Young Hollywood Awards: DWTS Round-Up with Derek Hough, Mark Ballas and Amy Purdy

I've had a really fun weekend and this photo just about sums it up. I'm uploading the audio files as quickly as I can for you. First up is Derek Hough. I asked him about the ending of his tour, Season 19 of DWTS and what challenges are left for him on the show. This is RAW, UNEDITED audio footage, so understand it's noisy and it was a very chaotic red carpet. (In fact, he was trying to leave and I jumped in and badgered him with questions…I HAD TO GET THIS INTERVIEW!)

Mark Ballas:


Amy Purdy:

A DWTS Kind of Day

The swag bag from the #FootPetals event. Notice Karina has her own signature line now. That's pretty awesome!

I'm going to try my best to post here on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays while we are on the summer hiatus from DWTS.

I had a DWTS kind of day, so this is the perfect place to begin. I stopped by Sasha Farber's house to pick up my Tim Tams courtesy of one of my favorite Aussies, Jane Milne. She brought them to our DWTS taping in April and it was heaven in a cookie. Thanks for thinking of me!

Then it was off to Karina Smirnoff's event for Foot Petals. Besides a divine reflexology massage, I also chatted with Karina about Sean Avery a bit and where we were both working out this summer. She admitted that Sean was a tough partner and she was looking forward to a new season of the show. (See our photo here.)

I also got this scoop yesterday….(and please note: IT DID NOT COME FROM KARINA OR SASHA.) It came from a great source, but it didn't come from either of the pros I saw yesterday.




I may have some fun and do more of these this summer. What do you think? A little dance scoop each week in 15 seconds or less?

Let me know in the comments below!

Jane Milne's Set Visit to AfterBuzz TV

It's not often that I have guest bloggers on my site, but I always welcome when a friend has a great post to share. Jane Milne came to visit the AfterBuzz TV set during Season 18 of Dancing With the Stars after submitting the winning bid for a charity set visit for Mental Fitness. We will be partnering up with them again in the fall, so I thought sharing her post would give you an inside glimpse of what her visit was like. We had so much fun with her that day! Thanks again, Jane…those Tim Tams were delicious!

As many of you know, in April, I was lucky enough to visit the set of AfterBuzz TV for the recording of the Dancing with the Stars after show. Many of you have been asking how this came about. This is my story...


Earlier this year I booked a two week holiday to America, visiting friends in Chicago and travelling onto Las Vegas to meet up with another fellow Aussie. Together we did our version of a 'shopping tour' of both Vegas and LA. Prior to leaving Australia, AfterBuzz TV and Kristyn Burtt teamed up with Mental Fitness, a mental health charity whose mission is to build mental fitness in all youth through arts-based awareness and prevention programs. The auction was advertised on Twitter, via Kristyn's twitter handle, @kristynBurtt and also on her blog. Prior to bidding I made sure with Kristyn that I was the one who could choose when the visit would take place as I knew that I would only have one set Tuesday that I could possibly visit the studio. Kristyn was very quick to respond to all of my inquiries about item up for auction, the charity and any queries that I had regarding the entire situation.

 I was fortunate to win the auction, providing a donation to a charity that as a school teacher, I believe is an essential asset having seen the effects of mental health issues with children on a daily basis in Australia. I believe that 'the arts' provide an outlet for children to channel and express feelings and emotions.

After successfully winning the auction, Kristyn was quickly in touch with me, arranging the date for my visit and even asking who my ultimate guests would be and providing me with travel options to and from the studio. I cannot thank Kristyn enough for how easy she made the entire process prior to my visit.

During the week prior to my visit, Kristyn continually kept me in the loop about who was going to be in studio on the Tuesday, making sure that I had everything organized to travel to and from and reassuring me that when I arrive on set that I was indeed in the correct location.

After a successful two weeks of travelling around Chicago, Vegas and LA, my last 24 hours in America rolled around. It was a bittersweet day for me as I would be lucky enough to be visiting the set of AfterBuzz, meeting the incredible hosts and meeting a fellow Aussie in Henry Byalikov. Yet, it also signified the end of an incredible trip.

