Carrie Ann Inaba Blogs About The Premiere of Dancing With The Stars Season 20 And The “Most-Remembered”
Judge Carrie Ann Inaba has written her first blog for Dancing With The Stars Season 20 at Parade. Below are the couples who stood out the most to her and who she thinks will be the “most-remembered” for opening this season.
1. Rumer and Val Chmerkovskiy — Their foxtrot was uniquely passionate and intense. I loved the drama and her competitive drive. She didn’t just perform the steps beautifully, she performed them with a vengeance. As the other competitors came out on stage to get ready for their final marks, you could feel that they were all suddenly, re-thinking their approach.
2. Riker Lynch and Allison Hoker — Their jive was edgy and exciting. His musicality is incredible and he moves really well. It must be in the genes. (He is a cousin of Derek and Julianne Hough). But he’s got a cool skater style going on. It’s a different type of athleticism and way of moving. We haven’t had many on the show with his vibe. He’s precise but cool, appealing to the young girls, and his energy is contagious and effective. I’m looking forward to seeing him do a ballroom dance.
3. Patti LaBelle and Artem Chignintsev — There was something very special about her performance. Sometimes less is indeed more, and I think this dance was a perfect-pitched approach for the queen of soul. She really dazzled me with her presence and her poise. She was graceful and danced as if she was floating on air. I worry about the faster dances that will be coming up for her but she’s got the right attitude—“70 years young.” She is naturally gifted with beautiful musicality and an inherent grace.
4. Noah Galloway and Sharna Burgess — Everyone remembers Amy Purdy, the inspirational double-leg amputee from season 18. Her amputations due to meningitis were so different than Noah, an Iraq war veteran who lost his left arm and leg serving our country. Without the ability to lead with the left hand or the ability to bend his left leg, Sharna faces big challenges in creating choreography that will excite us as judges while showcasing Noah’s strengths. Last night was an excellent example of just that. What stood out to me was his incredible balance and strength. His focus was mesmerizing. And you could feel his passion and determination. He has a special ability to be focused with power, not force. His power is quiet and grounded which draws you in. It will be fascinating to see what’s to come during his journey in the ballroom.
Everyone else showed a lot of promise but these four stood out to me. They are going to be the most-remembered dances of our season 20 opening night.
More at Parade.
My thoughts: To each his own, but, how could Derek and Nastia not be on her list? They were show stopping in my opinion. Oh well….
My thoughts: To each his own, but, how could Derek and Nastia not be on her list? They were show stopping in my opinion. Oh well….
I’m with you on your above comment, Vogue, but after all it IS Carrie Ann! She’s probably mad at Derek for laughing in the face of her “lift” rule. I wonder if the judges get an additional stipend for every time they utter the words “Val” and “contender” in the same sentence.
Thanks for all the great info!
Per DT, Derek intentionally left the lift in – thought the entertainment value it added to the routine was worth the point they would be deducted for it. It was a calculated risk.
YW Megs..and I wonder the same.
Meggie, she left out Beth and Derek a lot last season as well. It seems Derek is on her shit list. Every time she spoke to them her tone and body language were overwhelmingly negative.
Last time she was haranguing him about breaking rules he won an Emmy, so…. 🙂
A calculated risk that he’s taken on more than one occasion.
Which is fine with me (and the Emmy committee) – but I want to make one thing clear to the morons on twitter. It’s not “cheating”. It’s breaking a rule. And giving them a 7 is very clearly a punishment for breaking that rule. So, he was not rewarded for this. Unlike others :::cough:::Val:::cough::: who broke rules last season yet WERE rewarded for it. “You broke hold, but I don’t care!” Or “There was a lack of content, but I don’t care!!” It seems pretty clear that Derek is the only one these days to really get punished for rule infringements.
