SYTYCD Season 11: Jaimie Goodwin & Nick Lazzarini

We can never predict what a guest is going to be like the first time they come into the studio. What a great pair we got with Jaimie Goodwin and Nick Lazzarini. I have really wanted more of the earlier season contestants on our show because SYTYCD Season 1 is far different from SYTYCD Season 11.  Nick received a penthouse rental as a prize, but he took the money and ran…and invested it. Very smart!

I also asked Jaimie about working on Derek Hough's Emmy Award-winning piece "Walking on Air" and we got the answer of a lifetime. Glad she has recovered. Ouch!

This was Jake DuPree's last episode of the season with us, but he will be returning to DWTS in October. We will have a fill-in guest until he returns on DWTS.

Next week's guest is a longtime friend to our AfterBuzz TV show, Courtney Galiano. See you all next week!

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:

VIDEOS: 2014 Outstanding Choreography Emmy Nominees

Congratulations to all of today's Emmy nominees for choreography. It's a tough competition this year. Just taking a quick glance, there are strong entries from Derek Hough with "Human" and "Ameksa", NappyTabs has an impressive SYTYCD opening number with "Puttin' on the Ritz"and Christopher's Scott's "Sand" was iconic for Season 10 of SYTYCD.

One interesting thing to note since we've been talking about choreography and how it's hard to copyright lately: (See this Instagram post for more info.) Shannon Mather accused Travis Wall of copying her choreography for the dance "Medicine" last season. She had submitted a YouTube video to be considered for choreography for Season 10 of SYTYCD. Travis came up with a similar dance later in the season. He is now nominated for an Emmy this year for the dance. I spoke with Shannon last year when this all happened and we talked about it on AfterBuzz TV. See this post for more info and all of the dances. Do you think they are similar?


Derek Hough: DWTS

"Human"


"Ameksa"


"Too Darn Hot"


Christopher Scott: SYTYCD 

"Trigger"


"Sand"
"The Gravel Road"

Mandy Moore: SYTYCD

"The Edge of Glory"

"Feelin' Good"

"I Can't Make You Love Me"

Napoleon and Tabitha Dumo: SYTYCD 

"Puttin' on the Ritz"

 "Gold Rush"

"Run the World"  Travis Wall: SYTYCD

"Hanging by a Thread"

"Wicked Game"

"Medicine"

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: 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.

AfterBuzz TV DWTS: Julz Tocker

Hello, Everyone! It was so great to be back in studio with the entire DWTS AfterBuzz TV team. I missed them and I missed you.

I see your comments coming in, so I want to clarify a few things so they make sense to you.

--Sean Cheesman/Derek Hough choreography: I was in NO way implying Derek copied Sean. There are a ton of differences to the routine. The beginning table work reminded me of Sean's choreography, but you can clearly see the the direction each choreographer took. Watch Sean's routine here.

--Debbie Allen: Were you just as shocked as I was to learn about Corbin's dance experience with Debbie Allen? Ms. Allen's school is legendary for producing quality dancers, so I know it shouldn't surprise me…but…wow! It explains a lot about this season.

--Predictions:  We made predictions for next week's possible winner, but as I like to say, "it ain't over until that freestyle hits the floor." I'm expecting top level choreography from Karina and Derek, so it should be a great night of dance. If fans are voting for the best dancer, Corbin or Amber will be the winners. If fans rally around their favorite dancer based on story, Jack or Bill could have a serious shot. (Although I think the judges' scores will not allow this scenario to happen, but we know stranger things have happened.)

--Victor Ortiz: If you missed his appearance last season, you can watch how he mauled the pillows on the AfterBuzz couch during the interview. The chat room fans call it the "Victor Ortiz couch."

We loved having Julz Tocker back in studio. His energy and insight always bring so much to the table. It was really appreciated!

If you missed the show, you can listen here or watch below:

Derek Hough: Your Thoughts On The BuddyTV Article

Yesterday, I was forwarded an article (Thanks, Catherine!) from BuddyTV entitled "Should Derek Hough Retire from 'Dancing with the Stars'?" Let's be honest, this author knew that a controversial article would draw a ton of attention and comments. I wanted to hear what the Twitter audience had to say and I was surprised that many of his fans wanted him to go on to bigger things.

