SYTYCD Season 11: Malene Ostergaard

This was definitely another first for us on SYTYCD on AfterBuzz TV. I've really been trying to mix it up for you guys this season. I've always wanted to go behind the scenes with the show because it's so interesting to hear how the audition rounds really went, what rehearsals are like and what happens when you are voted off. I know I'm not the only one, so I hope you have an enjoyed some of the new guests we have brought in like Mindy Arnold and a contestant from this season like Malene Ostergaard.

Yes, Malene was as gorgeous in person as she was on TV, but don't be fooled by her looks. She was a smart and insightful guest. I was so thrilled to get her on our show and I know this isn't the last we've seen of her…DWTS, perhaps?

Next week is Mandy Moore and I cannot wait to get a choreographer's perspective on Season 11. We will also be recovering from the elimination of four dancers. It's going to be a tough week.




I didn't post the show from Vibe Studio owner Mindy Arnold with her daughter and SYTYCD Season 9/current DWTS cast member Lindsay Arnold. If you want to hear more about the politics of SYTYCD, watch this show…it was fascinating.

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!

DWTS Season 18: Cody Simpson

I cannot believe I am even writing about Season 18 for Dancing With the Stars here on my blog since we just wrapped Season 17, but it looks like inquiries are starting to go out to some celebs. Cody Simpson started the rumor mill churning big time on Friday with a series of tweets:

so, I just received an offer to be on Dancing With The Stars in March. what do you all think? do you want to see me on TV every week?
— Cody Simpson (@CodySimpson) December 14, 2013

it's during the time I'll be in LA recording my next album, so it wouldn't prevent me from touring and seeing all of you. tweet me thoughts.
— Cody Simpson (@CodySimpson) December 14, 2013

wow, looks like you all think I should do this. definitely helps me when thinking about my decision. I'll let you know after the holidays.
— Cody Simpson (@CodySimpson) December 14, 2013

A few of you asked me who Cody was. Yes, he's part of the Disney chain. He actually comes from the Disney Radio side and did some mentoring work on Disney's Next Big Thing. I have interviewed him three or four times and he's a doll. He really blew up this year because he was the opening act for Justin Bieber. Yeah, no big deal.

Here are some of my Cody Simpson interviews:
Next Big Thing
Let It Shine premiere 
The Biggest Loser appearance

If Cody does decide to do the show, I'm thinking Witney Carson or Lindsay Arnold would be a great partner for him since they both fit into the right age demographic. Witney and Cody? Lindsay and Cody? Which one would you prefer?

What I can tell you is that Cody has a rabid fan base of teen girls. ABC would love to have him and it sounds like he wants to do it. It would also be a big "get" for the show.

Let me know what you think about Cody Simpson on DWTS in comments below. 

Photo courtesy of Mingle Media TV

AfterBuzz TV DWTS: Witney Carson & Lindsay Arnold

It has been four weeks since the entire AfterBuzz TV crew was in studio together. It was a rowdy night in the studio! From Witney's mom calling in to Anna giving some on point critiques, it was anything but boring. A few of you have asked if Suri was implying that the producers manipulated the exit of Snooki. None of us have any concrete evidence, but it sure feels that way.

As for Bill Engvall, he has proven to be the most loved man this season. Witney and Lindsay talked about how sweet he is and the fact that he was willing to sacrifice his own journey to save Snooki says a lot about his character.

The article I referred to from E! News is here.
After you read that, read Val's Today Show blog for follow-up information here.

Thanks to Witney Carson and Lindsay Arnold for joining us. I love that their friendship has taken them on such an incredible adventure. Fingers crossed that their schedule will work out for a visit to AfterBuzz for a Season 11 SYTYCD appearance.

Next week's guest is Tyne Stecklein.

DWTS Season 17: Week 7 Preview

I am excited for this week's guests because I tried to make this pairing happen all season long during So You Think You Can Dance on AfterBuzz TV this summer. Their crazy schedules didn't align, but I'm thrilled we could do it for DWTS Season 17. Bring on the questions for Witney Carson and Lindsay Arnold!

I believe the entire AfterBuzz team is in studio this week. I need to double check on Anna, but I am back from working in Detroit/Toronto. I can't wait to join the gang again. I am always happy to join via phone, but it's more fun to be there in person.  

It's also Suri's birthday this week, so don't forget to tweet her birthday wishes on Halloween!

See you all on Tuesday at 8pm PT on AfterBuzz TV!

Just a couple of things to remember:
1. Fan questions are a supplemental part of our show. We will get to as many as possible if there is time. AfterBuzz TVshows were reduced to 50 minutes this season because our studios are so busy and there is a show in our studio immediately following our DWTS show.

2. If you are having trouble posting in the comments section, please clear your cache or the cookies on your computer. That usually does the trick!

