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Dancing With The Stars Season 8
RealityFreakWill:
click on link below to view video
Steve Wozniak Predicts 'Dancing' Champ
HTV was there as Apple co-founder and former 'Dancing with the Stars' contestant Steve Wozniak reveals his favorite to win the hit reality show.
While on a leisurely stroll at a Los Angeles shopping center, the computer engineer tells the cameras it will be difficult for the judges to choose a winner because the votes are so close.
Watch the video to hear what has changed for "The Woz" since his appearance on the hit ABC dancing competition and why he is always rooting for the underdog.
http://www.etonline.com/news/2009/04/73091/index.html
RealityFreakWill:
Carrie Ann Inaba blogs 'DWTS,' week 7
What a week! All the tables turned, new leaders emerged, and the whole leader board got "a shaking up." And that is why I LOVE THIS SEASON! I knew it! I had a feeling all along that the season was going to be very interesting and highly competitive as we approached the end of the season. Let’s start with Chuck and Julianne. I am so happy for them that they finally had a breakthrough. I always felt that he had an ease of movement that if he engaged his spirit and confidence behind it -- along with the training and technique he could tackle if he set his mind to it -- that he could do well. It was as if he finally decided that he was just going to go for it -- no excuses. That is such a wonderful thing to watch. A real breakthough. And we got to experience it right there with him. Congratulations Chuck and Julianne!
I would have to say Tony and Melissa had wonderful night as well -- and Shawn Johnson and Mark Ballas too!. Melissa’s Argentine Tango was really something special. That was a VERY difficult routine. It was filled to the brim with steps and there was no room for error. With all the leg flicks and weight changes and intricate movements, if they had missed one step or weight change, there would have been a problem and there was no space to catch up. But what I was impressed with were Tony’s lifts. I knew that he really specializes in lifts, but that was a really nice showcase of lifts (which are acceptable in the Argentine Tango). I also want to add that Melissa was stunning in that outfit. She really took on a strong persona and pulled it off wonderfully.
Shawn Johnson and Mark did a fantastic cha-cha-cha. I read a lot of your comments and I see that a lot of you really get upset when she doesn’t get great scores. It's nice to see your support for her. But I think you don’t have to worry about that anymore. She also had a breakthrough. Until Monday night, she was having a bit of trouble really getting the characters of the dance and letting go and finding her freedom in the dance to express herself. I saw it on Monday night and I was so proud of her. I’m sure most of you out there must also feel like a proud parent when Shawn does well. It’s like she is growing up in front of our eyes. She is such a special person -- so professional, so mature, so focused, so strong, and so pure. Her precision is her best asset, but it has also held her back a bit from adding that level of performance. Shawn and Chuck both really stepped it up, and I bet we see even more of it as weeks go by. And she got her first 10! Congratulations Shawn!!! She said it was her first 10 ever -- even in gymnastics!
Gilles and Cheryl performed a Viennese Waltz and did a nice job with it -- but at this level we can see that the contestants' success will definitely depend on the dances they get to perform. We have great performers left, but they all have different styles of performing. I gave Gilles a correction about his posture that I hope he will work on, because at this point everyone has to really put their best foot forward. With this sort of competition and the level that everyone is performing at, there is no room for error. Those little things will separate the winner from the runner up, because we have some great contenders left.
Don’t worry, I’m not forgetting about Ty and Lil' Kim. Lil' Kim and Derek proved a really interesting point in this competition on Monday night, and I think they sent out a good message to everyone in general. They tried to impress Len -- or what they thought Len wanted -- by toning down her performance. But in doing so, Kim lost some of her special spark. This is a good lesson -- it is important to do what you do best and follow your own heart when making choices. It worked out well and I’m glad they survived -- this week Kim and Derek dropped quite far down the leader board and I was worried about them. But they are still in it and I think she’ll be back to herself next week, bringing back her inner tiger!
And Ty had a good week. But I think he was a bit intimidated after Chuck did so well. Sometimes it is so difficult to come after someone who really changes the energy in the room. I felt that he was a bit nervous. But he is still such a nice surprise in how far he has come with his dancing. His scores have been all over the place and they started out very low. He definitely specializes in the ballroom dances, where he can “hold on” as he said. Now that LT is gone, we’ll see who ends up on the bottom next week. It's going to be sad next week when someone goes home.
Lawrence was happy to go home, it seemed, so I’m happy for him. I guess he’s back to golf now. Good luck, LT!
