Dancing W/The Stars Maurice Greene is A Good Sport

          Maurice Greene was this week’s celebrity to leave dancing with the stars.  Maurice Greene was paired with Cheryl Burke.  They danced well together this week…it looked smooth and they received the same scores as Cody Linley and his partner Edyta by the judges.  However, fan base was much higher for Cody who’s fans number quite high because of his high profile on the show Hannah Montanna. 

          However, Maurice was a good sport…but, I am sure that he learned that young himself being in sports.  Maurice knows you don’t win every sport event and you just learn to take away the positives and learn from the negatives.  He was a true gentleman.

          This week’s results show was a little different.  I really and truely enjoyed Julianne and brother Dereck’s dance number together.  It was high energy and very entertaining.  What is even more amazing is that Julianne just had her appendix taken out two weeks ago because it was discovered that she had endometriosis.  That is a very painful condition where the lining of the uterus grows outside of the uterus and starts to cover internal organs and can actually cause infertility issues down the road. 

           Julianne’s performance was nothing short of a miracle.  Anyone who has ever had abdominal surgery knows that it takes time to heal.  Obviously, she didn’t just start learning and performing the routine with her brother yesterday…she had to have been practicing during that two weeks.  Wow!  Totally inspirational.

           What wasn’t so inspirational on the results show was the tip toe through the tulips of counseling( w/Dr. Drew) with the professional dancers and their celebrity partner’s relationships.  I didn’t enjoy that…except for the sliver of the session between Julianne and Cody (they have been unable to perform on the show due to her surgery for the last week or two-Edyta filled in for Julianne in a very professional way).  Cody really communicated his respect and caring for Julianne and she was visibly moved to tears as well.  I don’t think that the viewers of the entertainment show really needed to see the dancing couples deal with the issues involved on an emotional level that should have been kept private between the individuals–and a counselor if that was needed…not broadcast for the whole world to see.  It was a bit too tabloid talkish for me.

           Also please, can we get a new co-host for Tom for next season of dancing with the stars?  Samantha Harris is way too awckward in her interview skills. This creates uncomfortable situations for both the dancing teams as well as the viewers…it just takes away from the show.  She just tries too hard or something but there is always some major social goof…it has come to be painful to watch.  Such as her comment this week to teen Cody, “Did you ever think that you would be dancing on live television with a naked or half naked woman?”  Is this appropriate for a show that young children are watching?  Please, powers that be…bring on a new co-host for Tom. 

          

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Cheryl Burke Criticized For Excess Pounds

       It appears that since this season of Dancing With The Stars has begun that dancing pro Cheryl Burke has been getting criticized for gaining some weight.  Today on several television programs Cheryl voiced her shock and discomfort with viewers who felt that they had a right to criticize her appearance.  Some of the questions she faced even went so far as to ask if she was several months pregnant.  Other comments were just plain rude and were meant to make her feel bad about her appearance. Her skills were not being questioned…just her appearance.

        Cheryl took off the summer to work on getting her dance studio opened.  While she was off from her normal schedule…she says that she gained about 5 pounds.  Some of the comments that Cheryl heard were very hurtful to her.  She said that the comments online and in tabloids were very in her face and she could not avoid hearing about them.  She said it caused her heartache and made her cry.  When she is on DWTS she is dancing approximately 7 hours a day.  Going without that regular schedule is what caused her to gain the extra pounds.

        Even though Cheryl said that she is comfortable in her own skin and has always been curvy since she hit puberty…those hurtful comments definately affected her.   She said, even with the weight gain..she is still able to fit into her size 4 costumes for the show. 

        I think it is unfortunate that people would feel it necessary to write in to her or about her weight gain.  I think as a society we are becoming conditioned by constant exposure to multi-media venues viewing celebrities and models who are setting a poor example of what is a healthy weight for their bone structure or frame.

         Americans are on a national trend heading towards obesity and that needs to be curbed.  However, we need to educate people not attack them.  Cheryl, as a size 4, is by no means hugely overweight.  As she stated on the television interviews…now that she is back regularily training in her dance routines…she is loosing the weight gain naturally.  She has no intention of going on some radical, unhealthy diet that will appease her critics.  I applaude her for that.  She has a healthy self-esteem and it comes across.

         Shorter stature women, who have the physical characteristic of being short- waisted, tend to show any amount of weight gain quite quickly.  I think, that combined with the television cameras ability to add 10 lbs to a person’s appearance and skimpy costumes that expose many of a womans trouble spots to the camera lense has put an unfair spotlight on Cheryl.  She is a beautiful woman who is talented and active. 

        Those who are quick to judge her, by the weight gain, should take care how they voice their opinion.  None of us would be too willing to trade places with her and be the person who is being judged.  There are few of us who would wish someone we care about to be judged by this same harsh standard.  What kind of an impact does it have on our young people to pick at someone’s appearance because they have gained a minimal amount of weight?  We have far too many people who struggle around the world with their body image; and because of that, they often develop eating disorders such as bulimia/anorexia.  This is a very serious blackmark on our culture.  Do you think it is fair for people to publically chastize Cheryl for her weight gain?  Has someone else’s opinion of you negatively impacted your self-esteem?

