DWTS Derek Hough Discusses The Competition, His Perfect Record In The Finals, And More (Rehearsal Video)
In a new interview with TV Guide, Derek addresses questions about Ricki’s final dances and what he thinks about Rob and J.R. (more below). He also discusses the judges remarks and the impact they’ve had on Ricki and the other contestants. Derek is also very aware that he’s had a perfect winning record whenever he’s been in the finals. More on this at the link. Great interview!
You have four dances now. How are you both handling it?
Hough: It’s outrageous! Last week, when we had three, because we had so much to do, it was almost laughable. It was like, “We can’t even cry about it. We have to embrace it.” I feel like that’s the attitude this week too — just embrace the workload and be excited and feel like you’ve won as far as getting this far and doing well.Your freestyles are always fun. What do you have up your sleeve this time?
Hough: I do have an idea. I’ve been playing around with it in my head, but I haven’t put it to paper yet, so I don’t want to say it out loud. But I think it could be really cool if it all goes according to plan. We’ll see how it shakes out.What do you think of Rob and J.R.? The show has played up your rivalry with J.R.
Hough: Yeah, but that’s all in fun. It’s nothing serious. We’re all really good friends and happy to be in the finals together. I think Rob in Week 1, you’d go, “He probably wouldn’t be in the finals.” I think he would say the same thing. But it’s literally been incredible to see how far he’s come, not just in dancing, but also as a person. But from Week 1, I definitely felt like J.R. would be here. He’s definitely the most natural as far as ability goes and I hope his ankle’s all right. I think he’ll be fine. With Rob and Ricki, they both started from ground zero. But there’s no rivalry between any of us. We said after [Tuesday’s] show, “Let’s just have fun.” It’s going to be a happy final. We’re going to go out and have a good time and whoever wins wins.
Below is Ricki and Derek on Access Hollywood today as well….
Im not going to lie- it kind of annoys me that Derek says “With Rob and Ricki, they both started from ground zero” as if JR did not also start from ground zero in terms of learning to dance. It feels like it slightly discounts how far JR has come and what he has accomplished as a dancer and what Karina has accomplished as a teacher. I think it may be true that JR has more natural ability but I think it is also true that they all started at ground zero since it’s been beaten to death that no one is a ringer in this cast. I know opinions will vary but it just kind of rubbed me the wrong way. I do like his quote about how you just have to embrace the insanity of 4 dances in one week for the celebrities- I thinks thats the only attitude you can have about the finale without losing your mind haha!
I took it as he was comparing Rob & Ricki to each other, which would be hogwash because we all know she has experience lol. JR has said he had NO experience….does Derek know something that JR doesn’t? LOL!!
I don’t for a moment believe Ricki started at the same place as Rob. She is used to being in front of the camera, which is a huge plus from the get-go. I would say she and JR started at about the same place, or she started a bit above JR since she seems to have a basic knowledge of dance even if not ballroom.
I don’t think he meant anything bad. I think Derek’s relating to Ricki/Rob starting from ground zero because of Jrs natural dance ability and latin rhythm, whereas it didn’t come as natural for Ricki & Rob. This is not to take away from JR in anyway. Everyone starts on different levels and I think that’s what he was saying. These three couples seem to really get along well and it shows in how each contestant and pro congratulate the other teams when they do well.
I think they are all working very hard to produce outstanding performances and for me, they are a great group of finalist and I agree with Derek that this will be a fun finals.
Good Luck to all of them.
I dont think they have all started at ground zero at all. I think of all of them, Rob is the one that has had the most improvement. JR has the natural fluidity in his dancing which does help extremely, and Ricki has touched on a tad bit of some dancing before, which can help as well. But Rob, whom is not my favorite has improved the most, with confidence and dancing.
In no way were Rob and Ricki equals coming into this. Not even close. Is Derek saying that JR had an advantage over them coming into this? I would hope that is not what he meant. Which in my opinion is not quite the case.
With all that said, Its going to be a great show. And really at this point I don’t know who is going to pull off the win this season.
Ricki does not have dance experience. She is an actress. What she did in hairspray does not equal dance experience, that’s a joke. Everyone on the history of DWTS has gone to a party or high school dance that’s about what she did-LOL To say that JR has a natural dance ability does not mean you are saying he has previous dance experience, i.e., Brooke Burke or Giles Marini natural dance ability “NO DANCE EXPERIENCE” and it showed from week one.
