Who plans to tune in to the Miss America Pageant tonight at 9:00pm ET (ABC) to watch Dancing With The Stars pro Mark Ballas judge? I think I just might!! Here is a little sneak preview for what happened in preliminaries this week….
The Las Vegas Sun also has a cool summary on the Pageant preliminaries which mentions Mark in it. Be sure to read it here if interested as he won “Judge of the Year” and it explains why he is singing above.
Also, below is the Diet Pepsi commercial that Mark choreographed starring Sofia Vergara and his Dad Corky!! I’d say they’ve got themselves a winner here! What do you think?
If you haven’t seen it yet, you can view some behind the scenes footage in an earlier posting here. Way to go, Mark!!
I'm a fashion and music nut....and I have always loved dancing too of any kind. Dancing With The Stars seems to have this way of bringing all of those things together. Derek Hough (one of my favorite dancers) said at a recent Get Healthy event that ‘dancing’ is an outward expression of what is going on inside you. He says that in some ways, everyone dances and it's so true. To TPTB, how about this song for next season's theme song? Robin G Ft. Wilunleashed - A Good Time (Original) // Download High Quality
This is a big week for Mark Ballas. He’s currently in Las Vegas helping to judge the 2012 Miss America Pageant which will air Saturday night, Jan. 14th on ABC at 9:00pm ET. He posted the picture above at his twitter account of he and some of the other Miss America judges Kris Jenner, Raul De Molina, Chris Powell and Teri Polo.
Also, stay tuned for Sunday as the new Diet Pepsi commercial Mark helped to choreograph will premiere during the Golden Globe Awards. The commercial stars Sofia Vergara (love her! She’s on my Dancing With The Stars wish list to dance). Below is a few more details from USA Today.
In last year’s Beckham ad, the Modern Family star (Sofia Vergara) sported a bikini and sent women chasing after the soccer star so she could easily get a Diet Pepsi. In the new ad, Vergara navigates a crowded Miami nightclub to reach a waiter carrying her coveted Diet Pepsi in the shoot choreographed by Dancing With the Stars pro and USA TODAY blogger Mark Ballas.
“All that matters is that I get my Diet Pepsi. I go after my food and my drink, that’s for sure,” Vergara says, laughing. But “I did miss David.”
Her relationship with Pepsi goes way back. “My first work in the entertainment business was 22 years ago when I did a Pepsi commercial when I was 17. My career started.”
Let’s hope this second Pepsi commercial is as iconic as the first which I loved and much luck to Mark this week!!
ADDING: Thanks to Maddy and DWTSGossip, below is some footage “behind the scenes” of the new commercial…
I'm a fashion and music nut....and I have always loved dancing too of any kind. Dancing With The Stars seems to have this way of bringing all of those things together. Derek Hough (one of my favorite dancers) said at a recent Get Healthy event that ‘dancing’ is an outward expression of what is going on inside you. He says that in some ways, everyone dances and it's so true. To TPTB, how about this song for next season's theme song? Robin G Ft. Wilunleashed - A Good Time (Original) // Download High Quality
Heads up Derek Hough and Mark Ballas fans!! The two will be on “Shake It Up” Sunday night on the Disney Channel at 7:30PM ET. You’ll be able to see the “two beasts” (Wha? ) dancing with “beauties” Bella and Zendaya in promotion with the new 3D release of “Beauty And The Beast” to be released in theatres January 13. You can view a fun teaser at Pure Derek Hough here (They are adorable to say the least all dressed up! I love their hair currently too. )
I'm a fashion and music nut....and I have always loved dancing too of any kind. Dancing With The Stars seems to have this way of bringing all of those things together. Derek Hough (one of my favorite dancers) said at a recent Get Healthy event that ‘dancing’ is an outward expression of what is going on inside you. He says that in some ways, everyone dances and it's so true. To TPTB, how about this song for next season's theme song? Robin G Ft. Wilunleashed - A Good Time (Original) // Download High Quality
Transforming soon on Las Vegas will be the most lovely women in America to compete for the title of “Miss America”. As we reported to you earlier, Mark Ballas is set to judge. Today it was announced that Dancing With The Stars Brooke Burke will help co-host the event. Not only that, she is to release two new fitness DVDs. Here is more from Haute Living. You can read more on the show at the link. There is also a stunning photo to see of her.