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Dancing With the Stars-Could They, Would They, Should They?

        I read an article that I believe will bring the house down, if ABC chooses to push the envelope with Dances With The Stars this season on television.  The article had an alledged comment from Cheryl Burke that said something to the effect of; America wasn’t ready to see two men dancing together.  The comment was in reference to a question about a competitor in the upcoming season, Lance Bass.  The question alluded to the idea of whether Lance would have a male, or female dancing professional partner.  Cheryl apparently doesn’t think that would happen.  I agree, i think if it were to happen…ABC would see a huge backlash directed towards one of it’s most popular shows. 

          Lance Bass, a former singer in the boy band N’SYNC, announced that he is gay back in 2006, I believe.  I think that if ABC took a chance to shock viewers by allowing such a trouncing on the mainstream traditional family values they would stand to lose not only sponsors; but, ratings as well.  The sponsors themselves could potentially risk loosing lots of money.  Public opinion carrys alot of weight with television…and with the networks struggling and competing against cable programming…i wonder if they would truly risk such a decision.

        Also, it seems to me that there would also be a question of an unfair advantage of having two partners with the combined physical strength that two male dancers would have, over the traditional dancing partners of one male and one female.  I doubt that the other teams would feel that they were evenly matched in comparison.

          The new season will begin on September 22, 2008.  Who knows whether ABC even seriously considered this idea; or, whether it has been put into the media by the organizations that try to push the gay/lesbian agenda on television.  People are people no matter what and deserve respect, not hate; often these issues push hot buttons…however, i do think that Cheryl Burke was right…I don’t think America is ready, willing, or able to be participants in watching the show if it violates their personal beliefs.

          The question is, Dancing with the Stars…could they, would they, or should they, do something so contrary to traditional family values as to allow a gay man to compete with a dance professional of the same sex during a prime time television show that many families watch with their children? 

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A Trio To Remember

      Tonight, there will be a trio of contestants to remember, on dancing with the stars.  Kristi Yamagucchi and her partner Mark will go head- to- head (or feet- to- feet, as the case may be) with Jason Taylor and his partner Edyta  &  Christian de la Fuente and his partner Cheryl.

       This finale will be something to see.  Jason and Christian are new life-long friends according to all of the media buzz.  Kristi says it is time for another female celebrity winner to claim the trophy.  Tonight, they will compete for the final time.  Who will take away the trophy?

        Kristi barring any catastrophe is far and away the most skilled.  However, Jason has a huge following and is looking pretty smooth out there; but, Christian is strong in well-wishers because of his arm injury, weeks ago during competition.  He is scheduled to finally have the surgery on Friday for the ruptured tendon in the bicep. 

         Will Christian have the sympathy votes to get him the trophy?  He has definately stepped up his skill set in the last couple of weeks…and, has definately earned the right to be in the finale.  They all have.

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A Praying Christian-Dances With The Stars

        It is monday once again, and that means that it is another week in the drama that is Dances With The Stars.  It will be a praying Christian, and his partner Cheryl, that will will perform this evening; while many will wonder if it is wise to push his competition in this dance with the ruptured tendon in his bicep. 

          Last week, Christian de la Fuente gamely extended his arm to Cheryl, to pick her up off of the floor, where she fell when he could not support her during the dance, after his injury.  If he doesn’t perform to his expected level…it will be, his last week. 

           Realistically, is it even wise to encourage him to delay the surgery, that his arm needs, purely to stay in the competition?  I think even though the judges and the audience admire his willingness to hang in there…there is no LOGICAL way that he can possibly perform in the way that he needs to do, to compete with his peers.

         It is an honor to win Dancing With The Stars…but, in a few weeks the glory of it will wear off and yet, his health and well being is for life. 

      

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Dancing With The Stars Scandal

       Standing in the line at my local Walmart today i saw a headline screaming out at me about a scandal involving Drew Lachey and Cheryl Burke of Dancing With The Stars fame.

         Supposedly, the two of them had an affair during their time on the show.  I didn’t read the article…but, later tonight i read online that they are being accused by some as having an affair. 

          I don’t know about you…but i don’t believe it.  I would be shocked if it turned out to be true.  I remember, Drew’s wife was expecting a baby during that season and she was there alot.   She was at many of the dancing practice sessions as well as the performances.   

         It seems to me that she would have had a close up view on how they acted towards one another.    His wife is also a talented and successful dance choreographer herself; so she is aware of how two people appropriately act towards each other when they practice dancing. 

           I highly doubt that she would have been as supportive of  Drew and the show, if she suspected any such rumor as being true, either then or now!  Remember, this was almost two years ago…she would have had plenty of opportunity to sense whether anything inappropriate has been going on during this time.

           I just think sometimes, people look for reasons to splash the latest rumour or hurtful thing to sell newspapers or magazines.  It seems that the beautiful, Miss Cheryl Burke recently broke up with the boyfriend from that time period…so who knows…who is behind the rumors; and, what the goal is by spreading such innuendo.  For the record, i believe they have both denied any such affair.

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