Afterbuzz TV And Corky Ballas Review DWTS19 Week 4, See If You Agree?
What a great Afterbuzz TV show with Corky Ballas last night! I’ve only watched half the show so far, but let’s just say…he didn’t hold back! I was impressed right in the beginning when he said Sharna Burgess was a “firecracker and beautiful” and that her opening number was “edgy, quick, short, to the point, and HOTT.” Then when the reviews of the couples started, Corky called it straight up about Val and Janel saying their Rumba was “lame”, etc. He would have only given their dance a “7”. I loved it too when Kristyn pointed out Janel’s “flinging wrists” which kind of annoyed me too. Then when they got to Bethany, Corky mentioned how she has a “wall” up (something I noticed too but, couldn’t find the words for). But, as I just wrote at Pure Derek Hough, I didn’t agree about Bethany’s footwork though. I thought it was fine. But, wow, the opinion I really disagreed with was Anna’s. Wha? She would have only given Derek and Bethany a “6” and then compares her to Jonathan? As much as I like Anna, that was way too harsh. More below. Lot’s of great content to discuss and I hope they can get Corky again. Let us know what you think…
Corky was too tough for my liking
Its a tv show not a ballroom competition
The only person he didnt criticize is his son
He even criticize alfonso saying that it was similar to his jive
Dancing side by side doesn’t mean it is the same step
I want to add that too that they were so tough on Allison. It seems everyone is writing her off now which seems unfair and too soon to being doing so to me. I mean…one bad dance doesn’t mean she’s not going to be good as a pro on Dancing With The Stars especially when we’ve seen many of the pros have bad dances in the past at times. I mean….look at Karina’s paso with Randy. I didn’t like it and it wasn’t up to the level of what I hoped and thought it would be, but, no way am I writing her off now.
In my opinion, I think Allison’s biggest challenge right now is just to relax and stop trying so hard. I think she and Jonathan are putting too much pressure on themselves. At the same time, I love that the show means so much to them and they want to do well, but Allison just needs to clear her head and concentrate on what she loves….the creative and theatrical part of herself and everything else will come.
I loved the show and enjoyed hearing Corky’s opinions. Did I agree with everything and everyone, no, but it is their opinions and I have my opinions. If Corky didn’t like Mark’s dance he would have said it, Corky does not sugar coat things.
I agree with you Vogue, I think Allison is putting too much pressure on herself. She does need to relax. I am concerned that if Jonathan does much better with another pro, people will criticize Allison more, same if Allison’s new celeb has a bad week, they will criticize her too.
I am curious as to what Corky meant that the “Carlton dance” was similar to the jive, I will have to go back and watch. I do agree that there was too much sitting on the couch in the beginning. I have never been a fan of the props like that.
To be honest with you, I haven’t watched the last two Afterbuzz shows. Just felt kind of meh on the whole thing. I did watch this week and I’m glad I did.
Corky was a great guest. I appreciate a guest that gives really technical commentary. I think what he said about Allison was spot on, especially for next week when Jonathon gets a new partner. I actually fear for Allison a bit when that happens. If he looks like he’s actually dancing well while doing actual ballroom steps, it won’t bode well for Allison.
Anna made a great analogy about learning a new dance technique. Ballet students train a minimum of 3 to 4 years before they are allowed to learn pointe work. They have to learn the technique correctly not only to dance the steps correctly but to develope the muscles to pull up so that all the weight is not on the tips of the toes.
Ballroom technique is just as specific as ballet. It’s takes years of daily practice to produce a good competitive ballroom dancer. I appreciate when it gets the respect it deserves.
I do want Allison to succeed on the show. I’ve always liked her. It’s a sucky situation all round.
I’m happy Jake’s back. He’s a sweetie.
Vogue, I just want to add that I hope I don’t upset you with my comments regarding Allison. Your’re a kind, friendly presence on Pure.
I haven’t written Allison off. Lot’s of first time pro’s stumble a bit out of the gate. It’s not an easy peasy gig. I really hope she can course correct her partnership with Jonathon.
Having Jake back completely changes the show for me in a good way. I actually enjoy watching it again.
