Tag: Michael Bolton

Posted on

Now I Want to Root for Kurt Warner

 

Last night my neighbors were really noisy so I recorded Dancing With the Stars and went out to a bar to watch the Yankees. While watching the game (which we won!), I chatted a bit with a guy I met, and throughout the course of our conversation I mentioned that I was a dance fan / former ballroom dancer and from Arizona. He asked me if I was a Diamondbacks fan, and I said no, I was horrendously upset when they beat us in the World Series in 2001, even though I went to high school with the then-pitcher Curt Schilling… I’d worked downtown and Lower Manhattan just desperately needed a parade – something happy – that year; I think the series just became a symbol of much more than what it was because of what had happened. Plus, the Diamondbacks are a newish team and didn’t exist when I was growing up in Phoenix, so I didn’t really have a connection with them.

Anyway, so the guy asked me if I was a Cardinals fan. And I’m such a dork, I know nothing at all about any sport but baseball. I said, “What, is that a minor league team?” And he started laughing. He said, “No. Football. You know, Kurt Warner, the Super Bowl?…” All I know of the Super Bowl is Mark Sanchez :S I laughed and said I didn’t know football. He said, “Well, you’re rooting for Kurt Warner, right? I mean on Dancing With the Stars?” And then I put two and two together and realized that the football guy this season is the guy he’s talking about. So, Kurt on DWTS played for Arizona, who knew 🙂 And, look, he had A-Rod’s number…

Anyway, so on DWTS, I thought Michael Bolton rightly went home last night, even though I felt badly for him regarding Bruno’s nasty comment, which I didn’t think he deserved. I didn’t think his was the worst jive ever in 11 seasons; there have been too many untalented people on the show (Kate, Cloris, Buzz) or contestants who refused to work (that guy who was partnered with Ashley several seasons ago whose name I can’t now remember) for that to be correct. But I think Michael was having a hard time, it would have been an uphill struggle, and someone had to go. He might have improved but I think I’d rather see if The Situation can.

And regarding that whole spiel about the audience booing: I hadn’t even known there any controversy as to whom they booed – I thought it was clear it was the judges’ relatively low scores for Jennifer and Derek. Apparently some thought they were booing Tom Bergeron’s interviewing Sarah Palin?… Did you guys think that?

Football photo by Rob Schumacher, taken from AZCentral. DWTS photo taken from ShowStalker.

Posted on

Dancing With the Stars, Season 11 Week 2

Yankees had better be doing better when I turn back to YES Network after the show is over. I mean, they’re losing 6-0 to Toronto after three innings!

Rick and Cheryl, Jive: Okay, well this is a dance that definitely suits a smaller body. First, I thought his lifting her skirt to reveal the word “tush” and the spanking, were completely corny, but whatever. I thought his steps were way too far apart. I mean, he’s a large man so his steps are naturally going to be bigger, but it also just lacked polish. He tried though. So far he is much better at Standard than Latin. I still like him.

Now it’s 7-0! Come on!

Florence and Corky, Quickstep: Corky’s so cute 🙂 Well, she had all the footwork down. That pivot turn was gorgeous. The only thing that was a little messed up was the small Charleston section. She was on the wrong foot when they started, I think, and then she got confused and just flubbed it. If you’re on the wrong foot, just go with it – don’t look at the guy doing the opposite footwork as you and freak out; make it look like it was supposed to be that way; like you’re doing alternative steps and not identical! Besides that, she got all the hard footwork down very well. But she looked very stiff in the upper body though, notwithstanding the smile. She needed to arch her upper back a little more. It’s understandable that she’s nervous but it can be painful to watch if the dancer’s really not relaxed.

Brandy and Maks, Jive: I loved that crazy arm crossing sequence! Very cute, and went well with this dance since they were supposed to be struggling with each other. But it seemed like they were really struggling with each other, almost fighting each other, so I’m assuming their bickering in their practice session was for real. I liked watching him but she seemed to lack precision and sharpness, which she shouldn’t — she has a natural talent for dance and she’s too good for that. They need to stop fighting.

Wooo, we got 2 points somewhere! Come on Derek Jeter!

Continue reading “Dancing With the Stars, Season 11 Week 2”

Posted on

Dancing With the Stars Season 11 Premiere

Oh gosh, I hardly know any of these celebs. Did Margaret Cho mean to trip going down the stairs? Why does Bristol Palin look so frumpy? I guess we’ll find out the answers to these questions and more as the show progresses 🙂

Okay, Tony and Audrina’s Cha Cha: Wow, she looks like a young Marie Osmond. Well, she had no turnout, which, you know always bugs me. And she lifted her feet off the floor too often; you’re supposed to trace the floor with your toe in Latin. And she looked nervous and thus a bit stiff. You can tell she’s not a natural. It looked like she was trying hard to concentrate and remember her steps. But that’s totally normal for a first-timer. But I think she’ll do okay. This was just the first week. I think she can definitely improve. Hmm, her scores (19) were pretty low for the judges’ relatively high praise.

Kurt and Anna’s Viennese Waltz: Aw, sweet how he walked up and kissed his wife at the end. You know, compared to those okay, somewhat hideous rumba and Argentine tango walks in his practice sessions, his VW was really quite nice. He had decent shaping in his upper body, he had a certain debonair (as Carrie Ann said) quality about his lower body movement, and he was a good partner for her and made her look good. He jumped a little in some of those pivot turns, but overall, he did far better than I was expecting. He’s not a natural either and if he doesn’t work hard, he’s going to be out early on, but I do think if he got the waltz down that well after those horrid-looking rumba walks early on, he can work hard and do well. He gets a 19 as well.

Kyle and Lacey’s Cha Cha: I love this guy’s personality! I’ve never heard of him before, but he’s so sweet! Loved that Cha Cha! As does the audience! He doesn’t have dance training because his feet weren’t turned out and his hip motion wasn’t proper, but he totally has a natural sense of rhythm and he’s willing to do anything and really go over the top, and wow, he can just really move! And they work well together because she’s a goof too. Why why why do I always think of Ashley Bouder when I see her?… Even with her new blonde hair. I totally agree with Carrie Ann – he’s my first season crush. The judges are being nuts tonight. He only gets a 23, and he was so much much better than the first two?…

Continue reading “Dancing With the Stars Season 11 Premiere”

Posted on

Dancing With the Stars Season 11 Cast Announced

Via Marie at Ballroom Dance Channel, the new cast will be:

Women
Brandy
Jennifer Grey
Margaret Cho
Audrina Patridge
Florence Henderson
Bristol Palin

Men
Michael Bolton
Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino
David Hasselhoff
Kurt Warner
Kyle Massey
Rick Fox

See Marie for more info on all of the contestants.

Personally, I’m excited for Margaret Cho and Jennifer Grey. Bristol Palin – seriously? What is becoming of the world we live in where politics and celebrity are merging like this through reality TV? Is there going to be a reality TV show called The Palins? There probably already is and I’m just too out of it to know about it, right? I never watch reality TV! (other than the dance shows). I don’t know much about any of the men other than David Hasselhoff and Michael Bolton, neither of whom I’m incredibly psyched about. What about you guys?