Very interesting interview with Derek – don’t let the title mislead you, he actually doesn’t back away AT ALL from Nicole’s previous dance experience.  In fact, I think even Derek detractors will have a tough time finding fault with what he has to say. But maybe I’m overly optimistic on that front.  Anyway, from the Seattle Post – TV Guide, a few excerpts:

TVGuide.com: Anna Trebunskaya says you’ve been busting in on her rehearsals with Evan Lysacek. Are you scoping out the competition?

Derek Hough: Totally! We’re constantly walking in, like, “So what’s going on, guys?” [Laughs] It’s funny because Nicole does this certain move in our Viennese waltz that kind of looks like ice skating, like gliding, so every time she does it, she goes, “It’s the Lysacek!” Everyone’s having a good time. She gets along with everybody and she’s enjoying herself. Nicole’s a really hard worker, but we’ve been playing hard as well too. She’s a huge goofball. I thought I was crazy and goofy, but she’s definitely outmatched me.

TVGuide.com: There seems to be at least one person every season with a performing or dance background that people label a “ringer.” Some say it’s Nicole this season. Does that bother you?
Hough: For me, I don’t think it’s Nicole. I think it could be Evan. He performs choreography on ice. He’s like Baryshnikov on ice! Nicole is like, “Wait a minute. I’m a singer who just happens to do a few chest bumps and a few head rolls.” That’s what she compares her dancing to. But what’s so great about this season is that I don’t think there is a definite ringer. You’ve got lots of people who can be very good. Evan will be tough for so many different reasons. Chad [Ochocinco]’s got a great personality. We’ve learned in the past that people who’ve danced before don’t necessarily do well, let alone win. The show is so much more than just dancing. It’s about personality, it’s about story, it’s about charisma. Just look at Ty Murray.

TVGuide.com: How much has Nicole’s dance background helped?
Hough: I hate when people say, “No, it’s a totally different monster. It doesn’t help at all.” That’s ridiculous. Of course it helps! I think what helps the most is her musicality. But it is very true that this is hard. People make it look easy, but that’s what’s so hard about it — making it look easy. It’s definitely a struggle, but I think her dance experience has allowed us to up the ante as far as choreography.

TVGuide.com: Who are you excited to see dance?
Hough: I think Pamela Anderson is going to bring something good. She’s with Damian [Whitewood], the new guy, who’s going to bring new energy. Erin Andrews and Maks [Chmerkovskiy] should be something as well. I can’t wait to see Buzz [Aldrin]. Buzz is a little party animal. I went out twice last week and he was at both parties. He was kicking it right until the end. … This guy is a party animal and he’s 80 years old! He’s awesome. When he practices, he wears this shirt with this guy walking on the moon, and I said, “Is that you?” He said, “Yeah, it is, actually.” “Oh, wow!” [Laughs] People say that he’s a moonwalker, and he doesn’t like that. “No, I walked on the moon. I’ve actually walked on it.” It’s pretty funny because it’s true! You’re like, “Right, sorry. Duh. You’re a legend.”

I previously posted a DWTS 2010 poll to predict the winner of Dancing with the Stars 2010. We’ve had quite a few votes and it’s pretty clear who the 2 most popular stars are on this season of Dancing with the Stars. Looks like right now it’s Evan Lysacek and Nicole Scherzinger’s competition to lose. Here’s the full results to illustrate this fact:

I actually think the battle between Evan and Nicole is going to be epic. I predict that those 2 will reach the highest level of dancing that we’ve seen on any season of Dancing with the Stars. Plus, one or two other dancers are going to just surprise us with their superior dancing ability. My prediction is on Aiden Turner’s dancing keeping him in longer than expected. Will be nice for Edyta to have someone who can dance. At least that’s my prediction.

Entertainment Tonight had DWTS nearly every day last week. Or maybe it was EVERY day.

Got a bunch of media from various shows last week. But first, rehearsal videos from ABC on YouTube. I’ve only included a couple here, visit their page to see all of them.

Maks and Erin

Shannen and Mark, lol

Louis and Niecy

Extra from 3-14-10

Extra from 3-12-10

From ABC:

For everyone asking about twitter accounts, John and I have been updating the Twitter Page! From the “stuff I found funny/bizarre/interesting today category…

Okay, I can’t tell if this guy is going to go all the way, or if he’s going to so annoy the regular DWTS audience that he leaves early. From MSNBC:

LOS ANGELES – Outspoken Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Ochocinco is the latest NFL star to join the “Dancing with the Stars” fray, but while the competition doesn’t start for two more weeks, he’s already got a message for the judges.

