . . . boring.
#46 LizS – welcome! I’m just a regular visitor here, but I love this site too because they manage the madness so well, there’s great dancing insight, and a healthy amount of snark and fun to go along with it.
The “fam” is the “exclusive” group of professional dancers associated with the original core of Tony and Maks, and now Val. This includes anyone that goes on their SWAY tours or teaches for their Dance With Me studios. Other “fam” members on DWTS are Henry, Sharna, Peta, Artem, etc – but Sharna really seems to only be there as an extension of Peta (who is dating Maks) and gets along with everyone else. But for the most part this group fosters a real “us versus them” mentality – which should be supportive – and it can be – but it’s also often negative or demeaning to those non-Fam members.
By proxy, most of the celebs that have danced with Fam pros become a part of their posse – Zendaya, Meryl, Janel (for a while) etc., so I suppose you can say it extends to them as well.
An example of their exclusionary tactics – when Maks and Karina broke up, she didn’t just get shade from him, but the entire group found ways to be negative about her, publicly. It extended to DWTS when none of the Fam members would partner with her and her celeb, or pick them for their team dances. Now that Karina and Maks are on good terms again, suddenly all of that is gone.
The Fam is also very jealous of Derek’s success, so they do attempt to belittle his accomplishments or get in a dig whenever they can – EVEN though they do seem to get along otherwise.
I never bought that showmance…I thought it was hilarious…I am an ice-skating fan and I knew Meryl had a boyfriend..I knew the Maks stuff was bs..
indi, you have a word problem. You ask who is deserving in response to Courtney’s “engineered” comment – the two things aren’t mutually exclusive. But in any case, Amy was absolutely deserving, as was Charlie.
Another word problem – you are, again, implying that Derek copied Maks without using that word. Are you afraid of it?? Or do you not understand it? Derek has no need to copy anyone, least of all one of the lesser talented choreographers in the history of the show. I also don’t think it’s a “matter of opinion” – I think it’s a serious accusation that one better back up with actual facts and not just feelings.
@Jill L – Sharna tends to be neutral-to-slightly-pro-fam, and I think it’s solely because of her allegiance to Peta. I wouldn’t classify Danica as Fam – she actually is very close with Tom (and was before she did the show) and I think that’s really where her allegiances lie. I’d also classify Robin Roberts as fam – she just adores Maks & Val.
Fig, I think they get along because of Derek, largely. If Derek (rightly) took offense to some of the things that were said, there would probably be more of a feud like atmosphere. I mean, all that shit that was said after Kellie won?? Unbelievable. Offensive in many instances.
I will also say that I don’t think any of the women in the “Fam” typically take part in their belittling/jealousy/other exclusionary tactics, with the exception of Zendaya. I could say that that is because those women are far smarter than those men are, but the fact that they hang with them seems to be a direct counterpoint to that. 😀
You’re one of the few and the proud, Suzanne. 🙂
Its the same stuff with rumer…why do people believe everything in the packages..especially when it contradicts what people are saying in their live rehearsals that are saved on the internet…makes the celeb and the pro and the show look kinda dumb.
I think Sharna’s pretty pro fam. But she’s only very rarely correspondingly negative about “not fam” and in the rare instance where she is, she’s pretty smart about her word choice. Although I am way more “not fam”, I do like several of the pros that are close to them, well, Emma who is doing SWAY, and I like Peta well enough and I really like Sharna a lot, and I think Artem did a great job with Patti. And I think Maks has a GREAT ass, and I think Val is great with kids and I kind of feel sorry for his very earnest self sometimes.
I’ve come to the conclusion that things the fam accuses others of doing are things they themselves think of doing. I was fascinated seeing Rumer, during the team package, with her disinformation tactics aimed at YOLO. Reminded me of the initial Valenrue rehearsal where they were concerned about others stealing their ideas. It’s all so incredibly juvenile, but I guess what an you expect from people who think dancing around with a hat on their privates is good P.R.
@Heidi – Nicole Volynets is another exception of vocal females in The Fam – homegirl is prone to throwing some serious Twitter shade, despite the fact that she was only in the troupe for 1 season before getting the heave-ho. And her brother is basically Val & Maks’ “hype guy” – retweeting and agreeing with pretty much everything they say or do.
Funny thing is, I almost don’t count Tony as “The Fam” anymore, because he calmed down so much after winning with Melissa that he seems to keep his head down now when Maks & Val start getting fired up. Yes, he still has allegiances there – but in a lot of ways, he seems to have moved past a lot of the childish drama they perpetuate. And Melissa has always done a great job of staying out of that nonsense – I’ll never forget the way she squealed with joy when she was picked for Team Call Me Maybe in the all-star season. 🙂
I think that being friends with the Fam doesn’t necessarily make you “fam” – and it certainly doesn’t mean you have to act that way. I like all of the female pros, for example.
Totally, PH #54- and that’s probably what I appreciate most of Derek’s personality. I never hold a grudge and I’m a very forgiving person, so I love that he is too. it’s pretty obvious that Derek has been the better man in those friendships. Not that he’s spineless at all – he just rises above it, and in the very rare instances when he does take action (ahem) it’s done with class and tact.
True, I would leave Tony out as well, in terms of the negativity. As for Nicole, well perhaps she should learn her lesson. There has to be a reason that nearly everyone associated with Maks was let go from the show’s troupe all at one time – I mean, it sure looked like a house cleaning.