Today, the Miss America Organization announced Brooke Burke-Charvet as the returning co-host for the 2012 Miss America Pageant. Brooke is the co-host of ABC’s hit show “Dancing with the Stars” in March, having earned the coveted mirror ball trophy as season seven’s champion with her professional dance partner, Derek Hough.
In January, she will release two new fitness DVDs, “Transform Your Body With Brooke Burke: Strengthen & Condition” and “Tone & Tighten,” and her first book “The Naked Mom,” will be released in paperback in February. With close to two million Twitter followers, Brooke has made a name for herself as a trusted resource in the world of motherhood and the social media network, motivating her to co-create the website ModernMom.com, an online community for “the woman behind the mom.” As a pro blogger, Brooke offers an in-depth look into her personal life on the site, building upon her own powerful “Mommy” brand. As a successful entrepreneur, Brooke created the online store, BabooshBaby.com in 2007, featuring her popular post-pregnancy belly wraps, Tauts.
I'm a fashion and music nut....and I have always loved dancing too of any kind. Dancing With The Stars seems to have this way of bringing all of those things together. Derek Hough (one of my favorite dancers) said at a recent Get Healthy event that ‘dancing’ is an outward expression of what is going on inside you. He says that in some ways, everyone dances and it's so true. To TPTB, how about this song for next season's theme song? Robin G Ft. Wilunleashed - A Good Time (Original) // Download High Quality
Last month we reported Mark Ballas will be helping to judge Miss America on January 14th in Las Vegas. But, Mark isn’t the only dancer from Dancing With The Stars to be helping with a beauty pageant. Tony Dovolani and Maks will be helping with the Miss Nevada USA Beauty pageant on Jan 28th and 29th at the Palms’ concert venue, The Pearl, in Las Vegas. Tony will be choreography while Maks will be one of the State’s judges.
Tony Dovolani of “Dancing With the Stars” will be directing the choreography.
The state judges will include “Dancing With the Stars” pro Maksim Chmerkovskiy, Amp salon operator Michael Boychuck, Josh Strickland of “Peepshow” and Vince Neil of Motley Crue.
I'm a fashion and music nut....and I have always loved dancing too of any kind. Dancing With The Stars seems to have this way of bringing all of those things together. Derek Hough (one of my favorite dancers) said at a recent Get Healthy event that ‘dancing’ is an outward expression of what is going on inside you. He says that in some ways, everyone dances and it's so true. To TPTB, how about this song for next season's theme song? Robin G Ft. Wilunleashed - A Good Time (Original) // Download High Quality
Just a couple of FYI’s on our Dancing With The Stars Pros today!! First, be sure to pick up the new People Magazine’s “Sexiest Man Alive” issue. Derek Hough was considered as one of the candidates for 2011! Are we surprised? I think not with those “boy next door” good looks and those fabulous and sexy abs he’s been sporting. Stay tuned to Pure Derek Hough as I’m sure Heidi will have a new picture of Derek soon from the issue.
Also, Mark Ballas has been chosen to judge Miss America coming up. The new 2012 Miss America crowning will take place at the Theatre for the Performing Arts in Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada on January 14, 2012. Mark is following the footsteps of Tony Dovolani who judged the contest last season. You can read more on the pageant here.
I'm a fashion and music nut....and I have always loved dancing too of any kind. Dancing With The Stars seems to have this way of bringing all of those things together. Derek Hough (one of my favorite dancers) said at a recent Get Healthy event that ‘dancing’ is an outward expression of what is going on inside you. He says that in some ways, everyone dances and it's so true. To TPTB, how about this song for next season's theme song? Robin G Ft. Wilunleashed - A Good Time (Original) // Download High Quality
In the Spring of 2010, Tony Dovolani did a “Miss America” evening dress and prom dress shoot for Sherri Hill. The dresses are still available in the Sherri Hill Fall 2011 Collection. He posed in some other fabulous shots like the one seen above which you can view at New Fashion Avenue or E Fashion Central. Doesn’t he look fantastic? He should do some more modeling!! But, then, the same could be said for almost all the pros!