At around 11:30 a.m.,  I received several tweets from both Kristyn and Suri making sure I was ready for the visit and letting me know what traffic was like that day. Around 30 minutes later, Suri tweeted me again saying that if I am early not to worry as she was already at the studio, so if I wanted to leave even earlier and come and hang out at the studio and re-watch the episode with her it was more than okay. Suri organized for the other staff members in the studio to bring me to her upon my arrival. Knowing that I would be meeting up with Suri as soon as I got to the studio, I soon found myself ready to leave my hotel and braced myself mentally preparing to head out into Julz's dreaded LA traffic.

It is no wonder he is always late, the 101 is insane, especially for the girl who lives in a town with a population of 300 (and that's including the outlying properties/farms) I am pretty sure there were that many people sitting in the traffic! Luckily for me the trip from where I was staying to the studio didn't take as long as it often can, only taking 45 minutes and not the hour and a half I had allowed.

Upon arriving at the studio the first thing I noticed was how friendly everyone at AfterBuzz TV was. From memory the first words the staff said to me were, "Oh you must be Jane from Australia, you're here for the Dancing with the Stars show aren't you, welcome! I think Suri said she would be in the theatre room and she's waiting for you."

The next thing I know I am walking thought the studio and into the theatre room where Suri jumps out of her seat and yells "I can't believe you're finally here!", along with several other rapid fire questions about my trip to the studio and around America. To say that I felt extremely welcome would the understatement of the year! After sitting with Suri, thinking to myself is this really happening, while watching and talking about several of the dances, Kristyn arrived at the studio.  At this stage I think several "I can't believe you are here" and "I can't believe I am sitting here with you both" escaped from our mouths. After several minutes of Dancing with the Stars-related chat, a familiar, homely accent could be heard coming into the theatre.

The next thing I knew the door busts open and in walks the one and only Henry Byalikov, a man whose dance career I have followed since he reached the Top 8 on So You Think You Can Dance Australia. I recommend you YouTube his routines, he was a different looking Henry back then! Henry quickly announces that he has literally just come from rehearsals and needs to change, all whilst ripping black tape from his clothes, covering any brands/labels. After a quick chat with Kristyn and Suri, I was introduced to Henry, the reaction that you can see on a person's face when they hear the familiarity your own accent always manages to surprise me and bring a smile to my face. Somehow, this familiar sound always manages to create an instant connection, a taste of home. After a quick conversation about my home town with Henry, Anna soon arrived, let me tell you if you think she is gorgeous on the TV, she is absolutely stunning in person!

Before I knew it we were entering the studio and settling down into our chairs, all while Henry was sharing on popcorn; conversing with Anna in what I can only assume was Russian; passing comments on any and every given topic; asking everyone, myself included, questions and making jokes. Before I knew it, it was suddenly go time! I honestly did not expect to be on camera at all during my visit let alone be asked questions by all of the panel talk about being put on the spot! If only Kristyn had warned me, especially in regards to the Abby Lee Miller question! My personal dislike for her stems purely from her teaching methodologies and pedagogy, as a teacher I create an environment where "failure" or "not achieving" something first time around is okay. Whereas long as you learn something from that experience you haven't failed per se. I create a learning space where children know that they are valued and their talent can be developed. There is a difference between discipline & high expectations of your students and abuse & and being a downright b*#€h.

Whether this is her real personality or a character she plays I personally wonder if that is really the way you wish for the world to see you considering it is a 'Reality' show. At the end of the day my opinions are just that, my own and whether you agree with me or not is your own business. As for guest judges, I would love to see Shirley Ballas behind that desk! Almost every dancer on every version of the show has been taught by this incredible dancer, choreographer and teacher. I think that Shirley would be an incredible addition to the esteemed panel of judges currently holding the chairs on Dancing with the Stars both in America and around the world.

 It is amazing how fast time flies when you are in studio, when watching an episode the predictions seem to come around really quickly, but when you are actually in studio it is all over in the blink of an eye. One minute we were settling into studio discussing how we felt about the theme, Party Rock Anthems, and the next thing I knew we were "buzzing you later".

For me personally, the entire experience was worth every penny! I would recommend the process to every and any fan of both AfterBuzz TV and Dancing with the Stars. I was recently asked if I would have enjoyed the experience as much if there weren't any professional dancers on my episode and my answer to this was YES! My love of dance is not based upon any specific dancer, do I have people that I love to watch, of course,  but I watch every dance because I love dance. At the end of the day I don't watch for the competition side of the show, I watch Dancing with the Stars to see moving art, to see stories being brought to life through movement and music. I watch weekly to see amazing costumes, theatrical makeup and DANCE!