The thing is, most tangos are going to look like one another – especially those set to similar music. Plus which pro HASN’T choreographed numbers that are reminiscent of another? Certainly not the fam.
But it’s a pretty serious accusation to imply that a pro steals another’s concept or choreography. It’s one thing for us fans to say it, but quite another for a member of their tribe to do so.
Especially considering, like Courtney was a few posts up, that Maks/Meryl’s contemporary looked very much like Derek/Kellie’s – yet I don’t recall that being brought up on AfterBuzz. If I didn’t have an actual life and a real job, I could find dozens of other incidences where Val/Maks Choreo (and tony too, for that matter) had choreography VERY reminiscent of something Derek had previously done. Including the most recent TeamTrouble and their school theme, complete with desks and all…
It doesn’t surprise me that Paul would agree with Serge. During the DWTS live tour, if I remember correctly, most of the pics he was in included Val, and Keo. All three of them seemed pretty tight. Mark an Sasha were kind of mixed in with the others or by themselves.
I loved AB when Mark was commenting. I know he says that he and Val are friends, but I think he just has so much class he won’t trash anyone publicly. Not a fact just my opinion. God I’m really loving Mark these days.
I’d definitely watch AB again if Mark or Emma were guests. Emma did such a wonderful job with Gethen on All Access. I wish she’d do it again. I really love Emma too.
And no matter how much they trash Derek and Nastia, we have eyes and memories and YouTube videos that tell us otherwise.
Plus no one is saying that pros can’t have their tight circles or anything. Hell, Derek and Mark are certainly going to root for each other over others. But it’s never done as a disservice to another pro or couple.
I swear I saw an ex-Fam celeb tweeting out support for Willow or Nastia, and I was happy and grateful. But for the life of me I can’t remember who it was.
Err, I was happy, grateful, and SURPRISED. Man, I wish I could remember who it was.
#64, Heidi – thank you for mentioning the similarities in Team Trouble’s dance! There were moments, such as some of the movements the group did while still seated, that reminded me so much of Derek and Amber’s jazz and also the step sequence, reminded me so strongly of Derek and Amber’s freestyle. There’s an old saying about glass houses and stones that I think some need to remember.
Of course, people are going take ideas from other routines but Serge’s comment wasn’t that – it was a dig, a way to try and diminish Derek by implying that he was trying to copy Maks and Meryl’s tango. That comment, in addition to the over the top praise for Val and Rumer’s jazz (including the whole what was Val supposed to do, it was the music’s fault) and then the asinine insinuation that since Nastia has been practicing with other pros, what difference does it make, was Serge’s bias coming through loud and clear.
Unless Mark was to do the show again, last night was likely my last viewing of AB. For people who spend so much time complaining about how inconsistent the judging is, they should be able to clearly see how inconsistent and in some cases, hypocritical they are being.
Speaking of copying moves, do you all remember that stunning move Derek did with Shawn Johnson during their Mambo? She does a handstand and he grabs one leg…I am pretty certain I have seen that specific move done on the show since then. It might have been Tony and Betsy, but maybe someone remembers exactly and can let me know. I agree with everyone that said that Derek has absolutely no need to steal ideas or concepts or whatever from anyone.
Susan, I think Derek actually copied himself and did that with Amy too, in their Salsa. If I’m thinkingof the same move you are. Do pros get flack for copying themselves? LOL.
I find the copying topic funny. Seriously how many moves can there be? Some does a handstand and now moving forward no one else can do that?! Come on, let’s have some common sense!
I have seen so many of those types of moves repeated and I’ve only seen 4 seasons! I think Monday I saw more than one girl jumping over their male pro doing quasi splits…..copying? Uh no.
I know I’m not putting much stock into what Serge says. EVER. Anna may have issues, but she knows ballroom.
One of the longest running feuds I think the “fam” had was with Karina when Marks and her broke up around season 9. Didn’t they all sort left her to dry, talk shit about her, and ignored her until I think season 16 when her and Maks sort of made up.
Speaking of Karina, I noticed she started getting more bubbly and how her personality is now after the break-up with Maks, so good for her!
all this “fam” talk just reminds me of a high school clique that if you don’t have an exclusive invite, the whole “you can’t sit with us” thing comes up (aka Mean Girls and Maks is the Regina George)
Totally agree Susan (38) I noticed that comment right away too among others and shook my head. ‘Willow tied with…DEREK’? He couldn’t even say ‘Nastia and Derek’? Nope, cause the fam and their fans are obsessed with putting down Derek. Even Val’s broke the streak twitter comment was ridiculous. How many times have you had success being on the same team dance as Derek, Val? The last few times you’ve enjoyed being on Derek’s team.
They are all entitled to their opinions but Serge sounds like he has an extra agenda and its ridiculous. I’ve watched SYTYCD for a long time and he was one of my least fave ballroom guys they have ever had. So glad they have had Paul and Alan on the show/tour/in troupe over Serge. As for Paul’s opinions I always liked him on SYTYCD so that might color my judgement as little:) but I think his opinions had more comments to really back them up and he didn’t sound like he had any hidden agendas. He always seemed like a person who got along with everyone from the shows I’ve seen him on.
I agree Fig (63). M&M tango and N&D were similar styles of song so there was going to be similar style of movement. At least M&M’s song had a little bit of variance in it, N&D’s was an even tone the entire time, making it hard to really portray a lot of different tempos or nuances. I’m sure it was the farthest thing Derek would have picked if given a choice of any tango music. How many dances have there been on DWTS? Thousands. Some are going to look similar, it’s just the way it is, but accusing of copying is really rude.
