Private Members Area – DWTS Season 19 Dynamic Duos Discussion
Tonight was week eight of Dancing with the Stars Season 19. If you’re not a Pure DWTS Insider yet, you can do so here. If you are, then I look forward to the discussion in the comments.
What did you think of tonight’s show? I got the request in the old thread, asking where this thread was. My apologies for it being a little late. Although, I am west coast. I’ll try and schedule it to appear earlier in the future. Looking forward to the chat!
As I said, Janel got the immunity! Go figure. TPTB REALLY want her and Val in the finals don’t they? C’mon already. That Contemporary routine was nice, but it was FAR from perfect!!! I watched it a few times to pick up on the bobbles that PH mentioned in last nights live thread. UGH I am SO OVER them! Still didn’t see Bethany’s slip up that CAI was so quick to point out.
I enjoyed Bethany, Sadie and Alfonso SO much more than Janel. At this rate, I’m beginning to think that Janel is gonna bump Lea out of the finals, much to my chagrin π Janel has YET to dance a Paso, Tango or AT. Hmm…pimpage much?
Yeah, Heidi sure called it on the immunity, didn’t she? Uggh. Kelly, I’m with you and so over those two. I mean…their dance was beautiful but, it wasn’t all that. My three faves were Bethany, Sadie, and Alfonso too.
KellyK – I too think at this point Janel is going to push Lea out of the finals. It’s almost like the swapped favoritism with the judges and the producers. Lea and Artem were doing well and were likable but then starting after the switch-up week things start going south for them I think. My only hope is that Tommy has so many people voting for him he can spoil Janel’s chances of making it to the finals, but I’m worried about his injury.
I just don’t see how Lea can make up for her low scores to survive elimination next week.
I’m definitely quite torn on the week. I really liked most of the individual dances, but the immunity challenge really bothered me. I thought the the theme was a cute idea and it was nice to have something new.
I don’t mind that Janel and Val won the immunity as I predicted that they would once they said they had contemporary to Romeo and Juliet. What bothers me was how the whole thing was handled. So they get immunity from elimination this week which has nothing to do with this weeks dances, just last weeks scores and dances. And then they automatically get an extra 3 points for next week without even having to compete? So they get a boost both this week and last week? If the immunity was from this elimination, than the 3 extra points the couples got should have also gone towards last weeks scores.
I get that this is a TV show with producers that are always going to be involved. I know it gets worse every year, but despite all of that it usually doesn’t bother me that much. At the end of the day I still love my silly dance show. But this just took it to a different level and made me a bit upset. It just looks like they’re trying to pull a fast one on us viewers. Most of the stuff I don’t care about but when they’re trying to fool the viewer it makes me mad.
End Rant…
Oh dear. I hate it when they are soooo transparent…
So Janel gets an undeserved tongue bath and immmunity (did she really need it? Would she really have gone home this week over Michael?!?!?!), Sadie doesn’t get the praise she’s earned and Michael continues to receive harsh commentary on his way out (usually they give a little praise on a departing contestant’s last night, don’t they?). A sad state of affairs, I tell ya!
My takes on the dance-offs: Lea just can’t hit anything hard, can she? I didn’t see any attack or punch to any of her moves – just way too soft to be effective as a Jive… Alfonso by a mile
Bethany and Sadie – this was really close, but just because neither really worked for me. I’m loving Sadie, but I’ve noticed for weeks now that she never really closes her feet – everything is in such a wide stance and it’s very distracting to me. Bethany was more uncertain of everything she was doing, but her foot placement was better, and her shapes were prettier. So I gave Bethany a slight edge.
Tommy and Michael – Michael actually moved! Yay! But the movements were jerky! Boo! *sigh* Tommy just had more grace overall, and was more enjoyable to watch, so it was Tommy for me.
How many more weeks do we have to endure the pimping of Vajanel?
I think the show’s ‘love’ for Lea & Artem has definitely reached it’s expiration date. The feeling I got is that she is an afterthought and that her time is done next week. π I think Lea and Janel were getting the lowest number of votes and needed help to stay around. TPTB have backed Janel and put her in a pretty safe place. I think the show will do what it takes to ensure Janel makes the final four.