For me the winner of the Mirror Ball Trophy isn't important, I couldn't care how many times anyone specifically has won the trophy because for me the true winner in is the public! For every season that exists the entire world is given the opportunity to access the arts at their best, something that was once only accessible to those in major cities and with the funds to attend such events. The American version of Dancing with the Stars would have to be hands down my favourite version of the show from anywhere in the world. The calibre of talent on the show is insane and I am not just talking about the professional dancers!

In short, if I were provided the opportunity to once again attend a recording of AfterBuzz TV's Dancing with the Stars show, I would be there in a heartbeat. The entire experience, for me, was the perfect way to conclude my holiday. As a result of this visit I have made some incredible friends in both Suri and Kristyn, I was given the opportunity to meet some amazing people including the incredibly gifted dancers that Henry and Anna are and I was lucky enough to meet the creators of AfterBuzz TV, Maria Menounos and Kevin Undergaro, all thanks to Kristyn.

I can't guarantee that if you were to win a set visit via auction like I did that you too would have the exact experience that I had when I visited the studio. For me, I personally had pre-existing relationships,  with Kristyn, Suri, Julz and even Jake even if they were only via twitter! Kristyn and Suri I cannot thank you both enough for making my visit so amazing. You are both such amazing women who I am lucky enough to now call my friends. I hope to be able to return to America again soon, visit my beautiful friends at AfterBuzz and maybe, just maybe I will be lucky enough  to attend a live taping of the show and see the amazing production that is Dancing with the Stars with my own two eyes, live in studio!


Until next time,
xoxo
Jane
@JaneMilneAU

Christopher Scott Interview: Macy's Stars of Dance, DWTS, Week 9

While everyone was watching the Dancing With the Stars finale, I was hitting the red carpet for collidEdance headed by 2013 Capezio A.C.E. winner Erica Sobol. At the tail end of the carpet, a publicist asked if I would be interested in interviewing Christopher Scott. Um…yes, please!

We talked about last week's Macy's Stars of Dance, why Derek Hough brought him aboard and what he used as his inspiration. This is an audio-only interview and I didn't edit it since I wanted to post it ASAP, so you are getting the raw footage.

For those of you that follow me to SYTYCD on AfterBuzz TV, please tweet Chris Scott and let him know you heard this interview. I'm working hard to get him on our show this summer once we hit the Top 20.

Listen below:



If you missed the Macy's Stars of Dance number, watch below:

DWTS Season 18: Elena Grinenko, Part 2

Second to last show of the season and it was a wild one. I think we all agree Meryl will win that Mirror Ball Trophy and I won't be upset about it. She had an incredible season. I felt more connected to Amy's journey, but she's going on to great things so I am not worried about her. I know I put James in second place. I don't think I really believe that's how it will play out, it's just me making a ridiculous prediction for a ridiculous season when it comes to manipulation and scoring.

A big thanks for Elena Grinenko for stepping in at the last minute when Lindsay Arnold couldn't make it. Grinya always offers a insider's perspective on Meryl, Charlie and Maks that we would never have otherwise. 

Who is going to win that MBT? Let me know in the comments below!

AfterBuzz TV DWTS Season 18: Chelsie Hightower

I am so glad you all enjoyed Chelsie Hightower as a guest. Yep, she speaks her mind. Yep, we would love to have her back, but remember it took us four seasons to get her on. It's not easy to work around her busy schedule and she is no longer living in California. I know a lot of you want her in our studio each week, but let's just try for next season first.

This is the time of the season when it gets hard to say goodbye to the contestants. Everyone is worthy, everyone is talented, but only the Top 3 will be there to show off their freestyle dance. We spent a lot of time on Charlie-gate and I understand how frustrated you are about the judging situation….it's annoying. Carrie Ann Inaba is getting quite an earful on her Twitter account. Let me know your thoughts on Charlie-gate in the comments below.

