hypeman

This is reality TV. There must always be a narrative. MTT's formula is to have several comeback girls each season and to have three or four girls on the bubble towards the end of the season. One of those girls is usually black. Jackie Bob, Mia, Jasmine, Khalyn, and Keyra were all presented as bubble girls. Maybe with the exception of Jasmine this was all storytelling. Kellie gave Keyra the firecracker name and every guest choreographer and Kitty had something nice to say about her. With the number of hours of video they have, they can edit anyone into looking great, stupid, self-centered, or the life of the party. I understand that most of this is deemed necessary for the show. However, I understand how it works. You pick a narrative and find supporting video. That's why all the ladies seemed canned and/or fake. This show is at least partially scripted and they go back and reshoot things, etc. I think that's why we saw so much of Keyra and Kashara last season. IMO they both excel at the talking parts. Meaning, they say something interesting, and it seems spontaneous, even if it's not. I think that is why some girls are featured more and other better dancers are not. I also think it can keep you on the team. This has been a long way of saying, I don't believe any of the narratives that the show presents. I judge performance off of the videos and photos I ACTUALLY SEE.

This 1000%. The legend of DCC doesn't exist without girls who try out repeatedly and ALMOST make it. Vivian, Amy Simone, Meghan F, Emily. None of them ever made it, but it does make great TV. Christina was not supposed to be on the team. She and Savannah can thank Erica and Holly, I think Christina is fine dance-wise. I've never seen her look bad. HOWEVER, Savannah is consistently off. Every time I see her dance, she is off beat. I really mean EVERY single time. Even if she has the solo of her life, I don't see how she stays. They have a season full of meh dancing. We'll just have to see. My gut says, if the rumors of 13 more ladies retiring are true, no vets are cuts (unless for major weight gain)

Keyra looks really pretty here! Best of luck to Kalyssa! When opportunity knocks, you better answer.

I'm guessing these are ladies only classes. LOL

I agree with you in theory. Every contract I've signed has a financial penalty for breaking it. Since the;y are paying them anything, it's like an honor contract. I know from life that sometimes you have to break contracts for your own sanity. I don't know if that applies to anyone who left, but I won't be judging them for doing so.

I view the ladies who leave as doing so for self-care, to pursue better opportunities as they arise, or because they dislike the way they are being treated. In the real world, employees leave at their own convenience (unless fired). I don't think it's traitorous to advocate for your own interests, Kellie surely is looking out for her interests. I really don't know why anyone would spend more than three years (two being ideal). I feel like the long term ladies have nothing much else professionally going on. Leaving DCC is not the end of the world.

Great video of Jenna, please watch http://www.nba.com/spurs/video/teams/spurs/2017/09/14/1623233/1505405662167-jenna-paralegal-video-6-1623233 I'm sad she's not on the squad, but I bet she's much happier with work/life balance. I really do feel that other squads see and treat this as a part time gig. I have one friend who danced for the Redskins and then the Falcons. I know when she was with the Falcons she was a VP at Bank of America (they've got tons of VP's), but still. I have the feeling that DCC practices more and CMT filming actually makes everything take longer (due to camera set up time, and multiple takes), so the time commitment is much greater.

Thanks for posting. Christina looks great. I never believe the storylines on MTT. Always edited for drama. This choreo is what modern hip hop looks like. I think it's fine. Never been in love with anything about Lauren.

Serve food and drinks to multiple club suites. Food and drink is outrageously expensive, and they tip well.

Did JInelle ever say if she's coming back?

My cousin, who is an elementary school teacher, works the suites at Bank of America Stadium (Carolina Panthers) for extra money. She says she never leaves with less than $200 in tips and she is paid minimum wage. She works about seven hours per game. No crazy prep, practice, or years of lessons. She makes more than the cheerleaders. Cheerleaders are part of the total stadium entertainment experience. No doubt they are not the stars, but they are part of the supporting cast, like the drumline, dj, mascot, etc. You can not separate out the specific part of revenue generated by the cheerleaders. This pay structure was created by about 25 multi-millionaire men in the 1970's when pro cheerleading took off. This was supposed to be just pretty young women prancing around for eye candy. It has developed into a demanding job. However, the pay structure never changed because the men involved never cared to pay a fair wage. It is 2018. I really have a tremendous problem with any system that does not pay someone fairly for their efforts. To correct the pay problem for most teams it would be about $3000 per cheerleader. 3K times 36 is $108,000 per season for the DCC. The Cowboys latest profits were $350 million, according to Forbes for 2016-2017 season. That is 0.03% of profits. This is not about money for the organization. Cheerleaders, especially DCC, are omnipresent at team functions. They are integral to the team brand. They need to be compensated accordingly. This horse is dead. But I feel strongly whenever I see ANY group being abused, especially when that abuse is institutionalized.

