Private Members Area – DWTS Season 25 Week 1 Discussion
It’s time again for Dancing with the Stars chatter! Share your thoughts and insights on this week’s episode of Dancing with the Stars from the comfort of the Pure DWTS Private Members Area. If you’re not a Pure DWTS Insider yet, you can do so here. If you are, then I look forward to the discussion in the comments.
And DWTS is back. Let’s hope and pray for a good season. Especially since it’s Juniors in the Spring, so that probably means we won’t get another regular season of DWTS until next Fall. We can hope Juniors is good as well of course.
Enough looking into the future. What did you think of the premiere? Any standout couples? Any surprised couples (good or bad)? Anyone rubbing you the wrong or the right way?
You know how we do it. Sound off in the comments. If you’re new to the Private Members Area, welcome and thanks for the support.
I like that people who aren’t familiar with Debbie’s music career are finding hope in her Lyme disease story, and Alan was great with her. I feel like my concerns about Debbie fading into the woodwork already seem to be coming true. I hope it’s just too soon to tell though and I’m probably being a paranoid fan.
I was hoping for more lighthearted fun from Barbara instead of Charo Part 2. The “look at how rich I am” routine will backfire, a la Erika Jayne.
Drew Lachey, and the extreme pimpage of him, really rubbed me the wrong way. Are they trying him out for a GMA or DWTSJr host?
I can’t think of any other (good) reason for letting Drew be like the unofficial host all day leading up to the event, and night of.
I loved Barbara. I thought she was a gas and (hopefully) nicer than Charo was. But, I agree with you on Nick. I was shocked that he didn’t dance better.
I was disappointed in the opening too. It felt so used before.
With that said, go Lindsey and Jordan. I hope either of them win. I’d love to see Terrell make it to the finals too.
Ditto on the opening, the effects looked cheap and the theme didn’t make sense. I love Sharna and Alan but wasn’t sure why they would be alone in the desert together, or why Len would be there, or glad to rescue anybody.
The amount of screen time or attention that the Stars got during the big opening was also disjointed in a way that makes me want to scream “manipulation” but it was only the first few minutes of the first night so I’ll chill until further screaming reason is given.
I guess I’m getting cynical after 20 seasons of watching DWTS, but I am seeing more and more how TPTB set things up to suit their agenda.
I wasn’t terribly impressed with the opening, either. I like it better when the focus is on each couple and seeing them do some little skit of dancing (which is a little tease of more to come). That scene in the dessert and Len in a jeep offering a ride wasted time. No wonder the first section of couples didn’t get as long a package time. Some got 3+ while others got 4+ and 5+ minutes of camera time.
But, like Nukegrrrl, I will cool it, for this week and hope for better things to come.
Yes, Barbara is funny and I enjoy her (without all the attraction to Keo talk)though.
I wonder how many will be like me where that music took me back, but I didn’t really know Debbie. I agree with Barbara creeping on Keo. To do it once or twice would be funny. Especially if she used it to poke fun at Robert and Kym a little. I just hope it doesn’t continue.
I think the openings are classic Mandy Moore. When she was on SYTYCD I think she batted about .300 in quality choreographer. The problem was her other .700 were usually strikeouts. I think that is similar to what she does on dwts.
Bored by the opening and a few of the dances. Surprised good and bad at a few.
Jordan – knew he would be good, but that was better than expected
Lindsay – better than expected
Victoria – kind of surprised here. I hadn’t done my research so all I knew was the ongoing debate of whether she is still disabled or not. From what I saw – she was more disabled than I expected. I think she did her best and has an incredible spirit, but I don’t think Val will be able to keep her around
Terrell – kind of surprised I didn’t like him more. Maybe next week will be different
Lost of others got lost in the shuffle for me, so I will only comment on Nick and Vanessa.
Vanessa – surprised me for the good. I expected her to physically be competent (even with her mom-bod comments). She has managed to win over a lot of ppl so far with her personality, which has not been my experience with her. In fairness – she usually doesn’t seem to be trying to win over ppl when I have been around her. So while I was pleasantly surprised, I am still waiting to see if this persona makes it all the way through, or if it is just an act. I really can’t tell which it is.
Nick – disappointed in the overall performance. The comments in the power rankings were spot on – but I think what was missing in the comments, is that IMO his stiff movement is due to over-thinking – which is the competitive thing I mentioned before coming out. I just didn’t see it coming out this early – I thought it would be mid-season. I saw a promo of him and Drew – about Nick feeling he had to win. (I know it was in jest – but there is a lot of truth in that brotherly completion!) So he is battling both the wife and the brother, and I see a lot of him over-thinking and thinking everything needs to be technically perfect. If Peta can get him past that – and back to his usual laid back, have fun guy who is always smiling, then I think we will see him take a huge stride forward. Keeping my fingers crossed on this one – because he is truly a good guy. I would love to see him in the finals – but after seeing Jordan and Lindsay (who IMO are fairly sure things for the final), Nick is going to have to make huge strides to get that last spot.
And finally a question for the mods – in the rankings, you mentioned that Victoria’s situation would force Val to change up his habits and choreo. I agree totally. It has been said many times that Val has had it easy compared to some of the celebs with special needs that other pros (mainly Derek) have ben given. So my question is – do you think that TPTB gave Victoria to Val – to force a change in his choreo/habits? I think I have seen maybe 5 great choreos from him in the last 7-8 seasons. They couldn’t have given Victoria to him because they KNEW he could adjust to her needs, because everything he has shown indicates the exact opposite.
So I just wonder if this was a way of forcing him into some changes.
Thanks mods – great start to s25!
@sarina – I think giving Victoria to Val was less a move by TPTB to force Val out of his choreographic box, and the primary purpose was more likely to improve Val’s image. I think it was becoming more and more of a widely-held opinion among fans that Val only got able-bodied partners, and that’s the only reason he did well; I also don’t think the Down Syndrome comments he made awhile back helped his image. I think giving him Victoria was more an attempt to paint him as a “kinder, gentler” Val than anything else; if it forces him to grow as a choreographer, then I think that’s just an added bonus in the eyes of TPTB.
Thanks Courtney-
Part of me thinks if this move to make him kinder/gentler will backfire. It just doesn’t seem to be in his nature to be the m most empathetic person out there. But then again – TPTB choose what they show us. So even if he was mean/rough with her, I doubt we would see it if in fact this is a ploy to better his image. Does anyone know if/how the lawsuit was settled?