Bruno Tonioli | Pure Dancing with the Stars

More Changes Coming For Dancing With The Stars Season 17??

As previously reported, Dancing With The Stars is trimming back to one show a week next season. Get ready as there may be even more changes coming. According to the NY Post, there is going to be a shake up at the judges table. Also, Derek Hough, Mark Ballas, and Cheryl Burke may not be returning. Also, eliminations are expected to happen at the beginning of each show. Interesting. Here is more….

After 16 seasons, TV’s top-rated competition show is being cut to one night a week and given a radical makeover— which will likely include a shakeup at the judge’s table.

“No one has a confirmed contract yet,” a show source tells The Post. “I think Bruno [Tonioli] will be back, but Carrie Ann [Inaba] and Len [Goodman] are probably gone.

“The network has been very evasive about it.”

“Dancing” will also be losing several of its most popular professionals.

Four-time champ Derek Hough will sit out next season to work on a new scripted show about the world of dance for the Starz cable network. Fellow pro Mark Ballas is also reportedly in talks to appear in his own reality show.

Fan favorite Cheryl Burke is also unlikely to return, the sources say.

“[The producers] will use this time to figure out how to restructure the show and trim fat off the budget,” the insider says. “The show has become too expensive.”

ABC has declined to confirm whether the dancers or contestants will be asked to accept pay cuts now that the Tuesday night results shows have been scrapped.

Eliminations are now expected to be announced at the beginning of each new episode.

Lance Bass, Audrina Patridge, Bruno Tonioli, Elena Grinenko Help To Preview The DWTS Finale, Couples Interviewed

The day we’ve all been waiting for!! Good luck too all who make this show happen. And to help us get excited even more is ABC’s Dancing With The Stars Season 16 Finale Pre-party!! Former contestants Lance Bass and Audrina Patridge stop by (it’s fun to see these two again). Bruno Tonioli is unplugged. He mentions all the dances he’s loved so far and gives some advise and predictions for what might happen tonight (you’ll love this part too). Also, former pro Elena Grinenko joins the panel to help preview tonight’s finale (it’s fun getting her take too. I always love her accent.). Also, there is some interview footage with the couples from the 300th episode party at the end. They talk about some of their dances tonight. This is a really good one! Also, don’t miss some backstage coverage from yesterday (Sunday) on GOOD MORNING AMERICA HERE.

Dancing With The Stars Judge Bruno Tonioli Breaks Down The Final Four (Video)

Judge Bruno Tonioli breaks down the final four on Dancing With The Stars. He talks on each of their strengths and weaknesses. See if you don’t agree. Once again, he pretty much nails it.

ETA: Bruno also discussed the judges chemistry and the Final 4 with XFinity. Note how he thinks Aly has had the most interesting journey. He also comments on Andy Dick and how ultimately he shouldn’t have made the final which I’m not sure I agree with. Why can’t an “entertaining” person make the finale?

In fact, Bruno said he, Len, and Carrie Ann Inaba have a special chemistry that has lasted 16 seasons — unlike on other judge-revolving reality shows — “DWTS” has never replaced any judge on the original panel.

“I think you can not create chemistry,” he said. “It sounds good on paper at times, X, Y and Z doing this and that, but it is not guaranteed and a lot of times, a show loses a lot because it can not recreate some kind of original chemistry that was there initially. It’s something either you’ve got or you haven’t. Especially when you work [on] live [TV] and you’re unscripted to generate that quick-fire is actually not easy to do.”

Meanwhile, Bruno thinks “DWTS” has its perhaps strongest Final 4 ever in Jacoby Jones, Kellie Pickler, Aly Raisman, and Zendaya Coleman. According to Bruno, Olympic gymnast Aly has had the most interesting journey on the show this season. “She has become a performer. It’s wonderful to see a young girl who has discovered a new talent within herself and is growing so much.”

And he said of fan favorite Andy Dick, who exited the show earlier this season, “Andy brought incredible entertainment. I could watch him every week. Obviously, he wasn’t the best dancer, but he turned it on for the public and, of course, you respond to that.”

When asked if there should be a way for the more entertaining personalities to stay on the show longer, Bruno said no. “Ultimately, it has to be the best dancers to get to [the finale] because then you do a comedy show. There is no way you could have Andy in the final next to Zendaya.”

More at XFinity including Bruno’s thoughts on the new format and a “best of the worst” season.

Katie Couric And Louis Van Amstel Cha Cha For Dancing With The Stars Judges And Hosts

What a fun segment on the Katie Couric show yesterday!! Look how Louis van Amstel taught Katie how to Cha Cha. Then they performed for Brooke Burke-Charvet, Tom Bergeron, Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli and Len Goodman. So cute. We need Katie to do Dancing With The Stars next season. For those new to the site, this isn’t the first time there has been talk of this. Come on, Katie! Please do Dancing With The Stars.