I think they all have their strengths and weakness. I think Ricki is better in dances like Rumba, Tangos/Paso she’s a passionate performer. The two guys(JR & Rob) are better in the Latin dances like Samba Jive… they really know how to spice it up-not saying their on the same level but both can really shake it up-LOL
Courtney would know how to explain better because for me Ricki’s better in the ballroom dances as she performs more elegant-IMO and the guys are better in latin dances.
I’m just excited about the finals and again I like all of these finalist and their pros. I’m a happy camper.
Some of you say that what Derek said rubbed you the wrong way because it discounts JR’s accomplishments and Karina’s abilities as a teacher. well…i felt like that every time Derek has won DWTS. but this is not the discussion now..i took that as a confirmation that they all think JR is the best dancer among the remaining stars. that is all. also it rubbed me the wrong way when you said that Ricki has previous dance experience…why? because she was a talk show host? yeah…you dance a lot in that one…or because she was in Hairspray 23 years ago, a young, inexperienced, overweight girl that danced the dirty boogie…thank god i took ballet lessons when i was 5…now, at 33, i can call myself an experienced dancer…this also takes away all Ricki ans Derek have accomplished.. doesn’t it? yes she is good in front of a live audience because she was in front of a camera but Rob also stays in front of a camera and JR too so… and yes..Rob is the most improved..but not worthy of that MBT – IMO
Gee, people annoyed by Derek’s innocuous comment about Rob and Ricki now understand how angry I get about the asinine comments that Maks, Mark and Louis have made about Derek’s partners in the past. Comments that were far more egregious than anything Derek could say, especially considering the tone Derek normally uses. Ha. 🙂
I personally do not think that Ricki is an experienced dancer in any way AT ALL – I think Derek has done a good job with her as has Cheryl with Rob.What I am saying is that none of these contestants came into this show with any sort of dance training so in that sense they are all starting at ground zero. All 3 of the pros in the finals had a ton of work to do to get there and I think that is just what should be emphasized. I also think that is what makes this final as fair as its going to get just like last seasons finale’s contestants. I am sure Derek’s tone was extremely polite; I just think it could have been said in a better way if he really was trying to get across the point that everyone thinks JR is the better dancer. I know opinions will vary but I just wanted to clarify.
Not a “Seasoned experienced” dancer, but an actress with dance experience; kind of like Chelsea Kane had.
NO BIGGIE 🙂
# sheery – ok…maybe you know something i don’t….so..again. what is in your opinion the dance experience that Ricki has? i am just curious.
ps: can you do the dirty boogie? i can. have i got dance experience?? NO! as i said..just curious.
Geez…poor Derek, why do people have to jump on him for his opinions? He’s the most polite and nicest guy,he’s very complimentary to all without trashing anyone, plus he is the best, most talented & most charismatic dancer the show has ever seen. Oh, wait, that must be why…sour grapes.
That is exactly right. Jealousy plays a big part.
I wonder if Derek is wishing for a ‘young’in’ again. He’s done amazing things with Ricki and last year with Jennifer, but I wonder if he would like another Nicole or Brooke, or somebody less than twice his age.
I don’t think Derek has EVER had anyone younger than 30, has he?? I think Nicole was the closest and wasn’t she 30 or 31?? How old was Joanna?? 30?
You know every time I think I might be disappointed with a partner Derek gets he/they prove me wrong. For example when I heard Jennifer Grey, I was thrilled for him, the original “Baby” and all. But I immediately thought about her age. Within a couple of weeks or so I was really thinking, if she weren’t married, they could totally be a couple, or at least a brief fling. I mean, look at Madonna and Jennifer Lopez and their 21 ? yr old guys. In life I’ve known one couple where the guy was 19 yrs younger and it was lovely for 3 yrs and fine when it was over.
Anyway that being said, I would love to see Derek, Tristan, maybe Val, Peta, Anna, Cheryl get some hot, young partners with lots of presence and drive and watch them all set the place on fire with a really great competition.
@ Heidi, I think you are right. I’m not sure how old Nicole is, but I think Joanna was the closest to him in age. He got a lot of 35-ish year olds, then went younger-ish with Joanna/Nicole, then went older again with Jen and Ricki. Man, he deserves even more credit for his wins/good finishes….
I loved Joanna!!
I’d love that too!!
Joanna is the youngest dance partner of Derek’s. She was born in 1979 so six years older than Derek(1985).
The others:
Nicole 1978
Lil’Kim 1974
Shannon 1973
Jennie 1972
Brooke 1971
Ricki 1968
Jennifer 1960