DwtS 6, Week 3: Performances

The top of the leaderboard stays mostly unchanged, while one star fails to dance to her potential in Week 3 of Dancing with the Stars 6.

Marlee Matlin & Fabian Sanchez -- Jive
Marlee shook her stuff in a skimpy purple dress. She had no trouble keeping time with the music, but her arms were all over the place. It was another good performance, but not quite as electrifying as her two previous dances.

Len Goodman said, "I think you did a great job." Bruno Tonioli cautioned, "You lost the timing a couple of times. The underarm passes could be smoother." Carrie Ann Inaba added, "I love the chemistry you two have. Watch your hands a little bit. They're a little bit pancakey."

Judges' Scores: Carrie Ann...7, Len...7, Bruno...7 = 21/30

Steve Guttenberg & Anna Trebunskaya -- Tango
Anna was sick during the week, so, naturally, her husband Jonathan Roberts filled in for her during rehearsal, for what Steve called "Man-on-Man Tango."

The usually jovial Steve had no problem maintaining the serious character of the dance. His performance was impressive, considering he spent all week dancing with a dude. The routine was classic and free of gimmicks, which Steve saved for after the dance, donning goggles and using a mixing bowl as a helmet, before the judges rendered their opinions.

Carrie Ann said, "That was your best dance so far." Len told Steve, "The actor came out in you this time. Your footwork was fantastic." Bruno quipped, "Man-on-man did the trick for you."

Judges' Scores: Carrie Ann...7, Len...7, Bruno...7 = 21/30

Cristian de la Fuente & Cheryl Burke -- Jive
This was the first really energetic dance of the night. Cristian looked good, although the sleeveless shirt he wore to show off his buff arms made him look a bit like a He-Man action figure, and it compromised the smoothness of his arm movements.

Bruno asked, "Are you on rocket fuel tonight?" Len agreed: "The best dance you've done so far." Carrie Ann warned Cristian to "watch your arms," but added, "It was fantastic."

Judges' Scores: Carrie Ann...8, Len...8, Bruno...9 = 25/30

Mario & Karina Smirnoff -- Tango
This routine had the unfortunate distinction of being the first of the season to be ruined by terrible music. Mario & Karina danced to "El Tango de Roxanne" from the film Moulin Rouge -- a version of the Police song "Roxanne" -- and the vocals were unlistenable. Apart from noticing that the couple had chemistry, nothing from the routine stuck with me.

Len said, "For me, it was a mess. You've bitterly disappointed me tonight." Carrie Ann agreed: "There were a lot of missteps. You're better than that." Bruno said, "I didn't think it was that bad."
Judges' Scores: Carrie Ann...7, Len...6, Bruno...8 = 21/30

Shannon Elizabeth & Derek Hough -- Jive
The routine started with a pair of cartwheels and continued with solid technique throughout. Shannon looked like she's having a good time, although she was exhausted by the end. She, Derek, and Tom Bergeron sat on the dance floor as the judges gave their comments.

Bruno said, "I love a girl who comes out here and goes all the way." Len said, "What I saw tonight was a really good Jive." Tom interrupted to joke about winded Shannon, "There's so much heavy breathing down here that I feel like I'm sitting next to a 900 number." Carrie Ann concluded, "Every time you come out here, you're surprising, which is good in this competition."

Judges' Scores: Carrie Ann...8, Len...8, Bruno...8 = 24/30

Adam Carolla & Julianne Hough -- Tango
During rehearsal, Adam told Julianne about some research he did into this week's dance: "I went home and Googled 'Tango.' You know what it's about? Prostitutes and pimps. And guess which one you are."

Adam was able to keep up with Julianne without screwing up his moves, which is probably exactly what they set out to accomplish. It was enjoyable to see Adam try and maintain the serious character of the dance, which he did until a smile broke out in the waning measures of the song.

Carrie Ann was stunned: "I cannot believe I'm going to say this, but Adam Carolla was quite sexy out there." Bruno told Adam, "You're not a master technician, but you're getting better." Len told Julianne, "You've done a fantastic job. You made Adam look like a dancer."

Judges' Scores: Carrie Ann...7, Len...7, Bruno...7 = 21/30

Marissa Jaret Winokur & Tony Dovolani -- Jive
In rehearsal, Marissa contemplated what many of us have long wondered about Tony: "How bad do you have to be to be 'The Bad Boy of Ballroom'?"

The routine was slow, they didn't cover much of the floor, and the choreography was uninspired. On top of all that, Marissa's footwork was off a number of times.