“From what I’ve learned in watching these shows, those judges can be a little harsh,” Ochocinco told Access Hollywood’s Shaun Robinson when she stopped by his rehearsal with professional partner Cheryl Burke on Tuesday in Los Angeles. “They have to remember, I am out of my element. Don’t judge me like I’m a professional.”

“Len Goodman, I’m gonna say this to you and I’m gonna say it to you early before the show even starts: ‘Please do not step on my toes, because I will fight back. Thank you,’ ” Ochocinco noted.

Ya know, Len may have blind spots from time to time and be overly critical (Mya, Lil’ Kim spring immediately to mind), but HE is the expert here and we ain’t playin’ football. Doofus. I give him props for not whining about the shoes like past male contestants. This is a pretty long article, of which I took only tiny bits.

He has the potential to be (as good as Smith), if he works hard,” Burke said. “It’s only the first week, but he’s made a lot of progress.”

Included is that progress is getting used to ballroom shoes.

“You know what? I love ‘em,” he told Robinson. “I had to get used to it because I’m a man. … When I got the shoes, it had the little heel on the bottom, but what I’ve been able to do is … to magnify my sway.”

Can you believe that people are doing whole articles on Kate Gosselin’s hair? Dear lord.

Hair’s News! Kate Gosselin is getting ready for her debut on Dancing With the Stars and RadarOnline.com has learned that her stylist Ted Gibson is giving her a slightly new look, starting with taking her extensions out on Wednesday. The $7,000 hair-do Kate has been sporting is coming out, kids.

Kate will be hitting up the Ted Gibson salon on Wednesday and she’ll be back to her famous short-do.

But not for long.

“She’ll have a new hairdo tomorrow because we’re taking them out and we’re not putting them back in until Thursday. So she’ll have short hair for a day,” Ted told RadarOnline.com exclusively.

And Kate will have multiple shades in her new hairdo. “We’re actually doing three different shades of blonde, a caramel, a beige blond and a little bit of a lighter blonde,” Ted exclusively revealed to RadarOnline.com

Nicey and Louis on The Insider!

Lots of the couples on Access Hollywood. Look on the righthand side for other videos.

Wanna make a bet? Of course there are odds on Season 10!! I’m finding that I don’t much care for frontrunner status. The fall is harder.

There are two favorites this season among the 11 contestants with very close betting odds. Newly minted Olympic gold medalist Evan Lycasek with 2 to 1 odds and Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger with 3 to 1 odds . Several factors play into their choices. First, Gold medalist have a very strong track record of winning DWTS. Especially since Evan’s fame has skyrocketed since the Olympics recently aired. Nicole on the other hand, CAN DANCE! Bottom line, she’s a Pussycat Doll. With heavy touring and show stopping moves, Nicole is definitely one to watch.

Aiden Turner: 18/1
Buzz Aldrin: 50/1
Chad Ochocinco: 9/2
Erin Andrews: 7/2
Evan Lysacek: 2/1
Jake Pavelka: 16/1
Kate Gosselin: 16/1
Niecy Nash: 25/1
Nicole Scherzinger: 3/1
Pamela Anderson: 12/1
Shannen Doherty: 16/1

Inside Edition has Erin, Niecy and Pam!

Deena Katz on ET March 3rd – The Casting Process

ET on the New Cast!

…Brooke Burke.  Keeping in mind that I can’t see the announcement on GMA for another hour or so – but Twitter is lighting up in congratulatory messages.  So…CONGRATULATIONS BROOKE!!!

One of the nicest things about the DWTS training center is that several celebs and their partners are training at the same time and I think it causes them to become friends faster – plus they tweet some interesting photos. I found the ABC “offical” rehearsal photos at Access Hollywood – some of the photos below were tweeted by the individual stars.

I first saw them at Access Hollywood and I find some of them quite surprising!! For anyone who hasn’t already seen them, I’ve posted a few below. Visit the site to see the rest. I found Pam Anderson to NOT look like a drag queen which she had been recently. And I love the Evan included his medal.