I was really disheartened at the fact that they gushed in some way about every couple last night except Nastia & Derek. Couldn’t find one really positive thing to say except….”oh….yeah….they have good technique, but that is expected” and so no big deal should be made over how hard that is to do. Then proceeded to bash their chemistry again and her face. I do think she has further to go, but any other couple pulling off that tango would have been a wow moment. It wasn’t my favorite of all their numbers but I really enjoyed it and the technique was impressive. I think Derek was noticeably sad the judges couldn’t even give them props for that on Monday. I think he expected at least Len or Julianne to compliment that. Notice Len didn’t say anything about technique or content but about not enough light and shade or whatever. That def made me think he was grasping at straws because usually he will go right to technique flaws or not enough content if he wants to justify docking points.
Afterbuzz DWTS show is the #1 after show on Afterbuzz. It would take a whole lot of people stopping to watch before they would probably even think to change the way the show has been going. I do think the show used to be better than what it is now. It was more positive and fun and had really constructive critiques and was more fair to each couple, no big agendas. I miss Jake’s fun positive demeanor and dance insight. But you wouldn’t know the show is any worse now by their viewership because it keeps going up. Kristyn seems really nice but I doubt she will take much of what pure’s viewers think into consideration since they are #1.
The props given to Val for showing the “different layers of Rumer like peeling an onion was also one of the more laughable Serge comments. What show are you watching? They haven’t shown nearly enough diversity on the dance floor. You may not like Nastia & Derek but they as well as all of the remaining couples have shown diversity on the floor. Except maybe Riker and Allison – they need a waltz or rumba.
One more thing (at least for now, haha):
Honestly, if Derek was going to copy a routine (which he didn’t) but just for the sake of argument, he was feeling a lack of creativity (again, he didn’t). Why in god’s name would he turn to inspiration of the most fanatical coupling EVER on the show, one that would be bound to bring about scrutiny and mass hysteria? Because he’s not an idiot, and he didn’t.
Should we talk about Val and Janel’s “Queen of Color” trio Salsa? To me, that was WAY more similar in concept to the Derek/Shawn/Mark Samba than that tango was to Meryl and Maks.
Anyway, it’s just a silly statement to make – even if it was not of malicious intent – because of the artistic integrity and professionalism that should be considered by the person speaking it.
What Val is supposed to do is make Lemonade out of Lemons. He’s not the first pro to get a crap song.
Susan, I think it was Tony and Betsy. Someone else may have done something similar to that as well.
Jill, no one said anything about someone else not doing it. But that handstand move in the Mambo…that was the very first time I ever saw that or anything like it. Lots of people have used that two person cartwheel that I saw Derek and Julianne use way back in the first Design a Dance. And we’re making a point – that similarities do happen. I’ve said the same thing before – how many moves can their be – and have also said that one move doesn’t make a dance. But you also don’t hear Derek or Julianne or Mark claiming that someone copied their choreo.
But this conversation goes on. Benji Schwimmer had the nerve to claim (a few years ago) that Derek was imitating him by sliding across the floor. :::rolls eyes::: Talk about ridiculous. Sliding across the floor???
Considering some of the other AB shows I’ve seen, this one being the one with the most views isn’t that impressive. Some of the other ones are just atrocious.
But just think what their views could be if they weren’t turning half their audience off??
My big issue with the Serge comments wasn’t actually with Serge himself. Is it really that shocking coming from him? It’s more how they handled it, and that is what is making me think about not watching AB anymore. I can handle opinions or statements that I don’t agree with on shows like AB. I can even handle something like what Serge said that’s flat out wrong. But when no other host is willing to call him out on what he says, I lose a lot of respect for the show, and the show loses some integrity.
Conversely, last week (and this week too but less so) Suri talked about not connecting to Nastia. Now this is something I don’t really agree with, but I would not complain about it at all because the hosts all discussed it and offered different points of view. Whereas, Serge made his ridiculous statement and it went completely unchecked. At least for the rest of the season I think I’m done with AB. It hasn’t been as good as past seasons (save for the week Mark was on).
Good points, Laura, and I would have to say that that’s been my issue as well, since last season. Every time they have a guest on, they’re so afraid of offending them that they won’t offer a contrary view – even if they have the previous week.
Susan #69 & PH #71, Nicole & Derek did a similar move in their Freestyle (where she does the handstand & Derek grabs her leg). Shawn/Derek’s Mambo & Betsey/Tony’s Jive are the only other dances I can remember where they did that move.
The only reason I ever even knew about AB was because PureDWTS would post that week’s podcast. I’d never heard of them before.
Therefore, alienating us fans here at Pure by letting biased commentary drag down the show week after week is rather stupid.
Haven’t watched since Mark. My problem with Suri is that she spent all of last season kvetching about not connecting with Bethany. No one should be asked to bear witness to that two seasons in a row. Since Suri is the common element in “not connecting with Bethany” and “not connecting with Nastia” perhaps it isn’t really about them.
That Onik guy has some nerve talking about how Derek purposely copied Maks choreography. Well well i wish he would give that same advice to Val.
Does this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bUUGfJc8l4 not remind you of janel and val samba. The hell, he even copied the costume. Superb dancers like Anna and Slavik should sue them and Onik is such an idiot.