The one quote that stood out to me was, "The point is that Derek has become bigger than the show…" I purposely cut out the second half of that quote which was "...and it seems like an unfair advantage" because when has DWTS ever been fair? Never. I actually agree with the first half of the quote because he is bigger than the show in many ways…popularity, talent and an Emmy win. This season his star wattage does seem bigger than the ABC show.

Many of you told me that you thought it should be his choice to stay or go, but I think argument is a moot point. Derek is welcome on the show as long as he wants to stay and ABC wants (needs?) him to stay on the show.

A part of me would like Derek to go on to bigger things while keeping a presence on the show. I think of SYTYCD's Spencer Liff. He has a great career outside of the FOX dance show, but he still comes back to choreograph numbers for the contestants. He is currently the choreographer for the revival of Hedwig and the Angry Inch that's headed to Broadway with Neil Patrick Harris and he's NPH's go-to guy for awards shows and dance pieces on How I Met Your Mother. I would love to see Derek choreographing a Broadway show or film, but somehow come back to mount opening numbers or artist performance pieces on DWTS.

On the flip side, fans wouldn't get to see him dance each and every week with a celebrity partner and that's the draw to many viewers who watch the show. If Derek isn't on, DWTS loses a bit of its magic. Even with Val, Karina and other longtime pros bringing their fans to the table, ABC probably wants to hang onto Derek for as long as possible.

I thought I would share with you some (There were a ton!) of the responses that resonated with me on Twitter. Do you agree? Let me know in the comments below:

@KristynBurtt I never think it is a good idea for someone to leave a good situation, maybe he'll do better maybe he'll fade away. I'd stay.
— Mathieas (@Mathieas) November 7, 2013

@KristynBurtt @allisgood4ever If he has other offers he should do them if he wants but come back in between if the schedule works.
— Perri Parks (@perriparks) November 7, 2013

@KristynBurtt yeah Derek Hough has won a lot, I think after this season he should retire whether he wins or not he should do other things.
— John Walker (@Walkerjoh) November 7, 2013

@KristynBurtt NOOOOOOO! Derek can't retire, if he leaves I won't watch...
— jacqui gerritsen (@shrinkyydink) November 7, 2013

@KristynBurtt I certainly hope not. His choreo is always amazing and he's a great partner.
— Matty (@LilMatt9889) November 7, 2013

Dance Chat: DWTS Judging

Let's chat about Dancing With the Stars voting. I'm frustrated and I know I'm not the only one. For some reason, Len has decided to take his TV antics to another level. We talked about it on last week's AfterBuzz show, but some of you think we are only bringing it up because it involves Derek Hough. That's actually not the case. It's not fair when it's done to any pro whether it was Maks or Val or Anna, who talked about her own experience in our Week 6 episode. In fact, I personally think Karina was the pro most battered in scoring by the inconsistent judging last week.

I don't even want to single out Len on this because Carrie Ann is also guilty of inconsistent scoring when it comes to lifts. It's all or nothing...you have to judge all pros the same. With the direction these two are going, the dance is becoming solely about the pro and not about the celeb.

I have no problem with the pros being judged on their choreography since I believe their creativity and talent can bring out the best in their celeb. If the pro has an off-week in the studio, the celeb usually does. Look at the difference with someone like Leah in Week 5 versus Week 6. A better choreographed routine makes a world of difference no matter how strong the celeb is as a dancer. With that said, the celeb also needs constructive feedback each week to know how they can improve. The judges need to find a balance somehow. Right now, Bruno is looking like the only rational one on the panel. How is that even possible?

Since I'm not the only one who has been frustrated by the judging panel this season, I was brainstorming about how to fix this mess outside of the obvious thought of getting new judges for the show.

1. If you want to stick to ballroom rules, then require the pro to follow certain guidelines with each dance. The list of elements would also be disclosed to the judges and the viewers. This would cut down on the inconsistent scoring since the judges and the pros would know what to follow.  I also think this is a boring choice.