I hope this video works. If not, see this link.

Dancing With The Stars Season 16 Week 5 Post Elimination Media

Just a couple of post Dancing With The Stars results media things to share!! First up, here’s a new rumorfix interview with Andy!! He’s so thankful he made it to another week. You can see him interacting with his family too. It’s so cute.

Also, in case you missed it, Cheryl and D.L. were also on Good Morning America today. They chatted about the Boston Bombings and how hard it was to go on with the show afterwards. They also discussed their elimination. Even though D.L.has to burn his dancing shoes now, D.L. said he’s glad he met a new friend in Cheryl. Cheryl said the same and how he reminded her of how fun it is to do Dancing With The Stars. When asked who would win this season, they both said they thought Jacoby would win. More of this interview HERE.

Also, below is D.L., Cheryl, and Bruno being interviewed by Tony working for Extra last night (you have to skip to the :30 mark to view it)….

Lastly, below is Cheryl and D.L. with On The Red Carpet and Access Hollywood….

ADDING: Below is an Afterbuzz interview with these two as well… Read more..

Bruno Tonioli & Len Goodman Get Their Tango On in Strictly Come Dancing Promo

TGIF!!! It’s t minus 1 hour till the weekend on the east coast, and what better way to celebrate than with this kind of awesome promo for the latest season Strictly Come Dancing, DWTS’s cousin from across the pond?

It doesn’t get much better than Bruno & Len (and fellow judge Craig Revel Horwood) taking judge Darcey Bussell for a spin around the dance floor to some Bowie I must say, Len still impresses, even years after competing himself – dude still has great lines. Bruno wasn’t too shabby, either…although I would say the bulk of his appeal was the drama with which he carried off the steps. Just one question: when do we get to see Carrie Ann establish some street cred like this?

Thanks to Marianya for finding this little ditty our way – she’s currently traveling and was unable to post this herself.

If Paula Abdul Has Her Way, She’ll Be Returning To Dancing With The Stars To Judge

Hi ALL!!!! HOW ARE YOU? I’m back from my Madonna trip (OMG, her show was phenomenal again!!) and it sounds like this past week was a great one for dancing on Dancing With The Stars? I’m just starting to get caught up. I’ve watched a third of the show from Monday night enough to see Paula Abdul trying to mimic and flirt with Bruno. Too funny. Speaking of, below Paula talks about judging the show and Bruno at US Magazine. She also comments for how she was only approached to judge Dancing With The Stars this one time, but, “if she has her way, she’ll return to the panel again very soon.” Hmmm? Not sure what she means, but, would you be open for more judging from Paula on Dancing With The Stars? Let us know what you think in the comments section.

“I hope you could see how much fun I was having,” Abdul, 50, gushed to Us Weekly after critiquing Kirstie Alley, Bristol Palin and others during the performance show. “It felt like home and was very natural.”

Especially impressed with Shawn Johnson’s fancy footwork, the X Factor and American Idol veteran (and seasoned dancer, choreographer and former pop star) couldn’t help but get flirty with judge Tonioli during the taping. Critiquing Johnson’s mambo with Derek Hough, Abdul reached for Tonioli and began rubbing his chest to illustrate the sex appeal she felt the couple exuded through their routine. “While I’m giving my critique, I’m just going to touch him,” she mused.

Having sat next to Simon Cowell on both The X Factor and American Idol, Abdul naturally compared her chemistry with Cowell to her chemistry with Tonioli. “He’s very accommodating,” she said of Tonioli. “If it was the guy I used to sit next to, Simon, it would have been like ‘I’m sorry my fingers are stuck in a mass of hair.’ And he probably wouldn’t have let me [rub his chest].”

Abdul told Us that she was only approached to appear on DWTS for one night only, but if she has her way, she’ll return to the panel again very soon.

I hope Paula does the show again, but, I’m not sure I’d want her to judge full time. As much as I complain sometimes on our three judges, I like them just the way they are.

One more thing before I wrap this post up: I want to give a huge shout out to Heidi and Court to thank for them for covering me while I was away. Don’t they rock it and I missed you All loads!!xxxx

DWTS 15, Week 2 – The Cheesecake Awards!!!!

Heidi: I’m on a roll…or a tear, depending on your POV, this week. I’m feeling mean. You’ve been warned. Don’t come crying to me later for my sense of humor having a mean streak this week.

