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‘Dancing With the Stars’: Mars Needs Women!
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Remember that cheesy old movie title? I couldn’t help thinking of it during Monday night’s edition of “Dancing With the Stars,” when it suddenly became clear how few female celebs are left in the competition — two — and how desperate ABC must be to keep them around.
How desperate? Well, Heather Mills fell down — and she still got very good scores. And Clyde Drexler was as mediocre as always — but his scores were so low this time, he practically ended up in the negative column. If they go any lower, he’ll have to give autographed basketballs and points TO the judges.
“They want him out. Giving him Master P type scores,” a veteran savvy “Dancing” observor Blackberried during Clyde’s performance to another veteran savvy observor, who in turn passed it along to the Serf. Maybe so, but viewer votes allowed Master P to survive a few rounds of those brutal judges’ scores, so their power only goes so far.
I am firmly convinced, however, that they have the power to keep Mills around for as long as they and ABC want her there. And after Monday night, it’s abundantly clear: They DO want her there. It’s not just that the network doesn’t want to have to promote four or five weeks of only male celebs out there Cha Cha-ing their semi-famous butts off. Mills makes for such a great storyline, she literally can do no wrong.
On the one hand, it’s completely understandable. Operating on a prosthetic leg below one knee, Mills is incredibly plucky and surprisingly talented. On the other hand … she FELL DOWN last night! I may not be an expert on ballroom dancing, but I do know a few things: You’re not supposed to wear a sleeveless lilac muscle top that lets your “Arthur Murray’s turning over in his grave”-esque tattoos show (yes, I’m talking about you, Billy Ray Cyrus). And you’re definitely not supposed to fall down. Yet not only was Mills’ gaffe not used against her in the final scoring. One of the judges actually admitted to giving Mills a better score because the slip reminded her of the obstacles she faces.
Is that fair? Does it even matter? Who knows. But as surely as Mars Needs Women, Mills will be with us for weeks to come. Count on it.
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By suzee
April 17, 2007 10:42 AM | Link to this
I completely agree with you Serf. Heather is not being scored like the others. She still looks clumsy and she should have been given lower marks for the fall. Having said that, Go Apollo!!! How great were he and Julianne last night!! They were smokin.
By Tami
April 17, 2007 1:33 PM | Link to this
I agree with you Suzee. This really isn’t as talent-packed a season as it was last season, when ANYONE could have won it. I would like to see Apolo, Miss Ali & Joey in the finals, though. I think Heather is doing OK, but I’m not sure she would have had that certain something if she had had both legs or not.
When I watch each couple, I’m watching everything…and I mean everything—their faces, their flow, their harmony, how they carry themselves within the musical interpretation of the dance, their feet, etc.
Heather is somewhat robotic when it comes to the top half of her body, as the judges alluded to. And, yes…I agree. She is being scored differently. I’ve seen some celebs dance much better than she did last night and gotten slammed by the judges before. So, I definitely think it’s a PR scheme as well. I think it will definitely be between Clyde & John going home tonight, though.
By Foots
April 17, 2007 1:37 PM | Link to this
I don’t think that a woman will ever win on Dancing with the Stars. The female professional dancers really prop up the male stars in a way that the female stars can’t. With the woman being the focal point of most dances, the advantage is clearly with the male stars and their professional female partners. Simply put, the professionals’ strength, grace and awesome dancing ability make the guys look great. Just my opinion…
I really hope that Heather (though I don’t like her much) and Laila make it past Clyde and Billy Ray at least.
By Suzee
April 17, 2007 1:40 PM | Link to this
Foots, the very first winner on DWTS was a female. Kelly Monaco. She shouldn’t have won, but she did.
By RS
April 17, 2007 1:47 PM | Link to this
I’m not at all surprised that so far only women have been voted off the show. Most of the people voting are women, and women hate other women.
If one of the two remaining women get voted off before BIlly Ray Cyrus, Clyde Drexler or John Ratzenberger it will be a travesty. Heather Mills may not deserve to win but she is definitely better than those three.
By Suzee
April 17, 2007 1:55 PM | Link to this
RS, I agree. IMO this is how they should be voted off:
Clyde Billy Ray John Heather Ian
My top three are Laila, Joey, and Apollo.
By DKB
April 17, 2007 2:04 PM | Link to this
Why don’t you mention Laila Ali? She’s fantastic! I’ve put her in the top 2 or 3 from the beginning. She’s graceful, strong and puts so much passion into her dancing. I have—in no particular order—Laila, Apollo (what a cutie…an HOT last night) and Joey as the top 3, but Ian may be the spoiler. He gets better every week. I thought they were awfully hard on him last night. He was very good.
They were too easy on Heather. Though I’ve been impressed with her since the first night, she really wasn’t very good last night.
Poor John. I looove him as a personality and he gives dancing his all, but he just isn’t cutting it in the competition. I had hope for Billy Ray after last week, but he blew it last night. And Clyde has absolutely NO glide. These 3 need to pack their bags and head on home.
By PJ
April 17, 2007 2:18 PM | Link to this
I have to agree with others, the guys have a definite advantage with the professional women dancers. In my opinion, the women are more noticable and the guys mostly assist so to me the easier position. Not that it’s fair, just reality.
By rosie
April 17, 2007 2:35 PM | Link to this
I think under the circumstances Heather is doing a great job, she is better than some than have both there legs. Clyde needs to leave, he may been able to play sports but he sucks at dancing, and there are a lot of men that cannot dance even if they have had dancing lessons. I do like Apolo,and Joey. The professional women dancers are wonderful and very sexy but so is Maksim……I like Billy Ray but he has no moves. I hope Apolo or Joey wins………………
By maxx
April 17, 2007 3:13 PM | Link to this
the sopranos are out of work try and sign them up for the next season i bet paulie walnutts could really learn how to dance & there are a lot of girls to sign up
By Foots
April 17, 2007 5:05 PM | Link to this
Suzee Oh yeah, I forgot about her. John should have won that one.
By Bea
April 17, 2007 6:36 PM | Link to this
The competition sucks this year! Last years competition was by the best thus far. I suspect that TV audience is made up of mostly female viewers therefore having guys shake their groove things is much more appealing to female viewers. I know it is for me!
By Michelle
April 18, 2007 9:04 AM | Link to this
Sadly, the coverage from the VA shootings have obscured the Entertainment news, and I only found out that Heather fell during her performance last night, did they stop dancing right there, or did she pick herself up and continue?
By Treva
April 18, 2007 9:56 AM | Link to this
I agree with DKB. If I only watched the commercials, I wouldn’t know that Laila was still in the competition! They don’t give her any coverage on the entertainment “news” circuit when she is one of the best performers on the show! I applaud Heather and her struggles, but I am really starting to wonder why they are shunning Ali so adamantly.
By Dianne
April 20, 2007 4:43 PM | Link to this
Michelle, Heather Mills fell at the end of their routine - she placed her foot on her partner’s chest (while he was kneeling) and lost her footing.
I personally believe that they are keeping Heather Mills on much longer than they should. In my opinion, it’s a sympathy vote.