 Dancing
with the Stars - Dancing with the Stars - Take a B-class (or
C-class) celebrity and team them with a professional dancer and "voila!"
you have DANCING WITH THE STARS/ABC/2004+. The AMERICAN IDOL-style game
show is based on the International smash hit series, STRICTLY COME
DANCING. The American version is produced in the USA by BBC Worldwide.
Richard Hopkins (UK) and Conrad Green (USA) are executive producers.
The format of the show is simple. Find six celebrities (later expanded to
ten), pair them with leading professional dancers, have them practice an
elaborate dance routine and then demonstrate what they learned in front of
a live studio audience.
Throughout the competition, contestants are evaluated by both judges and
the TV viewers. Judges give scores based on several factors, including
technical execution. Each of the three-judge panel rank the performances
with a 1-10 rating. A dancer may be ranked lower by the show's judges, but
the vote count from the TV viewers (via phone) can override the judge's
decision Ultimately, the scores from viewers are combined with the judges'
for an final score that determines each couple's ranking.
In the heat of the competition, even the studio audience gets involved and
"Boo!" the judges when they give higher scores to dancers that they felt
were not deserved. Routinely, each week, one contestant is voted off the
show.
DANCING WITH THE STARS aired its first two editions as summer and
midseason programming. The show's third installment will air as part of
the network's 2006-2007 fall programming lineup.
Celebrities involved in the first go-a-round of the series included actor
John O'Hurley, best known as J. Peterman on ''Seinfeld;" Rachel Hunter,
the supermodel and Rod Stewart ex; Kelly Monaco, an actress on ''General
Hospital (who won the competition);" Joey McIntyre, former 'New Kid on the
Block'; heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield; and Trista Sutter, the
onetime ''Bachelorette"
Reportedly, contestants on the show are paid a base of $125,000 for the
first two weeks of the show and are given about $20,000 each week after,
until they are voted off.
The show's celebrities and their dance partners practiced their routines
at several of Southern California
Arthur Murray, Dance Studios. Arthur
Murray, of course, had his own dance program on the ABC network in the
1950s and his company still offers dance instruction through a nationwide
chain of franchised dance studios. Dance styles showcased on the program
included such ballroom standards as the Fox Trot, Samba, Quickstep, and
Tango, to name a few.
In 2006, actress Lisa Rinna was so inspired by her stint on the show that
she opened her own dance studio in Los Angeles with her former partner
Louis Van Amstel. As she told reporters, "I was so moved by (the
experience) that it has to be part of my life. It transformed my body,
it's fun and invigorating."
Judges on the program included Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli and Carrie Ann
Inaba. Judge Bruno Tonioli coined the phrase "Weapon of Mass Seduction"
when referring to female wrestler Stacey Keibler (a.k.a. "The Natural")
who teamed with professional dancer, Tony Dovolani. They ranked 2nd
overall in the competition.
Drew Lachey accepts the "Dancing
with the Stars" Trophy
Dancing with the Stars III - 2006
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Tucker Carlson (news anchor) with Elena Grinenko
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Jerry Springer (Talk Show Host) with Kym Johnson (champion of the Australian “Dancing with the Stars")
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Vivica A. Fox (Actress) with Nick Kosovich
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Harry Hamlin (Actor) with Ashly Delgrosso
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Joe Lawrence (Actor) with Edyta Sliwinska
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Mario Lopez (Actor/TV Host) with Karina Smirnoff
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Sara Evans (Country Singer) with Tony Dovolani
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Willa Ford (Pop Singer) with Maxsim Chmerkovskiy
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Monique Coleman (Actress) with Louis Van Amstel
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Shanna Moakler (Model/Actress) with Jesse DeSoto
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Emmitt Smith (NFL Legend) with Cheryl Burke
Dancing with the Stars II - 2006
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Drew Lachey (Singer) with Cheryl Burke
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Stacey Keibler (Pro Wrestler) with Tony Dovolani
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Jerry Rice (Athlete) with Anna Trebunskaya
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Lisa Rinna (Actress) with Louis Van Amsel
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George Hamilton (Actor) with Edyta Sliwinska
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Tia Carrerra (Actress) with Max Chermkovskiy
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Master P (Rapper) with Ashly DelGrosso
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Giselle Fernandez (TV Journalist) with Jonathan Roberts
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Tatum O'Neal (Actress) with Nick Kosovich
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Kenny Mayne (ESPN Anchor) with Andrea Hale (Kenny was 1st to go)
Dancing with the Stars I - 2005
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Trista Sutter (Actress) with Louis van Amstel
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Rachel Hunter (Model) with Jonathan Roberts
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Evander Holyfield (Boxer) with Edyta Sliwinska
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Joey McIntyre (Singer) with Ashly Delgrosso
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John O'Hurley (Actor) with Charlotte Jorgensen
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Kelly Monaco (Actress) with Alec Mazo (Kelly Monaco won the competition)
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