I really do always appreciate hearing Shirley and Corky’s commentary as they don’t hold back and obviously have the credentials to back up what they say. I think Corky was maybe a little too harsh at times (as someone else said this isn’t a real ballroom competition) but still found what he said thought provoking.
I’m starting to almost feel bad for Allison. As Vogue said I think she’s trying too hard now and she and Jonathan are putting a lot of pressure on themselves. I really want to see how his technique changes with a new pro partner.
As Judy mentioned in the Power Rankings thread I thought it was great to finally hear some legit commentary on Janel’s actual dancing. We are 4 weeks in and I still can’t figure her out as a dancer. The judges really don’t offer much help as they are drinking the kool-aid. It’s nice to see that the Afterbuzz panel isn’t totally buying into yet though. I really do think it comes down to the fact that for as much as she was sold pre-season and even now by the judges I just don’t think she lives up to the hype.
Oh no…nothing you have never written has offended me. Susan, we can disagree and I’d still respect and love you. 😉 hugsss
Anna did remember that it’s a TV show – I liked what she said about Derek in that respect, that he’s a GENIUS at creating a production for his partner. That’s what you’re supposed to do on this show – get your partner through, accentuate their positives, hide any negatives. Pros who don’t figure that out quickly, never win. :::cough:::
I also liked how Corky discussed Bethany’s bullying and how that might still be affecting her, and how it’s affecting her dancing for him. It was much more insightful and well thought out than anyone else on that panel has managed this season.
I feel so sorry for Allison, what an amazing dancer and human being. But they did her wrong by hiring her to bring “fresh” to the show than give her all traditional ballroom dances with a celeb who requires a lot of training on how to move his body. I think Corky and Anna make very good points that it takes YEARS to really learn the proper technique of ballroom so that you can teach it, teach a man to lead, teach a woman to move like a woman…I was so open to the idea that she could do this and because I really really like her I haven’t written her off but I still feel so sad for her.
This is off topic but related to Allison, I think they should have 1 season a year be “classic” and use the pros with old school, excellent, stunning etc ballroom technique teach what they know and not have to teach what they don’t know. Then have the next season be “fresh” or whatever it is they seem to be half reaching for. Bring in the Allisons, Twitch, etc and even perhaps let the current pros who are cross trained and able to master the hip hop, contemporary, theater arts, jazz etc be pros for that season.
Or bring in someone like Allison as consultant so that each week 1 celeb with their ballroom pro has a contemporary and she works with them, then the next week another pair, same for bringing in a hip hop teacher, jazz etc. Don’t make the non traditionally extremely trained for years expert try to teach ballroom. And don’t make Tony, Maks, Karina eg the ballroom purists teach something out of their wheel house. If they want to “step out of their comfort zone” let them go compete on sytycd or take a class…
Back on topic, I enjoyed this episode as I almost always do and I always agree with parts and always have different opinions on other parts and that’s why I like it.
Add in response to PH, I agree that Corky articulated something specific that’s helpful and productive for Bethany and for people wanting to connect with her. I’ve been just thinking of her as an introvert and as someone who isn’t very comfortable moving her body. It must be HUGE pressure to be Derek Freakin Hough’s partner. Add to it how it is inherently like a lightning rod attracting major persistent pervasive UGLY cyber bullying. Poor girl. I think she is stunningly gorgeous and that probably doesn’t help either, she has an alluring beauty that I think makes people think she’s older and thus expect more of her. I kind of hope she gets Mark for this week because he can be such a goober, non threatening, helping self conscious women “let their hair down” kind of thing. Also, I will never ever ever underestimate Derek and his awareness of his partners strengths and challenges and his ability to make the journey magical and show profound growth in his celeb and ta da, close the deal!
I enjoyed Corky on this week’s Afterbuzz. I was surprised how young he looked though.
Most of the panels comments were as they saw it, some I agreed with and other I did not.
They did call out that stupid America vote…
Jess, that was something else that Anna said that struck me – she kept saying “Look who her partner is!” as if that meant she should be doing better or trying harder, but actually I think dancing with Derek comes with a lot of pressure because he IS Derek freakin’ Hough these days. Anna said as much, but was kind of castigating Bethany for not doing better. When in reality, she’s an 18 year old girl, used to working in her room, suddenly open to (as you said) a lot more cyberbullying, doing something in front of millions of people that she’s never done before, AND doing with with one of the more well-known, respected choreographers. I can’t even imagine. I mean, Derek calls up Colbie Calait and gets her to sing while they dance, asks Patricia Kelly for permission to use Singing in the Rain….who does that??
