Emily-D

If Louis was supposed to come back it definitely would have been for Charo. Maybe he found out it was Charo he had and thus came up with his "other obligations". So Keo bless him got a "promotion".

He'll be okay. Because he's so small the odds of him getting someone good again are fairly high because they're casting from a small pool of people (pardon the pun). Having said that he must be properly gutted. I would be.

Agreed. I'm sure they'll do their best with casting kids who appeal to potential viewers (Robert Irwin is probably a given) and keep the pros involved as much as possible but I can't see it taking off. One and done.

That's a huge mistake if Tom isn't hosting. Even the Bachelor which has a million different spinoffs keeps Chris Harrison as an ever present to give the shows some continuity. I can't see long time viewers getting this at all.

Peyton Lee was in the audience a few weeks ago. I can see that happening, ditto Robert Irwin. Can't see these type of people drawing viewers though.

I remember season 20 when 14 year old Willow got eliminated. You could see her starting to break down when it went down to her and Rumer Willis and it became clear she was going home. Luckily she had Mark there who was brilliant in basically deflecting the attention from her tears, doing the talking when they walked over to Tom and Erin after they were eliminated and comforting her at the end. I can definately see it becoming X Factor style uncomfortable if they aired the show live. The Jr pros wouldn't have a clue what to do. They could easily break down and start crying themselves.

Can't see this doing well at all. No doubt they'll have the actual pros choreographing and featuring heavily in packages and probably judges like Maks and maybe Julianne to try and keep ratings up. Personally though I think it'll flop like Idol Jrs and be gone after a season. The young stars will probably be made up of largely Disney kids and the "young pros" probably kids from SYTYCD like that young kid who was Jenna's partner, also doesn't Lindsay Arnold have a little sister as well. Their best and only chance IMO of making it a success is pretaping it and having it air at 8 and following it with the actual DWTS show on 9-11. I don't know how they'd judge it or have people vote but for ratings that would be its best chance of staying afloat. If they are replacing the normal DWTS show with it then its ratings will crash imo.

Simone seems to be getting the same criticism from viewers that Nancy was getting weeks ago. That she was coming off fragile and angry when things weren't going well. I've said before it's definitely an Olympic thing. These athletes are used to being drilled and critiqued to death every day for years on end by their trainers. Having said that I do have a feeling that Simone secretly thought this would be an easy mirrorball after her pal Laurie did the business last season and she's possibly showing signs of cracking as the judges nitpick her and it becomes apparent that she won't be winning her own mirrorball.

I would be fine with David beating out Simone. I haven't connected with her all season and she's been overscored for many weeks.

I think Rashad is the overall casual viewers favourite similar to the someone like Bindi who also didn't come in with a huge fanbase. He's a great dancer, good looking, likeable, dedicated everything you want in a potential winner. He's a non dancer so no one can moan about him having dance experience and he has a veteran pro who has never won before. Believe me the vast majority of people who isn't part of a "fanbase" so to speak and is watching as a causal longtime dwts viewers will be voting for him. Plus I feel like he's gained a fanbase as he's been in the competition, week 4 was his major breakthrough week.

Simone's personality doesn't bother me, I just think she's a vastly overrated dancer whose been getting overscored all season long IMO. I would not be upset if David bumped her out of the final.

Sad about Nancy leaving but I did expect it. No problem with David beating her out, he's a throughly likeable good guy whose trying hard and putting in some half decent dances with the help of Lindsay. Bonner on the other hand doesn't deserve to be there and only is because of his southern country persona which rakes in votes from middle America conservative housewives. I said a few weeks ago that the days of 40+ women getting to the finals are long gone, they don't get the votes from the largely vast female audience who watch the show, and the producers would much rather see younger females with big online followings who attract lots of positive media attention and online clicks in the final such as Normani and Simone (who I think is a vastly overrated dancer) this season for example. Nancy placing the same as Marilu Henner last season tells its own story. It's Artem I feel sorry for though, the producers can use Nancy's abilities as an excuse to give him no hopers for the next five seasons before they eventually decide to toss him another bone or just dump him altogether. He'll never have a chance of winning until he gets given someone under the age of 30 with a proven fanbase that appeals to the demographic and will powevote, the sort of partner always reserved for the likes of Val, Derek or Mark. Anyway rant over, all my votes are going to Rashad now, the only way this season can really be salvaged is if he pulls out the win, and while I'm not one to vote for the pro I really would be delighted if Emma won. She like Artem has been treated like garbage by the show who have tossed her a bone this season (apparently Rashad was almost set to be Lindsay's partner before David signed on at the last minute). This may well be her best and only chance she'll get at bagging herself a mirrorball and I hope she does it. He's a good dancer and a very likeable guy.

