kayma

I never took dance lessons, but I'm pretty sure you'd have to have a few years of lessons before getting to competitions. I was surprised, though, that even with his dance experience that Val was giving him tips for his shoes during their live feed. That seems like something someone who was more well-versed in ballroom would have known. The lying does bother me - not even just downplaying the truth like Nastia's never had a dance class but has taken dance training - but most people aren't even going to know. Of course, I'm glad there's a third real contender even if I don't think he's going to win. It gives them someone else to pit against Nastia and Rumer. And since Allison was brought back, I don't mind seeing her with someone who doesn't look awful and that she can refine instead of teach. I don't mind watching the middle of the pack dancers when there are some really good ones thrown in.

Riker and Allison just aren't clicking for me, and I think this is it now that the hair has been tamed. I want them to bring it down from 11 all the time and show a little nuance or something. It's so frenetic that I can't enjoy it. I liked the disco salsa. I thought it was fun and had a different vibe than everyone else, which is what I like in this show. I though Rumer did well and was a really good sport about the slow motion, looped showing of their injury since that's not really what I'd want slowed down and shown over and over again on tv. It's one thing to do it at normal speed. I'm still really surprised at how much I'm liking Rumer. She's personable and hard working and seems to really be trying to enjoy the experience. She's the biggest surprise for me this season. Yes! Even when it's over the top, he always tries his best to sell it. I wasn't a fan of the dance - thought it was a good idea but Willow seemed slow and didn't attack anything - but I have to give Mark props for being willing to go over the top. Even though Mark does do the big concept and crazy dances, he still manages to give his partners a chance to shine and build in some tempo changes and nuance. I think that's what Allison still needs to figure out. I thought Witney looked great, again. The lifts she did in their dance were great. I wish Chris had danced a little to go along with it but maybe they figured out how to keep him on time this way. I like Noah and Sharna. There are a few more who can go before I'd be looking for him to leave. I take it they aren't getting the votes TPTB expected since they put them in jeopardy this week. I think they are solidly middle of the pack. Robert and Kym are adorable. I loved the song and thought it was a beautiful dance. I think their rumba, for me, was better than Nastia's last week because the connection and joy overtake Robert's issues. I don't know what good technique is anyway so (as long as the final product looks good) I like to see the couples enjoy the dance. Oh, Michael. I didn't love the dance. I thought he was so worried about the lifts that it slowed everything down and threw him off. However, I think there's a way to critique him without crushing his (or anyone's) spirit, especially when he started out as such a fan of the show. I thought the judges - except for Len oddly - were all kind of negative and bordered on mean for most couples. I don't think it's too difficult to find something positive to throw out about someone. Just a little you can work on x and y but z was good. I'm still underwhelmed by Nastia, and I don't think the package did her, Derek, or Henry even any favors. I'm not sure what the producers were going for with that. She came off as lacking a personality to me, oddly detached. It made Henry look kind of second rate, which I don't agree with at all, and Derek didn't come off well either. It looked like she did a lot of dancing and most of it looked good to me. I just don't think she's standing out as much as I expected given the rest of the field. I don't think she would have competed with Meryl or Charlie or Alfonso (my frame of reference for this show is pretty short). I'm hoping they get their rhythm down and get things smoothed out. She's not my horse in this race, but I really want to see the great dancing she should be capable of.

It's things like this that make me like the pros as a group even more. I thought they were almost all incredibly likeable before, but finding out that they help and support each other in rehearsals and with choreography makes them that much better. The live rehearsals have been incredibly interesting just to see how different the pros are than what's been played up in the packages, even in this episode.

I actually really like that Rumer is trying to be so confident. She's putting in the work to back it up. Michael Sam was saying he visualizes himself in the finals. I like that a few seem to think they have a shot at winning or the finals. It makes it more interesting when the stars are actually trying to win.

