If you read this blog regularly, you know I’m a total freak on Dancing With the Stars. Look, I’ve got to have one reality show guilty pleasure, and besides, I think they do some remarkable things with the guests on the results show, exposing us to all the different varieties of dance out there (although I do think they could present more ballet).
So, while I was interested that ABC decided to do an All-Star show this fall, I wasn’t excited until today. But that might be because we actually got some news at a Press Tour press conference. And the All-Stars are: Kirstie Alley, Pamela Anderson, Helio Castroneves, Joey Fatone, Shawn Johnson, Drew Lachey, Gilles Marini, Kelly Monaco, Apolo Anton Ohno, Bristol Palin, Melissa Rycroft, Emmitt Smith. You’ll also get to chose the last celebrity by going to www.ABC.com/DancingwiththeStars and voting for Kyle Massy, Carson Kressley or Sabrina Bryan. And Bryan got totally, totally robbed in that horrible season that I stopped watching because I was so furious and Helio Castroneves ended up winning.
Which is the one thing I’m not liking about the current line-up – too many prior champions. I’d rather see all the folks that got robbed – great dancers who were not popular enough to get the votes. I’m also not thrilled that a few not-so-great dancers, including Emmitt Smith, Pamela Anderson and Bristol Palin are back.
On the other hand, the drool-worthy Giles Marini is back. Shawn Johnson – who also got totally robbed – is on the list, too. They can totally dance and probably should have won their seasons. And, no, this will not settle the best dancer ever debate, nor should it.
One thing that does have to be kept in mind with DWTS is the tendency toward off-color innuendo. That’s less of a problem with younger children – it goes over their heads, thank heavens. But it’s also a problem in that sexy is the ultimate compliment, especially for the women, and I’m not that comfortable with that. It’s kind of appropriate at times because that is the nature of dance (one of the reasons the Baptists and others want to ban it). But it also re-enforces the idea of women as sex objects and just because the men are described the same way doesn’t elevate either gender.
It’s a downside, but nothing is perfect. I just found out a company that I’ve been boycotting because I despise their business practices is donating a boatload of money to a cause I majorly support. So what do I do? Weigh out the good versus the bad. And in the case of DWTS, I find more good than bad. Your mileage may vary.