What urks me about C.A. is that she will go after Derek and his celeb and ignore or not notice another couple breaking a role. James & Peta broke hold twice in a dance that was aloud breaking hold but then it wasn’t Derek doing it. That tiny lttle lift was at the very end of their dance; and C.A. has her favorites and she is so transparent.
@PH: And to the judges, when Derek does something that’s out of the box or totally out of left field, it almost seems as if they’re insulted by the fact that he did what he did. But when Val does it? Oh, he gets praised for “pushing the envelope” or “giving new meaning to dance” or whatever garbage they can think of. And Carrie Ann is a pretty big offender of this hypocrisy.
The double standard with Derek is so overwhelmingly stupid and I’m glad he kept the lift in. At this point, Derek knows what the judges like and don’t like. Does he care? Well, as per last night, abso-freaking-loutely not. More power to him, tbh.
@Tony…have you noticed even on the ABC DWTS home webpage they have a video big as can be of Val’s mostly Contemporary Foxtrot bragging about it. They have several other couples showing and a video of their dances but not Nastia & Derek. I guess they just wanted their trophy, Emmy, NYC Music Hall fame guy on for his popularity as their boy wonder only. I can see where this season is heading when the one who is not doing what he should gets a free ticket do anything as long as it looks good. Now I understand what people are saying about the show “pimping” someone,
PHeidi…#4 And, Derek just might surprise everyone and choreograph some awesome Emmy award winning dances again with Nastia. Once he gets her primed away from her gymnastics mold, who knows what they will perform out on the dance floor.
I would say that this goes for bother Derek and Mark if it makes anybOdy feel better about it just being derek. When mark pushes the envelope, breaks the rule or does something out of the box, C.A and the judges don’t let him get away with it. But if Val does it, It’s so amazing and great and something we’ve never seen before ….
Mark’s choregrapy in season 12 with Chelsea wasn’t the judges cup of tea, but he did get an emmy nomination and the same goes for Derek. So hey.
If the judges can’t appreciate the work they put in and the talent, then there sure are more people out there that can
You know it just erks me that Derek gets all this backlash. My gosh he’s dammed if he does or if he doesn’t. Derek is one of the most positive persons around, especially to the DWTS stars group. He compliments the show all the time. He even gives props to those goofy judges, yes (even his sister) whenever they try and tear him down. I’m glad he did the so called lift, cause for me it was a surprise and totally took my breath away. And the Rockette’s kicks, I mean it was just fabulous! I wonder if any of these “twitter” commentators have ever been to see something as iconic as the Rockettes and actually see them do those kicks, it just makes you smile and get a sense of pure pride to see such precision. So of course Derek would be the one to pay homage to it! His dances always have a great story and meaning; not just for the score!
Come on CIA you are sooo inconsistent. I’ve seen her on many a talk show and she always seems to be an airhead for most of the time and then will come up with something completely normal, I don’t know she baffles me. I thought there was something strange about Rumer’s posture through her neck and shoulders and the dance was kind of the same old quick movements and caress the face thing Val always does; nothing so monumental for me anyway. Good but not monumental!
I told myself I wasn’t going to read her blogs and even most of the comments on my two favorite sites this season, but here I go and read them and then I get all annoyed. Ok I’m done ranting, haha. I’ll only read Heidi, Vogue and Courtney’s comments and then I’ll feel better. You guys are the best, thanks for all you do.
Yes, NA…. I have to agree, Mark doesn’t get away with things at times either. I just watched the amazing Melissa & Tony in one of their final dances >>>>yawn<<<< and all Tony did was lift her around over his body and she wiggle around him like a worm. No real dancing to speak of and that got the MBT. And, the judges just about peeing themselves over the dance being so awesome, while Shawn and Derek were making Emmy award winning dances. Go figure. While my heart is wanting Noah to go as far as he can to see how much of this mountain he can climb, and the more Nastia & Derek are the least recognized, the more it will make me vote my a$$ off all season for Nastia while enjoying the show and what the other couples are bringing to the floor, except for Mr. Cry baby.