I'm a fashion and music nut....and I have always loved dancing too of any kind. Dancing With The Stars seems to have this way of bringing all of those things together. Derek Hough (one of my favorite dancers) said at a recent Get Healthy event that ‘dancing’ is an outward expression of what is going on inside you. He says that in some ways, everyone dances and it's so true. To TPTB, how about this song for next season's theme song? Robin G Ft. Wilunleashed - A Good Time (Original) // Download High Quality
What have we got here? First, ABC has approved a new drama series called “Grace” which will premiere in May. Carrie Ann is said to be one of the master minds behind the new one hour show. Here is a take from EW.
The second one is dubbed Grace, a one-hour from Krista Vernoff (Grey’s Anatomy) and Carrie Ann Inaba (yep, that Inaba from Dancing with the Stars) that focuses on a dysfunctional family set in the world of professional dance. We trust it will boast a generous sequin budget and, with any luck, a cameo or two by Maksim Chmerkovskiy.
I don’t know about you, but this is sounding very cool to me so far.
This past Wednesday night Derek and Julianne showed up together for the Bvlgari Private Event honoring Simon Fuller And Paul Haggis benefitting “Save The Children” And “Artists For Peace And Justice“. You can see them below. More pictures >>> HERE. Thanks to Heidi and Pure Derek Hough for this news.
Speaking of, Maks has set himself up for some teasing when he sees Derek next time. Read what Derek told Mark Malkim of E Online at the benefit. lol
“I’m going to give him hell when I see him,” says fellow pro dancer Derek Hough.
Why? Because, as you may have heard, Maksim is the new Bachelor—in the Ukraine…
“I’m not going to lie,” Hough told me last night at the Bulgari benefit for Save the Children and Artists for Peace and Justice. “When I first found out, I was very surprised and kind of found it funny.
“Well, not funny, but I know Maks,” he continued. “It was like, ‘You’re going to do the Bachelor? And in the Ukraine?’ ”
Hough said he hopes Chmerkovskiy, who was once engaged to DWTS’ Karina Smirnoff, does find love in his native country. “But when I see him,” he laughed, “I’m going to be like, ‘Dude, you and [former Bachelor and DWTS celeb competitor] Jake Pavelka are in the same club now! Is there a clubhouse you go to? Do you have like Bachelor jackets, too?’ “
As most of you know, Tony is a judge for Miss America which is airing Saturday night on ABC (not last Saturday night like I made a mistake in telling you last week.). In a news conference, Tony talks about the first Miss America he saw crowned and what his life was like when he was younger in Yugoslavia (I didn’t realize he lost so much family when he was young. ).
Dovolani was a pre-teen Albanian when he began watching the Miss America broadcasts in Pristina, the capital of Kosovo of the former Yugoslavia.
When Miss America was crowned, “I thought she was like Mother Teresa,” said Dovolani. Mother Teresa, the Catholic nun who won the 1979 Nobel Peace Prize for her work with slum children in India, was part Albanian and part Indian. She died at age 87 in 1997.
Dovolani was 12 and took part in armed defense efforts when Serbs began the expulsion of more than 100,000 Albanians in Pristina in the 1980s.
“They were trying to take away our language,” said Dovolani, who was 16 and carrying a machine gun the day his family fled for Italy.
Thirty-six of his relatives died during the conflict: “17 young adults, and the rest were women and children,” he said.
Dovolani, who became a naturalized U.S. citizen in the last year, said he was honored when asked to serve as a Miss America judge.
With the promotion of his new album this week, Mark gave The Day an interview on the phone. He discusses his new music and his dancing. Here is a little take from that interview. There is much more at the link.
On the first day of rehearsal, Bristol Palin couldn’t even walk in high heels. So how did Ballas get someone who was starting at ground zero to improve?
“Lots of hard work and patience and communication and making it fun. You can’t make this unenjoyable for someone who’s never done it. You have to take care of them and make sure they’re having a great time. We got along really well, and I love her to death, she’s awesome. She’a great person.”
The “Dancing with the Stars” pros have to work with celebs who possess a wide range of experience and abilities, so choreographing requires an ability to analyze and adjust:
“Well, you have to kind of see what feels natural to them, what they don’t look awkward doing, too. Everything kind of comes in groups, so there’s rhythm groups, turning groups, moving groups. Bristol looked great when she was moving – like in tango, she could cover a lot of ground, and in paso, she could cover a lot of ground. We would never do anything that was too, you know, turny, just because that wasn’t something that she took to as easily as everything else. She had a great sense of timing, and she would retain really well. You have to see what looks good on them and what looks awkward and just try to avoid anything awkward.”