If Tommy drops out of the competition because of his injury then it will buy Lea an extra week. Beyond that, I think we will get another Ralph Macchio/Chelsea Kane situation if there is a chance of Lea taking out Janel before the final week.
Even if Lea didn’t absolutely kill the jazz, it was nice to see her enjoy her dancing again. I hope she has a great week next week and goes out on a high note!
What happened between Ralph Macchio & Chelsea Kane? Yeah I agree Finley, I think Lea has been getting more votes than Janel and TPTB have been forced to shut her down big time. I mentioned in the main thread that I think the order in which they were called safe last night was the exact same order as the public vote. It’s hard seeing her so gutted and confused about the judges’ comments in her interviews.
I hope Tommy doesn’t drop out, but not at the risk of his own health. I hope he knows that he doesn’t have to prove anything to anyone and no one would hold it against him if he had to drop out. I think since we’re getting close to end I think he’ll stick it out knowing he’ll probably be gone in the quarter or semi finals.
The UK have been offering odds on DWTS outright winner, and I caught Sadie and Beth at ridiculously big odds, so it’s good to see them getting better and better. Beth is really starting to bring it and if she keeps this up and pushes her fans then she can definately win.
Someone is probably going to have to correct my faulty memory, but here is my best recollection – The week prior to the finals of season 12 the judges were given the power to award an additional 15 points, on top of their regular scores, to the best dancer of the night.
At the time there were 4 remaining celebs. Only 3 would go through to the finals. Hines Ward and Kirstie Alley were a lock for the final. Based on fan votes Ralph Macchio should have been as well. He was a good dancer, great performer, all around great guy! But he injured his knee a few weeks earlier and that affected his performances. I got the feeling that the show was worried that he would produce a lackluster freestyle due to his injury. His scores and the judges comments began a steady downward slide.
Chelsea Kane was a former Disney star. She was a great dancer, partnered with Mark Ballas, with all the ability in the world to deliver an exciting freestyle. But all the rave reviews from the judges and high scores were apparently not enough to get her past Ralph’s fanbase into the finals. So the show implemented this ‘lets award an additional 15 points to the dancer we like best’. This made it impossible for Ralph to get enough votes to advance into the final. The show had never done that before, and I don’t think they have done it since.
Chelsea was then eliminated in 3rd place.
The winner-take-all dance was a thankfully one time deal, created especially to screw Ralph. It never should have existed in the first place and they never tried pulling that particular blatant pimping again. They’ve come up with new and subtler(?!) ways to pimp… smh
Sorry, but I cannot for the life of me see what others see in Lea’s dancing. I don’t think Artem has given her what she’s needed, either in dance instruction or in “confidence” instruction. Her dancing always seems awkward to me, punctuated by moments when she has a move/pose that has a corollary in ballet. I feel like Artem should have done a lot of work on her feet. She’s been dancing ballroom/latin with ballet feet. No wonder she can’t hit anything hard. It’s such a shame because she could have gotten so much from the experience of being on the show. Unfortunately I think what she will take away is a bunch more reasons to beat up on herself. I guess I really lay this at Artem’s feet and I would much rather have Sasha come back in his place.
Susan, I agree. Lea is not that good and Artem is failing in the choreography department compared to Derek, Mark, Witney, Val…and even Peta with Tommy. Then again, she may not be able to handle anything more complex than what we see? I don’t know, but, I’m not feeling those two and nor how they act in their interviews this time either.
I must say I’m not 100% sold about Witney’s choreography just yet. She has probably the easiest job out of all the pros choreographing for Alfonso who literally has the whole package. The best choreo for Alfonso this season that made him look the best IMO was his Flamenco and that was with Cheryl. One of the main reason’s why I think Alfonso could fall at the end to Beth and/or Sadie is the freestyle dance, I just can’t see Witney outchoreographing Derek and Mark.
Finley did you catch the ABC interview with Lea? I didn’t realise they were both injured. That explains the lack of lifts in the Jazz.