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

PHOTOS: Dizzy Feet Foundation Gala Red Carpet

 It's the annual Dizzy Feet Foundation Gala and I have to say it is a must for any So You Think You Can Dance or Dancing With the Stars fan. Next year, save up and come to LA for National Dance Day, you won't be disappointed. Another good note, the fans are able to watch the red carpet and grab photos of the dance stars as they went into the venue.

Here are a few of  my photos from the evening. My official article will be up on Press Pass LA next week, but I will give you some inside scoop from the red carpet.

So sit back, relax and enjoy!

 tWitch and Allison Holker are the King and Queen of dance. They stayed the longest on the red carpet and talked to EVERYONE. Total class. The dance world couldn't have better ambassadors. 

 NappyTabs!!!

 Look who they brought, little London, who was wheeled down the red carpet in his stroller. They talked about London loving music, so perhaps he's a future contestant on American Idol. 

 Alex Wong looked very handsome on the red carpet. He talked about the importance of influencing a future generation of Asian dancers. If you missed his ABTV appearance, watch it here. 

 Chehon is ready to be a huge face in the choreography/producing/directing world. He's determined and I believe him.  Watch his ABTV appearance here.

 How incredible does Mollee Gray look? We keep showing up at the same events lately, so I am sure I will have more scoop for you soon. Her red dress is by Ted Baker--gorgeous!

Watch her ABTV appearance here.

 Every time I interview Mary Murphy, I like her even more than I did the last time. She's so kind and thoughtful. She talked a lot about the format changes and how much she hated the first elimination.

 Allison being a good friend and fixing Mollee's hair.

 I love that we have such a strong generation of choreographers including Travis Wall. He was a fan favorite, people screamed for him in the crowd. 

 Jane Lynch looked beautiful. The Glee cast members did not answer any questions...totally understandable. They need their privacy.

 Honoree Chita Rivera. If you have never seen her work, watch this, she's a legend.

 Arthur Mitchell is the first black ballet dancer for New York City Ballet and the founder of the Dance Theatre of Harlem. He paved the way for so many other black dancers in the ballet world. Watch him in the Balanchine "Agon" piece. 

 Adam Shankman, Nigel Lythgoe and Christina Applegate conferring on the red carpet.

 Adam is thinking...

 What are they talking about?!! This is when I asked Nigel when he was going to make Christina a permanent judge. He said he's tried but they have massive scheduling problems. Christina then looked over at me and jokingly signaled she wanted a lot of money. Then, Adam chimed in..."Wait, that leaves me off the panel if she's a permanent judge." 

There you have it...they've tried to get her permanently, but can't.

 Stacey Tookey...she's dying to get her hands on Makenzie for choreography. 

 For those that were asking, Mark Ballas' new album is expected to drop early next year.

 Chris Scott wants to choreograph on Fikshun this season...

 Lindsay Arnold and Sharna Burgess looked incredible on the red carpet. I even met Sharna's mom who is here on holiday. So sweet! Watch Sharna and Lindsay's ABTV appearance.

 Yep, that's Cat Deeley running late and running down the red carpet as the show was beginning.

 And that's the elegant Cat having a wardrobe malfunction.

AfterBuzz TV SYTYCD: Boston Auditions

The whole gang is back together this week as we talk about the Boston auditions. It's my hometown and the dance scene is fierce in that town. It's a city that really supports the arts and it shows! I think it's the best set of auditions we have seen in awhile on SYTYCD.

Many of you have asked when our guests will be coming on. We will start with guests once we hit the Top 20. It makes the most sense since we want our guests to be talking about the true contenders for the title. From everything I am hearing, there is only going to be one winner this season. I am happy with that change from the two winner-result last season.

We have had a ton of requests for specific guests. I keep hearing Witney Carson and Lindsay Arnold requested over and over. We will try our best to get both of them, but one caveat: Lindsay is not living in LA this summer. I will try and coordinate with her schedule if she happens to be in town, but that is where we stand with her situation. Finally, Anna Trebunskaya promised to come in. As many of you know, she was a great addition to our DWTS show.

If you missed the show, you can view it below or listen to the podcast. Thanks for making it the #10 most downloaded show on AfterBuzz TV last week!

And a big thanks to Kaitlyn for calling in to discuss the Boston auditions!

AfterBuzz TV DWTS: Sharna Burgess & Lindsay Arnold

Ahhh, what a season! I cannot believe it's over.  It's been a wild ride over the last 10 weeks. My wish for next season is that we are all good to each other...no matter who we are rooting for. We are so lucky to live in a world where we can have our own opinions and thoughts, but it is important to be respectful of the opposing side.  Kellie and Zendaya are both beautiful dancers and women. While they each brought different things to the table, we watched because we love dance.  While Kellie went home with that mirror ball trophy, I think we are all going to watch Zendaya become a superstar in Hollywood...way beyond the confines of Disney/ABC. Whether she hits the music scene or takes on the film world, mark my words, she will be wildly successful.