While on his promotional tour, Mark also stopped at Howland Middle School in Howland, Ohio to talk to the students there about ‘achieving their dreams’. With the spotlight being “teen bullying” here is what WYTV reports.
“When I was younger, I used to get a little stick at school because I was a dancer, but it never stopped me,” said Ballas. “I think it’s important that kids believe and enjoy what they do without having to constantly look over their shoulder, know what I mean?”
Ok, that is all for now. Have a safe and super weekend out there!!! If you haven’t done so yet, please take a look at the serious contenders for the upcoming season in the new posts below. Lorenzo Lamas? *fans self and passes out anyway*
I'm a fashion and music nut....and I have always loved dancing too of any kind. Dancing With The Stars seems to have this way of bringing all of those things together. Derek Hough (one of my favorite dancers) said at a recent Get Healthy event that ‘dancing’ is an outward expression of what is going on inside you. He says that in some ways, everyone dances and it's so true. To TPTB, how about this song for next season's theme song? Robin G Ft. Wilunleashed - A Good Time (Original) // Download High Quality
First of all, Carrie Ann was interviewed by Popstop TV this week. In the interview she talks about Lindsay Lohan, Todd Palin, her Christmas plans, and more. Here is a take. Be sure to see the link for more as well as a video that I couldn’t embed here.
“I’ve been asking for Lindsay Lohan since she went to jail the first time,” Carrie Ann Inaba dished exclusively to me.
“Honestly, I definitely think it’d be a great experience for her because she’s very talent. I think it would be a great come back for her.”
Lohan on Dancing With the Stars would definitely benefit not only Lohan but also the network! Who wouldn’t tune in to see Lohan’s foxtrots? But what about Todd Palin, who’s rumored to be in the works of being on the show right after his daughter Bristol?
“Nope,” Carrie Ann said. “I wouldn’t be interested in seeing his moves.”
Carrie Ann is also a big advocate for same-sex couples on the show. “I love breaking down boundaries just in general in my whole life. I think it’s important to break down stereotypes and break down boundaries so I would love to see a same-sex couple on ‘Dancing With the Stars’ but we’d have to figure out some judging changes.”
Any chances of Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi putting on their dance shoes in the near future?
“I would love that! I don’t know if we’re going to be able to get that but I think it would be great.”
Heidi’s Note: I believe that today was the semi-final of Strictly Come Dancing, so we know where Bruno and Len are right now.
In other news out there, Tony Dovolani has officially been picked to be a Judge for the 90th Miss America Contest to be held on Jan. 15th. From Google News.
“The View” co-host Joy Behar and actress Marilu Henner are among seven judges who will decide the next Miss America in January.
Judges for the beauty pageant in its 90th year also include country singer Mark Wills, “Desperate Housewives” creator Marc Cherry and Miss America 1990 Debbye Turner Bell.
“Dancing With the Stars” choreographer Tony Dovolani and shoe designer Taryn Rose are also on the panel.
The selections include plenty of ties to ABC, the network airing the pageant live Jan. 15 at the start of a three-year deal. The pageant hasn’t aired on network television since 2004, when ABC dropped it after record-low ratings.
Here is a new fun interview with Cheryl on her appearance in “Forever Tango“, the current broadway show that is coming to San Francisco from Dec. 21 – Jan. 9 (I am so dying to see this). She talks of why this show means so much to her (the roots of it go way back to when she was a little girl) and how she trained for it last summer in Argentina.
Speaking of shows, Mark Ballas says the show he’s doing, “Burn The Floor” is “bad ass”. Here is a take from The Houston Press.
“People should come to see Burn the Floor because it is bad ass from start to finish. High energy, in your face, awesome dancers, awesome choreography, and it’s a spectacle of our sport. People will love it. This is like Dancing With The Stars on steroids,” Ballas told Art Attack.
After learning eight routines in two days, Ballas opens tonight in Raleigh, North Carolina, then moves to Houston before taking a Christmas break and then rejoining the tour in Pittsburgh in late December and early January.
“I’m excited for the opportunity to keep dancing and be doing a show over the Christmas holiday. The choreographer [and director Jason Gilkison] is a good friend of mine and I have a lot of friends in the show so I thought it would be great to join. ”
Ballas said DWTS is very different from Burn the Floor because on the first, you’re dancing with an amateur. “You have to train them, mentor them and go out and perform with them. That’s in contrast to BTF,” a professional show with professional standards. “It was good to be able to really dance again and get into it and dance how I trained to dance,” he said.