People bitch because Derek is “favored” – I think the reality is that Derek makes shit happen on his own because he’s Derek and he’s made a lot of connections.
A lot of people(mostly Maks’ fans cough cough)will never accept that
Derek is now a very well-respected celebrity in the dancing world(he could also sing, act etc etc)and that is how he gets all these well-known people.
And Sandy, I agree with you on how young Corky looks. Mark looks a lot like him, they could pass for brothers.
I was just about to comment on Anna’s “look who her partner is!” statement, Heidi. I appreciated Suri and Corky’s critiques, but Anna took it a little too far. When she said, “I know I sound like I’m being tough, but I’m not, because look who she’s paired with”, she made it sound like it’s Bethany’s job to step up to Derek’s level, when it’s supposed to be Derek making the adjustments (which he has been doing, imo). People always complain about Derek only getting ringers, and now they’re complaining that his dancer isn’t good enough… I’m getting whiplash!
Derek is a master at helping his celebs have the best experience they are capable of given whatever dance ability they might have. Bethany won’t win probably and may not be in the finals but she will come out of this experience having done something that will enrich her confidence and her life. I am, personally, always drawn to those stories rather than those celebs who are clearly doing the show to improve their career or to restart it. Lea and Alfonso have such charisma that they seem to be exceptions for me but Janel leaves me cold cuz who really cares if she gets the opportunity to dance on broadway. Corky Ballas was great imo because he gets that the best dancers are not always the most entertaining and the worst ones can light up the screen.
I don’t have the attention span to listen to Afterbuzz, but I love seeing you guys comment on it – makes me feel like I’m getting the gist of what is discussed.
I agree that I think Mark might be a good fit for Bethany because he is such a goofball – not that Derek’s not, of course – but Mark has some kind of goober-ish quality that might get her to loosen up. I hope he doesn’t push her TOO hard and she clamps up, because I do want to see her enjoying herself. I think when people say that they can’t connect to her, it’s because she’s not expressing an obvious JOY that we expect out of Derek’s partners. Too much into her own head. I know how that goes!
One part of this episode that just made me SAD was listening to all of them talking about Bethany, and (it seemed to me) to completely dismiss her as inconsequential, and unable to connect to her because they connected VERY WELL last season to Amy Purdy, and Bethany isn’t Amy Purdy. So they’ve found her lacking, and don’t even TRY to connect with her.
I did like listening to what Corky had to say, but honestly, I don’t think I’m enjoying AfterBuzz this season. I’ve watched for a couple seasons now, and have enjoyed it in the past, but this season, it feels like the whole “tone” of the show is negative and harsh. It used to “feel” a lot more enjoyable and uplifting, even when they didn’t like someone’s dance.
I’m feeling a little sad about the comments that people continue to say week after week about bethany. But I get it, The words of Corky had is a good point. But they don’t say anything positive and thats does not help. I admire Bethany, she have the courage to dance with derek and participate in everything that the brilliant mind of derek wants to do, in week 2 with the bass, then everything with Singing in the rain and now this. The truth is that I could not imagine a Rumba (in definition) danced by a teenage girl in front so many people and at week 4. For me was enough. (I’m waiting for Sadie to dance the Rumba… that kind of dance are to awkward to watch when are danced for girls that dont even feel the love, pasion and emotion of be on a relationship ).
I don’t know, but it makes me sad that people are not connecting with Bethany … I don’t know what to think ….
Thanks for all the comments…think I will give this weeks a miss. I find that when Anna is on, the other panelists don’t have time to comment because Anna has taken up so much time. Anna is a beautiful incredible dancer with wonderful insight but does monopolize the conversation.
