Private Members Area – DWTS Season 21 Week 9 Discussion
It’s time for Dancing with the Stars Season 21 week 9 and you know what that means. Time to enjoy some friendly, educated banter in the Pure DWTS Insider. 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 Showstoppers night? How about the elimination? Were you surprised, sad, happy? How about who they put up as the final 2? Was this the first time someone with a perfect score was eliminated?
How about Tamar falling ill? Seems like they followed the rules, but there’s something disatisfying to me about using rehearsal footage for the score. What do you think?
Any other things of note? You know how we do it. Banter away!
First the elimination… UHHHHHH!!!! My heart broke watching those 2. But it really showed the love between the 2 of them and it really made me happy to see that love. I didn’t think she deserved it, I see others who could’ve gone before her, but that’s america’s votes.
As for Tamar, I understand her being ill, and using her rehearsal video but I didn’t get what I wanted from the rehearsal video. Like you said, disatisfying. I hope she feels better but I’m worried. Pneumonia is not something to mess with and id be scared to have her dancing! Also praying she’s not contagious because that would not be good!
All in all, I wasn’t over the moon about this week. It was fine, it was another week for me. I also want to disclaimer, I am reading on Twitter everyone sad about this elimination but after watching for 19 seasons, I’m used to the “shocking” elimination. But yet this is an AMAZING season, and the talent is all so strong, each one of the dancers could win, so it’s all about fan votes now.
Erin,
My favorite complaint is those people who leave me a message (most think we’re the show even though it clearly states on the form that we’re not the show) saying that they’re done watching the show because this is just a big popularity contest.
When I’m feeling like having some fun I reply something like “Nope. It’s always been a popularity contest. It’s not new.”
Of course, the irony is that they just think it’s a popularity contest now that their favorite isn’t the popular one. #EndRant
I’m so sad about Mark and Alexa getting eliminated. I hated all the Tamar drama. I liked her and Val’s dances too….but, all the drama took the focus off the entire show. They also could have had a Pro Number to fill that time instead. Oh well. I sound like a broken record.
Last night’s episode left a bad taste in my mouth for a lot of reasons. The main reason is that the producers have just gotten so low in recent seasons and last night was the culmination of that (IMO).
There is absolutely NO reason you had to put the married couple up against each other. I get WHY they did it, but did it really bring something different to the show that is going to skyrocket ratings? No. Alexa had an incredible night of dancing and the producers destroyed any joy she built up over the last few weeks in 5 minutes.
Having said all that…I do feel like somewhat of a hypocrite (and a bad person for saying this) but I couldn’t find myself totally buying the Tamar situation. I don’t doubt she is legit sick and girl looked like she was going to pass out after their dance so I give her 100% credit for doing it. That doesn’t give her a free pass though. My issue is when people run down their busy schedule, etc. She isn’t the first person to do this show with a busy schedule, sorry Val. Also, if you are really that busy, don’t do the show. I just thought it was a bit of a fishy situation. Doesn’t help that I think Tamar is inclined toward the dramatics as way. I admit to not being a totally empathetic person though so that’s just my natural personality.
I also am still not a Carlos fan and was bummed to see Alek still nitpicked.
Sorry for the “wah, wah, wah” vibe of the post hahaha.
DLT, you aren’t the only one who thinks like that. I feel like there was a chance Tamar would not make the finals before but now, I would be surprised if she wasn’t in the finals due to the addition of sympathy votes. I am sorry that she is so ill but the dramatics of last night probably bought her a ticket to the finale.
Feel no sympathy for the busy schedule card though. Dozens of celebs have had just as busy of a schedule. Feel even less sympathy for Val, as all the pros go through some hard seasons and he has never really had a hard one before. His season mirrors Nastia & Dereks a bit (busy schedule/bad producer treatment) but N&D were better dancers, had a better relationship and also dealt with injury throughout.
Tamar’s drama aside, I just don’t enjoy their partnership or her dancing. She is decent but shes’s not as great as made out to be IMO. I think she’s more made for hip hop and jazz dancing because she moves really well solo but doesn’t have technique or partner skills to be considered great at ballroom/latin. I don’t particularly enough her or Carlos’ personalities but I enjoy Carlos dancing more. So, I am hoping for Bindi/Nick/Alek/Carlos finale but it most likely won’t happen.