I also just watched both videos of Nastia & Derek and Meryl & Maks both tangos, and other than the basic tango required moves, Nastia’s tango was “pure” perfection and just as fast as Meryl’s (by the way Len) and totally different moves. Nastia did way more moves than Meryl. I especially noticed the walking in the beginning and the end, which is the C brothers signature all-time favorite waist-some-time non-dancing moves.
Now I know why Meryl & Maks’ tango didn’t cross my mind when Nastia & Derek did their Tango (in pure perfection) which deserved way more points. I thought the songs had basically the same tempo; but two totally different song lyrics. To be honest, I didn’t think either song was a traditional Tango song.
I don’t think being the “most watched Afterbuzz program” is something all that brag worthy. Most of the AB shows are horrid and for shows where a panel discussion on YT would not be even on the radar for fans. They are also one of the only AB shows that bring in actual stars from the show to be on the panel which of course is going to up viewership. But it’s still on the level of being the “best cashier at Walmart” in terms of bragging rights.
I’m far from one of those Derek fans who think that everyone must adore him and worship at the alter of his greatness, so if someone doesn’t particularly care for one of his dances or what have you, then cool. But when the same BS is said week after week, where each negative is based in “how they feel” then it becomes quite obvious that bias is at play and that the commentary is not objective. The whole season on AB started with unfairness where they declared that Nastia will be judged differently than all other celebs. Right off the bat they showed their cards.
its crazy too…because she has never done ballroom before this show…derek spoke about this on abc radio…saying people automatically assume she picks up certain moves quick (which some she does) but others take 4 hrs to learn..I think that he has been getting frustrated with the fact that she is not getting the credit she deserves….because they think like she is already a dancer..a gymnast is not a dancer…those are two separate careers.
All one has to do is look at Aly Raisman and see how being a gymnast isn’t a guarantee of musicality or technique. What they will always have is amazing work ethic, high level of fitness, coach-ability, and probably a better understanding of their own body than most other contestants would have. These things are nothing to sneeze at, of course – those are all very key to being a success on the show. But they aren’t dancers by trade.
Certainly it also comes with an inability to show emotion, or connect with a partner on the dance floor. That inward-ness that all gymnasts have is a huge obstacle in getting people to root for you. Shawn Johnson was certainly lucky enough to still have that youthful vulnerability aspect going for her, too. But Nastia is formed by that Russian steeliness, where she’s probably a very emotional person but just relies solely on herself to sustain, or at least outwardly.
That being said, having been a big fan of gymnastics (and former one myself – not nearly at their level though) Nastia was my DREAM gymnast contestant because you can take one look at her quality of movement during a gymnastics routine and see what a natural grace she was gifted with to produce amazing lines. So she has a lot going for her, just in sheer natural ability. It does stink that no one understands the difference between that and an actual trained dancer.
Ok I don’t normally get mad over this stuff because Ive recently tried to stay neutral with the Derek/ The Fam stuff but oh my god Serge shut the hell up with “This is Derek’s version of Maks and Meryl’s tango.”
Similarities were – they danced to the same style of song and they both wore solid black/ white respectively. Similarities end there. No wonder he’s only getting jobs with Afterbuzz and Sway because he obviously can’t see obvious differences within a dance genre that he has trained in.
Rant over.
AB just keeps getting more annoying….you could actually sense the arrogance from serge when they spoke of Derek’s injury in the beginning…his main concern was whether Derek would return or not. I wish him and all those posting negative things about Derek could find a deep hole to crawl into
I feel Maks and Meryls tango was a copy of Petas and Brant Daughertys tango from season 17.
When i watched Nastias tango it felt more like a fast version of Bethanys tango last season (PS: I loved all four tangos).
Val and Rumors jazz for me was just a jazz version of Marks and Bethanys hip hop routine last season and the team dance of team trouble was like the mad version of the cheerleading group dance all stars season 15.
And sorry but i don’t get why a lot of people think Allisons choreography is “something new and fresh”. So far all her routines started on the little stage and then move on to the main floor. After watching Rikers and Allisons routines i never remember any steps where i think oh that was fun and clever, it’s just frantic to me. Just looking at Allison alone it’s all the same to me (Jive, Salsa, Samba or Paso, Tango, Argentine Tango). I’m so glad there is someone like Kym and Derek showing different nuances and steps that stick with me. I’m also happy Derek isn’t using the troupe like others do to distract from ther crappy choreo.
Sorry for the rant i just get frustraded after watching AB. I think it’s time for me to stop watching b*llsh** like that, listening to Suri who clearly knows nothing about dance as she says herself every other episode cause she’s a gymnist, well kind of, or some jealous loser like Serge.
I was just thinking are the people at afterbuzz dumb enough to think derek doesn’t choreograph the routines with nastia…bc it always feels like they assume henry and sasha were doing all the work…which isn’t true..give credit where its do…derek taught her they just helped her run through routines.
I have stopped watching AfterBuzz and promised myself I wouldn’t read the negative comments this season. Something I’ve wondered for a long time is what kind of knowledge does Suri and Kristin really have? How are they qualified to critique the way they do? I understand the actual pros and former dancers (don’t always agree) but Suri and Kristin make it sound like they have been in competition and dancing for years. Anyone know their actual work expert? Of course I feel much of their chatter is for publicity and ratings.
Suri did gymnastics and switched to dancing, i think she does some backrounddancing for artists, but no ballroom. Kristyn back in the days did a little ballett i think.