It’s ironic, but I feel like Bethany is getting bullied by the Afterbuzz panel week after week. Critiques about the technique is fine, but completely dismissing her, is not. I love Jonathan, but I completely disagree with Anna that Bethany deserves the same score as Jonathan. If Jonathan got a 6, and Tommy got a 7, then on that scale, Bethany’s 8s were perfectly fine. It’s not her fault she’s partnered with the best and people expect her to rise up to that. I still think she’ll reach the final cause she does have a lot of support.
I have one of the people that have hard time connecting with Bethany and I think Corky helped me figure it out – she is emotionally holding back.
I thought she did reveal more about herself this week but even after that performance she seemed “contained” to me. She got such wonderful feedback about her as a person and an inspiration but for most of it she just stood there emotionless. I went back and watched the dance and the whole show again and she doesn’t seem to smile very much.
Corky’s remark about holding back and being behind a fogged glass resonated with me.
If anyone can draw her out and make her shine it will be Derek. He brought out so much with Amy and it was beautiful to watch.
I have always loved Afterbuzz but I do feel they’ve been harsher and more negative this season all-around, not just to Bethany, than in many past seasons. I wish they would lighten up a bit and sound like they are actually enjoying the show they are covering a bit.
Sure, Bethany isn’t Derek’s best dancer or most engaging partner. But, she obviously has touched a lot of people in her own way on social media, and her message is awesome, so good for her. She has connected with millions of fans, just the majority of the audience of the show and the Afterbuzz hosts are obviously not youtube-star followers.
I think the problem is people do expect a lot of Derek’s partners, and the fact that the majority of the celebs left, especially the good dancers left, on this season are performers by trade. They can turn on something during a performance that the average person has to work harder to do. Sadie is an exception, though one can argue she is used to ‘performing’ to a degree since cameras are constantly in her home. And, she is just a natural dancer and performer, surprising a lot of us and probably even Mark too at first.
I would guess Derek is actually possibly relieved they had the rumba for story week, because he could spin it into a contemporary-rumba with Bethany’s personal story as a theme than have to do a straight-up sexy rumba on a different week. Yeah, decent rumbas have been done before with young stars but I think this honestly was the best scenario for rumba and Bethany.
I do hope we see her improve technically and performance-wise each week. It’s only week 5, she has time to build. Hopefully her ankle is getting a bit better, it wasn’t wrapped on Monday.
In a way Bethany is sort of like an “everyperson”. She’s not a known actor, entertainer or sports figure. Yeah she has a popular channel on YouTube, but she’s basically being herself in front of a computer screen in her room. Hardly a show biz type.
I think of her as being one of us. A non-entertainer “ordinary” type suddenly thrust on a big nation wide stage. With the show’s most talented and accomplished pro and millions of people scrutinizing her every move. Imagine yourself in her place. I did. And I would’nt have handled it with any of the same sort of grace that she has so far.
Well, it is patently unfair to Bethany to compare her to Amy. Amy is 30 years old, Bethany is 18. Amy is used to public speaking, Bethany is not. If you are saying you’re let down by Bethany because of how Derek and Amy were, I think you need to check yourself and realize you’re being really unfair.
That said – I don’t care if others aren’t connecting to her. It’s very obvious on twitter that her fans sure are and that’s what is important. I do think the Amy excuse is utter bullshit though.
It seems to me that perhaps the folks on Afterbuzz (sans Corky) have forgotten that this is a show about teaching non-dancers how to dance. It’s not SYTYCD, and none of the celebs this season are Meryl the Massive Ringer with the Massive showmance. ADJUST ALREADY!
Sure there is an age difference with Amy and Bethany, but I feel that Amy had some hurdles to overcome as well – not emotional as much as the physical. I can see Bethany emerging with a great personal growth experience at the end. Both have such interesting stories of personal growth and inspiration to share and Derek has a way of bringing the best in a person.
I don’t expect her to be great because of her partner, but only to get a great experience from it which I think Derek can give her.
I think Corky may have been demonstrating that “tough love” philosophy he talked about!
