Pure Dancing with the Stars

Past Pros Returning For 300th Episode Of Dancing With The Stars, The Wanted And Avril Lavigne To Perform

Get ready for the 300th episode of Dancing With The Stars on this coming Tuesday night! The Wanted and Avril Lavigne are set to perform. There will also be a “spectacular opening number” choreographed by Jason Gilkison with 22 pros and returning favorites, including Chelsie Hightower, Dmitry Chaplin, Louis Van Amstel and Anna Trebunskaya (Does anyone know why Maks has been excluded? Does he have a previous engagement?). Below are more details from ABC MediaNet including details for Monday night’s dances as well.

“Episode 1609 & 1609A” – Five remaining couples take to the ballroom floor during the Semi-Finals on MONDAY, MAY 13 (8:00-10:01 p.m., ET). Each couple perform two routines, inching their way one step closer to the coveted mirror ball trophy. Last week viewers were asked to vote via twitter on a new style of dance for each couple to perform; this week the couples perform their chosen style, including the Flamenco, Charleston, Afro Jazz, Lindy Hop and Hip Hop. Each couple will also be challenged to take on a ballroom or Latin style dance they have yet to perform this season.

On TUESDAY, MAY 14, “Dancing with the Stars” celebrates its 300th episode (9:00-10:01 p.m., ET). The show will feature music by The Wanted, who will perform their hit, “Fill A Heart,” and Avril Lavigne will perform her new single, “Here’s to Never Growing Up.” The 300th show celebration will feature a spectacular opening number choreographed by Jason Gilkison with 22 pro and returning favorites, including Chelsie Hightower, Dmitry Chaplin, Louis VanAmstel and Anna Trebunskaya. In addition, “AT&T Spotlight Performance” returns for its final installment of the season featuring Sophia Lucia, an incredible 10-year-old dancer who recently set the Guinness World Record for consecutive pirouettes. One couple will be eliminated at the end of the night.

Emma Slater, Sasha Farber, and Tristan MacManaus Discuss DWTS With Afterbuzz

I haven’t watched this in full yet, but, below is Afterbuzz with their Dancing with the Stars “after show” for Week 8. Their special-guests include Emma Slater, Sasha Farber, and Tristan MacManaus. Enjoy!!

Tom Bergeron Interviewed about Dancing With The Stars, America’s Funniest Home Videos ,And More

Tom Bergeron may have a bad cold, but, that didn’t stop him from making a guest appearance on Good Day LA today. He talks about Dancing With The Stars and how far it’s come in 300 episodes (love the mention on Derek!). He also discusses America’s Funniest Home Videos and how he once hosted Hollywood Squares. He was also a fill-in host for Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. Did you know his first job in broadcasting was a radio disc jockey? Lots more below and at the link.

Los Angeles Local News, Weather, and Traffic

Aly Raisman Has Surpassed Her Expectations On Dancing With The Stars

Aly Raisman tells the LA Times that she has surpassed her expectations on Dancing With The Stars. She never expected to improve this much. Here is more in an excerpt….

Q. Do you get worried or scared doing all those lifts?

I do! I am not a dancer, so I am trying these lifts for the first time. On top of that, Mark has an injured back so I can’t mess up! It makes me nervous in practice because I am so scared that if I do it wrong, even slightly, then he will be in a lot of pain!

Q. The semifinals are next week. Did you think you would make it this far?

I had no idea what to expect coming into this competition. I have surpassed my expectations! I never expected to improve this much and to learn so much.

I have to say that I wasn’t feeling Aly again this past week. Her entertainment factor is a little better, but, her legs were stiff a lot. She’s overrated by the judges and it’s getting old.

ADDING: Aly has written a new blog at parade.com. Below she talks about the Afro Jazz next week….

For next week, Mark Ballas and I were assigned the Afro jazz, which we really wanted to get. It’s never been done on the show before. No one even knows what it is, so I thought it would be really cool to try something that’s never been done before. I was tweeting about it all night, Mark has been tweeting about it, and I had my friends and my family tweet about it to help us get it. I really don’t know anything about it, though. I know that it’s tribal dancing, so Mark has been looking up videos on YouTube. He’s very creative, so I can’t wait to see what he comes up with because he always has such good ideas.

I would love to get a perfect score next week, but right now, I’m really trying to focus on making improvements. This week, I felt like I really stepped it up, and I was very pleased with the judges’ comments, especially Carrie Ann Inaba‘s. She said that I’ve improved a lot and she’s the one that’s normally the toughest on me. I just want to keep going in that direction and show that that wasn’t just a one time thing and that I can keep doing it every week.

Carrie Ann Inaba Talks About Dancing With The Stars At Huffpost

Just a quick Update. For those up early, judge Carrie Ann Inaba is going to be a guest on HUFFPOST LIVE this morning at 8:30am ET to talk about Dancing With The Stars. If interested, be sure to check it out HERE.

DWTS Mark Ballas Previews New Album At Billboard In New Trailer

Check out this new “behind the scenes” album teaser from Mark Ballas and see if you like what you hear? I’m really liking it. From Billboard.com today and here’s to Mark’s new music….