I’ve been trying to imagine what kind of complaints will be coming at Nastia and Derek with this whole new turn of events. I’ll start off, everyone please join in.
I think they’re going to complain that Derek will now get the sympathy vote because he’s injured. (This has a basis in fact. When Amy was on someone wrote that her prostheses were not so much of an impediment as they made a really good story, likely to attract votes.)
Next!
Figmentation #75
I was thinking the same thing when someone stated that Derek’s Samba with Nastia was copied from Val/Janel/Keo’s trio Samba. The original tribal Samba was with Shawn/Derek/Mark trio in S15. So if anyone was coping I look to Val.
Suzy I really don’t think they’ll pull the sympathy vote thing. They may be biased, but they’re not going to stoop to that. It’s not out of the relhm of possibility that Derek fans will continue to support him, or that he’ll pick up new voters.
I don’t think there is anything wrong with saying Amy prosthetics make a good story. Her abilities, strength, and courage were inspirational.
What I can see is that they’ll pull it the chemistry card……Nastia has better chemistry with Sasha, blah, blah….
DWTS is a highly produced show…including this goofy Hough/Chmerkovskiy drama. When I look at Maks/Meryl Tango, Val/Janel Paso & Derek/Nastia Tango…I see three different dances that were each excellent. My issue is that they were all staged exactly the same…and for that I blame the producers, not the choreographers or the individuals dancing. Put each dance in a different set, and there wouldn’t be so much drama.
Derek has been given every type of partner under the sun and he always produces stellar routines! Yes, he’s had what people call ringers but he’s also had some with hurdles to overcome. Even though Amy is an athlete and she could dance she still had limitations and he took her to 2nd place! Jennifer Grey was a dancer but she also had major back problems! I’m probably beating a dead horse but even though Derek is not always my fav every season I cannot deny his talent!
Having actually listened to the whole AB program, I think that some of the opinions are valid. The constant criticism that Nastia keeps getting is that she is not emotionally connected, and she admits that it’s a struggle for her d/t her training. I agree w/this point, in some ways it’s very similar to the Kellie/Derek & Zendaya/Val season. I think that hands down, Zendaya won the season BUT Kellie won the freestyle because she finally had an emotional connection and Zendaya’s freestyle was weak in comparison. This season seems very similar to me in that respect – two really great dancers going head to head to the end.
Of course moravamc, you are as welcome to your opinion as I am to mine. But having watched both Season 16 with Zendaya and Kellie plus AfterBuzz, I believe Kellie fairly won the trophy for S16! Both contestants were consistent and entertaining all season long. They are both beautiful dancers. Zendaya had been a talented and entertaining dancer half of her life at that point though. Kellie was a reality show contestant and an established country singer. There was nothing known about her at the time she was chosen for DWTS that suggested she would be able to dance. No training, no show. Not even CAI, who said she worked as a choreographer for American Idol during Kellie’s season, suspected that she could dance! It was Derek, who like he does with all of his partners, discovered her best talent, her extreme flexibility. Kellie, who had been edited to look like a country bumpkin and a fool on AI, turned out to be warm, charming, plus a hard working and diligent learner when working with Derek Hough on S16 of DWTS. She had a fantastic journey and was rewarded in votes for that.
Even AfterBuzz admitted that Kellie and Derek’s freestyle was the dance of the night and totally extraordinary. Despite their pushing Zendaya and her performances all season. They very clearly showed their jealousy (comments about Kellie’s body) and their bias even then, when one, Anna I believe, said right out that Val is a very good friend and she just wanted HIM to win the mirror ball. Forgetting of course that this show is supposed to be about the Stars and their season.
For not being emotional connected (according to some) she nailed the Disney Night Dance she and Derek were given as the character of Anna in Frozen. And she also nailed their Foxtrot and had a great connection with Derek right off the bat in week 1; so I have to disagree with the “no connection” which can be proven to not hold up just by going back and watching all 6 weeks of her dances. I could care less about what AB says, because of a few who are so obvious in their negative remarks against Nastia, while they praise Rumer to all get out. And, if Nastia did some face piercing, big ugly body art and wore costumes showing half of her behind doing the “sexy” thing, she would still be criticized for something else, because there are just some people who down right consider this show “Dancing With The Pros” and just want Derek to disappear.
I totally disagree that Zendaya had S16 in the bag. Val did not choreograph her dances and push her strengths. His choreography is dull and boring and all looks the same, never more than this season with Rumer. Kellie Pickler was the total package and she was not the experienced dancer Zendaya was coming into the show. Yet, she and Derek took her criticisms and tweaked them to perfection. Kellie was in sync with Derek, and she was a bubbly, naturally funny, singing entertainer and that also gave her an edge and she wasn’t in gymnastics like Nastia where emotional expressions were keep under wrap. She won fair and square and the viewers spoke. But, this is S20 not S16. I am proud of Nastia in the way she takes criticism from the judges, especially this past Monday. I looked over all the dances that she and Derek have done, and they haven’t done, Cha Cha, Jive, Salsa, Paso Doble, Contemporary, Waltz, or V. Waltz so she may give us some amazing dances and better nail the criticisms.
#102 My compliments, Colleen, on a well-reasoned, beautifully written comment. I never thought about it that way, but I suppose Zendaya didn’t have the kind of journey that Kellie did, particularly considering their relative starting points.