Anna is killing me. Used to love her when she was on the show but she is starting to really show that maybe her opinions are a little too personal/angry/just plain mean. Corky is such a fun guy….hell If I even have 1/2 his energy when I get to be his age, I will be beyond happy. Saying that, I gotta really question why he thought that Alfonso’s dance was similar to his jive. I watched both back and maybe one or two movies looked the same but not much really similar in my opinion. As for the wall comment about Bethany, yes there is definitely one up but it’s crumbling down big time as she is on this show. Like I said in the other posting I did for the rankings, I was bullied and like her I just kinda put walls up. While I didn’t go on youtube, I just went to academics even more and outside reading. It’s a tough thing to go through and from personal experience it took a good two years before I was really comfortable putting myself out there 100% even with family members. I may have not related to her in week one and week two, this week was the missing puzzle piece for me and now I definitely get why she is the way she is.
No one said Amy didn’t have hurdles. OF COURSE she had hurdles to over come. That’s not the point in the slightest. The point is Bethany’s ability to emotionally connect. Comparing her ability to emotionally connect to Amy’s ability to emotionally connect is flawed because of the age difference between them. Or do you know lot’s of 18 year olds not normally in the public eye that connect well emotionally?
Sadie is 17 and seems to be doing fine.
Sadie is in the public eye. Duck Dynasty is one of the biggest shows on cable.
I thought Corky’s points were for the most part valid and loved that he didn’t hold back in his opinions. As someone who has made his living teaching ballroom, I’m sure it must rankle that the show is expecting Alison to teach correct technique when she’s barely learnt the steps herself. She just doesn’t have the plan B,C & D that the other pros can pull out if things don’t work. Added to that, a great partner can really make a lesser dancer shine. I just watched the BTS of the Killick Classic (hilarious btw – Mark and Derek should have their own show) and at first II didn’t realise it was Lindsay dancing with Derek, he made her look so much sharper.
It does crack me up that Corky was all like “the kids had healthy fruit juices for breakfast” when Derek said in his book that his favourite part of the journey to school was stopping for sausage bagels!
After watching After Buzz I went back and watched Alfonso’s Jive and Jazz and I didn’t think they were the same at all?
I love this website and visit often, but don’t usually comment … thanks for always keeping us in the loop with everything DWTS. I think those After Buzz people are a bunch of negative, overly-critical wannabes! I’ve watched the show a couple of times, and at the end always think ‘what a waste of time’. I don’t know who they are, nor the credentials they possess to be critiquing the couples/dances in the first place, but the few times I’ve viewed the show they didn’t have anything positive or constructive to say about any of the couples … just negativity … sometimes shared in a rude manner. How is that helpful?
LOVE you guys here at PDWTS … however, simply my opinion, it’s NIX on the After Buzz show for me.
Love Corky’s honesty, but haven’t watched previous episodes because of what I’ve read here in the comments. I don’t need the negativity. Re: Sadie being able to connect with people at 17 and Bethany doesn’t as much. Sadie hasn’t been bullied as far as we know. That makes a huge difference!
Also want to say to vin that I’m glad he made it through his years of being bullied relatively unscathed. 🙂
I actually really enjoyed Corky! However I’m with everyone else on them being too hatch on Allison, the girl isn’t a ballroom dancer I think she is doing her best and killing it, Jonathan is just not the greatest dancer! I also agree that Anna’s comment was a bit harsh, I love her, but I would rather see her dance than commentate. But I’m just glad no Julz this season!
Yeah Jill, Sadie and Bethany are exactly the same person with exactly the same life experience. Brilliant deduction. :::rolls eyes:::
LOL, KJ, what the ‘rents didn’t know wouldn’t hurt them. I loved the sound of him and Mark going to school in London – much more interesting than your average school bus.
Regardless of the valid or not valid reasons that people aren’t connecting with Bethany, it’s there. Even taking into consideration all legitimate circumstances, it just may be that she’s not the type of person that the general audience roots for – funny, outgoing, and expressive. I like her, but I don’t look forward to her dances or packages either except for the Derek factor.
BUT if Bethany does begin to open up and be less guarded, watch out – that will be a great growth arc and I think people will gobble it up. If she doesn’t, that’s okay too as long as she’s true to herself and I hope makes the most of this for herself personally. It’s a lot to go through at a young age. She may not gain a huge following on DWTS, but no one could call her a failure at it, either.
*I realize she opened up and talked about the bullying this week – so maybe it’s enough for people to start that connection. But if she reverts back to week 1 or 2 Bethany, then I think she’ll lose any momentum that she gained.