The scandal is that most teams only pay for games, therefore practice time is mandatory, but uncompensated. Also add in mandatory, un-reimbursed hair, nails, tanning, makeup, and tights. Most teams specify what salon you must use (and pay out of pocket). Cheerleaders are fighting to get to minimum wage. $20/hour is fantasy. DCC sounds better, but probably not much since they keep their pay scale so secretive. Read: https://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/26/sports/basketball/cheerleaders-in-nba-make-case-for-better-pay.html Will someone with inside knowledge just create an account and say what the pay is for rehearsals (if any) and for CMT.

Just watched half of the podcast. My first one. Shannon was annoying. Jinelle was great. She's been given so much crap on here for her looks and personality. I just don't get it. She looked better than Lauren and was extremely personable and easy to listen to. I'm officially a fan. Lauren was okay. I don't have anything to compare her to, this being the first one I've listened to. Lauren said she was coming back, and Jinelle kind of skipped over that question (at least in the first half). I don't think she was avoiding it, the conversation kind of went a different direction.

Most squads don't pay for MANDATORY practice time so they make way less than minimum wage. DCC at least pays for rehearsals and CMT time. I also think they cover hair, lashes, nails, tanning, etc. Other squads don't.

Here is a good article about cheerleader pay. http://time.com/money/5127457/nfl-cheerleaders-career-pay-salary/ This one is even better https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/inside-nfl-cheerleaders-legal-fight-better-pay-1025740

Other professions have zero to do with this. What people are saying is, the low pay and heavy time demands restrict it only to those with outside financial support or those using DCC to jump start their instagram/modelling/reality/spokesperson career. Why are women actively lobbying for women in a skilled position to be paid less than fast food workers? This is a rhetorical question. Almost sad I asked it. I'm moving on because I'm about to get in trouble.

This 100%. To be a DCC you must be genetically lucky (pretty enough), talented, have at least a few years of training, work hard, and prepare in your off time. The time commitment must be at least 40 hrs/week, including practices, games, appearances, and time spent staying in shape and honing your dance skills. This a demanding, full-time job. The ladies are paid like it's a hobby. They are an integral part of the stadium experience, but because they are women they are undervalued. For instance: Average Salary. NFL mascots' annual pay ranges from$23,000 to $65,000, according to a December 2013 article on TheRichest website, while the "Chicago Tribune" site states that NFL mascots average about $25,000 per year. NFL cheerleaders had to fight just to get minimum wage! There must be a pay off for working this hard, not just the glory of donning the DCC uniform. If someone uses this to promote their brand, more power to them. This is a job. All you owe management is adequate notice. In reality, Kalyssa did nothing to hurt the team. The season was over. All that was left was random appearances, and they have plenty of options available.

At first I thought it was Kashara, and I was like "Damn! I guess she really did step it up and earn point." Then those last few moments I realized it was Gina, Thankfully, I can put Kashara back in her "Good, but not standout" box where she belongs. I've always liked Gina. I don't ever see the need for fake humility, and I never trust the narrative the show peddles. It's always so hard to tell which rookies are really the best because they are always in the back. Of the three rookies that made show group she is the best IMO.

Yeah, those bday posts for Jenna were very touching and seemed sincere. I never believed the rumors that she was disliked by her team mates. These last couple of vids with Jenna at point, showed me what could have been. I am definitely going to miss Jenna. I wish her well.

I think they all look great. The dark lipstick on the MDC is very NOW in my opinion. It's all over the red carpet and fashion mags, and I see a million 20 somethings rocking its equivalent daily. I just feel like it's a generational thing. Women over a certain age are not doing the thick eyebrows, cat eye, smokey eye, dark lipstick, etc. because it feels abnormal. The last thing I will accuse the DCC of is being cutting edge. Which can be good, but most often it's bad.

Thanks for posting this. I think all of their outfits look great, including the footwear. I particularly like the gray jumpsuit. These outfits are modern, fun, functional, and comfortable. They look made to jump around in for three and a half hours. Being a new team (formed 2016) I bet someone who dances chose these. They are body conscious, but not slutty. Not one titty or ass cheek to be seen. These outfits are for dancing, and not for being a hypersexualized male fantasty. Most teams outfits look like torture devices. You say these ladies are talented athletes, but you don't pay them well and dress them like prostitutes.

The Lions just made their squad official in 2016. I can not imagine any scenario where you're starting a squad in 2016 and you will have the ladies serving or consuming alcoholic beverages. With the recent lawsuits around cheerleader compensation and the potential for liability and negative publicity, it would make no sense. Besides, the NFL probably prohibits it. I believe other squads treat cheerleading like the part-time job it is. Shorter audition time, fewer practices, and fewer appearances. It makes perfect sense to me to have the squad be 21+. No one over 21 wants to hang out with 18-20 y.o.

Are you talking about the black girl?

Yes! The show is just DCC propaganda, with no dissenting view. I also don't believe most of the narratives for ladies on the team. On that note: Is Christina really that bad? Or is she being judged based on the struggler label that the show created for drama? I only ask because every time I see her actually dance (unedited and un-narrated) she looks fine IMO.

This is why I adore Kitty. She tells her truth, with no holding back. But she never acts like the girls are bad people because they are not good dancers. Criticism followed by a hug. I'm all about it!