It’s no secret that i can’t stand Val but have enjoyed some of his performances. I think Tamar is beautiful, determined and a talented performer. Not sure we’d be friends though if I knew her in RL. A bit high maintenance. And together, they aren’t gelling. Their lack of chemistry and Tamar’s tension in hold is making them a less than enjoyable pair in the contest. I emphasize with her disappointment in getting sick now and Tamar looks absolutely miserable. But she should have withdrawn. Tamar could have left with her head held high instead of being voted off. Seriously, she must know that she isn’t going to win this season. That will be one of the powerhouses, Bindi or the Backstreet Boy. Someone should have explained to Tamar that Nick would not lose out anything on their duet dance. And even if he did, surely anon sane would say it couldn’t be helped and Tamar’s health is more important than a dance contest! Plus, how is she going to continue? And isn’t this contagious?
Other than the Tamar drama, I enjoyed last night’s show. Especially Alexa’s contemporary, Bindi’s V. Waltz, Alek enjoying the cruise and his interactions with Carlos and the Chicago Jazz routine. Shame Alexa was voted off and how it was handled but she should be very proud of her accomplishments.
I think the Drama on the live broadcast was also a way to ensure sympathy votes to knock Alek out as a finalist. It’s pretty obvious that they want Alek gone. You’d have to be an idiot NOT to see that. So I’m guessing we’ll have a Nick-Bindi-Carlos-Tamar final 4.
Seriously though. Tamar, needs to get IV antibiotics. Pneumonia IS contagious. She could’ve also probably used some oxygen after last nights duo-dance. I give her props for performing but her health has to be the most important thing. Not some silly little dancing contest.
When Tamar was dancing really close to Nick, I wonder if he was thinking “don’t breath your germs on me.” I know I would.
Okay Tamar if you are that sick, you could have seen a dr. anytime during the week. You could have reduced your schedule. I am sure they could have found a replacement for you on the talk show. In short I think it was very selfish of her to handle things the way she did.
If she was actually diagnosed with pneumonia, a doctor probably would not have cleared her to dance. And she won’t be allowed to dance without the clearance because of the DWTS lawyers. So…do we think she REALLY has pneumonia, or is she just sick and exhausted? Derek had strep and was obviously cleared – why does Tamar get labeled with the very serious pneumonia and no one questions it’s veracity? I think DWTS was covering their butt in case she didn’t come back.
I’ll just say this about the Tamar saga:
Two different sources have told me that the pneumonia claim is just the “official” narrative, and Tamar may or may not actually have it. I wouldn’t be surprised if she hadn’t even seen a doctor to confirm it – seems like someone may have just quickly glommed onto that explanation to avoid anyone prying further into the real cause of Tamar’s exit. The impression I got from talking to DT is that there was a lot of confusion and flying by the seats of pants being done behind-the-scenes last night, and nobody really had the full story…
…my theory is that she wanted to quit, and used her respiratory illness as an excuse; got hauled off to the hospital, then was told that she wouldn’t get the $50K she would have earned if she made it through to next week. Suddenly, the lord then miraculously healed Tamar and parted the
Red Seathe traffic on Hollywood and Vine to allow her to return and dance.I would suggest everyone keep an eye on TMZ. If anyone’s going to break the real story – it’s probably them.
PH I thought maybe I didn’t know enough about pneumonia. Maybe it could be diagnosed, but yet in a few hours could be ameliorated sufficiently that she could dance — although that just seems wrong. I think Tamar thrives on this kind of drama. She leaves without telling anyone, including her partner, so they have to do a room-to-room search? She arrives almost to the exact minute when she needs to dance or else be disqualified? I think the reason she didn’t alter her schedule is because she didn’t want DWTS to disturb her (on-going) life. She was going to fit it in around all the other things, probably assuming she was good enough to be able to pull that off. It’s approaching the level of parody, with her breathless arrival minutes before taking the floor. I hope, for both her sake and the sake of the show, that the doctors won’t clear her and she’s gone.
I’m definitely a bit disappointed in how everything with Tamar was handled. At the beginning of the show I thought “Wow…good for Tamar. She’s feeling sick and she’s going to the hospital to get it taken care of”. Pneumonia is a really scary thing. I mentioned to Courtney on twitter last night, but when I was in my competitive dancing days I actually got pneumonia myself. For the first week or so I didn’t realize I had it but was feeling sick. Then I eventually went to the doctors and my doctor had me doing nothing, however because I was moving a lot when I did have it without knowing, it didn’t do well for me. My lung collapsed, I had emergency surgery, and I was in the hospital for a month. After that I was out of dancing for 3 months. If it were up to me, I would have started dancing again as it was the busy part of competition season, but my doctor wouldn’t let me dance.
