Readers, our long national nightmare is over.
Can the nation please now get back to talking about something else? This was a show where celebrities danced (not even for charity or money) and it consumed the media for weeks. Who would have thought that the most important celebrity on ABC in 2007 would be Marie Osmond? (I can't wait until Bobby Sherman captures the nation's heart on next season's House Painting with the Stars.)
Not only was the show the talk of every single gossip show, every single night of the week (and usually the top story - Marie faints! California fires! Is the show rigged?!), it also seemed to be the topic of at least one Larry King Live per week. MSNBC has been talking about the finale today, and it's one of the "top stories" on my news feed. Not just entertainment, but all stories.
At least the singers on American Idol are amateurs who actually get a recording deal out of the show. What exactly was the fascination with celebrities dancing? So Helio Castroneves wins the title, and ... now what happens?
And I say this as someone who writes for a TV site and is really interested in all things pop culture. I get the obsession with Lost and Heroes, I understand the devotion to Idol, and I even get the teeny-bopper interest with Hannah Montana. But the appeal of this show - at least to the level that it obtained - really alludes me.
Maybe it's because I really hate to dance myself.
The Cheers episode Ken Levine's still writing in his head
Giveaway Tuesday: Fastlane - The Complete Series
Giveaway Monday: The X-Files: Revelations on DVD
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
11-28-2007 @ 4:04PM
Harry said...
Amen. Let the dancing be done... forever... please...
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11-28-2007 @ 6:15PM
iamhoff said...
Amen.
11-28-2007 @ 4:06PM
Stewart said...
Next up: Celebrity Dodgeball
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11-28-2007 @ 4:35PM
boomer said...
maybe we can have, "Dancing with the 1 legged stars... " -- oh was that in bad taste? Perhaps, "Dancing with the stars, IN REHAB" -
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11-28-2007 @ 4:40PM
GigG said...
#2 Stewart, as long as they use golf balls I'm all for that. This reality crap is the reason good shows don't stay on the air.
Anyone that watches them is at fault.
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11-28-2007 @ 4:42PM
GigG said...
Actually, they already did that.
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11-28-2007 @ 5:09PM
TomB said...
I'll be BRAVE here and admit that I watched DWTS every week. I think it's a great show!! And I don't like very much reality television. I'm from Indianapolis so I was rooting for Helio all the way!! I was at the race the first time he won and I saw him climb the fence in person.
BTW, my friends think I'm crazy and call the show "Dancing with the retards". lol
I do have to add, however, that I'm so sick of Donnie and Marie Osmond that I could puke. Marie on the show didn't bother me - it was all the non-stop coverage on the entertainment shows like ET and Extra that got to me. If Donnie's on DWTS next season I'll have to cancel my cable service. :-)
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11-28-2007 @ 5:11PM
TomB said...
I agree 100%!!!
You're awesome, Tom.
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11-28-2007 @ 5:13PM
TomB said...
Oops, I was playing with the new comment format and tried to reply to myself. lol
:-)
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11-28-2007 @ 5:20PM
Rob said...
Hooray! Although I think Brigitte might be a little blue. Even thought I have never viewed a single episode...I feel like I have seen them all.
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11-28-2007 @ 8:41PM
Go-Kart said...
I know that feeling, Rob. At least Brigitte will move on to other shows now... hopefully.
As a non-DWtS fan, it was a little tiresome, or at least uninteresting, sloughing through TVS Daily's every other episodic recap of dancing intrigue.
Let me be clear: Brigitte is NOT tiresome, NOR uninteresting. But clearly, she was a big fan. I just couldn't get into it.
11-28-2007 @ 5:31PM
Jonathan said...
Yeah thank god it's over, but if you remember correctly we're always graced with TWO freaking seasons of Dancing with the Retards a year. So i can't wait till we get the next batch in the spring and now with the strike maybe we'll get 3?
*crosses fingers*
/sarcasm
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11-28-2007 @ 5:43PM
Rob said...
Never watched it, never will.
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11-28-2007 @ 5:43PM
ac said...
boomer said...maybe we can have, "Dancing with the 1 legged stars... "
Didn't they do that when Paul McCartney's ex wife went on the show? I'd put a joke about her but I think it would be considered mean.
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11-28-2007 @ 7:06PM
SantasHealthyPetNet said...
I'm with you, what was the fascination? I'm a 50-something single lady with lots of great things going on in my life. I NEVER watch TV, barely watch one movie per year. I was not an Osmond fan and I had NO IDEA who most of the other stars were. So how in the world did I get hooked on DWTS and become an Osmond fan???
I saw the very first episode of this season while visiting someone in the hospital. What was it that got me? Maybe it was something about how, with a tiny bit of effort, I could be fit and look like Jane or Marie. Maybe it was the camaraderie, the growth, the thrills and spills, the controversies and drama.
All I know is, I watched every single episode, marked my favorites on YouTube, and I've now bought Donny's latest 70's Hits CD and Marie's new Christmas CD.
Whatever the Producers and Stars were going for out of this season, they got it out of Me.
http://SantasHealthyPet.net
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11-29-2007 @ 9:42AM
BobbyBuz said...
If you NEVER watch TV, how would you know about this show and on what basis are you commenting?
11-28-2007 @ 7:35PM
Oreo said...
I agree, the dancing would be fine if there were any real "stars" on the show and if it had meaning. Give the winner $5000,000 for some needy kids or something.
The only good thing is Boston Legal's numbers went up. :)
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11-28-2007 @ 7:59PM
Jack said...
Now if only this website would quit reporting on every episode in minute detail...
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11-28-2007 @ 8:22PM
Scott said...
All the blather over the dancing show will quickly turn into blather about the singing show when "American Idol" returns. I have no interest in either. I can only hope that the strike ends soon, or the "Idol" talk will somehow be even MORE widespread than it already is every year.
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11-28-2007 @ 8:54PM
segsig said...
God Bob this is why I love you!
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