2. Have DWTS finally admit that the dances are a freestyle version of ballroom and other forms of dance. Allow the pros to imagine a dance to its full potential instead of worrying about Carrie Ann calling out a lift or Len arguing over repetitive movement. This idea makes me more excited about what all of the pros could come up with. You want to get nominated for an Emmy? This is a direction that has limitless potential.

While neither of these options will ever be executed, a girl can dream.

As for this week's surprise announcement, I'm going for a guest judge. Maks would probably be a good guess. (And he is in LA right now...hmmm, wonder why?)  It would also balance out the Julianne/Mark/Derek factor with the Dance With Me Studio crew.

Let me know your thoughts on the judging issues on DWTS...how would you fix the show?

See you all on Tuesday on AfterBuzz TV!

AfterBuzz TV DWTS: Toni Basil & Sonny Pederson

Another week and more controversy. Could this season get any crazier? I'm not sure we all successfully answered the true reason behind Len's personal vendetta against Derek, but it's glaring at this point. It's no longer a cute TV story that creates controversy once a season. If you want to be consistent on your judging, you have to do it for every pro even if they have a dancer with less talent. The only thing I'm hearing now as a viewer is Len's criticism of Derek. I rarely hear him offer constructive comments on how Amber is doing. How do you solve this before the end of the season? Tell me what you think in the comments below.

I loved having Anna and Toni Basil in studio. Two amazing women with strong opinions, does it get any better? Toni is always someone who tells it like it is. That's exactly what I want to hear on the judging panel on DWTS. Sonny Pedersen had some great insight on the show as well. 

I missed being in studio, but work in Detroit kept me from being there in person. I will be back in studio next week with our guest Witney Carson.

VIDEO: 2013 Emmys: Nominated Choreographers Perform

What's better: Derek Hough's velvet jacket or his brand-new Emmy? #EWemmys pic.twitter.com/tPGyfY0vXx
— Entertainment Weekly (@EW) September 23, 2013

I see a lot of you are searching my blog looking for the 2013 Emmys performance by the nominated choreographers. Here it is, thanks to my friend Al Kahn.

What a great night for dance! Congratulations, Derek Hough!

My Thoughts on Derek Hough

This number alone should win him the Emmy

I have always maintained that I believe that Derek Hough is going to be one of the defining choreographers of his generation. I don't take that statement lightly. As someone who has been a student of dance history, think of the names you would put in that category: George Balanchine, Agnes DeMille, Jerome Robbins, Bob Fosse, Michael Bennett, Martha Graham. There are more, but it's not a list of thousands or even hundreds. I don't say that about any other pro on the show.

With a statement like that, it should be understood that you also have to be a great dancer and teacher in order to be classified as a "defining choreographer of a generation." You can't just be one thing.

On AfterBuzz TV this week, we were talking about Val and Derek and their strengths. If I am going to pick the one quality that makes Derek stand out on the show...yep, it's choreography. For Val, it's teaching. Does it mean they don't have the other qualities? Nope.

We are a show about dance, talking about dancers and why we love it so much. We give opinions that you won't always agree with, but the one thing we all agree upon is that we love dance. I'm one of the hosts of the show and as a part of my job, I have to balance my love for Derek's work with my appreciation and support for what other pros on DWTS bring to the table.

Come Sunday, I hope it's Derek who is holding that Emmy.

Feel free to add your thoughts in the comments below. I will respond to all comments here, but I'm going to keep the debate off of Twitter. Thanks, guys!  See you next week with our guest Henry Byalikov...who is also choreographing this week's opening number on DWTS with Sharna Burgess.

SPOILER ALERT: DWTS Season 17 Updated Pro List

Okay, there have been a few shake-ups in the DWTS world. We've all been fed information about the pros. The list looked really solid and then it started to fall apart less than 24 hours before the big reveal.

You know what? It happens. ABC is clamping down on loose lips around the network especially after multiple seasons of The Bachelor/Bachelorette being spoiled.