Courtney: But everyone out to be thankful that Heidi’s on a streak, because I myself am feeling a bit…sedate. Apparently I am allergic to either Cajun seasoning or lump crabmeat, as I broke out into hives about 15 minutes after sampling a hot seafood dip Mama Spence made for the Colts game. A few hours, a trip to the urgent care, and a shot of dexamethasone later, I’m feeling less itchy…but a little blaaaahhhh. But hey, at least the Colts beat the Packers!

The C U Next Tuesday Award, Redux: Carrie Ann Inaba, for rather heavy-handedly chastising Bristol Palin for breaking hold in her quickstep

Courtney: Let’s get one thing straight: I fully acknowledge that Bristol & Mark broke hold in their dance (if you haven’t yet, see my post about it) and I agree that the judges were right in pointing it out. HOWEVER – I don’t endorse CAI for going all Regina George on Bristol for it, claiming she was going to “slam back” because Bristol “slammed them in the face” by breaking the staying in hold rule. First of all, I have to laugh at how egocentric CA must be to think that all the couples break rules with the intention of somehow dissing the judges – I’ve heard her make the same ridiculous assumption about couples doing lifts, as if every single choreographic decision the couples make that doesn’t fit into her her specific (and ever-changing) rule book is a personal insult to her. My god, woman, IT’S NOT ALL ABOUT YOU!!! Second of all, at least direct your unwarranted indignance at the real guilty party – Mark. Have you somehow forgotten that the pros ultimately make the choreographic decisions??? I don’t care how much influence you may think a celeb has over their pro partner - the pro gets the final say in the choreography, and if it really was Bristol insisting they break hold (and I’m not sure it was), then Mark should have had the cojones to put his foot down and tell her no. But that’s neither here nor there – CA is a grown woman, not a teenage girl slamming another girl against a locker for stealing her boyfriend/copying her outfit/whatever. Grow up, ya diva…before they have to pull an extra chair up to the judges’ table for your ever-growing ego.

Heidi: She’s just a nutbar. As you said she’s done this before – taken it as a personal insult to her that someone broke the rules. Like Derek or Mark or Maks sit in a room with their partner saying, “What can we do to REALLY get CAI’s goat and piss her off?” But see, that’s the difference between CAI and the pros on this show. The pros are actual choreographers…it’s an art form, and sometimes they make creative decisions to put together the most exciting, memorable dance and that means a rule gets broken. I doubt CAI was considered until they looked at the final routine and figured that they better warn their partner they might get in trouble because CAI is a self centered biotch who thinks it’s all about HER.

The “Making out is the new black!” Award: Helio & Chelsie and Apolo & Karina, for finding ways to smooch in their routine; honorable mention – Val Chmerkovskiy, for finding any excuse he could to kiss Kelly on the head/hand/arm/etc.

Courtney: This seemed to be one week where the makeup department was discouraged from using the long-wearing lipsticks that we’re used to seeing – as both Helio & Apolo proudly sported lipstick kisses on their faces from their female partners. Love certainly seemed to be in the air this week…maybe they were inspired by Kirstie’s enthusiastic congratulatory smooch to Tom last week?

Heidi: Well, I think Val and Karina have crushes. Don’t know what the hell the deal is with Chelsie.

The “STFU Already” Award for Beating of a Dead Horse…AGAIN: Len Goodman for YET AGAIN reminding us of how shocking Sabrina’s elimination was in Season 6

Heidi: OMFG…how many times do we have to hear about this!!! Are they going to give her top of the leaderboard every week just to get the story they want at the end of the season?? “The most shocking elimination EVER finally wins!!! All is right with the fucking world.” :::rolls eyes::: I think I actually freaking screamed when he said it yet again.

Courtney: Wait…Sabrina’s elimination was shocking? Hold the phone. MIND…BLOWN. Read more..

DWTS Season 15, Week 1 – The Cheesecake Awards!!!!

Well kids, we’re back & snarky/juvenile/perverse/etc! And for those of you not accustomed to our particular brand of humor – consider yourself warned. We swear, we get innuendo-y, we make fart jokes, and we call people out for being stupid on the show. If you are hypersensitive/lack a sense of humor/are a prude/whatever, you probably should just skip this post altogether…and you sure as hell better not comment on it. Because any Debbie Downers/Bobby Buzzkills lurking in the comments section will be deleted without a 2nd thought. Consider this the party post – party poopers need not apply, because we have plenty of fellow freaks who love to party along with our special brand of humor. Party on, Wayne

The “C U Next Tuesday” Award: Carrie Ann Inaba, for repeatedly calling out Tom for cutting her off