Who cares what CAI thinks? She gives herself too much importance. Her falling of the chair at GMA showed what an idiot she is. How am I supposed to respect her when she can’t carry herself with dignity.
I’ve been selfish and wanted Derek on my tv every Monday. But if this is how they’re going to treat a pro who did so much for the show, I dont want him to return. He has many other options and his success is no longer tied to the show, unlike other pros.
@Ananya
You are so right, I can’t tolerate her anymore. Her falling out of the chair is NOT funny anymore. I wish I could fast forward the show when it’s her in the spotlight at the judges table. She just makes me want to through all my votes to Nastia and say the heck with it and just watch the dancing, which is what I enjoy the most. I know Derek didn’t come back just for the purpose of dwelling on winning that gold ball. He has loved the show ever since his first season and has been a big part of it. He’s a living legend and the best thing that ever happened for the show.
I do agree with you, Ananya, re:CAI. However, I do believe her score is important because it is counted. What she says about each pair matters, too, because being a judge, she has authority to a certain level. Because of that, some of the general audience tend to believe what the judges say about the contestants and vote accordingly. Some even take and repeat what judges say as gospel truth. Which, to me, is kind of sad.
You’re right, NA – Mark also is less likely to get away with anything. I think the women are more likely to get called out as well.
I am a little confused here may be u guys can clear my confusion. I was hoping to wait a few more episodes before I wud totally consider Cai has totally lost it but after Lens comment on the winners of the season being Val her docking point dint bother me much but what bothered me more was Julliane also saying they are the couple to watch is there a script given to them like u have to be good to val ?? I saw this last time also that she kept appreciating a lot of val and janels no which I dint like to tat extent but then I tot may be she understands better than me. Even she picks on Derek’s dance but not in a bad way but still its not the same its like she is making an effort not to appreciate derek much Also may be I am stupid to think but can this work in favor of Derek and Nastia that they have to time to grow and prove themselves… Heidi/vouge/courtney can u help me understand this?
Ummm…what?
I mean apart from Cariann and Len trying to show val in better light I feel Julliane also is kind of doing the same thing I find that a little weird or I am assuming too much ?
2nd. I feel Jules trying hard to not appreciate Derek too much so does that improve his chance does not make any difference.
Sorry if I was not clear I myself am confused 🙁
I think…I repeat, I THINK…that Julianne even admitted that she was too hard on Derek last season. Not really “hard” but…more like she was working overtime to not appear biased.
As for his and Nastia’s chances? Well, it depends on what happens going forward. Constant negativity can lead to an early elimination. Just ask Charlie White – who had harder choreo, was just as good a dancer as Meryl, but could seem to do nothing right.
Thank you Heidi 🙂 still somewhere I feel Julliane is also trying to show Val in good light may be not too much but I feel so now I am not sure if this is what they are being asked to do or she genuinely likes them that much 🙂
thank u again Heidi 🙂
It’s so sad to think that TPTB made the effort to accommodate Derek’s (exhausting) bicoastal participation, knowing that they would be (ab)using him as fodder. Shameful, really.
I’ve lost all respect for CAI as a DWTS judge, blogger, and entertainment personality. Her biased assessments on DWTS make a mockery of fair judging and her falling off the chair stunt at GMA just solidified her status to me as a ridiculous person. I can’t take anything she says or writes seriously. And her apparent disdain for the performances of the most insanely talented guy (Derek) the show has ever seen just seals the deal for me that she is totally incapable of recognizing quality when she sees it.
I mean really – WHY the heck is CarrieAnn a judge on this show still? She can be real mean sometimes and all I want to do is slap some sense into her. I’m embarrassed by her behavior sometimes and I’m dying to know what she is CONSTANTLY scribbling in her notebook. But hey on the bright side – the season is young and maybe she’ll fall out of her chair again and amuse me! Sorry, not sorry..