Last night’s result show was filled with dancing. I am excited to see how the new dancers who are vying for a spot on the show will do as the weeks progress. We don’t have any voting power as judges -- this is all up to the audience vote. It’s really nice to see these kids having this opportunity. They all seemed like nice people and had different strengths, but on this show it takes a lot to be a professional. First of all, you have to be a great teacher -- you must be able to teach the steps and technique and then choreograph your numbers in a way that best displays your partner's talent and assets. You must be able to perform in a way that doesn’t outshine your celebrity partner but helps complement what he or she brings to the dance floor, and you need to be a strong guide and partner on the journey to the mirror ball. You also have to have your own star quality because, as we have seen, our dancers become stars in their own right. What it takes to make these celebrities shine is a lot more than just being a good dancer. It takes a certain type of person. You have to be strong and patient, creative and intelligent, and I really applaud our dancers for all that they do. Being a DWTS professional dancer is an incredible opportunity. Look at Julianne and Mark and Derek, who have gone on to record albums and are doing quite well. Our show is a wonderful opportunity for both dancers and celebrities to create even better futures for themselves and open doors in their careers that are quite amazing.
Also, NATASHA BEDDINGFIELD! She performed the most incredible version of "Soulmate," which is my personal favorite song. I LOVE THAT SONG. She is one heck of a singer. I loved the way she changed it up and the performance of Dimitri and Lacey was quite good. Lacey gets better and better with each performance. I loved watching her. And Dimitry is such a fine performer -- he's a bit shy, but a good partner for Lacey.
Our results show this week was jam-packed, but my favorite performance was the BURN THE FLOOR performance. I am in discussions to be a producer on that show as it heads to Broadway this summer. I saw the show in San Francisco a few weeks ago and loved it. (They are playing until next week, before they head on tour and then come to Broadway in the summer, so keep your eyes open and I hope you will all come out and support their show.) The dancers are beautiful and grew up all over the world. You'll see some fantastic dancing if you go. It will help you get through your summer without DWTS!
Finally, I just wanted to remind everyone that the auction for my "DWTS Experience" package at Clothes Off Our Back is coming to a close on May 1. So if you are interesting in coming to the show’s finale, you can bid on those tickets and the whole package. All the proceeds go to The Andrea Rizzo Foundation, which provides dance therapy for pediatric cancer patients and children with special needs. It’s a wonderful cause -- very dear to my heart -- and I just wanted to remind you that if you want to come to the show and get a beautiful dress and a diamond necklace, and some cute shoes, the auction is still going on.
Thanks for tuning in -- it’s getting exciting, isn’t it?!
Thanks for your comments as well.
Oh -- behind the scenes -- Sheila E. was there last night and came over and gave me a hug -- and it was a very exciting moment. I have been a fan of hers for a long time. She is an incredible percussionist and performer and the first star I met when I was young. She signed me an autograph on a piece of glass. She wrote backwards and I kept that glass for a long time…until one day, I had someone clean my house and she cleaned the glass and the autograph was gone when I got home. ; (
But I still have the memory. ;)
Have a great day -- summer is coming!!
Enjoy,
Carrie Ann
http://popwatch.ew.com/popwatch/2009/04/carrie-ann-in-2.html
RealityFreakWill:
UPDATE....
Dances for 4/27
TEAM TANGO:
Gilles/Cheryl
Lil' Kim/Derek
Ty/Chelsie
TEAM MAMBO:
Melissa/Tony
Shawn/Mark
Chuck/Julianne
INDIVIDUAL TEAM DANCE:
Melissa/Tony....Jive
Gilles/Cheryl.....Lindy Hop
Shawn/Mark.....Samba
Lil' Kim/Derek....Paso Doble
Ty/Chelsie.......Salsa
Chuck/Julianne.....still unknown at this time
RealityFreakWill:
click on link below to view pictures
Jewel posted this on Ty's blog:
'I have always said he is the real John Wayne'
Hi everyone!
Thought I would come and say hi to the Cowboy Army! This sure has turned out to be a fun and unexpected part of doing the show – how it has brought us all closer together and how this is really a team effort.
Ty has to deliver on his dances, but the scores only mean so much and you are all literally his team mates. It's up to you to keep him in the running--a team sport!
Usually fans only get to be spectators in a sport, but with this you guys actually participate and that's cool!
As for me, I'm SO PROUD of Ty and I'm so glad America is getting to know the man I fell in love with and was lucky enough to marry. I have always said he is the real John Wayne--a stand up guy in a world of flakes...
He is at once strong and masculine, but at the same time vulnerable and humble. I am the biggest fan of who he is as a person, not just who he is as a cowboy.
A man with character is rare these days and I'm glad all the folks who aren't familiar with the western lifestyle are getting to see an athlete and fierce competitor can be all the better by being a genuine and gracious man.
There's nothing phony about him.
But I could go on all day talking about him!! What else?
Oh, some of you were asking who was sitting next to me Monday. That was my dad Atz (pronounced Otts). He came all the way from Alaska on some business and I'm so glad I got to see him!
He's here on behalf of the Alaskan Cattleman's Association about some grazing rights for their cattle up in Alaska. There are some "range wars" up there where my family graze their cattle in the open country of Fox River Valley. No fences – just open range in big wide, wild country.