I would like to add a word about “connection.” First, think as I might, I can’t come up with a circumstance where that has been a criticism lodged at anyone but Derek’s partners. It seemed to explode last season with Bethany, and here we are again. There are several times prior to her freestyle that I felt Kellie’s “emotional connection,” so I would dispute the notion that she won because she “finally had an emotional connection.” The perception of emotional connection has as much to do with the person doing the viewing as it does with the person being observed. Personally, I think it is the fact that “connection” is a non-quantitative characteristic that makes it a very convenient criticism for those interested in disparaging when there is nothing else. Kellie’s freestyle was superior to Zendaya’s in every way possible. In the end, she was a better contestant, with all that entails. Indeed, I would say that “hands down” Kellie won the season.
I was a real fan of Zendaya and Val’s partnership and I think the choreography he did in that season was what he does best. However, his attempts to incorporate the troupe and duplicate what he thinks got others their mirror ball trophies have fallen flat. And if AB is looking to compare routines, look no further that Meryl and Maks’ freestyle and Val and Janel’s freestyle. Those dances were very similar imo. Derek is really an extraordinary choreographer and dancer who works at another level. He always showcases his partners and I always see connections between them. Also, one thing I really appreciate is Derek not using his partnerships to promote himself. Rumer is completely decked out in Val’s clothing line. Why do his partnerships always end up looking a bit seedy.
Personally Suzy, I think Kellie and Derek had a “connection,” “chemistry,” whatever you want to call it, from the beginning. Those two were just special together. But even though I consider their partnership to be special, doesn’t mean that I don’t think Derek can have a connection with other partners. He certainly can and he has in the past. I really think Carrie Ann’s “sex on a stick” mentality skews her idiotic judging sometimes. But you’re right, Derek’s partners seem to be the only ones who get the “connection” criticism.Access Hollywood wrote that they “oozed” chemistry. And yes, we saw it long before their freestyle. It was that insufferable Carrie Ann that made such an issue of it.
Well said, Suzy. Couldn’t agree more.
Well said…Kenya Smith…I.T.A.
Remember the famous “I don’t feel you!”
I loved the one thing Kellie & Derek had in common, which was there humorous natures.
Kellie and Derek were my favorite that season. I hate that the judges aren’t able to see connection when theres a friendship not a showmance. Sadie and Mark were a perfect example of that but they all carried on about Janel and Val’s connection.
Maybe what I’m trying to say is that in S16, it was a full neck & neck, week to week competition such as this one. It truly did come down to the final dance. The comparison I make between the Kellie/Derek & Zendaya/Val season & this one is that there is just really good dancing without some weird showmance thing & similar criticisms from the judges. I knew nothing about either contestant at the beginning of S16; from the start was impressed by both of them. In this season, only 1/2 over, with Nastia working on nailing the connection/feeling (which she will, because she’s a fierce competitor), nothing is in the bag. I really liked Suri’s comment in AB that Nastia is seen as not connecting, because it’s part of her gymnastics training…which is what Nastia commented on during her interview with Erin after the dance. I’m a fan of Val’s dancing, just wish that he would tone down some of the other stuff…but I guess he’s honest to who he is? But I don’t think that anyone has this season locked up. As much as I can be a fan of one dancer, I like to think that I can be objective & honestly appreciate excellence in dancing.
I remember it well, KreativeKat. I didn’t think Carrie Ann would ever shut up! She lectured her ad nauseam and still gave her a 9.
Thing is, I think Nastia IS connecting, moravamc. I screen cap the show for my other site and I just screencapped the tango and they look pretty connected to me. It’s much too subjective to be used as a criteria for excellence, especially by those who seem to have another agenda other than an objective discussion.
As for Kellie and Zendaya, while I think they both danced great, it was different from this season in that the so called “ringer” was the one who was pimped to win. Same goes for Season 18 – the massive ringer was pimped to win. Suddenly, this seasons so-called ringer (only not really compared to Riker) is the one who is getting torn down while the theoretical non-ringer (not so sure I believe that one) is the one being pimped to win. And gee, what they have in common is VAL.
It’s funny, I went out for wine and appetizers tonight with some friends from work and we were talking about Val and how it seems like they are trying to make him happen. The feedback I got was that there was too much arrogance. I would also add that, while I’m not a fan, Maks is far and away more attractive than his brother. Val is like the arrogance with not that much to back it up.
What do you think would happen if Pure fans refused to comment on AB? I know a lot of us say we refuse to wAtch the show anymore, but how can we actually get across that we despise the negativity and the biased views, that we dislike the anti Derek views of guests like Serge, but appreciate the fairness of guests like Mark and others? Do the AB panel enjoy reading our opinions? Are they happy that we are riled up and commenting on their show or would they lose some credibility if we just fell silent? Just putting it out there. I personally think the only way to change their biased viewpoints and include some fair content on ALL the celebs is to ignore them completely. As Courtney would say, “Discuss.” (Courtney, imitation is the ultimate form of flattery!)
You nailed it, PH. I’ve been checking out your screen caps of Nastia and Derek’s dances on PDH (thank you, by the way) and week after week, the dance chemistry between the two of them is there. It’s just typical Stooge behavior to choose something early in the season and then beat a couple to death with it. Since Derek prepares his partners so beautifully each week, there’s nothing much for the Stooges to glom onto except the nebulous “connection” thing. Unfortunately, we know the sheeple buy the Stooges’ crap and the biased will never admit to something that negatively impacts their agenda.