Len was blunt: "It was a little bit careful, and careful doesn't win Dancing with the Stars." Carrie Ann was even tougher: "That was boring. You are so much better than this. You're not giving your best." Bruno agreed: "It was like a Jive on cruise control. Come out here and live up to the talent that I know is there."
Judges' Scores: Carrie Ann...6, Len...7, Bruno...6 = 19/30

Priscilla Presley & Louis van Amstel -- Tango
Priscilla & Louis gave the most passionate performance of the evening; I had to remind myself that she's old enough to be his mother. Priscilla's technique is good, and she's the best of the stars when it comes to conveying dramatic emotion.

Bruno dubbed the performance "The Hot Cougar Tango." Len enthused, "Passion! Drama! Fire and ice!" Carrie Ann said, "I believed every minute of it," warning Priscilla, "Watch the neckline a hair."

Judges' Scores: Carrie Ann...8, Len...9, Bruno...9 = 26/30

Jason Taylor & Edyta Sliwinska -- Jive
Jason moves well, but the choreography didn't seem as demanding as it could've been, given his natural talent. And he needs to stop looking at his feet when he kicks.

Carrie Ann told Jason, "When you hit your lines, they're beautiful. But...this week, you were dancing a little small in your upper body." Bruno called the performance "a cool Jive." Len said, "The lines were good, and I liked all the tricks. The bit I didn't like was the rest of it. It had no Jive action." Len finished with a Lenism: "One week you're a rooster, the next week you're a feather duster. That's life."

Judges' Scores: Carrie Ann...8, Len...7, Bruno...8 = 23/30

As the show went to commercial, Tom faked a cough so that Survivor host Jeff Probst could step in from the audience and read his lines from the teleprompter. The bit would've gone over better had the studio audience recognized Jeff without his traditional Tribal Council Khakis.

Kristi Yamaguchi & Mark Ballas -- Tango
During rehearsals, Mark was concerned that Kristi wouldn't be able to express the intensity of the Tango on her face. But Mark's aggressive expressions during the performance bordered on comical. Kristi displayed wonderful control and gave the best performance of the night.

Len stated, "I've liked everything you've done, and this is no exception." Carrie Ann told Kristi, "Your technique is amazing," but warned her, "Your anger on this was just one dimensional. I don't feel much when you dance." Bruno expanded on Carrie Ann's warning: "I want you to be a dirty girl." Kristi flashed him a little leg as they left the floor.

Judges' Scores: Carrie Ann...9, Len...9, Bruno...9 = 27/30

Leaderboard:
27 -- Kristi & Mark
26 -- Priscilla & Louis
25 -- Cristian & Cheryl
24 -- Shannon & Derek
23 -- Jason & Edyta
21 -- Marlee & Fabian, Steve & Anna, Mario & Karina, Adam & Julianne
19 -- Marissa & Tony

Kristi again deserved honors, and Priscilla continues to surprise me with her talent. I'll be splitting my votes between Kristi and Adam because I think he's funny and want him to stick around. And fans of Marlee, Steve, and Mario will undoubtedly vote in droves to save them from the pile-up near the bottom of the leaderboard.

Just like Monica Seles seemed to be the obvious boot last week, Marissa seems the likely boot this week. I hadn't heard of Marissa before she was cast on Dancing with the Stars, and she hasn't won me over enough in the last three weeks to want her to stick around. Tony's need to argue with the judges only increases my desire to see them go.

Ox Notes: March 31, 2008

Mario is undoubtedly spending today perfecting his Tango for tonight's Dancing with the Stars 6 Performance Show, and trying to debunk rumors that he and Karina Smirnoff are more than just dance partners.

Marissa Jaret Winokur tells Us that she's been struggling to turn over complete control to Tony Dovolani during rehearsals.

Tom Bergeron revealed that, at last Tuesday's Results Show, Paula Abdul begged him to compete on the next season of Dancing with the Stars.

When this season of DwtS ends, Cheryl Burke will have her hands full running her new San Francisco studio: Cheryl Burke Dance.

Former Dancing with the Stars competitor Floyd Mayweather, Jr. won his match at Wrestlemania over the weekend.

Jon Kelley, a former Chicago sports anchor, is the new host of The Mole.

NBC is preparing to announce its programming plans for summer and fall, which look to be heavy on escapism and light on reruns.

A disagreement between the two major actors' unions has increased the odds that Hollywood could face another strike this summer.

