Hollywood Life video

This is another paparazzi type video from the preseason, but it's just Mark talking about how Shannen is doing in rehearsals. Nothing invasive. :)

Cast Photo: Mark Ballas

Mark's individual cast photo:

photo copyright ABC

Shannen on Access Hollywood, pt 2

A continuation of Shannen's interview on Access Hollywood.  More dancing this time and a little more discussion of her fear of live audiences and her father's stroke.

(The video at the Access Hollywood site has a little bit more information at the end of the video, if you want to check it out. Just some info about the costumes: http://www.accesshollywood.com/access-exclusive-inside-shannen-dohertys-dancing-rehearsal_video_1207688)

One Week Away!

The premeire of DWTS is next Monday! Do you have your TiVo's set? :) (I have to work evenings, so I always watch later that night...usually at the same time as the West Coast).

I've been saying all along that I haven't been excited about this season like past seasons, but this past week I've started to get the butterflies. :) I've been impressed with Shannen so far on her twitter and in interviews...she's been pretty charming and friendly.  She seems to have shed that bad attitude that she was famous for when she was much younger. Yay! She fits in the mold for the type of contestant I really like to see on the show...no dance experience, conquering a fear, and doing it for someone/something else (in this case, her father).

So, finally, I'm getting excited about the premiere! :)  Thanks, Shannen, for being such a doll and winning me over! I hope you do well on the show...don't be afraid...just go out and have fun. :)

Mark and Shannen have the Viennese Waltz for their first dance.

Shannen posted a cute picture of her dog Leeroy, a six-year-old Cane Corso, and Mark on her twitter:

photo copyright Shannen Doherty

Mark & Shannen Meet the Cast Interview

Here is a playlist of the whole interview with Mark and Shannen from the Meet the Cast video at ABC.com.  there are 5 short videos:

Backstage Video: Meet the Cast

Mark and Shannen appear in the second half of the video: http://abc.go.com/watch/clip/dancing-with-the-stars/SH007473660000/30663

(wish I could embed them, but silly ABC took away that feature. sadness.)

Oh yay, here is a YouTube version:


Mark doesn't speak in this video...just Shannen. :)  She talks about her fear of live audiences and being judged.

Here are some screencaps:

 screencaps from video are copyright ABC

Shannen on Access Hollywood

Click here for a video of Shannen talking about her dad on Access Hollywood. Only a quick shot of her dancing with Mark, but her posture looks pretty good. :)

Found a YouTube version of the video:


I always like to hear that celebrities are overcoming a fear or doing the show for someone...it's not just about publicity. I'm sorry that Shannen's dad is going through what he's going through, but she has the right attitude about the whole situation. :)

Hope Shannen and Mark do well!

Screencaps from video copyrighted to Access Hollywood

Access Hollywood & new co-host!

This morning on GMA, the new DWTS co-host was announced....Brooke Burke! I'm pretty excited...I really wanted her to get the job.  She's a well-spoken and intelligent woman. :)



Also, tomorrow, Access Hollywood will be looking inside Mark and Shannen's rehearsal! Whoot!  If you want to know where and when to catch Access Hollywood, check this link, it should give you your local times: http://special.accesshollywood.com/where-to-watch/

Carrie Ann Inaba's interview with Regis & Kelly

Carrie-Ann Inaba's interview with Regis & Kelly


Red room will be 'in house'. I hope they put it behind the judging stand...or rearrange somehow, because seating fans behind the judges table is so mean. They can't see anything!

Brings me to another point...if they put the red room out in the view of the audience and judges...why do we need a co-host? All she ever did was chat with the couples before they got scored.

Shannen Twitter, Facebook, & Photo

Shannen has a new twitter: @dohertyshannen and facebook fan page where she is updating with photos.

Here is her photo from today:

Thanks for the photo Shannen!

