Posts tagged Dancing with the Stars

Keep Or Cancel? ABC
Mar 23rd
It’s that time of the year again when networks have to start making some tough decisions and clearing the decks ahead of the upcoming Fall season. But what shows will survive and which are heading for the chopping block?
With the ax looming over several shows on each network I thought it would be a great time to launch our new strand, Keep Or Cancel, analyzing each show’s chances of survival for the Fall season.
First up – ABC, the increasingly troubled network which has endured a pretty rocky season so far.

Meet The Cast: Dancing With The Stars – Season 12
Mar 1st
It’s time to get dancing again…!
As you may have heard, last night ABC announced the cast for the upcoming Season 12 of Dancing With The Stars – and for once, I have to say I’m distinctly underwhelmed.
I’ve talked about DTWS casting here on Remote Patrolled before and have often argued in the show’s favor. Over the last couple of season’s Stars has had some dynamite reality casting such as Bristol Palin, Pamela Anderson, Shannen Doherty, Michael Bolton and The Situation. Sure, some people may turn their noses up at these kind of names, arguing some of them aren’t actual ‘celebrities’ – but for me one of the keys to a good celebrity show is casting people in the news. And Bristol and The Situation certainly made headlines.
The fact is you’re not gonna get the likes of Brad, Angelina and Clooney doing Dancing With The Stars so everyone needs to lower their expectations from the get go. So with this in mind here’s who’s taking to the dancefloor this season:

NETWORK SCORECARD: ABC
Jan 3rd
It’s the start of a new year for the five broadcast networks and a chance to take stock for the year ahead. But how are all five shaping up – and what does the future hold? Here’s our Remote Patrolled perspective…
WHAT’S WORKING:
DANCING WITH THE STARS – the ratings keep getting higher and higher as the caliber of celebrities continues to improve. Season 1 featured Rachel Hunter, Joey McIntyre and Kelly Monaco while Season 11 saw David Hasselhoff, Michael Bolton and Brandy competing for the mirrorball. And for tabloid trashiness it doesn’t get much better than Kate Gosselin, Bristol Palin and The Situation. With American Idol struggling, Dancing is now officially the biggest show on TV… but how long can it keep the crown?
WEDNESDAY COMEDIES – After years of struggling, ABC has finally carved out a solid Wednesday comedy block – led by critically acclaimed Emmy magnet Modern Family (up 34% year to year). The Middle doesn’t get half the attention or kudos -probably because it’s only half as funny – but provides a strong lead in to the night. And even Cougar Town has now stabilized into a minor hit. Now if ABC could just do something with struggling freshman Better With More >
IS THE ERA OF CELEBRITY REALITY OVER?
Dec 10th
In case you didn’t hear the news yesterday – don’t get too attached to A&E’s new celebrity reality show, The Hasselhoffs, following cheesy C-list celeb David Hasselhoff and his daughters. After just two episodes on the air the cable network has made the decision to yank the rest of the series off the air – leaving 8 episodes unaired.
The Hasselhoffs marks the end of a bad year for the Hoff. He resigned from America’s Got Talent only to find his replacement, Howie Mandel, infinitely more popular (David is now heading to the UK to head up Britain’s Got Talent). He was the first celebrity cut from Dancing With The Stars – a real embarrassment for someone who was billed as a great booking for the show. And he’s now stuck in London doing pantomime in Wimbledon (I used to live ten minutes from the theater – it’s going to be a grim winter for The Hoff!)
But even though I had a feeling The Hasselhoffs wouldn’t do too well I’m still surprised by A&E’s decision as cable networks hardly ever kill shows. The network ordered 10 episodes in total and I suspect they weren’t cheap – so taking an 8-episode hit will More >
THE VIEW: KATHY GRIFFIN’S BRISTOL GAG
Dec 7th
I don’t know if you saw Sunday night’s VH1 Divas Salute The Troops (the only diva show in recent memory which didn’t actually feature any divas!) but Kathy Griffin is certainly in plenty of hot water for her comments regarding Bristol Palin and her supposed Dancing With The Stars weight gain!
In typical fashion the ladies of the View today dissected Kathy’s comments… did she go too far and should celebrity’s weight be a taboo topic for comedy?
Elisabeth was typically reactionary, Joy made some smart points that Kathy had chosen the wrong audience to make such a joke too, Sherry told an anecdote that didn’t really go anywhere, and fellow stand up Whoopi Goldberg remained curiously quiet…
Personally I think Kathy was well within the bounds of good taste. weight gain is what she does and Bristol Palin can hardly put herself on a public platform like DWTS and not expect to take a few potshots along the way.
Anyway here’s the clip… but what do you think? Did Kathy’s comments go too far? And do you agree with any of the ladies’ comments… start weighing in everyone…

DANCING WITH THE STARS GOES GAY!
Nov 3rd
Over here we may be talking about Bristol Palin and Jennifer Grey – but over in Israel all eyes are on this couple…. the dance competition first same sex pairing!
The celebrity is Gili Shem Tov, a lesbian sports host – and her dancing partner is called Dorit Milman. They make an interesting couple visually – mainly because Gili is so tall and statuesque – and of course they’re creating quite some controversy among Israel’s religious community… check out this news report for more (it’s a British report so mentions the show by its original UK name Strictly Come Dancing)
Personally I say good luck to them and think it’s just a shame the same hasn’t been tried over here with gay former contestants like Lance Bass. But then the US Dancing audience skews very old and, let’s be honest, very middle America. I have a feeling they wouldn’t take too kindly to such ‘same sex’ scenes on their favorite dance show… all the more reason to do it I say!
But what do you think? Would a ‘gay’ couple on Dancing With The Stars create a huge fuss? And should it happen? Start weighing in…

COOL CASTING: DANCING WITH THE STARS
Aug 25th
So here they are, in case you haven’t heard, the new Dancing With The Stars cast has been ‘unveiled’ today by Us Weekly.
Now at this stage nothing has been officially announced by ABC, who are planning a live announcement of this year’s cast. But though I expect a couple of names in there to change, like most cast leaks, I have a feeling that the piece is pretty on the money.
So if Us Weekly is to be believed, strutting their stuff on the dance-floor this Fall will be:
FRIDAY NEWS ROUNDUP
May 7th
Bad Apples. Ellen forced to apologize for harmless Iphone parody…
24’s Dana Walsh almost cast in True Blood…
Stephen King to appear in FX drama Sons of Anarchy
Now nobody is even betting on Idol
NBC gets a second shot at success – but can they pull it off?
First look – True Blood: The Comic Book
Game Show Network adds adult orientated Muppets. Sure beats Jeopardy reruns.
Elizabeth Perkins leaves Weeds ‘high’ and dry…
Can he ‘make it work’? Tim Gunn joins The Smurfs movie
Let’s call it the Melrose effect… The CW turns to cancelled drama Moonlight to shore up its summer schedule
Desperate Housewives brings back an old baddie
Keeping it classy. Fox News presents Dancing With The Stars’ sexiest girls…
Bio Channel gets a second Shatner series!
Jesus comedy series coming to Comedy Central
Queen Latifah writes new VH1 comedy series
Not feeling the Glee. Mr Schuster bashes Britney
While Glee’s Rachel gets the bad reputation she wanted…
But shouldn’t this be on the Oprah Winfrey Network? Oprah teams with HBO for Martin Luther King minseries
Our strange fascination with Syfy Channel movies…