The Amazing Race 12's goth couple, Kynt & Vyxsin, visited the junior high school where, last month, 15-year-old Lawrence King was killed by a fellow student for being gay. King's teacher said that Kynt & Vyxsin are the only celebrities who've offered to visit the school and speak with students.

Ox Notes: March 28, 2008

Penn Jillette's early departure from Dancing with the Stars 6 cost his partner, Teller, $5000.

If you want to save a bit of money, you can watch every episode of South Park for free online.

Hollywood executives have been discussing the future of television after the writers strike.

Mixed martial arts are all the rage on TV right now. NBC has a late-night MMA show in the works, and the Futon Critic's latest development update lists a new show on G4 staring Tito Ortiz.

In other development news, Fox has tapped Jason Bateman to direct a comedy, and Smallville's Green Arrow has a role on a new CW medical drama.

ABC has plans for a reality competition show that, I'm ashamed to admit, I am really looking forward to. The premise of Wipe Out is just that: contestants take part in challenges designed to make them fall down, face plant, and crash into things -- kind of like a physically competitive version of America's Funniest Home Videos. The concept is totally low brow and, therefore, right up my alley.

Ox Notes: March 27, 2008

Another day, another Dancing with the Stars scandal. MOIB reader Katy noticed a TMZ report that the professional dancers get outside help choreographing their routines for DwtS.

There are a couple of reasons why I don't find this allegation particularly scandalous. First, Cheryl Burke and Nick Kosovich were both nominated for a Best Choreography Emmy in 2006 for Cheryl & Drew Lachey's "Thriller" Paso Doble, so the collaborative element of the show's choreography has been public knowledge for at least two years.

Second, all of the pros have family or friends who are also dancers, so it's probably hard to avoid getting input from them, whether asked for or not. If only someone had told Tony Dovolani years ago, "Whatever you do, don't try to recreate Saturday Night Fever."

Tony's one of two DwtSers adding to their families. Season 4 competitor Laila Ali is pregnant with her first child, and MOIB reader Deb mentioned that Tony will soon become a father to twins. I'd never have guessed, as Tony's hardly showing at all (thanks for the link, Marina).

People posted a backstage report from Tuesday night's Dancing with the Stars Results Show, which was watched by 17.2 million viewers.

Battlestar Galactica's Helo has joined the cast of Joss Whedon's new show, Dollhouse.

According to an article about reality show winners, victory on The Ultimate Fighter might guarantee your best chance for long term success.

Ox Notes: March 26, 2008

MSN.com lost one of its two celebrity bloggers as a result of last night's episode of Dancing with the Stars. TV Guide has a backstage report from the show, and in it, Penn Jillette's wife, Emily, mentions that she's been taking ballroom lessons so that they can dance together. However, Penn told People, "I won't keep dancing."

Entertainment Tonight has video from the Results Show, including Derek Hough interviewing partner Shannon Elizabeth about how cool he is.

There's been plenty of drama off the floor for two DwtS participants. Cheryl Burke spoke with TV Guide about dealing with tabloid rumors, and People has an update on Priscilla Presley's botched plastic surgery.

A celebrity edition of Family Feud may air on NBC in primetime as early as this summer. No word yet on whether current host and former Dancing with the Stars contestant John O'Hurley will make the move from syndication.

Variety praised another game show host, Drew Carey, for the job he's done filling Bob Barker's shoes on The Price Is Right.

Survivor fans should be aware that the show is off this week. In the meantime, here's an interview with Kathy, who says the day she quit Survivor: Micronesia was one of the "happiest moments of my life."

Kathy and the other Survivor to leave the island last week, Tracy, spoke with TV Guide, and their post-show plans made me laugh.

Veronica Mars creator Rob Thomas now has a second show in development for ABC, making that the third show he's working on at the moment.

Variety's Brian Lowry called out the talking heads on cable news networks for being "decidedly ill-equipped to deal with intricate or nuanced ideas" when discussing the presidential campaign. I couldn't agree more.

DwtS 6, Week 2: Results

Dancing with the Stars 6's first Results Show was light on surprises -- which, this early in the competition, is probably a good thing.

Perhaps the most unexpected moment came early in the show when the judges awarded their encore to Jason Taylor & Edyta Sliwinska for their Mambo, instead of to Kristi Yamaguchi & Mark Ballas, who earned the highest total score over two weeks.

The voting results for all the men were announced before any of the women's results, and Steve Guttenberg & Anna Trebunskaya were the first couple told that they'd be moving on to next week.