Courtney: We learned pretty quickly on Monday whether we’d get cool Carrie Ann or bitter, angry Carrie Ann this season – and I think she made it pretty clear it’s definitely the latter. Look, CAI, I get it: your fairytale engagement didn’t result in a fairytale wedding, and you’re probably not too happy about that. But did you really have to repeatedly heckle EMMY AWARD-WINNING HOST Tom Bergeron for cutting your commentary on Joey & Kym’s cha-cha off early? It was pretty obvious the show was moving at breakneck speed in order to fit everyone in, and I daresay that, being the EMMY AWARD -WINNING HOST of a LIVE reality tv show, Tom Bergeron knows a thing or two about effectively fitting into a time frame while still being entertaining – plus he probably had the Muppets upstairs screaming in his earpiece to move things along. I highly doubt whatever long-winded critique you were going to offer up was all that insightful, CAI – it seldom is. Yet your excessive self-importance forced you to interrupt things not once, not twice, but THREE TIMES to remind everyone that Tom cut you off – who’s the asshat now?

Heidi: My brother texted me during the show to call CAI names….then commented that her tampon is in sideways. Yes, that is my family…we tend toward gross at times. But also very apropos. But seriously, don’t heckle The Berg, biotch. It’s not all about you. Hard to believe, I know.

Courtney: Looks like someone had a bad case of Emmy Envy.

The “Deeerrrrp” Award: Chelsie Hightower, for getting confused over the native languages of Brazil & South America; (dis)honorable mention – Val Chmerkovskiy, for not really knowing what Kelly did for a living

Courtney: “Wait…they speak Spanish in South America???” I’d like to think this was taken out of context, but from the puzzled look on Chelsie’s face…I doubt it was. And by the earnest expression on Val’s face as he asked “Oh, you work in a hospital?”, I’m gonna venture a guess that “catching up on the soaps” is not on Val’s list of hobbies

Heidi: Both were hilarious…but I was yelling at my TV, saying “Chelsie, STOP talking, yer makin’ it worse”, while laughing at her. Val I thought was just endearing…and for Kelly, humbling.

Couple’s Schtick That is Most Likely To Get Old VERY Quickly: Sabrina & Louis reminding everyone that Sabrina was voted in and this season is “all about redemption”; (dis)honorable mention for Derek’s short jokes and Kelly & Val’s pattycaking

Courtney: I just think the short jokes are corny And I guess I would just rather see Kelly & Val doing something other than pattycaking…something more…intimate. Maybe if they were playing pattycake with their face. LOL But the Sabrina & Louis “the viewers chose us to be here!” and “this is all about redemption because Sabrina left too early” poppycock is just beyond annoying at this point. If that’s their big reason why people should vote for them – then they must not be that special, because every week that any of the couples is sticking around, is a week they are being “chosen” by the viewers, since they’re obviously getting votes. And you want to talk about “redemption”? Gilles was narrowly beat out for the MBT by a mere 1%. Joey & Kirstie are both 2nd place finishers; Bristol finished 3rd in her season, and was pretty unpopular. Drew, Kelly, & Emmitt are all trying to prove that the earlier champions are every bit as good as the newer ones. I daresay any of the names I just mentioned have a greater hunger for “redemption” than a 7th place finisher who just couldn’t get the votes to stick around in season 5…and has been reminding us about it ever since.

Heidi: Eh, I don’t mind the short jokes and Derek usually recognizes the shelf life of joke in general. (I have to say, though, that the harassment he got from one Shawn fan freak on Twitter was OTT – yo, Derek ain’t the one that looks bad here, nutjob!) Also didn’t mind the patty caking – was rather amazed by that, actually. Not sure I could do that without a shit ton of beer to relax me. :-) But the Sabrina crap is in a whole other league from those other two because we’ve been hearing for YEARS about her (not) shocking elimination. Talk about drinking game potential. Get the fuck over it already! I’m about ready to stick a pen in my eye. Guess what kids – you were voted in over Carson and Kyle, NOT the rest of the cast. You better hope like hell that Team Sabrina is a lot bigger than I suspect it is. Read more..

Congratulations to Tom Bergeron, Emmy Winner!!

Tom Bergeron won the Emmy for outstanding Reality Host tonight! Very well deserved and its about damn time!

His acceptance speech was quintessential Bergeron, closing by thanking Jeff Probst for not being nominated.

ADDING: Vogue here and here are some fun photos from the night of Tom and Carrie Anne in their finest at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles, California!

Lots more pictures of the night at Zimbio Pictures and Getty Images including judge Bruno Tonioli and former contestants from Dancing With The Stars.

Troupe member Oksana Dmytrenko also posted this picture of herself and John Birkitt going to the Emmy’s at her facebook page. What do you think? Just beautiful!