You forgot the most important point, Finley – Chelsea worked for ABC/Disney at the time. That’s motive. The comments about Ralph’s dancing were so ridiculous and so bad, then pile on the atrocious 15 point – well, we even created a VERB. It’s called getting “ralphed”.
@M8- I definitely don’t believe that Witney has the easiest job this season with Alfonso. In terms of teaching, yes, I believe it’s much harder to teach someone like Tommy. But in terms of choreographing, I think it’s MUCH more challenging to choreograph for someone like Alfonso.
For example, Derek has said that it’s been much more difficult to come up with great routines for Nicole and Shawn every week because people know they can dance and there is an expectation for them. With a ringer (which Alfonso barely is) you have to create something nobody has seen with tricks and creativity. With Maks on the otherhand, he was creating his same old routines as he would for any celebrity with Meryl and I don’t think she shined as much as she should have. Just look at the A. Tango Val did for her that was much more complicated.
I will say that I agree that I don’t see her outchoreographing Mark or Derek right now, but perhaps she (or even Alfonso) have been thinking of something good they can do. I never expected Peta to come up with a good freestyle (granted it was Karinas idea for the country) but I really enjoyed her choreography.
Lea seems to have lost her mojo, and at times I get the feeling she just isn’t into it any longer. Same with Tommy too.
Yeah Heidi, Some of the comments to Ralph were dispicable. Wearing a diaper comes to mind!! Yikes!
As far as Freestyles, I am not worried a bit for Witney and Alfonso. Her choreography may not outchoreograph Derek’s or Marks, but her advantage over them is that she has been producing fresh and exciting routines, leaving the crowd hungry for more, the crowd will go crazy once they are able to let loose on the dance floor.
The ‘ralphing’ of Ralph was a turning point for me with this show. It pissed me off so much I never watched the final two episodes of that season; never watched any of the final 3’s dances on youtube; didn’t watch any media interviews with any of the final 4 contestants; (not even Ralph’s) and didn’t go online to any of the dwts message boards to read anything. I was done.
They reeled me back in with JR Martinez. But the ralphing changed the way I view the show. Lots of muting and FF and resignation.
I think Lea’s dancing could have improved exponentially with Derek. He has worked miracles with much less, and I wish we could have seen what he could have accomplished with her. But I’ve enjoyed Lea and Artem, flaws and all. I’d like to see them stick around another week, but that may not be possible. I also love Tommy, so I’m torn.
I wouldn’t want to see her outlast Sadie, Alfonzo or Bethany.
I think her attitude in the media is just her feeling a little defeated. Not the greatest look on anyone, but I understand it.
I think she knows she’s probably going home next week, hence her attitude in the media. She just looks knackered and throughly fed up with busting her ass for that response no matter how good or bad she is. When you put so much time and effort into something to get those kind of vague comments from the judges who may be under orders to put them down then it’s bound to take it’s toll.
I pretty much agree with what you’ve said Finley, regarding Lea & Derek being potentially brilliant and that Sadie, Fonz and Bethany are the rightful final 3. Although now obviously I can’t imagine her with anyone other than Derek, I actually think Bethany and Artem would have made a good partnership due to Beth’s infectious personality and athletic ability. But you don’t give a girl with 7 million YT subs and a massive social media following to a new pro. From what I saw of season 18, giving Cody Simpson a new pro backfired, although tbf to poor Witney he seemed like an arrogant spoilt brat. My god that Ralphing story sounds HORRIBLE. There is definately signs of producer interference over here in the UK but nothing that bad.