I spoke with a reliable source and I believe this is your pro list for Season 17:

Men:
Sasha
Mark
Derek
Tony
Val
Tristan

Women:
Tyne Stecklein-NEW name. Follow her on Twitter!!!
Sharna
Karina
Peta
Emma
Cheryl

Troupe: Will perform every episode!
Gleb
Lindsay
Henry
Witney

Tyne's Wikipedia bio--Dancer on the ill-fated Michael Jackson This Is It tour, so you know this girl can DANCE!
Tyne's IMDB page

See Tyne in action:


Disclaimer: This is what I was told. We all know things are subject to change and there could be errors here. We all run the risk of that when we publish spoilers. However, my source is solid, so I feel comfortable publishing this list. 

Photo Credit: ABC/FlynetPictures.com

Dance Chat With Kristyn Burtt: Episode 1

It's such a big dance week, I couldn't resist! Let's talk DWTS, SYTYCD and Derek Hough! I hit a few hot topics on the two dance shows. Watch the whole show or drop in on your favorite segment. Here's how the show breaks down:

SYTYCD: 00:20
DWTS: 03:32
Derek Hough: 10:05

And the articles I refer to...here are the links:
Christina Milian Instagram ScreenCap: http://bit.ly/15oaAAX
Travis Wall Article: http://bit.ly/136WbLK
Sonya Tayeh Article: http://bit.ly/17vDyTw

Don't forget to join the chat and share your comments below. Let me know if you want me to do these regularly and what hot topics you want to discuss.

Magic Mike Casting Rumors: Is Derek Hough Headed To Broadway?

Have you seen this tweet yet? Yep, this social media message and photo (see below) are sending SYTYCD and DWTS fans into a frenzy. So, I did a little sleuthing around to see whether this was a fun joke with some good casting ideas or if this is the "good news" Derek Hough and Travis Wall were tweeting about.


Well, it's not true. You aren't looking at the new cast of Broadway's Magic Mike. I think they are smart to put the idea out there because having Derek Hough, Neil Haskell, Allison Holker, Travis Wall and Nick Lazzarini is a great way to sell tickets and put butts in those theatre seats!

Here are a few reasons why:
1. The project was just fast tracked as of Friday, July 19. It was revealed by Deadline that they have come up with collaborators Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey to write songs and Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa to write the book. Nothing is written yet. No story, no songs.

2. Channing Tatum just confirmed the news on his site on July 22. That was the first official news that the show is definitely happening.

3. Without songs or a story...you cannot cast just yet. It too early in the process. There isn't even a director who is definitely announced before the cast or choreographers.

4. I also spoke with a Broadway insider today who told me, "Heard nothing about him [Derek Hough] here. And seems way too early for casting."

5. Even though this show is fast-tracked, it takes so much time, effort and money to get a show mounted. While casting will happen in the future...it's not happening right now.

So, I think this was a fun shot with five hot guys and one smoking girl...perfect for a Magic Mike photo.  Perhaps it puts a bug in the casting director's ears that some of these amazingly talented dancers/choreographers might be interested in doing the show. As an artist, it sure never hurts to throw your name in the ring.


Don't forget that tonight we have Spencer Liff on SYTYCD on AfterBuzz TV at 9pm PT. Watch here.

VIDEO: 2013 Emmy Nominees: Outstanding Choreography

Here are your 2013 Emmy nominees for Outstanding Choreography. I think this is Derek Hough's year. His work has been so outstanding over the last year.  Mark my words: He's going to define this generation of choreographers.  Who are you rooting for? Let me know in the comments below:


Outstanding Choreography

Dancing With The Stars • Routines: Heart Cry / Stars • ABC • BBC Worldwide Productions

Derek Hough, Choreographer

Allison Holker, Choreographer





Dancing With The Stars • Routines: Hey Pachuco / Para Los Rumberos / Walking On Air • ABC • BBC Worldwide Productions

Derek Hough, Choreographer









Rodgers & Hammerstein's Carousel (Live From Lincoln Center) • PBS • A Lincoln Center Media production

Warren Carlyle, Choreographer



So You Think You Can Dance • Routines: Possibly Maybe / Turning Page / Sail • FOX • Dick Clark Productions, Inc  19 Entertainment

