DWTS Week 10

This is it! The Top 4 have been announced for next week's finale and we are ready to talk about what happened last night. We tried to get Tristan MacManus on this week, but his rehearsal schedule is going to prevent him from appearing. Sasha Farber was also in the mix, but he's heading to New Jersey today to rehearse with Snooki. This is the first day many of the eliminated pros are being reunited with their celebs for the finale, so it was a challenge nailing them down.

However, we do have a return guest who kicked off our season, Julz Tocker! He's here in the U.S. this week and I thought we had to take advantage of that…and to all of the people who were tweeting me to get him on--I heard you!

So get those questions in for Julz who was at the show last night (And sitting behind Carrie Ann, did you see him?)
I'm open to taking questions for Anna, too. (And see at how amazing our Mama-to-be looks in Us Weekly.)

The whole crew will be back in studio this week and for the finale next week. It will be a great way to wrap up the season.

Get your questions in the comments section below. See you tonight on AfterBuzz TV at 8 p.m. PT!

NOTE: Next week's show will be at a special time due to the 2-night finale. Finale show is on Wednesday, Nov. 27 at 2 p.m. PT.

AfterBuzz TV DWTS: Tyne Stecklein

I will totally admit that I was really excited to have Tyne Stecklein in the studio. She has such an incredible résumé as a performer and I'd be lying if I didn't admit that the fact that she was a part of the Michael Jackson This Is It tour was a huge part of the reason I was excited to meet her.

I loved having the opportunity to get to know her on AfterBuzz TV. She provided some great insight and she was the perfect person to have on for Cher week. It certainly wasn't planned, it just worked out that way.

We talked a bit more about Elizabeth this week and the struggles we have had with her. I really like her, but I feel like she's working too hard. However, I understand her mindset and I know she loves being on the show and she really wants to do well. As a fellow Type A person, I get it. It can be hard to let go and let that freedom take over. She's done it a few weeks, but then she starts holding on again. I think it's very important to her to make it to the finale. I don't want to see her face if she's eliminated because Snooki already made me sad…I think Liz would have the same reaction.

Next week, Suri will be leading the way with Jake in studio. I will be joining the crew from Orlando while Anna will be on vacation. Our guest will be announced soon….

If you missed the show, you can watch below:

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: The End of the Ringer Debate

Don't ever count out athletes like Keyshawn Johnson in this competition.

Since we are only eight days away from the Season 17 launch of Dancing With the Stars. I'd like this to the last time we talk about ringers this season. Last season was filled with talk about the lovely Zendaya and her "ringer" status. It's just a waste of time talking about this since the alleged ringer doesn't always win. Let's talk about dance and choreography and personality--things that matter to the show. There will always be some producer manipulation behind the scenes, but arguing about it is just exhausting.

Yep, that's Snooki during her gymnastic and cheerleading days.

Here's a sample of a few of the contestants who have had dance or movement training prior to joining the cast.

Start by watching the incredible Valerie Harper in this production number. It isn't available for embedding, but it's definitely worth watching.

Elizabeth Berkley:


Amber Riley:


Christina Milian:


Bill Nye, The Science Guy:


Corbin Bleu:


DWTS on AfterBuzz TV premieres on Tuesday, Sept. 17 with me, Anna Trebunskaya, Suri Serano and Jake DuPree at 8 p.m. PT. Watch here. 

DWTS Season 17: Initial Cast Thoughts

If my Twitter feed was an indication of what is to come for Season 17 of Dancing With the Stars, I am in for a busy fall. TMZ leaked a few of the celeb names today: Valerie Harper, Leah Remini, Elizabeth Berkeley, Snooki, Amber Riley, and Christina Milian. I've said it before and I will say it again, TMZ is pretty good about fact checking, so this list should be your six female celebs for the season.

Once it was revealed that Tristan MacManus was paired with Valerie, the tweets began. Many of the tweets were people who were angry that he was matched with a 74-year-old woman battling terminal brain cancer. Really? Doctors told her she would be dead by June and miraculously, she's still with us and is tackling DWTS. I don't know about you, but that's kind of awesome...and inspirational.

Re: Tristan--The gift of working with someone bravely fighting a terminal illness is greater than a mirrored ball trophy. #DWTS
— Kristyn Burtt (@KristynBurtt) August 28, 2013

Look, I get it: We all love Tristan and we want to see him win. It was disappointing to see him have to drop out in Season 16 when Dorothy Hamill was injured. Then it was a bummer to see him injured during the finale and he couldn't have one last dance with her. (Bravo to Henry Byalikov for stepping in!)

I'm just not going to get my panties in a bunch over this. I'm going to look at it from the Sharna Burgess School of Opportunity. I love what she did with Andy Dick last season, it was fun and moving to watch his journey. I'm going to take that same approach with Tristan and Valerie. I have a lot of faith in his talent, don't you?

So let's kick off this season on a positive note. I know you guys won't always agree with me, but I love to hear your opinions as long as it's handled with mutual respect. I love a good dance debate!

Here's to a great Season 17. I'm excited by the cast so far and we've already booked our first guest for DWTS on AfterBuzz TV. Hooray!

I would love to hear from you....hit me up with your thoughts and opinions in the comments below.

The Truth About (my) Halloween

Okay, I know I am going to get a few snarky comments about what I'm about to say:  I don't like Halloween.  I don't mind handing out candy and I certainly don't mind eating the candy, but the holiday makes me want to go into hiding from October 31st until November 1st.  I hate to be such a grinch, but I don't want to dress up.  It has become such a big deal for adults, the parties have gotten bigger and bigger each year, and the costumes more elaborate and expensive.  The holiday drops at a really busy time of year for me and I just don't find it fun (for me).  For you, I know it is your favorite of the year.

Yesterday, the crew that has been with me for the last 23 days in Dallas wanted to throw a pre-Halloween bash.  I cringed at having to come up with a costume until a co-worker came up with some fantastic and cheap "play on words" costume ideas:
      -Nickelback:  The band or a nickel taped to your back.
      -Quarterback:  A football player or you guessed it, a quarter taped on your back.
      -Babysitter:  A really hot girl to take care of your kids or a baby doll attached to your behind.
      -Condiment:  A delicious topping on your cheeseburger or a condom + mints pinned to your t-shirt.  
                            (This was one was used last night, see photo below)
      -Smarty Pants:  Someone who thinks they know it all or a bunch of Smarties candies pinned to your
                               jeans.  (And, bingo!  I found my costume.)

Your Condiment or Condom + Mint

For $4.17 for Smarties candies and a few safety pins at CVS, I had a costume.  It took me about 10 minutes to strategically pin my candies, put on my new cute shoes, and I was out the door!  Of course, someone guessed my costume was "Smart Ass".  Okay, that works too!  The real costumes that walked in the door were really creative from a piñata to Snooki to the Double Rainbow guy.  Everyone had a good time, no one yelled at me for not having a costume, and people asked for a sampling of Smarties all night. I just unpinned them and my costume got lighter as the evening went along.  Everyone loves Smarties candies!

This is about as Halloween as I get.

Now, I am not a total Bah Humbug on this. I want to hear what you are doing for Halloween. Let me know and don't worry, if you ring my doorbell, I have a ton of candy to share.  Trick or Treat!