I’ve only watched dances on DWTS over the years on YT and this season is the first that I’ve actually watched episodes from start to finish, but this week has just left a bitter taste. One thing I hate is fixing and manipulation, I didn’t like Michael as a dancer by any means and wanted him to be eliminated ASAP but the thought of him not being bottom of the leaderboard and getting screwed over by higher powers when people have spent time and money voting for him just doesn’t sit right with me. I probably won’t follow it as much next season to the extent of staying up till 1am to watch the live shows but I’ll definately catch up on the dances online. Hopefully they do what we do in the UK and have a results show the next day every week rather than just the first 2. Also Pure DWTS deserves some real plaudits for providing fans from different counties a website filled with great dancing content where we can all communicate. Bravo admins! π
This website makes the DWTS viewing experience so much more enjoyable. (Although nothing could really help when it came to the season of the Ralphing.) One thing I am really thankful for with regard to DWTS is that the voting is free. Otherwise I wouldn’t do it.
I enjoy watching SCD via Youtube as well. It’s interesting to see the contrast between the two shows.
I think the fact that Whitney is only in her second season as a pro she is doing remarkably well.
Saying that “Whitney has the easiest job” is kinda ridiculous…or it should be. If the pro is GOOD, then having a ringer or even a pseudo ringer is every bit as hard as having someone who can’t dance at all. If some one can dance and you aren’t raising the difficulty level ever week you’re pretty much at fail. Like Meryl – she was horribly under utilized. If she had been paired with anyone other than Maks – who they desperately needed to win – the pro would have been raked across the coals.
Frankly, Artem is underserving Lea at this point as well. I go back to thinking that Derek and Mark are the only pros who get called out for not having hard enough choreo – more Derek than mark.
And that’s my EXACT problem with Val and Janel…girl can DANCE so WHY isn’t he making the routines harder?? I’m no fan of them by any means but really, show us what she can do? She hasn’t really improved from week 1, where Bethany and Sadie certainly have!
I know this probably belongs in the post about CAI’s blog but I thought it might get lost there.
Her blog this week is starting to make me nervous though. She gave critiques to almost every dancer EXCEPT Janel. She basically said how beautiful it was blah blah blah and just keeping dancing the way she is. I’m just VERY worried the producers/judges are shifting into overload to push Janel into the finals and finish as high as possible. While I pretty much expect her to be there at this point I was hoping for an elimination in the semis or even a 4th place finish. I know it’s still possible and CAI’s blog isn’t the end all be all but it just makes me laugh after one contemporary routine suddenly the judges seem to think she’s a perfect dancer.
I do keep thinking of some of the “surprise” eliminations like Liz Berkley who lost out to Bill who was a full 14 points lower than her but I’m just getting worried. Is it too much to ask for a final of Alfonso, Sadie, Bethany, and Tommy? I would say Lea but I think she is gone next week.
I think that’s the thing that’s throwing me off too, DLT. Not that I believe anything CAI says as fact anymore, it’s still crazy how she’s reacting to these dancers. Janel has gotten nothing but 8’s from her for the 3 weeks prior when Bethany and Sadie have mainly gotten higher scores. She has one good week (where Bethany and Sadie also had good weeks) and she’s suddenly the female to beat? I’m sorry but I can’t see her coming in anywhere earlier than 4th place.
Janel would be an ideal candidate for a “shocking(!) elimination”. What I mean by that is that it would be shocking to most of the viewing audience (not necessarily for the people who read and post here) for her to go home after topping everyone on the scoreboard last week. And they could probably blame some of it on voter confusion about the immunity. It would certainly be something ‘dramatic’ after a series of pretty obvious eliminations.
I don’t think there will be a shocking elimination this season to be honest. It would have been last week but for some “outside interference”. An Alfonso, Bethany Sadie Janel final is set in stone for me. It shouldn’t be but it is for me. I’d love to have a proper shock and a laugh if Janel didn’t make it but after last week’s pimpage I can’t see it.
We can only hope that the “outside interference” is over and they let things run their natural course for the rest of the season. (I know fat chance)
We should do a score prediction thread for next week’s show in the private members area. It’d be cool to see who is closest to getting all the couple’s scores correct including the trio dances.
As you can tell I’m way to competitive for my own good. π π
Interesting idea. I almost rolled out a whole kind of Fantasy DWTS Score thing at the beginning of the year, but ran out of time.
What do people think? Should we do it?
Good idea. I love it. It could even be a weekly thing if enough members want to do it?
