DWTS Season 10 - Week 7

Shandy said:

I would think all AT dancers will find fault with the technique and how obviously it was choreographed

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I have no objection to it being obviously choreographed. Even pro AT dancers choreograph their stage performances. I also wasn't finding fault with his non-perfect tango-specific technique because I wouldn't expect it to be otherwise.

What I had a problem with was how the two of them didn't look like they were dancing together and how exaggerated she was compared to him. I actually thought it was a failing of the choreography and execution by the pro which failed to make him look good. It seemed to me as if it were designed to have her cover for someone who couldn't do much of anything (which we know isn't the case) rather than designed to make it seem like he could do a LOT.

So my criticism isn't even tango-specific.

New in NY said:

I don't know this for a fact, but I would be shocked if hours of footage were shot for each contestant each week with expensive labor just to produce a 30 second clip. It's not necessary and doesn't make financial sense. I would imagine the producers give each couple some guidance on the tone and let them improvise a bit. Did anyone really believe that Erin impulsively decided to text Evan while on camera and he also happened to be filmed when receiving Erin's text? And last season's clip of Kelly Osbourne and all of her distractions seemed a staged exaggeration.
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Regardless of which of us is right, the result is the same.. the producers create "characters" and based on a few snipets, we buy into them. If you are right and the whole thing is done quickly, I would imagine some people would be more likely than others to become tense and react badly to what's happening in the moment.

If they don't get much footage of them each week, then they are clearly deliberately filming them early on (that would make sense from the production schedule) and it exaggerates the difficulties and frustrations because they are in the early stage of developing that dance. We get the impression that the stars are struggling up to the very last minute. I'm sure even the crankiest dancers have some laughs, and the nicest ones occasionally get tense and snippy. We are shown alternate sides of their characters less and less on DWTS, which is one of the reasons I suspect that some picking and choosing of clips is occurring.

Either way, no matter what they call the shows, we are not watching "reality" at all. I'd prefer more dancing and less "filler" on the show, myself.

New in NY said:

Did anyone really believe that Erin impulsively decided to text Evan while on camera and he also happened to be filmed when receiving Erin's text?

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HEL-LO, PRODUCT PLACEMENT!!!

We yell "Marketing!" in our house whenever we see stuff like this. (Joke from when my sister was in marketing grad school.)

ChaChaMama said:

HEL-LO, PRODUCT PLACEMENT!!!

We yell "Marketing!" in our house whenever we see stuff like this. (Joke from when my sister was in marketing grad school.)

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Love it.

The in-studio clips this year, I read, are taken from continuous footage--ABC owns the studios and has cameras rolling (no longer an especially big deal in the digital video age in terms of money.) Editing is now pretty easy with computers, so they DO have an awful lot to chose from. Most of it is probably pretty dull, though, so no surprise they pick out the most entertaining (so to speak) bits.

Now the stuff OUTSIDE (like trips to the beach, which I notice are drastically reduced this season) involves hauling a crew out, setting up, etc. THOSE are more expensive, which probably explains their absence. Not that I miss them.

Evan and Anna's AT didn't do much for me. Tricks were well executed, but I was a bit surprised by the 10's.

I was very happy with Erin and Nicey's performances, I think they both did an admirable job.

Chad did the best he could. That's not saying a lot. I think he might be next to go, though it's always hard to say with football players.

Pam's posture and head position bothered me more so this week than previous weeks. She surpassed my expectations throughout the season, but I'm neither surprised nor sad she's leaving, it was the right time.

I was pretty mad at Derek for not teaching Nicole a more refined closed hold. I don't think that was Nicole's fault. But I was unable to enjoy the performance because of that nagging hold, constantly wishing Derek had done something about it. I probably expect too much. But achieving a good quality of dance for them just feels so close yet so far away.

I thought Team Gaga simply did a better job than Team Madonna and got the marks for it (even though Team Madonna had instructors I like a little more).

Zoopsia59 said:

I have no objection to it being obviously choreographed. Even pro AT dancers choreograph their stage performances. I also wasn't finding fault with his non-perfect tango-specific technique because I wouldn't expect it to be otherwise.

What I had a problem with was how the two of them didn't look like they were dancing together and how exaggerated she was compared to him. I actually thought it was a failing of the choreography and execution by the pro which failed to make him look good. It seemed to me as if it were designed to have her cover for someone who couldn't do much of anything (which we know isn't the case) rather than designed to make it seem like he could do a LOT.

So my criticism isn't even tango-specific.

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On balance, we agree.