Legalgirl82

I noticed she neglected to include in her MVP package this week that she was, in fact, estranged from her father for ten months before he passed away. See at about the nine minute mark in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPkAHFkWVnc

I'm of the opinion that it wasn't a real apology. I watched Breaking the Ice recently, to see if I was remembering it correctly and/or if I would have a different opinion on it 20 years down the road. What Tonya said was: "Nancy, I want to apologize, again, for being in the wrong place, at the wrong time, around the wrong people." No acknowledgment that she, herself, did anything wrong; no true remorse and/or sympathy for what Nancy went through; no second-hand display of embarrassment, guilt or sorrow for what her ex-husband did, in her name. Interestingly, and I'd forgotten this part; but right after that, she says to Nancy: "If I would've known anything, you know, in the...in the beginning, I would have done anything I could to stop it. Anything. I mean I would have dropped everything I had, in my whole life, to get that. I mean that with all my heart. I really do." After I watched this again, I watched ABC's Truth & Lies: The Tonya Harding Story from January of this year. That's available for viewing on ABC's website, under News Specials. During one of the previews of that program/interview, Tonya says: "I knew something was up." Then, towards the end of the program, during the interview part (it's a long program, about an hour and twenty minutes), Amy Robach makes a rhetorical statement about the attack, and Tonya says: "I did, however, overhear them talking about stuff where, 'Well, maybe we should take somebody out, so we can make sure she gets on the team'; and I remember telling them, I go, 'What the hell are you talking about--I can skate'. This was like a month or two months before. But they were talking about skating, and saying 'Well, maybe somebody should be taken out so then, you know, she can make it.'" She says this so blithely; as though she hasn't been saying the complete opposite for 24 years, that I had to play it back three times. No hint of shame, no apologizing for lying all this time about having some prior knowledge...simply unbelievable. Less than half a minute later, Amy Robach asks her something about the timing of when she realized or suspected Gillooly; and Tonya stammers a bit...I think she realized her mistake in making that admission. There's also discussion of Oksana winning the gold at the Olympics and Nancy's comment while waiting for the medal ceremony. Tonya says Nancy "...needed to quit whining." Her sneering criticism of Nancy, for that one minor comment, 24 years down the road, speaks volumes of Tonya's mindset on Nancy, even now. She's making a good acting performance on DWTS, but, IMO, that's all it is, a performance. For the real Tonya, watch Truth & Lies.

Uke, I don't have the link handy, but the user "genuinecap" has the Tonya section of Breaking the Ice in four parts. It was part of a larger program looking back at the ladies of the '94 Olympics. I believe the Nancy/Tonya face-to-face is part three.

Thank you. I don't see that. He liked one tweet which said that the tweeter wished every couple would focus on their own journey and comparing themselves to other couples does not do any favors; which is basically the same thing Witney was saying to Frankie in the clip and it's what Mark has said is his and Lindsey's approach to each week in interviews. He liked another tweet which said that the judges got the tweeter's eyes rolling. He liked a couple of tweets which said that "they" (the showrunners, not Frankie) showed Lindsey in that clip, too. There was a response to his tweet about how hard Lindsey works by a tweeter who said he (Frankie) was talking about Jordan and Lindsay; and Mark's response to that tweeter was to "watch it again"...again, nothing directed against Frankie. He was referring to the inference in the editing of the clip. He didn't like any of the tweets referring to "shade" or "tea". ETA: He also liked Lindsay's "thank you" tweet back to him.

I actually think Mark's tweet was his way of picking a bone with the producers. I also believe it was his way of refuting (for the audience...at least those on social media) both the appearance of the package, which was somewhat ambiguous as to which of the two ladies Frankie was referring to, as it showed Lindsey and Mark practicing just after Frankie said "Lindsay"); and the claims of others' fans that she wasn't injured. His tweet was not directed at Frankie and he doesn't mention Frankie at all. I think he is well aware that the edit made it look (for some) like Frankie was talking about Lindsey dancing perfectly on day 2. Witney's follow up statement was (I believe) clearly meant to make Frankie feel better and I don't fault her for that. Nevertheless, that's the second time in two weeks that another pro has talked about Lindsey having dance experience. Val's statement was far worse, in my opinion, because his was factually incorrect, in that he stated that Lindsey has a "lifetime of dance experience". Mark didn't go off on Val last week (though he had a perfect right to), nor did he go off on Witney; so why would he go after Frankie? Well, it doesn't make any sense that he would, and I don't see that he did. He followed up that tweet with two in which he talked about how Lindsey "didn't shoot her wide" (whatever that means) until Saturday (a day late) because this one "was a challenge"; and he said that she works incredibly hard to dance as well as she does and that it doesn't come easy. So, yes, I think all three of his tweets were meant to both refute the narrative this week's package inferred about Lindsey and to (hopefully) derail the late in the game mentions of her dance experience. I expect that the way Paige was sandbagged by the edit of her semi-finals package is still fresh in Mark's mind; and he doesn't want the same to happen to Lindsey. Shortly thereafter, he tweeted "Fantastic job" and "Well deserved" to Jordan, Lindsay and Corbin on their trio; and Lindsay followed up with a "thank you" tweet.

And if I may add to or ask an alternative to your question: what if one or the other (not both) of the dancer or pro were Mexican? Or part Mexican, as Mark is.

I feel the same way, with the exception of prior ballroom and/or Latin training. I didn't know of Paige prior to her season; but she and Mark were my team for S22. Perhaps not here; but elsewhere she was eviscerated for her childhood dance training. There are still some out there who insist she had a "lifetime" of dance experience, professionally taught dance and competed in ballroom dancing. I agree that Paige was a bit stronger technically than Lindsey is. After all, Lindsey didn't learn as a child. As with Paige, I didn't know about Lindsey prior to this season; but I've grown to like her very much. She's got a great work ethic and wants to learn; she's kind and humble; is very friendly with the rest of the cast and is clearly enjoying the experience and having fun. She and Mark have a great partnership, on and off the dance floor. I hope to see them make it to the finals.

Re: the troupe...may I ask why? We haven't even seen the dance yet; it's only two (not an army); and we're halfway through the season and Mark is the last pro standing who hasn't used the troupe yet.

^^Have tickets for the NY show. Can't wait! It will be my second time seeing Alexander Jean live; and first time seeing Lindsey live.

I respectfully disagree that the clothing worn by Mark in representing Lindsey's father was "emotionally manipulative in the extreme." I think the inclusion of Mr. Stirling's own hat and scarf was a lovely tribute to him, but the fact that I cried during the dance had nothing to do with the way Mark was dressed. It was really (a) what Lindsey and her mother said in the package about Mr. Stirling and his passing; (b) the way Lindsey talked about her father teaching her that being different is okay; and (c) the way her words (and her father's words) completely meshed with the song's lyrics, that had me crying. Lindsey has said she felt like she was dancing with her father. I thought the dance was beautiful and touching; and I wouldn't change a thing about it. Mileage varies, and all that, but I think physically including contestants' children in dances and the torching of a *piano* represent the extreme in the "emotionally manipulative" department of this show.

The red balloon is also referenced in the song's lyrics ("Anchor" by Mindy Gledhill). That's a favorite song of Lindsey's. She even used it in one of the videos she posted on her YouTube channel where she talked about her life. I guess it has become even more special to her in relation to what she said in the package about her father. Mark has said he always uses the song as a basis and works out from there.