Before any other results were revealed, teenage heartthrobs the Jonas Brothers performed a cover of A-Ha's hit, "Take on Me." They were joined on the floor by DwtS pros Anna, Edyta, Tony, and Jonathan.

After the musical interlude, Samantha Harris interviewed all of the male competitors. They all expressed happiness that "The Gutte" was safe because, as Jason put it, "He just loves life."

The Gutte was then joined by Jason & Edyta, Mario & Karina Smirnoff, and Adam Carolla & Julianne Hough, who learned they'd be moving on to Week 3 as well.

That left Penn Jillette & Kym Johnson and Cristian de la Fuente & Cheryl Burke to await their fates, although Tom Bergeron noted that they weren't necessarily the two lowest scoring couples. Penn & Kym were told to hit the road, and Penn said that he and Kym would perform next week in the parking lot.

With the men's voting results announced, it was time to find out which of the female celebrities would move on to next week. Shannon Elizabeth & Derek Hough were the first couple to get the good news.

In a special pre-taped segment, Cameron Mathison donned his Superman outfit from last season and interviewed folks on the streets of New York City about the current season's contestants. Some poor guy will forever be teased by his friends for telling Cameron he's rooting for "Monica Guchi." Then again, the guy's friends may not want to admit they watch DwtS. The bit wasn't as good as Dance Center, but it wasn't as bad as Jimmy Kimmel & Guillermo.

Two more performances stood between viewers and the results. Jacques Heim choreographed a Cirque du Soleil-style routine that combined aerial acrobatics with dancing.

And the Jonas Brothers returned to perform "When You Look Me in the Eyes," accompanied by DwtS pros Cheryl and Louis.

Following those performances, Samantha interviewed the Hough siblings and their respective partners. Adam commandeered the interview, first suggesting that the good-looking Houghs be bred in a lab. And when Julianne rhetorically asked, "Who paired us together?" Adam replied, "God did," and looked skyward.

Finally, Marlee Matlin & Fabian Sanchez, Kristi & Mark, and Priscilla Presley & Louis van Amstel learned that they were safe as well. Tom mentioned again that the two remaining pairs -- Monica Seles & Jonathan Roberts and Marissa Jaret Winokur & Tony Dovolani -- weren't necessarily the two lowest vote-getters among the women.

Monica & Jonathan were then told that they were out. Despite leaving so soon, Monica said she's learned to love dancing and plans to keep it up.

Every season, the outro songs are notoriously cruel, but tonight's song seemed especially so. Sheryl Crow's "The First Cut Is the Deepest" would've been a fine choice, if it weren't for the fact that Monica was once stabbed in the back during a tennis match by a deranged fan.

Ox Notes: March 25, 2008

At last night's Dancing with the Stars Performance Show, Carrie Ann Inaba told TV Guide she expects the easy camaraderie between this season's stars to disappear after tonight's first Results Show: "It's then that all this happy stuff goes away."

Entertainment Tonight filed its own backstage report from last night's show.

As expected, DwtS won in the ratings during all two hours of its Week 2 Performance Show.

TV Guide also has a report on the Dancing with the Stars panel discussion at last weekend's Paley Fest.

Cheryl Burke and Drew Lachey spoke with Extra about the rumors of a romantic encounter on the recent DwtS Tour.

In TV development news, the Futon Critic has an update on shows going into production.

Variety has a pair of informative articles about Hollywood's unexpectedly slow recovery after the strike and the disappearance of sitcoms based on stand-up comedy routines.

DwtS 6, Week 2: Performances

The stars and their partners had one last chance to avoid being one of the first two couples eliminated from Dancing with the Stars 6.

Steve Guttenberg & Anna Trebunskaya -- Mambo
While not a perfect Mambo, Steve & Anna did what they knew would work. Their routine was fun and cute, right down to Anna's rainbow sherbet-colored dress. And Steve played to the studio audience while Anna handled the fancy footwork.

After some confusing cooking references, Len Goodman said, "Tonight, it just didn't really work for me." Bruno Tonioli told Steve, "All the energy went into the facial expressions, so the body died and technique went down the drain." Carrie Ann Inaba added, "You got the audience behind you, but it didn't really go anywhere. But you guys looked cute."

Judges' Scores: Carrie Ann...6, Len...5, Bruno...5 = 16/30



Cristian de la Fuente & Cheryl Burke -- Quickstep
Cristian certainly took the judges' advice about his posture, and the couple's performance was fast and energetic. Cheryl's polka dotted dress looked more appropriate for a Paso Doble, but hers was hardly the most questionable wardrobe decision of the night.