If you missed the show, watch it below:

AfterBuzz TV DWTS Season 18: Henry Byalikov

It was so great to be back in studio this week. I missed everyone! We had a bit of last minute shuffling going on with Julz having to rehearse (not-DWTS related) and Sasha Farber having DWTS rehearsal. It's okay though because we had the amazing Henry Byalikov in studio with us. He's been such a good friend to the show back to our early days in Season 15 with just Suri and me. Go back and watch an episode, it's sooooo different from the panel we have now.

The Party Anthem week was eh-okay to me. I am looking forward to Latin Week with Ricky Martin. Now that's what I call exciting! Drew exited this week which I was sad about since he made a huge impression on me personality-wise.

I called NeNe again for an exit next week, but a few people made a strong case for Candace (No! I'm not ready for her to leave yet.) exiting.


Who do you think will leave? Let me know in the comments below.

DWTS Season 18, Week 5: My Thoughts

I am so sorry to have missed Disney Week on DWTS. As an avid Disney fan, I thought this was one of the best-executed shows from the costumes to the props, it was fun. Since I missed the AfterBuzz show this week because I was in New York for Hyundai's live 2015 Sonata launch (See photos here and here.), I thought I would give a few short thoughts on this week's show.

Opening Number: Mandy Moore did what she does best…use the space and choreograph for the camera. I loved Mark, Derek and Val on the steps. Their trio was my favorite highlight from the opening number.

Drew/Cheryl: While this wasn't his cleanest week, I love that he throws himself into each dance. What I adore about this season is that the cast is really likable. Drew has been one of the biggest surprises for me. Count me as a fan! (And how cute was the pep talk Cheryl gave him before the dance began?)

Charlie/Sharna: I don't care that he dropped the cane — that was spectacular! I am rarely a fan of props on DWTS, but the cane choreography was divine with the footwork. Sharna is one of the best choreographers on that show and she proved it with that number. Congratulations to Charlie for keeping up with such challenging steps. (And hello…he did a bumper with penguins--YES!)

Photo via @JonyCalderon11 

Danica/Val: I think this was her breakthrough week. She needed to really step out and distinguish herself since it's a talented group and we are halfway through the season. Val is one of my favorite choreographers on the show and this Quickstep showed off his skills nicely. I had to watch this routine twice though because the plates (AKA Lindsay and Jenna) stole the show. 

Amy/Derek: Amy makes everything look so easy. This week, we learned how hard it really is for her. While she is primarily an athlete, she shines in her performance every week. This piece was beautiful in a very pretty and quiet way. 

Witney/Cody: While I wasn't surprised it was the end of the line for Cody after Kristin Hope did her awesome Facebook-ology research. (His dance with Sharna was the fans' least favorite during the Switch-Up.) He had a really good showing in the Samba though. I don't agree with Donny at all. Cody is 17, he's not going to have a cheesy Disney grin. He went out on a good note and Witney proved she is a total star. Great first year as a pro!

NeNe/Tony: This was the perfect character for her and I loved what this pair did out on the dance floor. As for the package, they are two strong personalities and things will get heated in the rehearsal room. If you saw their emotion after the dance, you know they really like each other. However, Tony needs to take a constructive comment and roll with it. Carrie Ann shared that Derek's work with Nene helped her out. Any elite athlete or performer will seek out an additional coach for a big performance/event. It's no different in this situation. It only helped their case out on the dance floor.

James/Peta: Hello, star lift! James has proven himself to be such a contender in a jam-packed fight for the Top 4. I'm not sure I would call this a perfect 10 performance, but it was darn close. (And hello…he needed a costume, it's Disney Week!)

Meryl/Maks: I am always wanting more from Meryl and I always go back to wanting Maks to add more content for Meryl. However, I'm starting to think that it's because Meryl makes everything look so darn easy. It's effortless and that's a hard quality to come by. It was a cute routine and I had no problem with Meryl's footwear in this situation…it gave her a barefoot look for the costume — I get it.

Candace/Mark:  I'm glad she had such a good week after being unfairly judged last week. I loved Mark as a crab! How did Donny not understand what he was doing with his hands? I have to say I am rooting for Candace. She's not going to be in the Top 4, but her positivity and her message that  you can be sexy and still covered up is kind of awesome. 

Prediction for Elimination: NeNe--I think that package will hurt her votes a bit even though the producers probably upped the drama on their little tiff. 