My SheKnows.com article about the DWTS finale >>

I know many of you aren't satisfied with the voting explanation. ABC should have done a better job with explaining what happened much like NBC did with The Voice when they had a similar issue in early May. Legally, they did the right thing by throwing out the ABC.com votes. It leveled the playing field for both coasts.  While viewers were left with phone, text, and Facebook votes, I know some of you will argue it isn't fair.  Well, I can never text since I'm not an AT&T customer.....so that's not fair. I also only have a public FB page, so I cannot vote via social media. I have to pick up the phone. We could go in circles about this over and over. Remember, all networks have to abide by FCC regulations and Broadcast Standards and Practices. Here are ABC's guidelines for their entire network. What ABC failed to do is explain the situation to the viewers...that is a PR misstep.

Our pre-show Vine video >>

I also think Lindsay and Sharna addressed the footwear issue very well.  There are so many other issues to deal with when you are trying to teach a celebrity to dance.  While it may not be the preferable choice for viewers with a dance background, the pros chose what they felt was best for their celebs. I prefer the line of a heel, but once I heard Lindsay and Sharna's explanations, I feel like I understand the reasoning a bit better...even if I prefer true ballroom footwear.

One crazy photo post-show >>

Thank you all for such a great season. We really cannot do it without you. Your input, comments, questions and artful debate have been so much fun. Even when we don't agree, I love discussing the show with you.  For those of you that are fans of SYTYCD, I hope you join me, Jake, AJ Gibson, and Chloe West for a fun season. Next week, we will slide into DWTS' old time slot on AfterBuzz TV at 9pm PT, so you know where to find us. We will also be bringing in some DWTS and SYTYCD guests to join us once the Top 20 is announced.



The podcast is available to listen to here. 

Now feel free to comment away about the season, but be respectful of others and their opinions. Thank you! 

AfterBuzz TV DWTS: Finale Preview

I cannot believe we are here.  10 weeks, thousands of comments, and millions of controversies later, it's time for our last show for Season 16 of DWTS on AfterBuzz TV.

There is so much to say, but I'm going to save that for Wednesday night. So, here are our confirmed guests for the last show.

She started our season and she's going to end our season. With one of the best storylines of the season with her partner Andy Dick, it's Sharna Burgess!

Our second guest also joined DWTS as a pro this season. We had her partner and now we finally get to hear from her, it's Lindsay Arnold!

Watch us LIVE tomorrow night on AfterBuzz TV at 9pm PT. Link is here. 

Now, get those comments and questions in, please put them in the comments below!

AfterBuzz TV's DWTS Week 5 Preview

I know you have all been waiting for the announcement of the guests for tonight's Dancing with the Stars show on AfterBuzz TV.  This week was such a busy week for all of the dancers, so we had to wait a bit to hear back from their contact person. However, I think this is going to be a fun ladies' night. (Jake DuPree is going to be surrounded by lots of girls tonight!)

Since we will be talking about Len's Side by Side Challenge, we will have our resident expert, Anna Trebunskaya, who performed three numbers this week plus...

New troupe member Witney Carson, fresh off of last season's So You Think You Can Dance....

She's going to try and bring another familiar face with her...new pro, Victor Ortiz's partner, and fellow SYTYCD contestant, Lindsay Arnold. (Witney is confirmed, Lindsay will appear if her schedule allows.)

So don't forget to watch tonight at 9pm PT LIVE on AfterBuzz TV. Link is here.

If you have questions for Anna, Witney, or Lindsay, post them in the comments below.  This is the official place to submit questions.  

Dancing with the Stars, Season 16: Confirmations and Rumors

With the Season 16 announcements for Dancing with the Stars just three days away, I thought I would compile a list of who is rumored or confirmed to be hitting the dance floor. Make sure to add your confirmed or rumored celebs and pros in the comments below, on Twitter, or Facebook.

Note:  I am covering the Oscars on Sunday, so I probably won't have time to update this page on Sunday. I will be back on Monday.  Thanks for understanding!

Confirmed Pros:
Derek Hough--confirmed via Twitter
Sharna Burgess--confirmed via Twitter
Cheryl Burke--confirmed via Twitter
Val Chmerkovskiy--confirmed via Twitter
Lindsay Arnold--confirmed via Twitter
Mark Ballas???--he tweeted this
Tony Dovolani--confirmed via Twitter


Pros Not Doing This Season:
Maks Chmerkovskiy--confirmed via Twitter and TMZ
Chelsie Hightower--confirmed via Twitter
Ana Trebunskaya--Has this been confirmed?


Rumored Celebs:
Aly Raisman--Fierce Five member
She tweeted this on Friday.  

J.J. Wyatt--NFL player for the Houston Texans

Tito Ortiz--former UFC champion