Melissa Gilbert Ready To Get Out Of Her Comfort Zone On Dancing With The Stars And More
The New York Post posted an article and video interview yesterday with Maks and Melissa. Melissa talks of how nervous she was before finding out about her new partner on Dancing With The Stars. She was so relieved when it was told she was dancing with Maks for who she wanted. She’s ready for the challenge to “follow” his instructions instead of “lead” like she has done so much of in the past. She wants to learn to be the best dancer and will do whatever it takes and do what he says, but, he’s leery and hopes it will be that way down the line. She also says she’s not allowed to talk during rehearsal….”just a little bit”, Maks remarks. They also laugh a lot. Maks also dishes about how he was one of the first to know he was dancing this season. He couldn’t believe all the rumors before the cast announcement that he wouldn’t. Lots more HERE.
Melissa is not allowed to talk during rehearsal, same old Maks. Maks is just crazy. Who could practice all day and barely speak.
No wonder he always fights with his partners. I don’t think he is a very good coach/teacher. I don’t see a shiny MBT in his future.
Interesting about his comment that he was one of the first to know he would be on this season. How does he know? I think all the drama of “Is Maks going to be on Season 14?” was manufactured by the producers to milk publicity for the show.
Or by Lizzie. That’s what a lot of his fans seem to think. Pretty classy, eh?
Fun interview. They seem to know how to handle each other and look like they’re having a good time. Thanks, Vogue.
The uncertainty really started when dwtsgossip tweeted the names of the 11 pros, Maks wasn’t included,& she said the season would only include 11 couples. I really don’t think the producers nor Lizzie manufactured any of it.
I think Maks is a great teacher & he/Melissa seem to have a good rapport going. Just hope she can dance. 🙂
Lizzie pushed it along though, teasing his fans. I saw several of them very upset with her.
I still have yet to understand why the fans of ANY of the dancers feel it’s their RIGHT to know what’s going on before the show is ready to make its reveal. It’s not like they pay a premium membership! Sheesh!
I think he’s lying.
1- We had Derek, Mark, Val, Tony, Tristan and 11 couples. When Maks name was added it was 12 couples. Or Lizzie is feeding dwtsgossip.
2- He’s always been the first one to say he’s in. Why this change all of a sudden?
Jennifer – I don’t recall Maks being the first one to say he’s in at all from past seasons. In fact, he is generally pretty tight lipped. I specifically remember other pros having to delete tweets in season’s past & he wasn’t one of them.
I have no idea at what point he was picked up for the show & he very well may have been at the last minute but to state he has ‘always been the first one to say he’s in’ just isn’t true.
Whether it was her doing or not, there’s no doubt Lizzie milked it for all it was worth. That’s how she does business. Well, that and tweeting Maks to tell him he’s got an e-mail or a text or a voice mail………….
Winter: According to an article by e4entertainment posted on Nov 22nd, it states that Maks had secured his contract for the next season. If I remember correctly, a rep or producer for ABC gave an interview regarding the post elimination press that they didn’t partake in. The rep/producer was asked directly if they were banned due to their behavior or if there would be reprucussions for Maks returning next season. The answer was more or less “no action will be taken”. I tried googling to find the link for you for this article – does it ring a bell for anyone else? I’m sure after Maks and Hope reflected back on things that discussions took place with ABC and if I was in Mak’s shoes I think I’d be concerned re: my professional relationship w/ABC moving forward. That being said, I think Lizzie’s actions were more for damage control rather than rallying support for his return.
Key word, “Rumors”. I’m just glad Louis Van Amstel won’t be wasting space on my screen this season. Love Maks, and I predict he’ll be around for a while.
JennJenn – Derek also stated a long time ago that he was signed for the next season of DWTS. I think that just means that they signed on and that they would be dancing if there were partners for them. I don’t think it means he knew he had a partner. That said, I think Derek and Maks (and Cheryl) can always be pretty confident that the producers will find partners for them. I don’t think it will always be that way for Maks if he keeps up the behavior. The return on that diminishes with time. It certainly has for me.
Heidi, ITA. I think Maks, his team and ABC got a real wake up call when the back lash started regarding his behavior. I honestly believe they weren’t expecting it, or they thought everyone would just turn a blind eye to it as they had done in seaasons past. It is the only thing I can come up with to explain why no one seemed to be addressing it or commenting on it when asked. Hope didn’t say anything until much later when she gave her interview to Ryan Seacrest. Both Lizzie and ABC replied “no comment” when asked about his behavior towards Hope. As we all know now, no reprimands or reprucussions have landed his way, but like you said your meal ticket can only rescue you so many times before the garbage disposal devours it! :-p
Oh, I’m sure there were repercussions and a “discussion” about his behavior – they were left out of all the media after they were eliminated and Maks said right out that it wasn’t their choice to not do any of the media. It just wasn’t enough to keep him off the show. This time.
I thought this was a fun interview. They seem to have a good rapport. I hope it continues.
I’m going to reserve any comment on this partnership until I see them dance. I wasn’t sure about Kirstie as his partner until that first dance, and then I knew it would be ok. Just gotta wait til March 19th, then all will be revealed. Enjoyed the interview. I have 3 boys, so the brother comments ring true. My boys are also great friends. Makes for enjoyable family time.
Dunno. Maybe it’s just me still being sour on Maks, but I’m not really feeling this partnership. Like AB, I too had reservations on the Kirstie partnerhip, but that was quickly put to rest the first time I saw them interact. Not so with these two of yet. I think they’ll keep it cordial and she will give her all and dance well, but nothing jumps out about them in a season where there’s bound to be more than average number jumper-outters.
I think nostalgia will play a big part in the amount of weeks they last but I think that will be bigger for Jaleel unless he really sucks. Normally I would say that would mean both would be around for quite a while but this cast is SO diverse as far as public interest, for example I think Martina and Gladys and maybe Jack will pull alot of votes from the nostalgia pool, too. So there could be at least one shocking departure quite early even if they all dance well. And the other “stars”, well the young voters for many of them, the unfamiliarlity of a couple of the stars, all makes it hard to say what could happen.
Is it me, cause I think this season will be a lot trickier to try to draw any conclusions ?
Mimi – that’s a thoughtful analysis and it makes a lot of sense to me
Thinking more about that nostalgia pool that Mimi #19 brings up… among the 3 TV stars, Melissa was more of a 70’s star, with Jaleel’s run being more in the 90’s. So DWTS viewers’ familiarity with these 2 actors may be more a generational thing, with older viewers who like drama having a tighter bond with Laura Ingals, and younger viewers with a taste for broad comedy being close to Urkel.
But then Jack Wagner comes along and messes up my whole generational theory, cuz Frisco came to GH from 84ish to 95 and women of all ages were taken with him. Jack’s musical career was mostly in that same time period.
And of course, like Mimi says we have Martina and Gladys drawing from that nostalgia pool. So yeah, this season is a real tricky one. Last season’s cast on the whole may have been weak compared to other seasons, and this one so far portends to be stronger than usual. We’ll know better soon.
As the producers have said, this is the comfy, feel-good, fond remembrances cast. 🙂