Which isn’t to say he doesn’t enjoy DWTS. “It’s one of my favorite seasons I’ve ever done.” He said he enjoyed working with Bristol Palin “just because she was so sweet, so easy to deal with, so wonderful, so eager to learn, open-minded, kind, loving, caring and just fun to spend time with, and to see her journey from the beginning to where she ended up was just remarkable and as a coach just very satisfying.”
I wouldn’t mind seeing this show too. Also, if you’d like to see some pics of Mark’s new home, he tweeted that you can see some pictures of it in the new edition of Ok Magazine.
Anyone missing and wondering where Maks is like I have been this last week? Well, here he is arriving at the airport, filming, and being interviewed on the Ukrainian version of The Bachelor which he is currently starring in. Can anyone understand what he’s saying? Be sure to see the link for more on this project.
Kym has given Stylelist some of her backstage beauty secrets. Here is take.
“We’ve used hair extensions and pieces since the beginning on ‘Dancing With the Stars.’ And now, everyone at home can achieve those looks. It literally takes five minutes to do. Believe me, your husbands and boyfriends will thank you for it because you’ll spend far less time getting ready.”
When asked how she personally likes to use the extensions, Johnson replied, “To achieve highlights or lowlights without changing my natural color, I use extensions a shade lighter or darker, depending on my mood. I just clip in the strips! It’s that easy and there’s no risk of damage like with glued-in extensions. My favorite piece is the Salsaloosa — it’s like a messy updo, you put your own ponytail in and you just wrap the Salsaloosa around twice like a scrunchy. I prefer the “buttered toast” shade. For the strips I use a shade lighter, like highlights, but you really can’t go wrong.”
And for the show?“Often we go for a 1940s-inspired look and those are complex and glamorous. I like to do a bun, too. I’ve got such fine hair and these just minimize the damage and don’t have that funny synthetic shine to them that lots of inexpensive hair pieces do. I was wearing the extenions when my friend Jai Rodriguez from “Queer Eye” came with me to “Skating With The Stars” and he couldn’t tell I had the extensions on, so I know they’re good, because he would totally have said something.”
What’s a typical day like during the season?“We start at 8 a.m. and half the day is spent in hair and makeup, but it’s fun and social. I go to the makeup area and use gel [under eye] patches from Shiseido and keep them on while my hair gets done — they tighten the skin under my eyes and feel great and cooling and wake me up. Also, you cannot underestimate great lashes. My eyelash curler is my best friend and I use Maybelline Great LashMascara or Christian Dior DiorShow. These are absolutely a part of my daily routine.”
How do you stay motivated?“Each season of ‘Dancing With the Stars’ is grueling. We train about seven hours day every single day once the show starts. We get no days off at all. But it’s so much fun and I’m lucky to be able to do what I love for my job.”
Jennifer Grey’s surgery was a success this past week. She posted on it at Twitter a few days ago.
Thanks once again for all the good thoughts. Dr. Bray performed a perfect surgery yesterday and I am now safely home in bed.
Lastly, it looks like her partner Derek has finallly found a spot for all three of his “Mirror Ball” trophies. He just posted this picture at his twitter today.
He also posted his new refridgerator and a picture of his new couch being lifted into his Condo. As Heidi said to me, he sure is in the nesting spirit lately. We wonder why?
Ok, that wraps up this weekend media edition for now. More soon!! I hope you are all being good or else. Have a fun weekend!! xxx
I'm a fashion and music nut....and I have always loved dancing too of any kind. Dancing With The Stars seems to have this way of bringing all of those things together. Derek Hough (one of my favorite dancers) said at a recent Get Healthy event that ‘dancing’ is an outward expression of what is going on inside you. He says that in some ways, everyone dances and it's so true. To TPTB, how about this song for next season's theme song? Robin G Ft. Wilunleashed - A Good Time (Original) // Download High Quality
) dancing with “beauties” Bella and Zendaya in promotion with the new 3D release of “Beauty And The Beast” to be released in theatres January 13. You can view a fun teaser at Pure Derek Hough 
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xxx
I’m so glad I discovered you few...