I’m relieved to hear less avid viewers of the show see and are put off by Val’s arrogance. I agree completely that as much as Maks has become a disappointment/laughingstock to me, he’s far better looking than his brother and has the ability to make himself pleasant (when it suits his purpose). The same can’t be said for Val.
I tend to think that the worst thing you can do to anybody is ignore them. The opposite of love isn’t hate, it’s indifference. 🙂
So, PH, we think alike!
Hi! I am new to dwts! I just want to say thank you for all your posts!
So I am just wondering, when did this whole “fam” vs hough thing happen? It reminds me of high school LOL. And is it just me or do I feel like Derek doesn’t really care about them. Haha, he’s Derek.. He has better things to do and his head is in a positive place.
So when did this rivalry start? And was it always like this? :0
Re 117, I wasn’t watching back then but I would guess it had to start to some extent back when those 3 Ballas Brats (Julianne, Mark, and Derek) entered the picture and started sweeping up the wins and spots in the finals by being extremely creative and entertaining.
Meggie, I’m in the “ignore them” camp. My visits to AB stopped early in Season 19 and I haven’t darkened their door since.
If KB and company were willing to engage in a legitimate dialogue with those of us who have concerns about their biases, it might be worth posting on their site. However, they just ignore the comments they don’t like and lap up praise from their sycophantic minions.
It bugs me that because Pure is so thorough in covering all things DWTS, we’re providing a portal for fans who might not otherwise find AB. Once they get to the AB site, they hear a bunch of biased commentary which most swallow whole because it’s coming from “experts”.
The Fam vs The houghballas shouldn’t even be a competition. There are 9 vs 2 MBTs in total if you count Tony in the fam.
Julianne won season 4
Julianne won season 5
Mark won season 6
Derek won season 7
Mark won season 8
I guess the new bees scared them well back then.
Even if this competition and rivalry is fan made it’s very well shown in all the shade that they throw. Not everybody is equally well behaved I guess.
Cidra, I have noticed that KB hasn’t popped in here lately to defend some of the things stated on AB. I can’t decide whether it is because she is ignoring us or whether she agrees with some of what is said here and she really can’t defend it. Also as PH says, she doesn’t want to offend her biased guests. AB TV is a numbers game, I know . What I don’t know is if Pure fans are contributing to those numbers if we access AB through this site??
You are, Meggie. We don’t rip them and repost them, we simply embed the youtube. That means they get the viewing numbers when you watch it from here, just like they would if you watched it on youtube.
I’ve never done the “5 stars” thing they’re always begging for, but since that means so much to them maybe we should go there and give them 1 star. Maybe mods can say if this would have any impact.
Suzy #123, I think AB is a podcast, that is why they always ask for 5 stars because that’s how they keep the show on. They upload the YT version hours after the live show.
Sorry Suzy but I find downright sad if people actually go and do that. I feel sorry for the hosts because they can’t please everyone. I don’t understand what people actually expected from this episode. Surely you knew what to expect with Serge on as a guest. Just don’t watch it for gods sake! It really annoys me because I enjoy DWTS as a show and to listen to a show dedicated to it is interesting. I disagree with the panel often but I RESPECT their opinion because it is AN OPINION BASED PODCAST. If you don’t like their opinion don’t watch it! Simples!
M8, there’s one thing to be unbiased and another to be misreporting FACTS, which is exactly what they are doing. And as far as giving them bad ratings on iTunes, as consumers, people have the right to do that if they feel the hosts are doing a poor job.
That’s just it though Ananya it’s an opinion based podcast. The people on that show are not privy to the facts so all they can do is express what they think is happening even if it’s wrong (which they’ve been doing wrongly doing all season regarding Derek and Nastia’s rehearsals). The show isn’t being produced by journalists, it’s being produced by fans of the show who have obviously worked hard to gain respect of the dancers involved with the DWTS.
It says a lot to me that Mark Ballas while still in the competition dedicated a chunk of his time to come on the show and talk candidly on the show. Now if Suri and KB had a reputation of bias and disrespecting pro dancers (such as Derek, Mark’s best friend) do you really think Mark would have taken his time to go on the show.
You have a point regarding iTunes, for what it’s worth I’ve never rated the show and just watch it on youtube when they post it but if the show annoyed me to the point of not wanting to give it my time then I’d do what I do in the case of any other TV show and just not watch it or waste my time commenting about it.
Legal definition of slander: Slander is a form of defamation that is actionable as a common law tort in which an individual makes an oral “publication” of a defamatory statement of and concerning the plaintiff that is heard by a third party resulting in damage to the reputation of the plaintiff.
If one can argue that the facts surrounding Derek’s actual time working versus the incorrect statements repeatedly made my those on AB, a really good lawyer could even argue that if Nastia and Derek gets eliminated, it was in part to misrepresented facts that damaged their reputation and lost wages as a result.
Of course, I think the lawyer would have to prove that they knowingly or through negligence spread misinformation.
Also, I think this is all silly because Derek would never ever do anything like that, just interesting to consider their liability.
Also also, I’m pretty sure they only got Mark on because one of the regular guest hosts is Darvina, his best bud.
Kristyn Burtt IS a journalist, so I expected better from her. It’s obvious there was more than scheduling issues with Henry, but they won’t talk about it cause they’re chummy with Henry and has a lot of C-bro fans as followers.
