Maks Chmerkovksiy Gives Advise For Remaining Couples On Dancing With The Stars, Makes Finals Prediction

Maks Chmerkovksiy has written some thoughts and advise for each of the remaining couples at his new blog at Entertainment Weekly. I’m agreeing with everything he’s written except the part on Derek and how he’s not supportive and making an effort with choreo, etc, for Marilu, but, I do agree that she doesn’t seem comfortable and she just needs to have fun. More below including Miss Heidi’s thoughts. Let us know what you think too. Maks also makes a Prediction on who will make the Finals: Laurie, Calvin, and James.

Marilu and Derek:

I think this is the first time we’ve seen Derek in a role he’s not used to. It’s the role of not being the best couple in the competition, nor having a partner who can do things the way he wants her to.

We always see similarities from season to season — all of us pros recycle stuff. Having several years of DWTS experience, we know there are weeks that are easier than others. We know a set of steps that we can put in that will impress, we know a set of lifts that we can put in that will impress, we know some choreography pieces that we can do over and over. I’m not saying this in a bad way at all — it’s just the way it is.

But I think maybe Derek is attempting this and it’s not working. Marilu is a different person than other people he’s worked with. I don’t doubt that he puts an effort into choreography and stylizing the dance and trying to make her look her best. But when he hits a wall and sees that she’s not responding the way he wants her to, I think he just gives up and moves on. She needs something that needs to be styled for her, so Derek’s signature fast footwork doesn’t really work. She needs to be a little bit smoother, and maybe slower action, or different song styles.

To me Marilu seems like she wants this the most — she genuinely loves the show and loves to do this, but it seems like she has zero fun. The look in her eyes as soon as she messed up just seems like she’s not comfortable in the situation. And Derek just doesn’t seem supportive enough. You can get frustrated (believe me, I know this) but then you have to come back and figure it out, work together, and try something else. You change your approach, and sometimes change your own personal style for the benefit of your partner.

Like I said I’m not innocent; I’ve obviously had issues and been frustrated with a partner in this competition, so I get it. But I feel like I’ve come back and adjusted my approach and made the best of a situation. Not everyone comes into the competition being great, but it’s a matter of adjusting to have the best outcome, and more than anything, being professional.

More at Entertainment Weekly.

Heidi: Maks has thought that Derek always had great partners for YEARS. To claim that this is the first time that Derek hasn’t had the best dancer is moronic at best – me thinks Maks still has a hard on for Derek and his only explanation for those six trophies is that “Derek always gets great partners”. Jealous much? Not only has Maks’ read on the show always been WAY off base (and not just about Derek, but in general), but he’s never understood the show and how it works. That much is obvious from his own lack of trophies except that one that was manufactured for him. And that he’s giving advice to DEREK of all people is beyond laughable. Derek is the one who changes tack with all his partners until he finds what works – Maks is the one who is rigid and unbending (that he thinks otherwise is delusional). The proof is in the pudding, dude. But most of all – that he doesn’t acknowledge that the packages don’t tell the whole story – something he’s complained about in the past – is just idiotic. But then…our sources have said that many of HIS packages were accurate because there was nothing good to show. So maybe he’s projecting. 😉