Sure why not! I’m in. Let’s play. π
You guys do realize that accurately predicting what those judges will hand out requires delving into the crack-addled mind, right? It’s a scary, scary place. π
I think CAI must dip into her feline’s supply of catnip!
So true. lolllll
While it’s scary to try and think like the judges I’m game!
Haha it is quite scary, but also fun! I’m game as well. I usually watch the show with a friend on Monday nights and we like to try and predict the judges scores both before and after they speak. We may or may not also try to predict how drunk CAI is throughout the show π
OK I doubt if I will be very accurate but I’m willing to play.
So tomorrow my friends and I are going to see Ballroom With A Twist. They are all going to the meet and greet afterwards but I can’t because my grandson is playing in a football championship game. Since they are undefeated it is a big deal. So I told him I would be there even if I’m a little late (even if it is halftime).
Hope this is okay to post here but didn’t want to bring it up on the main board as I expect the dicsussion could get out of hand.
DWTSGossip tweeted that Mandy Moore and 7 pros are helping to create this couples freestyle. Not sure how true it is but it makes you wonder. We could easily find out come the finals if someone has a bunch of pros in their number but I know Mandy was at Val and Maks’ apartment after the show Monday night and Janel was there as well.
Hard to think about freestyles when we aren’t even in the semis yet.
I agree DLT! I saw someone at twitter mentioning Mandy was seen at Val’s apartment with Janel this week too. I’m wondering if it’s them? Anyway, I don’t mind them dancing with as many pros as they want, but, getting Mandy to help seems over the top. I wouldn’t think TPTB would allow that?
And yeah, whoever it is, how do they even know they will make it to the finals?
Adding: If I was a pro, I would want to win on my own merits or it wouldn’t seem like a win.
I was also wondering about that tweet. Not sure who it is though. I think we can pretty much take Derek and Mark out of the conversation. I would think that they wouldn’t want help from an outside choreographer. I think we all remember season 10 with Maks and Anna both receiving outside help.
Didn’t Maks get Mandy Moore to help choreograph Erin’s contemporary freestyle?
Well, if you ain’t got what it takes to choreograph a good freestyle, this is what you do.
We’ve seen how well outside help worked in the past…that is, not at all. Flattering to Mark and Derek that they feel the need to get help. Sad and pathetic that it signifies a “win at any cost” attitude.
And pretty f-n’ cocky that you’re that sure you’re going to make the final.
WORD^^
It’s a shame that the C-Brothers were never able to have confidence in themselves and always have to resort to distractions and/or HELP in the choreography department.
A little help is one thing (ain’t gonna help him anyways)…. Now if Val suddenly starts to hang around with Tanya Harding…
I don’t agree with most of what you’re saying. I say bring in whoever you want for the freestyle. It’s the freestyle, so you should be able to tap whatever and whoever you want to make it great. If it takes an army go for it. As PH said, that might not actually benefit you. Although, with the right mix of outside people helping, they could create something special. I’m all for that. I just want interesting and if outside help will make it more interesting, I say go for it.
As far as being sure you’re in the final and planning/practicing your freestyle, that’s a different arrogance.
I think most of the pros begin at least conceiving of freestyle possibilities well before the actual finals – most of them readily admit they had thoughts about it. I distinctly recall Sharna saying that she had something really special planned for Charlie. Such a shame that we never saw it π
I don’t mind the outside help – but I also don’t think it’s ever worked in the past.
Thinking about it and meeting with Mandy to start the choreography is two different things, assuming that’s what they were all doing at Val’s house.
Derek, for one, always has ideas floating around in that genius brain of his – but all they do is float around until he’s there. Hell, he’s probably got several dozen freestyles floating around in his head just waiting for the right partner to show up.
Then let Derek bring in NappyTabs! He’s got a great relationship with them as they choreographed the routines for the Move Tour! BUT I don’t think he’d do that π
Off to meet friends for BWAT – looking forward to a fun day and it is a beautiful Fall day.
Derek, Bethany and Tony will win hands down if the judges are fair. That is a big IF.