Carrie Ann told Cristian, "Your posture was so much improved. Your footwork could be a hair sharper." Len quipped, "It was faster than wind from a duck's bottom," adding, "It had a bit of a wildness about it." Bruno said, "The performance was good."

Judges' Scores: Carrie Ann...7, Len...6, Bruno...7 = 20/30



Monica Seles & Jonathan Roberts -- Mambo
While she seemed slightly more relaxed than last week, Monica is so uncomfortable that she can't throw herself completely into the dancing. She doesn't finish her arm movements, and her facial expressions look forced. It was better, but not good enough.

Bruno told Monica, "You have to connect with the music." Carrie Ann said, "This week, you came out and you attacked it. This is a huge step for you." Len said, "You tried your hardest. But there are just so many technical problems at the moment."

Judges' Scores: Carrie Ann...5, Len...5, Bruno...5 = 15/30



Penn Jillette & Kym Johnson -- Quickstep
The routine opened with Penn sticking pins in a voodoo doll that looked like Bruno -- never a good sign. Penn still looks heavy when he moves, and the height disparity between him and Kym is hard to ignore. Penn went on to interrupt the judges throughout their comments.

Len urged Penn to "spend a bit of time getting your feet sorted out." Bruno agreed, "The footwork was really, really, really bad. Atrocious." Carrie Ann stayed upbeat: "I enjoyed watching you."

Judges' Scores: Carrie Ann...6, Len...6, Bruno...5 = 17/30



Priscilla Presley & Louis van Amstel -- Mambo
Priscilla tried for sex appeal in a leopard print gown, and ended the performance by crawling toward the camera like a cat, but the majority of the routine was PG-rated. It wasn't the speediest Mambo ever, but it was good.

Carrie Ann called Priscilla "so glamorous and so sexy." Len appreciated technical aspects of the dance, but wanted more, "Go on, girl, give it a bit." Bruno agreed: "This was very good, very well placed,... but go for that sexuality that we know you have."

Judges' Scores: Carrie Ann...7, Len...7, Bruno...7 = 21/30



Shannon Elizabeth & Derek Hough -- Quickstep
It looks like Shannon needed to get one nervous performance out of the way, because she showed some real talent tonight. Her footwork was strong, and she did some impressive detail work with her hands. The routine was fun and it showcased the great chemistry between Shannon & Derek.

Bruno exclaimed, "That's what dancing's all about! This is what we want! You're in the game." Carrie Ann said, "That was a very difficult routine. You nailed it." Len called the performance the "best dance so far tonight."

Judges' Scores: Carrie Ann...8, Len...8, Bruno...8 = 24/30



Jason Taylor & Edyta Sliwinska -- Mambo
Edyta is such a dynamic performer that she couldn't help but steal the show, but Jason proved that he's no slouch. The routine was exciting and ended with a move that was really cool, if not totally within the rules. Good thing the judges aren't calling the couples out on lifts yet.

Len told Jason, "You're a winner," and Bruno called him "the Mambo King." Carrie Ann said, "I think you're a real contender. I think you've got a great shot at winning this thing."

Judges' Scores: Carrie Ann...9, Len...9, Bruno...9 = 27/30



Marissa Jaret Winokur & Tony Dovolani -- Quickstep
Marissa had a lot of energy, and this week she was able to keep enough control to remember the routine. Unfortunately, her unflattering hot pink dress was the most memorable part of the performance. She and Tony need to raise their game next week if they want to stay in the competition for the long haul.

Carrie Ann said, "Your synchronicity was just off." Len told Marissa, "You make me smile. You're lovely and bubbly." Bruno added, "Much better than last week."

Judges' Scores: Carrie Ann...7, Len...7, Bruno...7 = 21/30



Adam Carolla & Julianne Hough -- Mambo
At one point in the routine, Adam did a backwards somersault, so this wasn't a strict interpretation of a Mambo. But it was funny, and there were moments when Adam actually looked light on his feet. Plus, Julianne looks like she's having a legitimately good time dancing with Adam, which makes their performances enjoyable to watch.

Bruno told Adam, "You're not a natural dancer, but you made me laugh. That's a plus." Carrie Ann noted, "That wasn't quite a Mambo, but it was cute and you gave it your best." Len said, "I thought it was brilliant. I think part of the show is to be entertained, and I think that's what you did."