Mark and Shannen - 1st rehearsal photo

hehehe, obviously playing with the whole "Shannen's a jerk" idea. Clever. :)

Posted by Mark on his twitter today:

Thanks for the picture Mark and Shannen! :) Since Shannen is afraid of live audiences and has admitted that she doesn't workout, I'm more interested in seeing how she does on the dance floor. I like the contestants that start awkward and get better, but I've said this before. :) I just hope that the part of her that I've never been able to handle (I've watched her for my whole life, we are the same age), won't be as apparent on the show. :D

Oh, and first dance is perhaps the waltz? :D

Waiting...for Patience ;)

Ugh. I want this season to start NOW. :) And it isn't for the reason you think. I'm not excited by the cast at all, so I want the season to start so I can see them dance and get an idea for who I'm gonna like.  Mark is being awful quiet this season so far...no rehearsal pics or funny stories...yet. :) Hopefully he will have more soon. I'm not very fond of the cast pic, but that's because they put Shannen in that dress...it's not a good dress for her body type, I don't think. Mark looks super good though. I'm a big fan of the 5'oclock shadow. :) Hoping to see what they actually look like in a dance pose soon.  The cast pic just shows them standing there. lol

Anyone getting sick of Mark incessently tweeting about "go listen to my music!" Yeah, I got it Marky. ;) I listened. I liked. I will buy when I have money...promise! Anyone new to your twitter can read the last tweet...and the tweet before that...and the tweet before that. No need to post it over and over with hardly any tweets between.  Now, if he was posting lots of updates between each 'pimp' tweet, I wouldn't be annoyed at all!

No, I'm just messing with ya, Mark. I'm not really annoyed with your tweeting - I'm just afraid that some people might find it a little 'spam'-y. :) I'd love more tweets about what it was like making the EP or writing the songs or interactions with fans...I mean, if he needs ideas for tweets. I'd really love some tweets about his rehearsals with Shannen...other than "just rehearsed, going great." LOL Oh well, a girl can dream. :) Or rather, a "nearly middle aged woman" can dream. hehehe  I'm really happy for him and I look forward to hearing more music from him.  It's really great stuff. :)

I've linked to Mark's EP in Amazon and iTunes over on the right sidebar. Check it out! And tell your friends! (please?) I rated it 5 stars in iTunes and left a review and I also updated my review on the Ballas Hough Band's BHB album to say "go check out Mark Ballas' new album "Waiting for Patience", as well as the Ballas Hough "Move" single review.  :) This is an independent release, so word of mouth is SO IMPORTANT! :D

Cast Pics - Mark and Shannen

Access Hollywood has posted the cast pics for this season.  Here are Shannen and Mark's pics:

Season 10 Couples

The dance couples were announced this morning on GMA.  You can check the list here if you would like: http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/WinterConcert/dancing-stars-cast-professional-partners-revealed-gma/story?id=9981740



Here is the list:

Pamela Anderson - Damian Whitewood
Erin Andrews - Maksim Chmerkovskiy
Buzz Aldrin - Ashley Costa (DelGrosso)
Kate Gosselin - Tony Dovolani
Shannen Doherty - Mark Ballas
Evan Lysacek - Anna Trebunskaya
Niecy Nash - Louis Van Amstel
Chad Ochocinco - Cheryl Burke
Jake Pavelka - Chelsie Hightower
Nicole Scherzinger - Derek Hough
Aiden Turner - Edyta Sliwinska

I must say, I'm surprised, when they already have 8 pro male dancers and only needed 6 for the season, that they would bring in a NEW GUY. Boggles the mind. I always feel bad for the celebrities who get put with the new pros....the new pros tend to not fully understand the process and rules. Look at Lacey's first season, Dmitry's, Mark's, Derek's....all of them had many judge comments directed at the pro and not the celebrity. Things relating to the choreography, props, or blocking choices, etc.  It's just that newbie thing - it's trial and error.  Nothing wrong with that, but it's harder for those couples to do well, because they have extra obstacles to overcome.  Dmitry made many mistakes, week after week - and got through because Mya was already a trained dancer.  For me, this show isn't about how great a dancer you are...it's about how well you play the game.  Yes, DWTS is a game...it has rules, obstacles, and challenges.  And you need a gameplan to get through it.  You have to plan ahead and think things through.  I want to see couples that play the game well, not necessarily couples that dance perfectly. :)

I'm super surprised Ashley is back.  I checked her out online a few months ago and it seemed like she had moved on to other things.  I really didn't think she was still part of the show.  But, okey dokey.  I mean, we bring in Ashley who was totally off the radar and leave out Lacey, a huge fan favorite....uhm.  But, the celebrities are always asked who they would most like to dance with and are usually paired with (if it works out) that pro.  Guess none of those guys thought they could handle Lacey Schwimmer? ;) She's too awesome for most men, it's true.  :D  At least we will still see her in pro dances (I HOPE).  She dances well with Mark Ballas.

