Is it Appropriate to Say Break a Leg to New Dancing Stars?

Is it Appropriate to Say Break a Leg to New Dancing Stars? by Roxanne McDonald

Not sure why I am so enamored with “Dancing with the Stars,” but I have my heart set on seeing hopefuls through, anyway.

Maybe it’s the reminder of “Lawrence Welk Show,” the only thing grandparents would watch on Saturday nights—so when I would sleep over that’s what I would watch, amazed and intrigued, too.

Maybe it’s that I have not yet burned out on reality/talent/celebreality programming, yet.

Or maybe it’s that the concept of crossover talent is fascinating?

Whatever the reasons may be for my watching, I was clearly not alone in my penchant for popular ballroom as it is delivered by professionals teamed with athletes, singers, actors, comics, cowboys, clowns, and other

non-dancers…at the start of the season, anyway:

Ian Ziering/Cheryl Burke (21 points)

Love Cheryl—she clearly works so hard at her talent (and it pays off); and Ian, well, he isn’t the 90210 boy I would have called on to do “Dancing…” (though my choice would likely have declined), but he looks like he will be a decent competitor—especially given his need for perfection.

Paulina Porizkova/Alec Mazo (19 points)

Alec won the cup in season one of “Dancing…” with partner Kelly Monaco. Now he runs the self-effacing Paulina about the dance floor as if she were a doll. She is beautiful, and she doesn’t make too many mistakes, though she is awkward—a little stiff (understandable for day one of the competition, though).

Billy Ray Cyrus/Karina Smirnoff (13 points)

Billy Ray is undoubtedly a hottie in the CW world (and here on the show, okay), but he is stiff and awkward and does what would have been a very funny mullet-removal had he been, say, Jeff Foxworthy or someone. Hey, that’s an idea. Get all the comic/hosts on “Dancing….” Anyway, though I don’t care for Karina much, she clearly has more work cut out for her than she did last season with lover-boy (?) Mario Lopez.

Leeza Gibbons/Tony Dovolani (15 points)
Toni just…barely…borders on smarmy, but he is so damned good that even the terrified schoolgirl Leeza might eventually blossom into a sultry swanlike dancer. Tonight, their pairing brings many quasi-liquid movements, but Leeza’s fear, while endearing, makes for a staggered rather than seamless dance.

Joey Fatone/Kym Johnson (24 points)
Again, while he would not be my choice of all the NSYNC boyz, he is really down-to-earth, silly, and dynamic match for another fantastic professional, Kym Jonson. Their dance is a bit campy (likely intended), but well timed, in sync, if you will. I suspect Joey will go far…maybe even to the finals.

Laila Ali/Maksim Chmerkovskiy (23 points)
Now here’s a crowd favorite, I bet. Maksim is ever popular (and drop-me-dead-gorgeous), and Laila is stunning—their performance languid and commanding at once. Hey, that’s even what one of the judges says! I am banking on this duo to also go into the finals (and, I hope, win).

John Ratzenberger/Edyta Sliwinska (17 points)
I love Ratzenberger—in comedy, in docu-series, and even here, though one can’t help but be shocked there are no white socks, black shoes, and highwaters in the costumery. John is on top of his game during the

performance, even singing along to the upbeat “Chain, chain, chain…chain of fools.” Edyta is another seasoned pro, though she apparently will have her work cut out for her to climb higher on the point ladder.

Shandi Finnessey/Brian Fortuna (19 points)
I had no idea who Shandi was, but evidently Miss USA 2004 and Game Show Network presence is in it for the exposure she and newcomer to “Dancing…” Fortuna will get as what Bruno calls the “Barbie and Ken” of the competition. Their dancing? Oh, yeah. Okay, just really anxious….

Clyde Drexler/Elena Grinenko (16 points)
My heart goes out to the token football player who tries to tackle with finess the ballroom dance. I know, I know, the bigger (in size) who are cloddy don’t usually make it too far, but I so appreciate their attempts to translate the choreography of the field to that of the dance floor.

Heather Mills/Jonathan Roberts (18 points)
The sweetheart or underdog overcoming vote of course goes to this couple, I would bet, as Mills moves a strict but competent body (plus one prosthetic leg) in a very classy and sometimes liquid way about the floor with a partner Carrie Ann suggests she come to trust more.

Apolo Ohno/Julianne Hough (21 points)
Evidently, this Olympian is very popular, with a drove of fans…. And while another athlete in the competition, Ohno (wow, obviously that name has not jinxed him) has the grace of the skater on his side, as well as a pretty, young, and ambitious new professional dancer. If anything or anyone could draw a different “Dancing…” demographic, it would be this couple.

SirLinksAlot Dancing with the Stars links

No Comments »

No comments yet.

Leave a comment

You must be logged in to post a comment.