A choreographer shouldn’t need outside help to win in my opinion. Just my opinion.
Have a good one!
They can do what I want if it’s the couple I think it is. They’ll be out on the first night of the final anyway.
I’d love to get in the mind of the judges, Bruno especially. I reckon his consists of sex, drugs and rock & roll. π
I’ll probably be badly wrong at the scores but it’d be fun to give it a go and see what everyone else does.
I’m tired of Producer Manipulation. Let the cards fall where they may.
Sigh…..I agree..I don’t think a choreographer should need outside help in order to win.
Figured I would take a stab at predicting scores since itβs Monday and Iβm avoiding work. Scores are CAI, Len, Julianne, and Bruno:
Alfonso: Foxtrot β 10,9,9,10; Paso trio β 10,10,10,10
Bethany: V. Waltz β 10,9,10,10; AT trio β 9,7,9,10
Janel: QS β 9,9,9,9; Salsa trio β 10,9,9,10
Lea: Samba β 8,8,8,8; Paso trio β 9,9,9,9
Tommy: V. Waltz β 8,7,8,8; Jazz trio β 7,7,7,7
Sadie: Jive β 10,9,9,10; Foxtro trio β 9,9,9,9
Some explainingβ¦I think production wise Bethanyβs AT is going to be incredible, but Iβm just expecting Len to hate it if there really is a post-apocalyptic theme and complain about no content, hence the 7 β I really hope Iβm wrong though. For Janel itβs possible she may get a 10 somewhere for her QS, not because itβs deserving but because I think theyβll overscore her. Her Salsa I really debated on because, like Bethany, Len could complain about the theme and lack of content with it being tribal, but I still think theyβll get away with it more. I almost hope Bethany goes before Janel so then Len would be forced to critique Janel the same as Bethany as far as that aspect goes.
I donβt really have high hopes for Lea and I actually hope Iβm way off with Tommy and heβs able to really nail the Waltz and maybe end up with some 9s. The Jazz trio all depends on the choreography and what he can remember. I gave Sadie straight 9s for the trio just because I think a Foxtrot trio with a female pro is going to be difficult to choreograph.
DLT,
Thanks for just running with posting your scores. It’s been a crazy week for me. Next week, I’ll post a thread just devoted to scores. This week, let’s just do it here.
Loves your predictions post DLT! Ok, here are mine:
Alfonso: Foxtrot β 10,9,9,10; Paso trio β 10,9,10,10
Bethany: V. Waltz β 10,9,10,10; AT trio β 10,10,10,10
Janel: QS β 9,9,9,9; Salsa trio β 10,9,9,10
Lea: Samba β 8,8,8,8; Paso trio β 8,8,8,9
Tommy: V. Waltz β 9,8,9,9; Jazz trio β 7,7,7,7
Sadie: Jive β 10,9,10,10; Foxtro trio β 10,9,10,10
Here I go but I admit I am usually not accurate.
Alfonso: Foxtrot – 9,8,9,9 Paso trio – 10,10,10,10
Bethany: V. Waltz – 10,9,9,10 AT trio – 10, 10, 10, 10
Janel: QS – 9,8,8,9 – Salsa Trio – 10,9,9,9
Lea: Samba – 8,7,8,8 – Paso Trio 8,7,7,8
Tommy: V. Waltz – 8,8,8,8 – Jazz trio – 7,7,7,7
Sadie: Jive – 10,9,10,10 – Foxtrot trio – 10,10,10,10
Wasn’t sure if we were still doing it but again, I did it more out of boredom at work than anything else!
Alfonso: Foxtrot β 9,9,9,9 Paso trio β 9,9,9,9
Bethany: V. Waltz β 10,9,9,10 AT trio β 10, 10, 10, 10
Janel: QS β 9,9,9,10 β Salsa Trio β 10,9,10,10
Lea: Samba β 8,8,8,8 β Paso Trio 9,9,9,9
Tommy: V. Waltz β 6,6,6,6 β Jazz trio β 7,7,7,7
Sadie: Jive β 9,9,9,9 β Foxtrot trio β 9,8,9,9