Tangent: I had a dream that Ballroom Dancing was made into an Olympic Sport (It should be!!) and Mark Ballas and Lacey Schwimmer teamed up and went to the Olympics and got Gold.  It was awesome.  I want that to come true!

Ok, back to the list. LOL

Yeah, so otherwise...nothing to say.  I wish Mark had been paired with...eh. I don't really wish Mark had been paired with any of these girls. LOL

The video at GMA (or if you watched the announcement live) includes an interview with Kate and Tony.  I'm glad to hear that Kate will be commuting and rehearsing in her basement while the kids are at school or sleeping.  At least she's not in LA.  But still, it's two intense jobs...raising 8 kids and this show.  If her kids were older and more independent, maybe it would be ok.  But, whatevs.  :)

I'm not overly excited about any of these couples, so I'll just wait and see who catches my eye on the premiere week.

Season 10 Cast

The cast names were revealed tonight after the Bachelor (eww).  The celebrities on Season 10 are:

Women:
Pamela Anderson
Kate Gosselin
Nicole Scherzinger
Erin Andrews
Shannen Doherty
Niecy Nash

Men:
Aiden Turner
Jake Pavelka
Buzz Aldrin
Evan Lysacek
Chad Ochocinco


There is a video announcing the celebrities over at ABC.com, buuuuut, ABC has changed their set up and I can't embed the video here anymore. LAME.

The pro partners will be announced tomorrow (Tuesday) morning on GMA, sometime in the 3 hour broadcast.


Honestly, I'm not stoked about this cast at all.

The thing I'm most disturbed by....Shannen.  I'm going to try and contain my....dislike for her, but I simply cannot fathom ever voting for her....and the rumor is that she's with Mark Ballas.

What the HELL am I going to do?  :((((

And I thought last season was a trainwreck....

Maybe a miracle will happen and there will be good competition and dancing and growth from week to week.  I can only pray.  And I am.  A lot.

Season 10 Possible Pro Dancers

Ok, possible pros for Season 10:

The men:
Derek & Mark have said as much
Tony & Maks have tweeted smiley faces
Louis apparently tweeted that he was back, but deleted it (there are happy responses to a non-existant tweet out there)
Dmitry & Alec have not said anything. Dmitry said he hasn't heard and Alec has not said a word.
Jonathan has said that he is out this season.

If we have 11 or 12 couples, like I've heard, then it looks like the men will probably be: Derek, Mark, Tony, Maks, and Louis - with a 6th spot possibly belonging to either Dmitry or Alec or the new dancer who has been mentioned: Damian. (update: Dmitry is out. Alec has still not saying anything..so it's either Alec or Damian)


The women:
Cheryl and Edyta have confirmed they are returning.
Anna T has stated that people need to take a chill pill and just be patient. (ok, she didn't say it like that, but GO girl for telling people to calm down. There are people on Twitter who are having seizures trying to figure out who will be on the new season.  Sheesh people.  breathe.  just breathe.)
Anna D, Kym, and Chelsie have not mentioned anything about the show.
Lacey has confirmed she is not returning.
Karina posted a "no" in response to a tweeters question if she was returning, so sounds like she's out too.

So, if we have 6 women returning, and we know that Lacey and Karina are out, then the other 6 should be in: Cheryl, Edyta, Anna D, Anna T, Kym, and Chelsie. (update, Anna T has confirmed she is back. and Louie Vito's sister has confirmed that Chelsie is back.)

So, that's were we are today with the pros, in case you just HAVE to know. lol  We will learn the cast on Monday night after the Bachelor (eww).

Season 10 Cast Rumors

Honestly, there hasn't been much in the way of rumors this season. ABC has been very tight lipped - even to the pro dancers.  Usually the cast is announced BEFORE the pros meet their partners. The pro dancers have often said in interviews that they sit around and debate on who will get what partner.  This season, they are meeting their partners this week, but the cast list isn't going to be revealed until NEXT week.  Weird.

Weirder is this little mention:

Louis van Amstel was asked via Twitter if DWTS would ever have an all-star season, where past celebrities on the show would compete again...his answer? "i thought they were gonna do that this season...."

Well, that's interesting.  It would be a pretty awful all star season, considering at least two of the former champions of DWTS are not available to do the show this season (Apolo Ohno, Season 4 - currently competing in the Olympics; Shawn Johnson, Season 8 - currently injured).  Please Lord don't tell me I have to sit through another season of Donny Osmond (Season 9's champion).  And what would the first few season champions do? They had a very different experience.  The first season was only a few weeks long and only had 6 contestants.  Kelly Monaco's winning performance would have sent her home in week 3 of the current level of competition.  Of course, they could be bringing back people from the top 3 or 4 or something too, not just champions.


