How Dancing With The Stars Has Ramped Up Security
An insider tells Page Six additional security has been added to the show. They added more security to rehearsals over the weekend too. Read on for more….
They have ramped up security even through rehearsals and for the crew,” a source told Page Six.
The additional security measures come one week after hecklers rushed the stage during Ryan Lochte’s performance.
“It was very scary,” the insider, who was present during the fiasco, told us. “You didn’t know what was going on. Security handled it very poorly.”
This week, audience members can expect a lengthier process upon arriving to the Television City studio in Hollywood.
“This time they’re going to be patting people down,” the insider noted. “They’ve already sent out a memo saying come an extra hour early … They’re going to lockdown the stage an hour ahead of time.”
To read the full article, see Page Six. Let’s hope everything goes smooth tonight and from here on.
I’m cautiously optimistic last week’s hooliganism was just a one and done, but I suppose it makes sense to put on a bit of security theater before the show so anyone who might be thinking of copy-catting decides it’s not worth it. Patting down the audience as they enter the studio won’t do much if fools just want to rush the floor, but if it makes the audience feel better, go for it. They need to have some plain-clothes security strategically placed in the audience (on the aisles and near or across from the judges’ table) to be readily available to stop trouble before it gets very far. A couple uniformed security visible in a few key places (without going overboard and looking like an armed camp) would also help to remind would-be idiots to stay in their seats.
While obviously it is good to increase the security after such an incident I find it interesting that this person said security didn’t handle things well. Every cast member interviewed including Tom, CAI Cheryl and Ryan himself said just the opposite.
I thought so too, Narice. From the bit the home viewer was privy to, it looked as if the security response could’ve been swifter and less extreme/disruptive (curious the show didn’t completely cut away sooner/altogether) but I’m not second guessing a split second decision made in an unpredictable situation. Prepare for the worst, hope for the best.