 Sonya Tayeh, Choreographer

 





So You Think You Can Dance • Routines: The Power Of Love / Wild Horses • FOX • Dick Clark Productions, Inc. & 19 Entertainment

Mandy Jo Moore, Choreographer

   

So You Think You Can Dance • Routines: Call Of The Wild (Circle Of Life) / Love Cats / Beautiful People • FOX • Dick Clark Productions, Inc. & 19 Entertainment

Napoleon Dumo, Choreographer
Tabitha Dumo, Choreographer

 



So You Think You Can Dance • Routines: Where The Light Gets In / Without You / Unchained Melody • FOX • Dick Clark Productions, Inc. 19 Entertainment

 Travis Wall, Choreographer

 

Tony Awards, Monkeys and More!

 Just a few fun photos from my weekend. The first two photos are from Maria Menounos' birthday party. She had a monkey, snake and a bird all joining the Hawaiian festivities. If you missed my Vine videos of DWTS' Derek Hough and Karina Smirnoff on the dance floor, click here or here.

On Sunday, I was asked to live tweet The Actors Fund Tony Party. It was such a fun night filled with incredible honorees from TV and film in addition to celebrating Broadway's biggest night.

 Tommy Tune and Anne Jeffreys

 Listen to Tommy Tune tap at the opening of the show here. 

 June Lockhart showing off one of the first Tonys ever awarded. She won for For Love or Money in 1948.

 Marissa Jarot Winokur accepting her award.

 The petite Cathy Rigby McCoy jumped on a chair to accept her honor.

 Charlotte Rae from The Facts of Life. See our photo together here. 

DWTS: It's Time To End The Zendaya Debate

Enough with Zendaya.

She's not a ringer, she's a girl who has had Hip Hop classes. I might take this debate more seriously if she were a trained ballet dancer or ballroom dancer, but it's time to stop.  Here are my reasons for ending the Zendaya discussion on DWTS:

1. It's a TV show: Having great dancers and bad dancers all lumped into one variety show is fun. I cheered on Andy Dick as much as I have cheered Zendaya and Kellie Pickler this season.  I did make fun of Sean Lowe's dancing a bit, but it made for some interesting topics of discussion on our AfterBuzz TV show.
    And guess what? By constantly debating that "Zendaya is a ringer" and "Kellie is being underscored"(Although the "7" from Len was ridiculous, it also made for good TV.) topics, you are playing into exactly what ABC wants...controversy.  It makes for good television and it gets us all watching each week.
    One other argument is that ABC wants to promote its own network stars. If you look at the statistics, this is a bad argument.  Let's look at the ABC stars who have won DWTS:  Season 1 Kelly Monaco, General Hospital. That's it, kids.  You could argue Melissa Rycroft from Season 15 as she is a former ABC employee with The Bachelor franchise/former GMA & Bachelor Pad host, but ABC has not used her in that capacity since April 2012. If there were a series of ABC winners, I would agree with you. 1 winner out of 15 does not make for an ABC push for a winner.
 
Supplemental reading: Carrie Ann Inaba talks Kellie Pickler 

2.  Zendaya Hears You:  If you think this 16-year-old doesn't hear your criticism, she does...and she takes it personally.  If you read her Access Hollywood blog, she knows exactly what is going on in the forums.  I feel badly for her because I remember being 16 and we don't need to help anyone's teen insecurities along.

Supplemental reading: Zendaya's blog

Even with dance training, Zendaya doesn't have lines like Kellie does. Beautiful!

3.  Twitter followers:  Yep, Zendaya has more followers than anyone, but she's also of a generation that is more tuned into social media than say...Wynonna's fans.  Different generations, different demographics, different use of social media.
      I know many of you are upset that Zendaya got Hip Hop this week. She asked for it, the fans gave it to her. Aly asked for Afro-Jazz, Kellie asked for Flamenco, everyone got the exact dance they wanted. While Flamenco might be harder for Kellie than Hip Hop is for Zendaya, it is Derek who wanted this dance. He has something in mind choreographically just the same way Mark wanted to try Afro-Jazz on Aly.  They know their partner's strengths.
      Also, ABC is trying to keep up with the times and keep this show as interactive as possible for all of the fans.  Twitter is social media site that keeps growing while Facebook's growth has stagnated over the last two years, that's why they are using it for voting.  While not every experiment on DWTS works, I like that they are trying to keep current and relevant.