The fact that Tamar was cleared to dance while “having pneumonia” is VERY sketchy to me. Just from personal experience alone, a doctor would never let her dance in that condition. And the fact that she made it back in time to dance the one dance she needed to makes me roll my eyes a bit. I just don’t buy it…
If she has pneumonia, she needs to take care of herself and not be dancing for hours a day on top of everything else.
If she doesn’t and just wants to quit for various reasons, I hope she is eliminated next week. How horrible to take someone else’s place in the finals or even Alexa’s place in the semis, when you don’t truly want to be there, and to treat everyone at your place of work (yes, this show is one of her place’s of work right now) in such disrespect last night, not being honest with your partner, your bosses or your fans.
Val keeps saying that it’s been difficult, but she is worth it, but I really don’t believe he is happy this season, I think he’s saving face with the fans so they last as long as they possibly can in this competition.
I do believe Tamar is sick and I don’t think she is faking it – girl looks and sounds exhausted – but I really think the pneumonia angle was pushed by the producers as a dramatic narrative. No way the doctors cleared her to dance with pneumonia – no friggen way.
If she doesn’t need to bow out because of health reasons, I just gotta say I hope she makes it worthwhile in the finals.
I do wish both selfishly – I prefer Alexa – and unselfishly – I like Tamar and want her to do the best thing for her health – that she had bowed out.
Also had a dream that Mark and Alexa were asking me why I didn’t vote to save them LOL (I don’t vote, but occasionally feel guilty about that – Charlie, Apolo, Willow, and now Alexa). Stupid DWTS leaking into my subconscious.
I have had numerous bouts of bronchitis in my teenage years…I was SO SICK. Like running a temp, not able to breathe…wishing death sick. Pneumonia is a worse than bronchitis.
I was in color guard throughout high school and our high school had a rule that if you weren’t in school by 11am on Friday..you could not participate in any school activities that weekend. So my band director TOLD me I HAD to be in school by 11am Friday. I obliged. Looked like death warmed over. Competed in the marching band competition the following day. Dropped my flag but pushed through. When we were done and marching off the field, I fell out because I COULD NOT BREATHE! And I just had bronchitis…..so yeah, now that PH mentions it, I wonder if Tamar really does have pneumonia. Or if TPTB are making it out to be worse than it really is…hmm……
That’s when you know you’ve really made it. You seep into Fig’s dreams. #SomethingToAspireTo
I didn’t see it, but apparently Jenna was in the red room crying during Tamar’s dress rehearsal airing and Artem and Keo had to console her. Really? I know she’s basically Val’s assistant (and maybe even GF) but no one is dying here. I’m just not prone towards people who constantly look for attention, especially when something has nothing to do with them.
Clearly I’m still in a bitter mood…
Hahaha John, I probably shouldn’t even say anything but since we’re in a safe area, I totally had an out-of-the-blue sex dream about Alek a few weeks ago. I don’t even have a particular thing about him, but I think it was all the Emma/Alek talk that seeped into my brain.
I know you aren’t necessarily hospitalized for pneumonia unless you have other health issues or it’s a very serious case that’s been ignored. We do know Tamar was sick at least a couple of weeks ago. BUT, that said, she also should have seen a doctor. Especially with important, high stress contractual obligations like DWTS and concerts. And I’m guessing but wouldn’t DWTS have some kind of medically trained person at the rehearsal studios or on call in case someone is injured? I would expect their insurance would require a safety plan. And I remember something in one of Amber’s packages about DWTS’s doctor or person needing to examine her knee to determine if she should “be allowed to” go on. So I’d expect that if Tamar was having a lot of difficulty breathing or coughing, warm bells would have gone off in someone worried about the insurance risk, at least. Instead, we have Tamar with a rough voice, exhausted and stressed who decides on her own to go off. To the hospital? And if she was actually being treated in an emergency room, wouldn’t the DWTS legal team require a medical professional to okay her to perform? For the insurance at least?
Funny thought. We know there is no love lost between Tamar and Val so I thought it might be Nick that she was concerned about. (Even in those brief moments we saw, she seemed less guarded with him. But I bet Nick is sleeping on the couch for the foreseeable future now since his wife is pregnant and pneumonia is contagious!
If your vital signs–heart rate, temperature, respiratory rate and blood pressure are bad and/or you have a really bad chest xray or lousy arterial blood gases, which shows how well your body is being oxygenated, they can and DO hospitalize people fore pneumonia. Especially kids and elderly. Tamar’s been sick for a few weeks…if you let it go that long, it can very well land you in the hospital.