Amy Purdy Scoop: While I was in New York, I ran into the Toyota executive who was responsible for bringing Amy onto the Toyota sponsorship team. (I had seen him at the DWTS show I attended with my niece, but we didn't get a chance to chat.) He first saw her at the TED Talk back in 2011 and approached her after the speech. He is such a fan and Toyota is truly supportive of all of her endeavors. On the sly, he also told me, "That Peta girl is something, isn't she?" I had to laugh.

(Disclosure: I hosted a show for Toyota for five years.)

Let me know your thoughts on Disney Week in the comments below.

DWTS Season 18: Artem Chigvintsev & Jenna Johnson

What a rowdy show! I hope you had as much fun as we did. It was a little crazy trying to get in all of our thoughts about Julianne Hough's judging, the Switch-Up, the low scores for Candace Cameron Bure and Macy's Stars of Dance.

Artem Chigvintsev and Jenna Johnson were so much fun. I hope to see Jenna back on the show when we kick SYTYCD back into high gear in late May.

If you missed the show, watch it below.

What are your thoughts on Candace's scores? Let me know in the comments below.

A Response to the Naysayers Regarding the DWTS Switch

#DWTS @DancingABC * @KristynBurtt I really have a HUGE disapproval of people who BRAG about how "I KNOW BUT I CAN'T TELL little ole you"
— LePrimm (@LePrimm) April 2, 2014

I normally don't reply to tweets like this, but this season I know I have more followers and some people may not know how I operate. I feel like it's fair to at least explain where I am coming from. While I may host AfterBuzz TV's DWTS show, my day job is working as an entertainment reporter. I like to sniff out the inside scoop. I've done that a few times with DWTS like here and here, but I always make sure to double check my sources. If I can't cross-reference it, I don't report it. You know I will always spill the beans when I can.

Yesterday, before we went live on our Week 3 show, some information about the Switch came down to us. I was stunned. Knowing how hard many of you worked on voting for the best possible matches for your favorite celebs and pros, I felt that the results negated all of your work. My source asked me not to reveal the names and I respected that wish. I would never put someone's job on the line for scoop.

We hinted about that voting issue at the end of the show this week. Instead of being vague about what we said, I clarified as much as I could via Twitter. I like transparency and I try to deliver it as much as possible. While I would have loved to have given you the list, I couldn't. I just wanted all of you to be prepared for the new partnerships. I don't mind the idea of the switch for one week at all, but the execution kind of stinks. As fans of the show, you deserve better.

This gives you a better idea of where I am coming from, but my integrity and #TruthInReporting hashtag means a lot to me and my career.

A big thanks to DWTSGossip and PureDWTS for their support and for having my back….working together is always way better than working against each other. I wish more people would adopt this philosophy. 

DWTS Season 18: Paul Karmiryan

What a hot show! I thought that the Sean Avery controversy was going to be our big topic. Nope, the Switch info came down late in the afternoon and my mouth dropped a bit when I heard the names of some of the couples. I know that PureDWTS did a lot of research to track the partnerships and I certainly saw those same names in my Twitter feed. When those names didn't match up, I knew that something was up…the producers know they screwed up the Twitter vote.

Thank you to Paul Karmiryan for joining us and adding his insight to this week's show. I loved that he, Anna and Julz didn't agree on everything this week. It proves how personal art can be and as viewers we all share different opinions on what we saw. As a panel, we don't always agree and that's what I love about doing the DWTS AfterBuzz TV show.

If you missed the show, watch it below.

Let me know your thoughts on the Sean Avery controversy. Dumped from the show or voted off?

DWTS Season 18: Elena Grinenko

I knew Elena Grinenko was going to be a great guest since she had been a pro on the show during Seasons 3 and 4 plus she had worked with Charlie White and Meryl Davis. However, she was really good when it came to her constructive criticism and insight. She made me think more about what the pros go through in the rehearsal studio and where the show has evolved in terms of breaking rules and choreography.

Here is the link to her new studio: LA Ballroom Studio which opens officially next Monday, March 31.

I was super frustrated at the treatment Henry Byalikov and Diana Nyad received this week since they just deserved better. I don't care that it was week one and they were the first to go. Every contestant should have the same opportunity to dance and receive their proper scores. There were so many other controversies this week that we touched upon, but this one irked me the most.