Supplemental reading: Carrie Ann Inaba names best DWTS dancer ever

Honestly, I would rather talk about the great dancing we are seeing from Zendaya and Kellie this season and how much I've enjoyed watching them each week.  Val and Derek have both stepped up their game choreographically and it's been a treat for the viewers.  With two weeks left, let's end the debate and see who's going to come out on top.  Remember last year, we all thought Shawn Johnson was going to win.

Let's end the debate. You are missing some good dancing.

Okay, your turn to comment. Please post in the comments below...

UPDATE:  Thanks for all of your responses so far. While some of you agree with me, I want to address those that don't agree with me...of course, I respect your opinion. However, hurling insults my way weakens your case. Instead, why don't you comment below and give me some facts to back up your argument.  I am totally up for rational discussions. It's refreshing to hear a different perspective when it's done with respect.  

The other thing you must remember is that I compliment both Zendaya and Kellie in this post. I like them both. I haven't chosen sides.  

I also want to disclose I have interviewed Zendaya many times, so I was very familiar with her work pre-DWTS. If you want to see some of that coverage, go here and here. 

Anyway, thanks for all of your feedback. I appreciate it!   

Preview: AfterBuzz TV DWTS, Week 8

Okay, I know a lot of you have been asking who are guests are this week. My answer...I don't know yet. Jake is working hard on it back in LA, so hopefully we will have a guest this week. If not, you all know we have plenty to talk about with Len's "7", Sean's elimination, and Kellie and Derek were in jeopardy-ish this week.

UPDATE:  Our guests tomorrow night are Sasha Farber and Emma Slater...get those questions in!

DOUBLE UPDATE: Tristan MacManus is coming, too! #PartyTime

TRIPLE UPDATE:  No Anna tonight. She's performing in Vancouver.

So...if you have been following my tweets, I am not in LA. I am working in Houston this week.  In addition, Suri is not in LA this week either. She's starting the ProGym Challenge in Pennsylvania. It will air on ESPN2 in two weeks.  We will both be joining the discussion via the phone while Jake and Anna hold down the fort in LA.

I will be LIVE tweeting tomorrow night again like I did back in March when I was out of town for work.  Remember to use the official hashtag to talk with me and Suri:  #ABTVDance.

I am still collecting questions for Anna here on my site, so make sure to leave all of your comments and questions below.  Can you believe we only have 2 weeks left?

If you are a fan of SYTYCD, I will be starting the AfterBuzz show next week with my co-host AJ Gibson. I will have more details on time and date soon.

DWTS on AfterBuzzTV, Week 7: Shirley Ballas, Yegor Novikov

How great of a guest was Shirley Ballas? She offered up some awesome insight and she talked about the fact that there is politics on the show. However, she showed that they are fair and balanced when it comes to moving the top leaders around on that scoreboard. It's boring if Kellie or Zendaya win every week and no one should discount Jacoby for the top spot in the end. I also love that Shirley confirmed the Maks/Val/Derek feud...it's true, it exists.

As for Yegor, he was so sweet and he gave the best critique of the night when it came to Sharna and Andy's journey. He showcased what Sharna did as a choreographer for her celeb who was a great performer, but not a great dancer.  It was fantastic to hear his opinions on them.

If you missed the show, you can watch it below or download it on iTunes. Thank you for making the show #10 this week of Top Podcasts on AfterBuzz TV.  We love you guys!

I also want to thank JC Rubio and Jackie Miranne for taking your questions to the red carpet. It's awesome to have their clips and your questions featured on our show.

I can't believe we only have 3 more shows left. Sniff...I'm going to miss you all until next season...or come join me as I co-host Season 10 of SYTYCD on AfterBuzz TV beginning May 14.

Finally, you are all so sweet for sending my mother lovely birthday wishes! xoxoxo kb