Judges' Scores: Carrie Ann...6, Len...7, Bruno...6 = 19/30



Marlee Matlin & Fabian Sanchez -- Quickstep
The music had an unusual Mambo feel to it, which the duo acknowledged with a few moves at the start of the routine. Marlee overcame the challenge of being unable to look at Fabian while in hold, and her timing was perfect throughout the fast routine. To his credit, Fabian has given Marlee two difficult routines, and she's shown that she's totally able to pull them off.

Len told the couple, "I think that you've got great potential to go a long way in this competition." Bruno said, "That was a Mambo-ish Quickstep. It could've been more traditional, but very well executed." Carrie Ann told Marlee, "You have this incredible musicality when you dance. You have this natural way of bringing to life the style of the dance."

Judges' Scores: Carrie Ann...8, Len...8, Bruno...8 = 24/30



Kristi Yamaguchi & Mark Ballas -- Mambo
Kristi gave the performance of the night: fast, fun, and sharp. Like last week, it was well beyond what anyone would expect at this point in the competition. Kristi's cheetah-print gloves were a fitting tribute to Mark's girlfriend and former partner, Sabrina Bryan (she was in the audience), who started out so strong last season.

Carrie Ann enthused, "I think the other couples are going to have a really hard time beating you in the scores. You are so precise." Len said, "You've done it again. Fantastic." Bruno agreed: "Fast, sharp, exuberant. Great choreography."

Judges' Scores: Carrie Ann...9, Len...9, Bruno...9 = 27/30



Mario & Karina Smirnoff -- Quickstep
This couple gets the award for most inexplicable outfits of the night. Dancing to what sounded like '60s girl-group pop, Mario wore a jacket with tails but no sleeves, and Karina wore a harem girl costume. I was so distracted that I could hardly pay attention to the routine, apart from Karina's flying leap off the stage at the beginning.

Bruno said they looked like "Mario and the Queen of Sheba." Len told Mario, "Your footwork was pretty good. Your hold was funny. You've gotta work on the finesse." Carrie Ann said, "You're always gonna bring this special vibe."

Judges' Scores: Carrie Ann...9, Len...8, Bruno...9 = 26/30



After combining this week's scores with their scores from last week, here's how the couples rank:

Judges' Leaderboard (60 Points Possible)
54 -- Kristi & Mark
50 -- Mario & Karina
49 -- Jason & Edyta
46 -- Marlee & Fabian
45 -- Priscilla & Louis, Shannon & Derek
41 -- Cristian & Cheryl
39 -- Marissa & Tony
34 -- Steve & Anna, Adam & Julianne
33 -- Penn & Kym
30 -- Monica & Jonathan

For the most part, I'm in agreement with the judges' rankings of the couples thus far. On Tuesday night's first Results Show of the season, one male celebrity and one female celebrity will be eliminated. It seems a good bet that Monica Seles will be the woman going home.

Among the men, it's a toss up between Penn, Steve, and Adam. Of the three, Penn's my pick to hit the road, but there's really no way to predict which one will go.

Kristi shouldn't be in any danger for quite a while, but Sabrina's departure last season has left me a little paranoid. So, Kristi's getting a couple of my votes. I'm splitting the rest evenly between Adam and Steve. Of the lesser male contestants, they're the ones I most enjoy watching -- on and off the dance floor.

Ox Notes: March 24, 2008

With Dancing with the Stars 6's second week of performances set to kick off in a few hours, there's plenty of DwtS news to go around.

Last week's highest scoring man, Mario, told the Baltimore Sun that he's a bit nervous about tonight's Quickstep. Jason Taylor writes at ESPN.com that he's more relaxed for his Mambo, but recommends: "Just keep an eye on Edyta and you won't see all the things I screw up."

One of last week's high scoring women, Marlee Matlin, spoke with TV Guide about her budding six-pack abs. And Jimmy Kimmel confessed to People that his intentions weren't good when he urged pal Adam Carolla to sign on for Dancing with the Stars: "I'm always tricking him into doing something that might potentially be embarrassing."

When Monica Seles's Dancing days are over, she'll get right to work on a memoir due out in May 2009.

In other news, MSN has a list of entertaining TV dramas that might actually teach you a thing or two about history.

American Idol announced that Dolly Parton, Mariah Carey, and Neil Diamond will drop by the show this season to mentor the contestants and perform. And just by typing Neil Diamond's name, I'm guaranteed to have "Cracklin' Rosie" stuck in my head for the rest of the day.

Ox Notes: March 20, 2008

I'm taking today and tomorrow off, but I just noticed a TV Guide interview with Survivor's Chet and Jonathan, and a local news interview with Dancing with the Stars contestant Penn Jillette. Have a great weekend!