If you missed the show, you can watch it below.

Let me know which controversy bugged you the most this week. Hit me up in the comments below.

DWTS Season 18: Gleb Savchenko

What a show! Everyone was hyped up with enthusiasm that I had to quiet the crowds a bit so we could get through 12 dances, new baby, new hosts, smaller band, skybox back, judges' table, voting procedures, etc. It was a lot of material for a 50-minute show.

It will get easier as the weeks go on, but we are thrilled to have Julz Tocker joining us this season. A big thanks to Gleb Savchenko for adding his "I loved it!" commentary from the couch. First elimination next week…do you agree with our predictions? 

Let me know in the comments below!

3 Reasons Why I'm Shutting Down DWTS Ringer Talk

We are less than a week away from the Season 18 premiere of Dancing With the Stars and the ringer talk has begun. My Twitter feed exploded with questions after PureDWTS wrote an insightful article about Danica McKellar's past ballroom experience. They took the time to dig up extensive evidence of her training where she looks good out on that dance floor. Danica is also seen in her latest ABC video acting a little naive when it comes to being led around the ballroom.

Remember, we are in Season 18 of the show and even Conrad Green, producer of DWTS, has admitted it's harder to cast the show at this point. So fair or not regarding Danica's very specific ballroom training, I go back to these three reasons why I'm just shutting down the ringer talk.

1. It's Exhausting: We've discussed it ad nauseum some seasons on AfterBuzz TV.  I think we wind up talking circles around the topic and we get nowhere. If you look back at Season 16 and the whole Zendaya debate, the argument reached a fever pitch with everyone taking sides. In the end, Zendaya didn't win.

2. It's a TV show: ABC is trying to deliver an entertaining show each week. They bring on celebrities with many different levels of dance training to draw an audience. Last season, we had a mix of trained dancers like Corbin Bleu, natural movers like Jack Osbourne and Amber Riley and lovable personalities like Bill Engvall in the Final Four. Again, the best-trained dancer did not win.

3. It Comes Down to that Freestyle Dance: When it comes to final votes for the average audience member, they vote on the Freestyle Dance. The best dancer may have worked hard all season and been at the top of the leaderboard most weeks, but if that Freestyle Dance doesn't deliver…they don't go home with the Mirror Ball Trophy.

I know you won't all agree with me on this, so help me see the flip side of the coin. Feel free to comment below. I will respond to all comments here, but I won't be able to respond to comments on Twitter. There are so many of you on Twitter and it's impossible to do without annoying my other followers who aren't DWTS fans. As always, please be respectful of others and their opinions. Thanks!

DWTS Season 18 on AfterBuzz TV

We are almost back for the next season and we do have a few changes to announce. I know many of you on the East Coast hated how late we were on. We heard you and the show will be at 5 p.m. PT/8 p.m. ET live on AfterBuzz TV. I hope this makes it easier for you to watch us live this season.

We also have a host change for Season 18 only. Jake DuPree is unable to join us for Season 18 due to a scheduling conflict. He will be back for Season 19 because we all love him so much on our team. Filling in for Jake this season will be a face many of you are familiar with…Julz Tocker! He has graciously decided to step in and help us out. Suri Serano and Anna Trebunskaya will be back, so while we will miss Jake, Julz will add a lot of insight to our team. Make sure to give Julz a big AfterBuzz TV welcome!

Our first guest will be announced soon. You can always keep checking the DWTS Guest Page for more information. UPDATE: First guest is announced!

DWTS Season 18: The Switch Up

Okay, I'm officially confused. When they announced the partner switch on GMA this morning, there was very little explanation. In the official ABC press release, we got this:

When I read the statement, it sounded like it was a permanent switch at some point in the season. Then a very reliable source, The Hollywood Reporter, came up with this:

So ABC offers up no time frame while THR offers up one week. Which one is it? Well, I went straight to the source to ask the question.

ABC spokesperson Kristen Anders replied, "There is no official quote other than what's on the press release (which is up on abcmedianet.com). We haven't released any other details, it will be announced in show. Thanks!"

So the answer is that there is no official answer…yet. It's going to be up to Tom Bergeron and Erin Andrews to give us the inside scoop at some point in the season.