I grew up riding horses, going on cattle drives, pushing the herd across swollen glacial rivers where they graze for the summer on wild land, and letting our fields back home all grow hay for the short growing season we have up there.
Here are some of my family photos of where I was raised. These pics are of my dad and his parents when they settled in Alaska before it was a state, in the 1950's.
They were Homesteaders, who settled and cleared about 900 acres by hand, and lived in a tiny log cabin – which is also where I was raised – and they got to town using a horse and wagon because there were no roads and no cars up there! As a result these pics look like they are from the 1800's and not from this century! I hope you enjoy seeing how and where I was raised.
Gosh, Alaska is like going back in time. It's just like you see in movies--mountains, bears, wolves and cattle grazing with no fences. It's just thousands of acres of untouched country.
Some of you may have noticed I held a cap up on Monday. The hat I held up was my dad's Vietnam Veterans hat. They made him take it off during taping because it was a baseball cap and they have a dress code, but I wanted to hold it up so all his Veteran buddies could see.
He served in Nam and was part of the Tet offensive of 68' – famously gory battle – and he recently was able to have a reunion with the guys he served with. He said it was an amazing experience to see everyone again all these years later.
It was nice having him here and he heads back to Alaska tomorrow morning. It's sure nice how Ty's family and mine have come to support him.
I thought Ty did great on Monday! And I thought he and Chelsie looked so sweet together. The waltz was perfect for them and the group dance had me cracking up!! I snuck some pics you can see here.
I have read all the fuss over his biceps and I gotta agree!! Haha--
After the show they chose teammates for team mambo and team tango, and Ty got picked last! He said it was like the nerdy kid in school who gets picked last for dodge ball!
Well, he ended up on team tango and I know they will be thrilled with him. Everyone underestimates him and he isn't a mouthy guy either, who will telegraph what he intends to do. But, make no mistake, he always finds a way to win and they will learn that!
I think you guys will like their tango routine very much. There's sort of a shocking surprise in the first part of it!
I'm on twitter now and welcome you all to follow along at jeweljk. On Monday and Tuesday nights I twitter live "blow-by-blow" updates from inside the show so we can all share the suspense together in real time! :)
Guess that's all for now. Hope this wasn't too long. As always, we enjoy reading your blog COMMENTS so keep it up!
Xxjewel
http://www.pbrnow.com/blog/index.cfm/2009/4/23/I-have-always-said-he-is-the-real-John-Wayne#more
RealityFreakWill:
Ty's blog:
‘It’s almost like you have to peak at the right time’
Hello troops. I just got back to the apartment after a long day of practicing. I also had to my hour-long interview that they use to pull out quotes for the packages they show before I dance.
Chelsie and I were at the practice studio all day and it's coming along, but it's a slower process now because we're learning two dances. Yesterday we worked on the salsa for most of the day and today we worked on the tango.
It's tough!
We brought Dmitry in for a little bit of help with the salsa. For me, the thing of it is, only having Chelsie for my coach it's hard to figure out a lot of the stuff because I'm only seeing her do it and I don't know how else to say it, but she does it in such a girlie way that it really helped to have Dmitry there.
He was able to show me what it's supposed to look it because, that's just it, I don't even know what it's supposed to look like when we start these dances.
But, like I said, it's coming along and we have all the choreography done. Well, I say we, but Chelsie got all the choreography done on the two dances and it's just a matter of going through the process.
We trust the process. We're quite a ways behind where we were last week, but it's not anything to panic about. I think, it's almost like you have to peak at the right time and I still think we're on track to peak on Monday night. We still have Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
First thing tomorrow morning we'll be rehearsing as a team for the team tango and that'll be good.
Tuesday night, after the show, we worked until midnight on the opening and the ending of that dance. Then we left out the middle portion of the routine because that's where we have our individual part of the routine. That's where Chelsie and I will dance, Kim and Derek will dance and then Gilles and Cheryl will do the same.
Today we worked on our individual parts and then tomorrow we'll reconvene as a group and figure out how to put it all together.
It was a long day and every week it's pretty much back to square one. You have to stay positive and put your trust in the process and that's what we're doing.
The amount of support I'm getting is amazing.
Every night I come home, I'm tired and my feet are sore so I put my feet up and look through the comments you leave on my blogs. I'm still amazed at the amount of support that continues to grow from one week to the next.
It really is a team effort and it really is an army the way everybody is getting behind me.
We're even starting to see some of the fans of contestants that have went home who are joining the army, and that's good to see.
We have a couple privates – Private Jiggy and Private Ladyhawk – who we need to bump up to corporals because they have really stayed right on top of this. It kind of seems like they're in charge of the army.
Thanks again to everybody. It's nice when you come home sweaty, beat and tired with sore feet to see all the support I'm getting on the Internet.
Keep the faith, and we'll talk to you tomorrow.
http://www.pbrnow.com/blog/index.cfm/2009/4/24/Its-almost-like-you-have-to-peak-at-the-right-time#more
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