I agree with Fig, the only reason they got Mark was because Darvina was a guest. That reminds me, look at the difference between Mark and when Tony appeared in season 17. Tony kept steering the conversation back to him and Leah, whereas Mark was gracious about each and every couple, and only talked about Willow when it was their turn. What is it with the fam and the need to promote themselves?
I stopped watching AB since that episode. I’m usually at work during their show, so I can never see it live. But I do get the gist of it from Social Media and stay away.
Actually, it is being produced by entertainment journalists, M8. Maria Menounous is on E! NEWS, after all.
The problem with a show like this is that you can’t really win. You have to sacrifice your journalistic integrity, if you had any to begin with, in order to not offend the people you want to come on your show. BUT, you do that at the expense of half the fans of the show…so what do you want? Dancers to come on or viewers watching? And does it matter if the dancers come on if no one is watching??
Honestly, mainstream media often has the same exact problem – it was really prevalent during the Bush administration. They wouldn’t report all the facts too strenuously because they were afraid of being black balled and not getting access. I’m sure shows like GMA and Today are still behaving that way. The media in this country is really in a MESS.
Exactly, Ananya – if you don’t like the show, for whatever reason, you rank it accordingly. Also do them a favor and leave a comment as to why you didn’t like it.
There is no requirement to be sunshine and roses. That said, I would only down rank it if you actually watched it and didn’t like it. That’s why they have rankings to begin with.
The show is free publicity for some like Serge. He doesn’t have anything else. Paul may have drank the kool aid about Rumer. He would have been more generous, you think, to Derek who gave him another chance to do a dance tour and be featured a lot.
Afterbuzz was better before they had constant guests. When it was just an opinion podcast, I didn’t feel like they had to try to appease guests. They should go back to bc honestly there is not enough time either. Also could be their friendship to Henry really tainted their POV on Nastia. Maybe Suri didn’t Iike Nastia as a gymnast either bc they are tougher on her than Meryl. Meryl had partnering experience and performance. She had to emote with every dance. She already had the character down. Another reason why I find people expecting Nastia to be even better thanMeryl silly. It has be frustrating to Derek and Nastia that they are getting no credit for what they are doing well which is so much. Yet being picked on for such small things.
Oops clicked submit too soon. I think if someone wants to rate them low, they can. That’s the point of it and way for listeners to provide feedback. KB clearly is only looking at positive comments. She never comments or responds to those who call out their bias and hypocrisy. Also as for views, they have Riker on dwts. His fans are online and many of them watch and comment. Don’t necessarily think it is bc the product is better
KB actually did respond to my comment weeks earlier about being very disappointed that none of the judges and none of them caught the lift that Robert and Kym did in their foxtrot in week 2 when that’s exactly what Nastia and Derek were penalized for the previous week. She responded something like the rules are so complicated or something, to which I wrote that the rules couldn’t be clearer. It’s the inconsistent application of those rules that’s the problem. At which point I posted a barbed comment on Carrie Ann’s Parade page. Anyway, I just wanted to say that at least once KB “responded,” such as it was.
Suri said that Nastia and Derek were “her team” early on. Which is why I think Henry tainted that in some way.
Yes PH, The AB crew was really promoting Henry being Nastia’s ‘other’ partner. I don’t think they took it well when Derek disposed of him.
There is nothing wrong with rating the show one star, if it really was one star quality, and more importantly if you actually watched or listened to it. I don’t think it’s fair to the hosts to rate them poorly because you just don’t like what they have to say. It’s opinion based, not investigative reporting. They watch the show and give their opinion. Not sure what they are expected to do – engage in a full-on argument about Serge’s ignorant remark? They probably considered the source and made a on-the-fly decision not to engage, or were just too stunned to say anything. You give that crap attention, it gets legs and they did not fall for it.
Melissa, Siri has said many times that she likes Nastia, and from what I got from the conversations, actually knows her. She has said that she’s rooting for them, but she just doesnt feel them. they don’t do anything for me either. Same with Willow snd Rumer.
Artem was a guest during the switch up for season 18 and he was talking about how you can see a dance that performed technically perfect, but it may not make you feel anything. He said he’d rather feel something. I’m synopsizing, but you get the point.
I think that AB needs to “sweep the house” and start fresh. No more bitter Anna, no more Suri and definitely no more Serge or equivalent who likes to throw shade, but who has to answer to no one . If they insist on having someone like him on the show, pair him with a a guest who is fair/diplomatic like Shirley B., Emma, Tristan, or Sharna. They need someone who will actually call out some of this BS and will engage in an actual debate . Otherwise, the show is in the vein of a tabloid magazine. I can say anything I want, true or not, because who’s going to stop me?? I just need to fill the air time, cause a little drama, and get a few digs in to influence the gullible audience who might be listening.
I wonder if Maria M. Ever listens to some of this garbage??
Maggie, the problem is that many of the people you mentioned are busy. The only reason why Mark was able to come is that Willow has to take Tuesday’s off because of her age. This is why they get who they get – they’re available. I like Jake but he’s in Cats right now which I’m sure he prefers.
Many people last Tuesday were filming the Anniversary Show.
Jill here is my problem with AB. When they have a guest or even when Anna repeats half truths or even lies as the gospel,(over & over) and no one contradicts them, and the comments stand as fact. When u hear someone say a lie and u don’t speak up, u are in fact adding your approval to the lie. Sorry but these guys have push the shade envelope as far as Derek is concerned for too long.