What do you think of The Switch Up? Let me know in the comments below.

Photo credit: DWTS/ABC/Instagram

DWTS Season 18: 3 Things You Need to Know

Well, yesterday was pretty epic…I am currently on set in San Francisco when the news started to trickle in to me. I would work, run off set and post a tweet. My Twitter feed exploded and there is no way I can respond to everyone the way I normally do. Here are 3 things to know.

1. Why didn't you confirm everyone?: I want to deliver good, truthful scoop to you. If I can't confirm a name from the sources I speak with, I won't mention it. It's my reputation on the line as an entertainment reporter, so giving you the truth is more important to me than giving you the whole list with errors on it.

UPDATE: I confirmed Derek IN, Sasha and Tristan OUT, Henry and Witney as PRO, Lindsay and Jenna in TROUPE. New confirmation…Tyne is OUT. 

2. What about Chelsie or…?: I know many of you adore Chelsie Hightower, but the writing has been on the wall for a few seasons regarding her future on the show. ABC signaled a change and I think they have moved on from her at this point. Sadly, I think Louis van Amstel is in that category, too. Read my post on DWTS contracts. The UPDATE in the article gives more information on ABC's policy.

3. Why is Maks back?: Like him or loathe him, Maks is newsworthy. With Derek apparently opting out this season, ABC needs a star. I love Val, but he's not as charismatic as his controversial brother. They needed Maks back and I imagine that situation also brought a very generous contract with it. UPDATE: Derek is IN…this will be a great season. A rivalry on the dance floor is back!

This season is bringing about some big changes with Erin Andrews replacing Brooke Burke-Charvet and Harold Wheeler out and Ray Chew in. Let's roll with the changes before watching the first episode. After the season begins, then everything is fair game! See you all on AfterBuzz TV on March 18.

Erin Andrews on DWTS: My Thoughts

When The Big Lead report leaked out yesterday that Erin Andrews was going to replace Brooke Burke-Charvet as Tom Bergeron's co-host on DWTS, Twitter went nuts. Based on the responses I received, it was about 75% against Erin and only about 25% for Erin. That's not a good place to start. However, I am going to give her a chance, here's why:

1. Behind the Scenes: Even though Tom is more than capable of running the show himself, ABC clearly wants to showcase the behind-the-scenes interviews and he can't be everywhere. That's where Erin will come into play.

2. Interviews: I know that I made a remark more than once last season on AfterBuzz TV about Brooke's interviewing skills. Sometimes, I cringed. Erin is an excellent sports journalist who will bring her reporter skills to the table. I'm looking forward to some solid questions this season instead of "How do you feel?"

3. Personality: Look, I get it. Erin is a guy's girl. She works in a tough industry for females and she has a harder edge to her. However, she will bring some sass and snap to the table. Erin doesn't have a soft and fuzzy warmth, but I think she will have us all talking on Tuesdays about what happened the night before.

So, let's give her a chance. We haven't seen what she is capable of yet, but I welcome the change and the season debut of DWTS.

What do you think about Erin Andrews new gig? Let me know in the comments below. 

DWTS: An Update On Pro/Troupe Notifications

                                                           Photo courtesy of PureDWTS

Oh, how one tweet sends everyone into a frenzy. Lindsey Teller learned today how passionate DWTS fans are and how everyone is looking for clues and information about Season 18. I tried to get more info from Lindsey after I sent her a DM via Twitter, but I haven't received a response yet.

So I decided to go to a few other sources and I received some interesting news. Two sources have said that no one has been confirmed nor notified as of yet. I was met with "nothing yet"quotes and "no one is confirmed or decided yet, no one."

I'm thinking Lindsey might be a part of a promo for DWTS or a big opening number for the season premiere, but as of right now…she's not in the troupe. One source had no idea who she was, so that doesn't bode well for a new troupe member. Remember last season with the Tyne Stecklein news, she was familiar to the DWTS cast and she has incredible credits in the industry. I didn't find much on Lindsey.

UPDATE: Post and they will come…just heard from two other sources and the cast is hearing next week for both pros and troupe.

I'm working on a few other leads regarding DWTS news, so stay tuned.

If you have any DWTS info, feel free to contact me here. Anonymity guaranteed.