I liked Rumer, Willow, and Riker. I thought Rumer improved on last week and did a great job for week 2. I thought the dance really showcased her, too. I think Willow got over her nerves and did so much better this week. I wasn't too thrilled with the time on the bridge in Riker's, but fixing his hair made him so much more likeable. If Allison could just relax in the packages and judging segments and not seem on all the time, I think it would help, too. I like Michael and want him and Peta to go far. I think he could stay quietly in the middle and then break out toward the end. Chris and Witney this week was more what I expected going into this season. Witney looked incredible and was actually pretty patient in the rehearsal parts they showed. Hoping next week is a better outing for Chris. I'm glad Keo got to stay one more week. I would like to see him make it to switch up week, but I don't really want anyone else to go over Charlotte. Sad that Emma's done. I hope she does a lot of troupe dances and such. She's such a sweet presence on the show. I could see the improvements Emma and Redfoo worked on during the live rehearsal, so it's too bad he won't have a chance to keep improving. I'm still underwhelmed by Nastia and Derek. It was a pretty dance, but she did the same kick thing three times (I haven't re-watched but it bugged me the first time through). She should be capable of more variety and more than just being flexible. I also thought it was really cold. No real connection to each other or the music. The judging segments seem so awkward to me. It's like Derek keeps putting his arms around her and she keeps moving away. There's just not the comfort level there that the other teams have. I'm actually really disappointed that they wasted Nastia on a season where she isn't her partner's priority. And, I don't even blame Derek for it because if people moved heaven and earth to give me those opportunities, I'd take advantage too. Patti deserved at least one 8 for being Patti LaBelle and dancing to 50 cent. That was the highlight of the entire show. I loved that not only did someone come out and dance to a different song than normal but that it was Patti. I'm actually kind of hoping she gets Val for switch up week and that they do hip hop. Two things from the judges really bothered me. 1 - Patti LaBelle invites you to go clubbing with her and you keep talking over her? No, you get up and go clubbing. 2 - Don't act so surprised someone goes home when you gave them the worst scores the week before. You're half responsible for sending them home.

Have to admit I laughed at the crack about giving Demi to Derek. I wonder if there are hard feelings about Nastia among the other pros (against TPTB not Derek). She's just the one I'd read Mark had been recruiting so she came to mind. My second thought was that Val lost the season now. They're gonna come after him hard for that.

The pros have no control over who they get as a partner, so I'm not holding the producers' choices against them. Frankly, I'd give Mark/Val/Derek who I thought were the three best females anyway because they seem to be the more popular pros, or at least the ones the create the most controversy/discussion. The female pros, for the most part, seem to avoid the fandom wars thankfully. I really enjoyed the variety of the dances in this episode. We had crazy over the top routines, elegance, and straight dancing but in three styles so it's easier to compare and contrast. And, I find most everyone to be incredibly likeable - pros and celebrities. I actually don't really want anyone to go home, yet.

I'd be ok with Riker leaving. I don't know how the judges judged his feet and leg action when I couldn't see it through the crowd, and I thought there were a couple times he looked better than Allison. I like Allison. I think she's really sweet and charming when she's not on this show. I saw an after show interview she did last season where she was asking the questions, and she was really charming. TPTB/Allison just haven't figured out how to fit her in yet so she just feels like she's trying too hard. And shallowly, I just can't with Riker's hair. I didn't mind Charlotte and think Keo is oddly adorable (the way he busted out laughing at the awful melon joke for example), so I wouldn't mind them lasting until week 2 even if that's not going to happen. I was actually really disappointed in Nastia's dance. It was too busy/manic/disjointed. I'm not sure exactly, but it just seemed awkward. It didn't seem like she did a lot of dancing but that they ran around a lot. I know Nastia tends to not be peppy but she and Derek seemed uncomfortable together, especially at the end when everyone was lined up. I wonder if they've had so little time together that they haven't been able to develop their partnership yet. I thought their scores were oddly high compared to others, but I'm guessing she had the technique down better than others. I tend to agree with Julianne's scores most often but was surprised when she was so positive. I would have put them solidly in the middle. If Derek had weeks to work out this dance, I'm a little worried what the next ones will look like when he has less time. I really liked Michael. I hope he goes far. He and Peta look great together, and he seems to be really enjoying the experience. I'm excited to see what Noah can do. If he thinks he's up for the challenge, I don't mind adjusting my expectations a little for his knee and hold limitations. I do expect his musicality to improve and, hopefully, his fluidity. His kids were adorable. Kym and Robert are so fun together. I really thought Witney was helped a lot last year by Alfonso's ability, but she seems to be doing wonders with Chris. That was a really fun jive. The package and that dance are why I love Tony. He's so willing to just go for it and entertain. I thought Willow's dance was a good week 1 dance and that her scores were low compared to others. Artem and Patti were classy and elegant. I really enjoyed them, too. I'm really, really surprised by Rumer. She's actually really hard working and likeable, which I didn't expect. I think she and Val look great together, and I loved her dance even if the music was a little odd. I'm looking forward to seeing what they come up with all season. Also, I'm really surprised the show didn't make a bigger deal out of her parents being there. No comments from Erin that I caught just showing them on camera when she was dancing. That was actually really restrained for this show and let it be about Rumer.