He adds, “I think it gives you a really clear taste of what’s to come.” And there is almost certainly more to come. “All of this work will lead to my first full studio production album,” explains Ballas, “where I get to show my true style and musical direction.”

Ahead of his forthcoming album release, Ballas has been working with the likes of producers from Timbaland’s camp including Wizz Dumb and Jim Beanz, plus the Stereotypes. And he’s been doing co-writes with Jozzy, BC Jean and Clarence Coffee, Jr.

Ballas has been working away at his debut for several years. Though his people haven’t announced a release date yet, what they are saying is to expect an album with touches of jazz and blues, merged with rock, funk and flamenco and international pop, and highlighted by big urban beats.

Dancing With The Stars Season 16 Dancer Confessionals For Week 8

Jacoby is feeling defeated, but, Cheryl reminds him that Donald Driver had the same thing happen to him. Did anyone notice or care Kellie’s ear ring being ripped out? Fun as always!!

And thanks to @Jimmbboe always, here is the International version…

DWTS16 Elimination Interviews With Sean Lowe And Peta Murgatroyd

And so we say good-bye to Sean Lowe on Dancing With The Stars. He’s down, but (like on the show last night), Sean says he was just a guy from Dallas and couldn’t dance. Peta points out though that he’s a better dancer than before. No matter what, Sean feels a sense of accomplishment for the hard work he put in. Sean also talks of his wedding and the next chapter in his life. More below with On The Red Carpet, Access Hollywood, and PopTVDotCom. They were also interviewed by GMA this morning. Watch here as it should be posted shortly.

PureDWTS Season 16 Week 8 Interviews After The Elimination, Dances Revealed For Week 9

So, let’s go straight to the On The Red Carpet interviews to see the couples reactions to last night’s elimination and see what they have to say about next week’s dances. First, who needs a repeat of this phenomenal and unforgettable moment on Dancing With The Stars last night? Please, nominate this dance for an EMMY PTB!! While watching this last night, all I could think about was Michael Jackson and how he was trying to defy gravity before he died in his “This Is It” tour. I think he would have been so “awwwed” and proud of this dance….

Ok, with that said, let’s see what George could find out for us for next week. Note first that Jacoby and Karina must have skipped the after show interviews. Maybe they went straight to rehearsals instead?

First up, Derek and Kellie talk of having the Flamenco. Derek hasn’t heard the music yet, but, it will be about “keeping the devil down”. Their other dance is the Argentine Tango! Next week, is all about being intense. George also asks Derek about having 4 couples in the finale. Derek isn’t sure how he feels, but, more routines means more entertainment, so it will be ok. Kellie also talks a little of her new single coming out.

George is having a hard time reading Val and his feelings about having the Hip Hop next week. Val has a lot of research to do. The Quickstep is their other dance. Val is going to try and relax and enjoy the ride for whatever happens. When asked about having 4 couples in the finals, Val is tongue tied, but, mentions how more people would get paid. He hopes just to move and inspire the audience no matter who and how many are in the finals.

Aly and Mark are excited about having the Afro Jazz next week. Mark says it will be very tribal and punk (Mark, a bit of advise… don’t go with any “monkey” moves or monkey costumes). They are also happy with the idea of having 4 couples in the finals. They don’t admit to having a Rumba, but, it’s mentioned at the end. So, I think they do? Read more..

DWTS Season 16, Week 8 – Who Got the Boot? (SPOILERS)

So, DWTS Producers, if you’re keeping track, here’s how much of your show we predicted well before it went on the air:

- That Zendaya would get the encore.

- That you would put Jacoby or Kellie in Jeopardy.

- That you would deviate from the “Bottom two” formula and revert to the “not necessarily the bottom two” formula so that you could not reveal that Ingo is also bottom two.

- That Derek’s new dance would be more incredible than anything he’s done so far.

- That Sean would be eliminated.

And we were correct on ALL counts. Aren’t you embarrassed?? Aren’t you embarrassed to so blatantly pimp an ABC employee? Aren’t you embarrassed by making a fool out of yourselves for the tweens who aren’t even watching the show?? The very best choreographer you have gets treated like crap by an OTT judge (and he’s just the latest in a long line to get OTT treatment) has not gotten ONE encore this season (while the Disney employee is on number 3). Not to mention that week after week you find a way to show NO behind the scenes footage of certain couples, but drool all over others. Heads up – *I* am a regular viewer (soon to be former regular viewer) and you’re only listening to the squeaky, childish wheels. I hope Derek wins an Emmy and tells you to shove it up your….

Anyway….how did we do? Well, Courtney and I barely made it through the first half of the show without falling asleep from boredom.

Heidi: Said Sean was going home and Ingo was in the bottom two OR there would be no bottom two and either Jacoby or Kellie would be there with Sean.

Courtney: Said Sean was going home with Ingo in position number two.

Vogue: Said Sean and Ingo in the bottom two with Sean leaving.

Winners?? Derek Hough for managing to always come out smelling like a rose with amazing f@#king talent, Zendaya for winning this show whether people vote for her or NOT, and Peanut for future super stardom – much deserved.