2LeftFeet

I totally agree. Also, when long-time Pros retired from dancing, Maks, Cheryl, Karina, it would have been nice to see a little something the season after their departure in the results show for the Finale, as a tribute. Doesn't have to be a long production, even 1 minute of funny or touching moments. Failure to do so, to me, seems to create a sense the producers regard the talent as disposible. Doesn't make the show look good.

Which explains his obsession with dancing with it, to this day ;)

THIS! With all keeping Riker's background hidden, it's as if Allison has had a huge impact on his dance ability. Not true and obvious from watching their All Access rehearsals. So when/if she gets a 'normal' celeb, then what? I'm actually hoping she moves on to something other than DWTS next season. Lovely person, but DWTS really isn't her wheelhouse. Also don't think the bulk of DWTS viewership are interested in SYTYCD lite, either.

Think it ws S18, Erin said Tom knew (and does) but at least for the final, Erin doesn't want to know.

BBM: I'm no Derek fan, although I think him talented, along with everyone else on the show (in varying degrees....Allison w/ her lack of ballroom at the bottom of the pile) That said, somewhere, I read/heard Derek saying in an interview, echoing Maks, Val, and perhaps others, how difficult it is to have a season end. Derek went on to say at some point he made an effort to NOT get so emotionally involved as it was just too difficult. These are my words summarizing what I heard him say. By 'emotionally involved' I don't mean romance or showmance or fauxmance. Just that close connection, which both of Maks and Val seem to have a talent for. I understand Derek's decision, but think it unfortunate as his performances, to me, reflect this distance. Also in the packages, while he's often affable and jokes around, it seems very superficial. All of which combine to make me not enjoy him as much as some of the others. I suspect, in some cases, it marks the difference between the Hough and Chmerkovskiy 'mafias' as Val put it. As a member of the latter, it's the 'real, raw' aspect that makes the difference for me. I do think it rather sad, that Derek doesn't seem to stay close to his former partners. Perhaps, though, he rather prefers it that way. IDK, but I get the impression in many ways, he's a bit of a loner.

To me, it looked like Derek was trying to play the noble victim, when he knows darned well all pros were asked for one postivie and one negative comment. He also looked like he was going to continue in this vein...and to my eyes, it looks like Nastia squeezed his shoulded after a little rub... a signal, as she started talking immediately afterward and indicated all was fine.

I enjoyed the show, even if there wasn't much drama. In a way, I prefer it that way! Really appreciate all of the Ballroom experts they've had on this season. To me, it's added depth and greater impartiality. There for a while it felt like the standards were SYTYCD and DWTS isn't that sort of show. I'm also not missing Anna. While extremely knowledgable, which I appreciate, I didn't appreciate the frequent snark in her commentary, even if it was about a pair I didn't particularly care for.

This was a great post! ITA with your points. I'd also add, even those who have fully functioning bodies can be 'disabled' due to absolute lack of musicality, two left feet, etc. I'd not want to see judges say, 'Well, you've no timing, musicality, and are painfully awkward on the floor, but since you can't dance many of the basic elements, I'm giving you a higher score anyway.' Some people simply aren't able to do as much, whether due to a medical/physical issue, or another challenge and I don't want to see either rewarded beyond what they've truly earned. That said, I also don't expect people in these categories to be judged the same as a Nicole S, for example. There is a balance, but it's painful when the judges score higher than warranted as a compensatory measure. I find it patronizing, to be honest.

ITA. Also think Erin was her strongest her first season (18) after the first couple of weeks. I wonder how much production is forcing on her w/ the full change in EP starting S19? If so, I wish they'd let Erin be Erin.

I think this was AFTER Nastia and Henry outed the set up on SM. It wasn't presented from the start that Nastia was spending 2-3 days/week with another Pro in Cali. Instead, viewers like me simply thought another pro did the camera blocking. This to me is very different than Jenna openly being around and helping Val as he worked out his choreo during the middle of the night and possibly aiding a contestant with refinements. To me, the way this all unfolded rubs me the wrong way, in the same way burying Riker's ballroom competitive background does. It's not what's happening/happened that is an issue: it's the apparent secrecy that just looks bad. YMMV.

I must say I was quite surprised neither Shirley or Corky mentioned anything about issues many of us have been discussing. If I, with my user name matching my actual skills can see it... Also thought they were pretty kind in general to Allison, tbh. While not even Corky and Shirley always agreed, what I really enjoyed was both would have reasons for their opinions. Don't always see that on the show. The lack of consistency this Season is frustrating beyond belief. At the point, in particular, Rumer has been hammered as too strong...now not strong enough. Counter-productive and wrong, imo. Was pleasantly shocked to hear Kristyn volunteer a compliment about Maks' charisma on the dance floor. She said something about how noticable it was, and that it was missed. Wow. Also, another post noted the Henry chat, read elsewhere Kristyn posted a reply on instagram she's heard several stories about Henry trading places with Sasha!

An interesting point was made about those voting, (excepting power voters), may well skew older/female. Makes me wonder if Willow/Mark didn't get some of the votes they might have, simply because some of those older viewers disapproved of having a 14 year old on the show? My mom would totally withold votes due to that, if she were still alive.

Giving some serious Charlie side eye to the judges and production. Also, the past two weeks had a bit of the vibe of S18 Week 8, when that dreadful Abby Lee Miller ascended from Dance Mom Hell to inflict her nastiness on some, and fawning flirtation with others. Add to this, I think Val gets some of the Maks 'ballroom purist' treatment: an expectation of very, very clean dances, when others do not seem to be held to the same standard. Thus, a lot of action, but not the high stepping Jive so many enjoy. A fun, clean dance. I enjoyed it, but know others felt a bit 'meh' about it. Rumer said something in the Skybox about having tattoos and black hair doesn't mean that dance wasn't her, also. This made me sad. Said the cute/fun is also part of her personality. Didn't like the damned if you do/damned if you don't from CAI, but as most agree, her cray-cray was on overdrive last night. Did anyone listen to Tallulah's response to Geffin in the Skybox about which dancers she favored, besides Rumer? Scout and Tallulah love Sharkaroo- shippers, lol. Went for the kill regarding Riker - 'I've heard a rumor he's got experience'. Geffin backed away from that one like a stunt driver in a movie complete with squealing tires, say, 'not being able to say anything about it' and 'I have nothing to say' Everyone is sucked into keeping Rikers competitive background a secret. Including the four who competed against him in Latin Open competitions as teens. It's absurd. If the show finally has to 'fess up, it's going to look horrible this late in the season. Even if nothing ever revealed, it's another legitimate strike against production and Riker, who is clearly onboard with the deception.

Agree with props for both. Don't know if child labor laws have changed over the past 20 years, since I last dealt with them. Then, restrictions on under 16 were greater than 16-18. If that is still the case, I was worried how 4-5 hours a day would work for them when they had to perform two complete dances. Sad to see her go, but wouldn't have enjoyed potential frustration by both Willow and Mark if rehearsal limitations made for less polished or more simplified performances. She did a great job, set a record on DWTS and Mark showed his considerable instructional, coaching, and choreography skills. They had an excellent run.

Before Afterbuzz aired and the comment from Serge and backed by Paul generated flame tweets, my family sat and said: 'a week 6 Tango to Calvin Harris?' It was our thought that production set this up as a rival-type performance between the two OGM's. Derek presumably worked with what he was given. Listening to Serge's commentary, I read it differently than some. I thought he meant just what I wrote. Not that it was a 1 for 1 copy. My guess is that some commenting on SM read it differently also. Some commenting might not have even listened to Serge, but were reacting to what they thought was his message.