Seems like Tamar has blown off her sickness…OR isn’t as sick as they made her out to be..dunno…will keep an eye on TMZ. Because I’m with Court. Something is really fishy.
I think the situation with Amber was she wanted to know if continuing to dance would do any long term damage. She found out the answer was no, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Regarding Tamar, there’s no doubt the woman is ailing. That being said, I’m wondering if this whole business isn’t some kind of a response to the (multiple) airing of her “I am the best” video. She’s certainly succeeded in changing her narrative.
Probably the traffic on 3rd and Fairfax. 😀
Hit a new low in TV watching and I threw on the Lifetime movie “Seeds of Yesterday” which stars James Maslow. Forgot how incredibly good-looking he is. Those eyes!
Seeing James made me think of our favorite Big Time Rush fan, Dave, and it also occurred to me that although I’m supremely disappointed that Alexa got eliminated last night, that I can take some small comfort in knowing that somewhere, Dave is having a conniption because Carlos is in the semifinals.
LOL Fig. 🙂
Not to take away from the serious situation that is Tamar’s health right now but this whole announcing her withdrawal from DWTS on her IG just seems like another situation where she was in control in how things went down. I haven’t been consistently watching all the DWTS seasons, but the experience I have had it always seems like the producers try to keep this under wraps so they can wait to announce this on the live show. I’m glad she’s doing what she needed to take care of herself as that should always be her #1 priority, but how everything went down on Monday night PLUS this IG post leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
She left the hospital against Dr advice. TPTB should’ve NEVER let her dance on Monday. Blood clots in your lungs are NO joke…even MORE serious than pneumonia. I’m LIVID over the fact that she even thought about dancing AND that the DWTS legal team LET her!!
Now…as far as Peta being back….her orthopedic surgeon is also MY orthopedic surgeon and he told me on Oct 16th that Peta would be back on the dance floor by the end of the season. I am friends with the orthopedic surgeon’s wife..we are both RN’s. I worked with her almost 15 yrs ago…she’s a great person. So when any of THE FAM come to town (for repairs of their various injuries) they stay with the Orthopedic Surgeon and his wife. Peta was here in September/October for her ankle surgery and physical therapy. Maks was here last fall for his ankle surgery. Rumer Willis was here not too long ago as well and Dr Surgeon has also worked on Henry, Val and Artem too! Not breaking HIPAA as most of these things were documented on Instagram 😀
His wife is such a sweet person, she really is. Right now, she’s collecting donations for Operation Christmas Child. So they also walk the walk. When I told the Dr who my fave pro was (Derek) he was like Ohhh and covered his face with my medical reports….lol but I said Peta is my favorite female pro. 🙂 Which she is.
Well, think about how quickly everything happened on Monday. Dress rehearsal is only a couple hours before the live show. If she left dress after her individual dance but before the duet, then she was probably only gone from the studio 3 hours or so. We’re talking LIVE show – the legal team was probably involved, but there probably wasn’t a doctor to examine her and give her the thumbs up in regards to doing one dance. That is a short period of time.
Does a DWTS Dr have to clear a person? The ER Dr’s didn’t clear her. In a case like this, I’d think that alone would be enough to keep Tamar off the dance floor.
What are the odds of clear communication between DWTS producers and the ER doctor during the live telecast? Not huge, I would guess. I’m betting that the lawyers are indeed re-writing the rules as we speak to remove that sense of “control” from people like Tamar. I expect that rule will read something like, “If you leave the studio to go to the hospital within x hours of the live show, you’re out.”
Sounds fair.
She obviously felt bad enough to rush off to an ER without even telling her partner, Val. Smh…and yeah I agree, if you go to an ER within X hrs of showtime,you are automatically disqualified.
I hope this was a wake-up call for TPTB! Monday and Tuesday’s events were a HUGE Cluster F8ck! Still feel bad for Alexa but don’t think she should be allowed to return. It is what it is.
Now this dance-off thing is BS! how bout throwing in a Pro number or two….or a special guest. I’m SURE they could’ve gotten somebody to perform live 😉
Kelly, don’t you think they have had a lot of wake up calls this season and has it changed them…no! I wish they had common sense but it seems more and more of it goes out the window each week.
The only other event I can think of is Kim Z. She wasn’t actually there in LA for Sunday/Monday pre-show rehearsals and the rules are pretty clear in that case. You’re disqualified. End of.