Ox Notes: March 19, 2007

Survivor fans, take note: A new episode of Survivor: Micronesia airs tonight at 8 ET/7 CT, instead of in its usual Thursday night timeslot, to make way for college basketball. People has an interview with Jonathan and Chet. Jonathan elaborated on his medical situation and explained some of the strategic moves that didn't make it on air to Reality TV World.

Also on TV tonight is finale of The Gauntlet III on MTV. Although the contestants spend most of the time when they're not competing in challenges getting drunk, show producers say they don't actually provide the contestants with booze. Producers just provide the contestants with money so that they can buy the booze themselves.

Competing directly with American Idol dealt a serious blow to Dancing with the Stars' ratings; last night's show was watched by an average of 16.8 million viewers, down from 20.9 million the night before.

TV Guide and People have backstage reports from the show, and Entertainment Tonight correspondent Helio Castroneves interviewed all of the ladies. Mel B is still struggling as a correspondent for Access Hollywood; during her interviews, she accidentally made Monica Seles and Shannon Elizabeth cry.

People has an article about new pro dancer Fabian Sanchez, and TV Guide has a video interview with Monica Seles and Steve Guttenberg, filmed before they took the floor this week.

There's plenty of Dancing with the Stars gossip making headlines today. Marissa Jaret Winokur tells People that a surrogate is carrying her first child with husband, Judah Miller.

And Star Magazine reports that Drew Lachey and Cheryl Burke were caught in an affair during the recent DwtS tour, an allegation that the Season 2 champs' reps deny.

The Miss USA Pageant is being taken over by former DwtS contestants. Marie Osmond will host the pageant with her brother, Donny, and Heather Mills will serve as one of the judges.

Variety announced some of writer Rob Thomas' plans for his upcoming Beverly Hills, 90210 spinoff, including making the cast more multicultural than the original series.

DwtS 6 Premiere Week: The Women

In part two of the Dancing with the Stars 6 premiere, Ladies' Night was full of surprises

Shannon Elizabeth & Derek Hough -- Cha Cha Cha
Shannon has a fantastic body, and Derek did his best to make her look good. The choreography was fun and flirty, and it allowed Shannon to show some natural grace. The performance needed refining, but this couple has some real potential.

Len Goodman said, "Great start to this evening. You didn't straighten your legs, so you lost a little bit of hip action." Bruno Tonioli called Shannon a "sexy minx," adding, "You've got great legs, so learn how to use them." Carrie Ann Inaba told Shannon, "You have such great energy, and such confidence."

Judges' Scores: Carrie Ann...7, Len...7, Bruno...7 = 21/30



Monica Seles & Jonathan Roberts -- Fox Trot
Tough tennis player Monica's bubblegum pink dress was girly, if not flattering. She spent several bars of the intro sitting on the steps, perhaps indicating of a lack of confidence on Jonathan's part. Monica looked uncomfortable throughout the performance, and she moved awkwardly, as well.

Bruno suggested to Monica, "Engage the center of the body." Len said, "I liked all that story that you told," but he agreed with Bruno: "Lift it to shift it, and move round that floor." Carrie Ann told Monica, "The energy that you used in tennis -- you have to move the space. It's not so different than you think."

Judges' Scores: Carrie Ann...5, Len...5, Bruno...5 = 15/30



Marissa Jaret Winokur & Tony Dovolani -- Cha Cha Cha
Simple, bland choreography sunk this routine. Marissa had very little to do, and it was hardly recognizable as a Cha Cha Cha. Tony, wearing shiny pants that made him look, in the words of Tom Bergeron, like a "macho oil slick," seemed to underestimate his partner's ability.

Carrie Ann said, "I don't think there was enough content for a Cha Cha." Bruno liked Marissa's "eye-popping pep and personality." Len addressed Tony: "This girl's got more talent than that showed."

Judges' Scores: Carrie Ann...6, Len...6, Bruno...6 = 18/30



Priscilla Presley & Louis van Amstel -- Fox Trot
There is nothing about Priscilla that says "62." She looked confident and moved effortlessly. On top of that, she completed a death spiral without breaking a hip. A surprisingly strong opening performance.

Len enthused, "It was a proper Fox Trot. No gimmicks, no props." Bruno agreed: "This was an uncompromising, smoking hot Fox Trot." Carrie Ann told Priscilla, "You just proved to so many people that age is just a number, because you were the queen of that dance floor."