Or perhaps the idea of an all-star season isn't what is going on.  I would love to see an all-star season...but one later (I was thinking season 13) and with only the champions against each other.  If they waited until season 13, they would have 12 champions to compete (if all signed on for the all-star season).  In any case, I would hate to see an all-star season without two of the biggest fan favorites, Apolo and Shawn.  And we can rule out Brooke Burke too (season 7 champion), because she's in the running to be a host.



Do I think they are doing an all-star season? I don't know...odd thing for Louis to say though.  If they are, I don't think it's the time for it.


Season 8 was the most perfect season of DWTS...the format, the number of couples, the line-up of dances...all very good and worked very well.  Season 9 was probably the worst season of DWTS.  The format was so bad, it was actually unfair.  I wish DWTS wouldn't try to one-up themselves every season.  Stick with what works...that season 8 format is great!  Add new dances, sure. The Charleston was great, I hope they put that back in the mix for this season too.


My idea of a fun all-star season would be all the champions from seasons 1-12 competeing in season 13 and the dances are hybrids.  So, the competition is about the creativity...they all already know the dances...give them a new hurdle.  Example...assign couple #1 the Tango and the Foxtrot...they have to come up with a hybrid dance that incorporates both dances into one.  Wouldn't that be interesting and fun?  It's sort of like the decade theme they had in season 9...futuristic Paso was the only one that really worked...but the idea was interesting. Themed dances.  Hybrid dances.  Could be interesting... :)


I'm not nearly as excited for this season as I usually am for a season...there is too much secrecy going on...no fun to ponder who could be on the show...who could dance with who...


Mark has confirmed that he's back this season - YAY! Lacey Schwimmer is not coming back. Boo. :(

And what is with not including Lacey? She's a HUGE fan favorite. I'm assuming that they don't have a contestant that would work well with her rebel/rockstar appeal.  She's not a traditional dancer, she pushes the limit and she would need a certain kind of partner for it to work. But, I'm sad.  No Lacey will be a little less fun.  We will miss you Lacey!


But, I'm super glad Mark Ballas is back! :D

DWTS Season 10

According to this press release, Dancing with the Stars will return on March 22, 2010.  The cast will be announced on March 1, 2010.

Though not mentioned in this press release, the cast will supposedly have only 11 or 12 couples.  I've also heard (over at Pure DWTS) that there might be a new male pro dancer this season (Damian Whitewood from Burn the Floor), but there is no mention on whether he will be paired with a celebrity, or merely dancing in pro dances.  Season 9 was the largest season to date with 16 couples (and a huge trainwreck).  Gladly, they have gone back to the tried and true format of 12ish couples.  I am sad to think about how some of the pros won't be able to compete this season. :(

Samantha Harris, one of the hosts, will not be returning this season. Brooke Burke is in the running to be her replacement.  Brooke has tweeted about how excited she is for the opportunity.  Brooke was the season 7 champion with Derek Hough. Seems like Brooke will learn next week if she gets the job.

According to Louis Van Amstel, the cast found out if they will be returning to the show this week (not who their partners are), but they cannot release that information.  Derek Hough posted a tweet on Tuesday, Feb. 16th, that he will meet his partner next week.

Mark Ballas has not made any mention of DWTS on his twitter, nor has he tweeted about getting into shape for the show.  It makes me nervous.  Since he is so focused on his music right now, he might be opting out of this season.  I hope not.  I really hope he returns and competes.  But we don't find out for a little while longer.

As of the end of season 9 (Fall 2009), the pro dancers are as follows:
MEN:
Louis van Amstel
Mark Ballas Jr
Dmitry Chaplin
Maksim Chmerkovskiy
Tony Dovolani
Derek Hough
Alec Mazo
Jonathan Roberts


WOMEN:
Cheryl Burke
Anna Demidova
Chelsie Hightower
Kym Johnson
Lacey Schwimmer
Edyta Sliwinska

Karina Smirnoff


Anna Trebunskaya

Former Pro Dancers (who have had celebrity partners):
Corky Ballas
Inna Brayer
Julianne Hough


Possible new pro dancer:
Damian Whitewood

Who knows what this season holds, but I hope it includes Mark Ballas.  I'll be pretty sad if he's not on the show this season.