I liked that Rumer was able to politely and eloquently explain what she needs. No tantrums. No yelling. She didn't even argue. She knows enough about herself to know what extra things she needs to learn. I liked that Val didn't take it personally and listened to what she was saying. I don't think that was the best time to bring up the topic since so many people will hold it against one or both of them, but I think it shows that they are actually real enough in their rehearsals that she seemed to have forgotten the cameras were live at that moment. I think it showed they are comfortable enough in their partnership that she felt she could bring it up. I actually am really enjoying the glimpses into their rehearsals.

It took me far too long to realize there weren't two pictures of Derek and Nastia when I was scrolling through. Even the dresses were similar enough that it didn't stand out to me as different people.

I watched Rumer and Val's, too. I was surprised how much I enjoyed it and them. When they first announced the live stream thing, I thought it was going to be a mess. But, it actually was really interesting with how they interacted, how Val teaches, and how seriously Rumer seems to be taking this. I also gained a lot of respect for the stars that take the lessons seriously. That was some hard work they were doing. I'm going to have to try to find some of the others on youtube to watch. I did enjoy that the producer told Val to take off the costume when he said he was hot - any excuse TPTB have to get Val shirtless - and that Val was so stressed out about not being able to curse and having to "entertain" in the beginning. I was surprised how much the producers actually interjected and that they had someone on hand to cut away for cursing or anything inappropriate. I always knew the show was highly produced but it was startling to see it. Rumer is not at all like I thought she'd be. I don't even know what I was basing my thoughts of her on, but she's actually very likeable and seems fun. I'm excited for this partnership.

Yes. So much yes. Is that hair for real? That's cold. Letting them all look around and make their plans for the season and then blow everything up with Derek and the most likely winner on live TV. It must be awful to have to stand there on live TV and find out exactly what your employer thinks of you compared to others. I don't even normally buy into the preferential treatment for Derek theories (even though he's one of the pros I like the least based on the two seasons I've watched and the tour) because I figure a lot of the reaction to the show is personal preference. But this is really cruel to the rest of the pros. I thought the field was pretty wide open with most of the pros having a good shot at winning, and I'm sure most of them thought the same thing before Nastia was revealed. At least with Meryl, there were Charlie and Amy to offset plus Candace and the strong conservative fanbase. On live TV with no preparation. It's just so cruel. Poor Mark finding out like that that Derek was coming back with someone Mark's been trying to recruit for years for a pretty much guaranteed win. Ouch. The pros were all so likeable on the tour and were such great brand ambassadors and then they get treated like this - completely overshadowed.

I just watched the GMA announcement and none of the pros looked happy when they cut back after the Derek/Nastia announcement, Mark especially. They're usually so good about knowing when to smile. I was surprised at all the faces. I thought the cast was really great - even starting ground for everyone and no one standing out with a big ability or fan base advantage. And, then they announced Derek and Nastia. I'm actually thrilled Nastia's on, but she definitely sticks out in this cast. I wish they saved her for another season.

Nastia was my dream partner for Val. I was really hoping for her until I saw he had Rumer. I'm kind of sad she's with Derek. I'm sure they'll be great.

I think that person will be interesting. The pics look promising but they'll need to be likeable, too, to actually win. Above all else, I'm hoping the pros all give us a great and entertaining season because I think they're all hardworking and likeable. I also really hope the negativity that follows this show online will wane this season. I like reading people's thoughts (even those I don't necessarily agree with) but the negativity and attacks on all sides ruins it. Hopefully, the fans of all the pros will be able to enjoy everyone's hard work this season and express opinions pleasantly.