It is undeniably true that someone can’t be argued out of how s/he feels. I am one of those who really likes Bethany, really “feels” her, am constantly surprised by how many things she has in common with Derek and in how many ways they are alike. To me she is Amy Purdy in another guise, taking control of her life, being creative in defying circumstances that others might find limiting, not allowing the greater mental component of “disability” to determine how she lives. She has become a phenomenon on the strength of her personality, creativity, spirit. It makes me very sad that something is obstructing people from connecting with her.
Susan- that’s a great way of putting what IS compelling about Bethany, and I appreciate it. I do like her story, as my daughter is about her age, was bullied, and found an outlet in her art and creative things she does online. I told her to watch Bethany’s dance from this week over and over again. Not all obstacles are visible, or illnesses physical. Bethany is of course, just as much about overcoming these challenges. The difficulty for the average viewer is that she does have those walls, and isn’t so visibly raw and accessible like an Amy Purdy, or even a Kelly Osborne. So much of it is internal, and unless we dig deep or have a level on which to understand why she’s reserved, it’s a bit more difficult to connect for a lot of people. That doesn’t negate her journey, it’s just harder to see. But I’m glad that a lot of people are feeling it. For me, I’m not quite there yet, even if I absolutely do hope we get to see it and that she’s got enough support to stick around.
Figamentation — It’s my hope too. 🙂
Love reading everyones comments and opinions. As I have said I am a big DWTS fan. It is reminiscent of my growing up watching the variety shows of early TV. For me it’s hard to not enjoy the entire show. I watch it over and over. I try to see the performances as all encompassing and watch every detail. I may not be an expert on the dance technique etc but I know what is entertaing to me. As many of you have said it’s not a strict ballroom competition that we watch and thank goodness for that!
My favorites this season are Sadie, Bethany and Lea and all for different reasons. Now this AfterBuzz opinion about Bethany’s personality is beyond me. I don’t get any of them or “connect” to any of the AB hosts. What more do you want to be able to connect to her people? Bethany is very mature for her age, well spoken and diffantaley relating to Derek. She listens intently to the judges, looks them in the eye and accepts what they say. She is the same way in her interviews. Maybe the average viewer does not go to the extreme to watch all of the interviews or the show for that matter but if they did, Wow, they might see her in a different light. What I see is that Derek is not really being as close to her as some of his other partners. He is not constantly holding on to her and so on because he has said that Bethany doesn’t need that; and “high 5” to her I believe were his words. Bethany has done just fine in her dances, come on really look at the dances so far, expressive “tells a story”, emotional, great facial expressions, pretty darn good footwork; I could go on d on. Give her a break and maybe be a little less jealousy. Oh and one other thing I find it very hard for me to accept ANY criticism of Derek. I didn’t go to Move Tour, wait in line to meet him or fly to his Utah book signing and read every word of this and PDH site for nothing!!
I never said that Bethany and Sadie were the same person or had the same life experience only that they are almost the same age as opposed to Amy and Bethany. I just brought up that age really doesn’t have anything to do with it in this case.
I get it – you connect with Bethany, but I don’t and there is nothing wrong with that.
Age had everything to do with what the conversation was about, Jill. You brought is Sadie who is completely irrelevant to the topic at hand – Bethany and Amy. But, if you want to bring her in, my point still stands, whether you like it or not.
No one said anything was wrong with you not connecting with Bethany. There is also nothing wrong with me pointing out where you completely lack logic.
It is nice to listen to Corky and Shirley Ballas when they comment on the show. No one can argue that they are the ultimate experts in ballroom and really know what they’re talking about when it comes to the dancesport world. I felt really bad for Allison but Corky and Anna spoke the harsh truth. Allison is an amazingly well-rounded contemporary dancer but she’s not a ballroom dancer and her lack of ballroom foundation becomes more painfully apparent with each latin dance. It’s not her fault, just the truth. Btw, it’s equally awkward when the more traditionally trained latin dancers (Tony, Karina, Maks, etc) attempt hip hop or contemporary genres. No one is to blame; it’s just the limitation of their expertise. I think as long as DWTS remains a primarily ballroom show, they need pros with at least some solid training in it.