3 Things to Know about the Firing of the DWTS Orchestra

I've received a lot of emails over the last few days asking if the news about the firing of the Dancing With the Stars orchestra is true. The answer is yes. I think it's a big mistake by ABC since it's one of the elements that makes the show so special, but the network is looking at the bottom line: money. I know the reason given for the elimination is to "attract a younger demographic,' but that is not the case.

Here are the three things you should know about the situation:

1. Rick Baptist: He's the person who original put the Facebook post on his page to call attention to the issue. Baptist has worked on DWTS for years and he's well-respected in the industry. Check out his IMDB credits to see his impressive résumé.

Seriously?? No more orchestra on #DWTS for S18. Big mistake, @DancingABC. pic.twitter.com/hknKqe7IAU
— Kristyn Burtt (@KristynBurtt) February 1, 2014

2. American Federation of Musicians International:  This is the official musicians' union representing professional performers in the entertainment industry. They issued a statement on Monday regarding their dismissal:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                         
February 3, 2014

CONTACT: Antoinette Follett
(315) 422-4488 ext. 104
afollett@bentley-hall.com

AFM President Blasts ABC for firing Dancing with the Stars Orchestra

New York, NY— After 17 hit seasons performing on one of the world’s most popular TV programs, Dancing with the Stars (DWTS), the 28 men and women of the show’s live backing band—the Harold Wheeler Orchestra and Singers—have been fired. Producers say the group will be replaced with pre-existing sound recordings and a “small electric band” to “attract a younger demographic.”
American Federation of Musicians International President Ray Hair blasted ABC-TV for its decision, asking supporters to e-mail Candace.a.ashton@abc.com to demand the orchestra’s return or risk viewer retaliation. “People who love Dancing with the Stars also love the superb performances of the orchestra because it is such an integral part of the show,” says Hair. “The tight, elaborate musical productions that catapulted the show into the top 10 in 17 countries can’t be duplicated by recordings and a small combo. Viewers, whether they are young or old, will reject that as artistic fraud.”
Network sources say that a recent shift in ABC/Disney’s executive staff in charge of primetime reality series programming led to pressure on DWTS producer BBC America to cut corners and pander to a younger viewing audience. “It’s not like ABC and Disney don’t have any money and can’t afford an orchestra. It’s about the insatiable thirst for profits at the expense of music, art, and those who create it,” says Hair. “Firing the band, using recordings, and hiring fewer musicians won’t boost ratings. It will kill the show.”

ABOUT THE AFM
Founded in 1896, the American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada (AFM), AFL-CIO, is the largest organization in the world dedicated to representing the interests of professional musicians. With more than 90,000 members, the AFM represents all types of professional musicians, including those who record music for sound recordings, film scores, videogames, radio, television and commercial announcements, as well as perform music of every genre in every sort of venue from small jazz clubs to symphony orchestra halls to major stadiums. Whether negotiating fair agreements, protecting ownership of recorded music, securing benefits such as health care and pension, or lobbying legislators, the AFM is committed to raising industry standards and placing the professional musician in the foreground of the cultural landscape. For more information, contact the main number at (212) 869-1330 or visit the Web site at www.afm.org.
Follow the AFM on Twitter www.twitter.com/musiciansunion and Facebook www.facebook.com/afm.org

3. The Excuse: ABC can say it's about bringing in "a younger demographic," but having a live orchestra is a luxury. It's expensive to pay for song rights and to pay talent for rehearsals and the show. It's cheaper just to pay for a skeleton crew and song rights. However, it's a huge part of what made DWTS exciting to watch. It brought energy to the show each season and the audience will notice its absence in Season 18.

However, there is still time. The show doesn't launch until March 17, so support the Harold Wheeler Orchestra and Singers by emailing ABC: Candice.A.Ashton@abc.com (NOTE THE CORRECT SPELLING "I" VERSUS "A" in CANDICE'S NAME)

Let's make a difference!

UPDATE: Here's the official press release from BBC Worldwide and ABC regarding Harold Wheeler:

Our talented Music Director, Harold Wheeler, will not be joining us for season 18 of Dancing with the Stars. Since season one, Harold and his band have performed brilliant music in our ballroom for our dancers and the American viewers at home. We are grateful to him and his band for their amazing work and years of collaboration. We wish him the best of luck.