You're right about Maks, he definitely isn't the voting machine he used to be. I feel like their are two main reasons for that, firstly he now has a mirrorball so people don't feel the need to help him win his first one (Sharna seems to be the pro benefiting the most from this narrative now) and secondly since he's been gone Val has completely overtaken him in popularity and stolen the spotlight and I expect a lot of votes from him. Speaking of Maks, did anyone catch that shade he threw at Alan upon elimination? Don't flatter yourself Maks, it was your awful Jazz choreography that got Heather eliminated, not Alan's lack of a fanbase. Honestly been so disappointed at his behaviour this season, he should have stayed retired.

Disagree, I think Rashad has a damn good chance of beating her out. I don't really want Simone to win as the gymnast winning again does get incredibly boring. It's starting to look like a nailed on Rashad, Normani, Simone final unless David and his huge fan following bumps one of them out.

Bonner gets votes because he's a southern country boy and they always do well with the voters on this show. Not to mention the shippers eating up his Sharna partnership. It's between Nick and Nancy for next elimination I feel thanks to Bonner getting grossly overscored. Both team dances we're underwhelming but the DWTS crew have to take responsibility for the girls routine. The lighting flub completely ruined it. So frustrating.

Oh god, Len is not going to like that.

Also in the UK you are allowed two lifts in the American Smooth whereas lifts are banned in all other ballroom dances. All I know is Artem and Len have had some proper ding dongs over what constitutes an American Smooth and what doesn't based on YouTube clips. Funny to watch considering Artem and Len are probably best buddies at the moment.

Artem's pasos are decent based on previous performances but personally Rumba is definitely his best dance to choreograph in my opinion. I remember him saying his favourite dance was American Smooth but of course they don't have that as a style on DWTS. He used to always get in trouble with Len regarding what constituted an American Smooth and what didn't. I really hate that free your mind song though, what I'd give for a traditional paso to traditional dramatic paso music!

What an awful song choice, totally ruined my excitement for her dance. Forget that it's an awful song not suited to paso in the first place, anything she does will be compared to Mel B's dance. She literally cannot win with this one. This is why I hate it when they recycle songs, especially ones performed and scored high in the past.

The problem is the judges will likely score simple choreography that is nailed higher compared to harder choreography that goes slightly wrong. That's why for me the boys have an advantage. They'll get away with whatever they do and be scored high whereas the girls will be expected to crush it and any little mess up will be probably cost them the team dance. I hope they pull off something great because that team of four has the potential to create one of the best team dances seen on the show. I hope to be wowed on the night.

Assume they have a 5 couple semi final and a double elimination to decide the final three, I think David will definitely make it to that semi final at least. He'll beat out Nick, Bonner and at least one of Heather or Nancy but not necessarily in that order. He'll end up going in that semi final double elimination or finishing third in the final. Regarding next week's elimination, I honestly can't remember the last time it's been so open. You can make a serious case for Nick, Bonner, Heather or Nancy all leaving. Rashad ain't out of the woods either although you'd imagine he's built up a solid support base after last week which should keep him safe. If you forced me to narrow it down, I think it'll come down to either Bonner or Nancy leaving.

I noticed that as well, I said last week that he didn't look happy at Julianne crediting Alan for the choreography when it was him, this time he made sure everyone knew it was him and it well and truly bit him in the backside.

Going to be a tight squeeze from here on in. Any rough week scores wise could see her out the door, it could easily happen next week. I just hope she finally gets to do that rumba. One way or another we're going to find out next week if she's getting the votes or not.

I knew I'd forgotten someone, good shout on Kirstie. I agree the pro plays a big part, Ricki and Jennifer both had Derek and Kirstie had Maks who at the time had never won the mirrorball. I think all pros have their own fans. Obviously some are bigger than others (Derek) but they are all out there. It certainly feels like the male pros are far more popular than the females, which is unsurprising considering the show is hugely older female skewing.

They haven't won, but they always get to the end which really serves their purpose especially to producers after young viewers for ratings. When it comes to actually winning, yes a star with a big fanbase needs the general public onside for them to win. But still my point stands, when was the last time a female over the age of 40 made it to the end? Marilu Henner made it to the quarter finals mainly thanks to Derek Hough and his rabid army of fans, Lea Thompson made it to the quarter finals (also with Artem). I don't think we've had one actually make the final since Ricki Lake placed 3rd in season 13 and of course Jennifer Grey winning season 11. Candace Cameron Bure was in her 30s when she did the show. Out of all the gender/age demographic stars who do the show, the older female always has it the toughest IMO.