Please tell me they're working on a Laurel spin off and that's why they're trying so hard to make her happen. I don't even really mind DA Laurel or addict Laurel but I just can't with superhero Laurel. Admittedly, I missed a lot of the show when I fast forwarded through superhero Laurel, but Oliver is trying to save Thea, right? Everyone except Laurel knows it was Thea who killed Sara, right? So, Oliver can't save Thea by himself because he already tried and nearly died. Yes, it's awful to have to make deals with Malcolm but if they're trying to save Thea maybe the team should consider it instead of arguing. Or offer another option if they're so convinced there is one. I guess I don't get what that whole thing was about. Like hey, sorry you almost died. But now we're annoyed to have you back so we're just going to be snippy instead of trying to figure out a solution. Or, maybe they could just spin Oliver off and let there be a Team Arrow show without him. I'd probably like a show with just Oliver better at this point anyway.

I agree but I can't really argue with the top two in either order. Between the Shibs, C/B, and H/B, ice dancing was the best competition. I used to hate watching ice dancing in the 90s because it was all ridiculous costumes and drama. With these three teams, it was elegant and powerful and fun to watch. I don't like Ashley, and I don't like Gracie. Neither one really has the it factor to be a star, and neither really seems competitive internationally. Let's scrap them both and start over with someone else. I thought the pairs competition was dull. No one really grabs me and creates any excitement. I agree with whoever said Jason is juvenile. I didn't care for his programs last year (and shallowly hate the hair) and don't like them this year either. I'd love a return of a Paul Wylie type skater.

Not that it'll happen, but I'm absolutely on board with a Branch/Erin spin off.

I loved everything with Oliver and was absolutely shocked at the ending. I didn't think he could win but didn't know how he'd get out of it. I'm not a comics reader and kind of wish I hadn't read this thread with all the ideas because I'm so impatiently waiting to see how they keep him alive. I'm intrigued by Thea and her story line. I could do with a little more Diggle and a little less of Felicity's boss. I thought this was a great episode. I just don't think too much when this show is on and fast forward through Laurel, so it all worked for me. I'm still shocked over the duel and Oliver dying.

What they show is having trouble keeping my attention, so I get the poor ratings. I've never cared much for mens' skating; although, I do like Hanyu. The ladies' skating doesn't seem to value grace anymore, and I can't handle the flailing arms, the unfinished moves, and all the falling. I'd love to watch ice dancing and some pairs, but NBC doesn't seem to agree there. Last weekend, I watched the cheesy skating special and fast forwarded through most of the competition later on the DVR. I'm a casual watcher, and no one seems to have the personality or showmanship that I like to see. Even if Brian Boitano, Ilia Kulik, Kurt Browning, and others can't do everything they used to, they are so much more engaging than what I see in the competitions. Just watching Gordeeva on the even cheesier family special showed that the current ladies skaters are really missing that spark and grace.

The show in my town sold out before the second round of pros were even announced. They added a second afternoon show, which sold out within hours. People have been going crazy for them since it was first announced. This is all for a Sunday in December in snow country in a small town where most people will have to travel to get to the show. The ticket sales really surprised me. I thought tickets were on the pricey side, especially when they hadn't announced who would be on tour yet, but that hasn't seemed to hold up sales. I wonder if they're already planning the summer tour.

I much preferred Emily's acting to the actress that plays Carol. I don't get the Carol love at all - for the character or the actress. I don't think Emily is the best actress ever, but I cringe far more often at Carol's (Melissa's?) acting. I think this is an eye of the beholder type thing. I thought Emily did well enough to mostly hold her own on the show. I'm still sad they killed her off.

I liked Beth. I know I'm one of the few here, but I'll miss her and what she brought to the group. That really surprised me. Poor Daryl. I have to admit that Rick hitting the guy with the car made me laugh. I love Rick.

I agree with this but feel for him because this is exactly what I'd do, too. I'd be so out of my element letting things just happen that I don't know if I could. Since he seems like such a planner and worrier, I hope he can take a step back and let things flow more next time. I really like Val with all of his intensity and seriousness on this lighthearted show, so I hope he isn't too dejected and can have another great season next year. I think he really made Janel more than any of the other pros could have and thought he got more improvement out of her than any of the other stars.

I'm so glad Alfonso won. When Sadie got 10s for that fusion, I was really wondering if that meant she won. I wish the scores for the fusion had actually been based on the dance though. Janel's was really good and should have been higher. Not that it really mattered anyway. I liked the snow globe dance with the pros a lot. I wish they'd spend more time on those types of fillers.