Judges' Scores: Carrie Ann...8, Len...8, Bruno...8 = 24/30



Kristi Yamaguchi & Mark Ballas -- Fox Trot
As the music began, Mark immediately spun Kristi into a dip, just to make sure that everyone knew they came to win. Kristi's beautiful extension was accentuated by a glamorous gold dress, and Mark looked dashing in his tux. Already, they look like a pair of champions.

Bruno cheered, "Absolutely wicked! Timing! Precision! For the first round, one of the best performances I've ever seen." Carrie Ann said, "You made it look effortless." Len, struggling to find something to criticize, told Kristi to work on her pivots.

Judges' Scores: Carrie Ann...9, Len...9, Bruno...9 = 27/30



Fabian Sanchez & Marlee Matlin -- Cha Cha Cha
Marlee & Fabian put any doubt about her ability to dance to rest with this routine. Marlee was always in time with her partner and the music, and she danced with great enthusiasm.

Carrie Ann echoed the enthusiastic studio audience: "That was almost unbelievable. You are so fluid, you move with such ease." Len said, "You had great choreography. Just try to control your arms when you dance." Bruno noted, "I counted all the way through, and you hardly missed a beat."

Judges' Scores: Carrie Ann...7, Len...7, Bruno...8 = 22/30



Judges' Leaderboard:
27 -- Kristi & Mark
24 -- Priscilla & Louis
22 -- Marlee & Fabian
21 -- Shannon & Derek
18 -- Marissa & Tony
15 -- Monica & Jonathan

As with the men, there appears to be a clear front runner among the women. Kristi has a significant lead over the other celebrity dancers. But Priscilla, Marlee, and Shannon showed real potential, and they should make the competition very interesting. I'm splitting my votes between the four of them.

Monica is way out of her comfort zone and probably doesn't have as much time as she would need to embrace dancing. Unless she shows some major improvement in her next performance on Monday night, she should be the first woman to go.

Marissa is in a tough spot. She may not have ballroom experience, but she has danced before, in front of live audiences even. Her problem seems to be Tony. His choreography was unfathomably simple, given Marissa's experience level. He focused too much attention on himself, perhaps misguidedly assuming that it would ease the pressure on Marissa.

Tony needs to start trusting Marissa and challenging her with more challenging choreography. If he doesn't, they'll be out before they even get started.

Ox Notes: March 18, 2007

There's naturally plenty of Dancing with the Stars news after last night's Season 6 premiere. But first...

CBS will air Secret Talents of the Stars on April 8. I planned to blow off the show until I read that George Takei is in the cast, and his "secret talent" is singing country music. Suddenly, the show is a must see for me.

NBC is getting into the food competition biz, tapping genius chef/madman Marco Pierre White to host The Chopping Block. White's contentious relationship with Mario Batali is detailed in the book Heat by Bill Buford, which I mentioned last week because it features one of the contestants from Top Chef: Chicago.

Things have gone well for some members of the Queer Eye for the Straight Guy crew since the show ended its run; Ted Allen is a part of the Top Chef family, and Carson Kressley has a show on Lifetime. Sadly, however, Jai Rodriguez has been relegated to hosting a dog grooming competition on Animal Planet.

Project Runway's Tim Gunn stops by tonight's episode of The Biggest Loser to makeover the contestants. The show starts at 8 ET on NBC, so I plan to catch an hour of it before the women hit the floor for part two of the Dancing with the Stars 6 premiere.

Last night's men's competition was watched by 20.9 million viewers. The women face a daunting challenge tonight: the first hour of DwtS is up against American Idol for the first time in show history.

Before last night's competition, Adam Carolla told MSN, "I think it's pretty clear to everybody that there's a separate competition going on between me, Penn Jillette and Steve Guttenberg. I fully expect to win the Clumsy Oaf Division."

People has details on the stunning black dress Samantha Harris wore last night, as well as a What You Didn't See report from backstage at the show.

TV Guide has its own backstage report from the show, and Entertainment Tonight has a report by special correspondent Helio Castroneves.

Access Hollywood had its special correspondent, Mel B, file a report from last night's show, and her charming lack of professionalism makes the video fun to watch. Mel repeatedly mentions her Top 3 Men, and only near the end of the video does it become clear that she's talking about picks she made before the couples danced. She'll get the hang of this journalism thing yet.

Before she dances tonight, Marissa Jaret Winokur stopped by the set of Entertainment Tonight to talk about rehearsals.

See everyone here tonight for our live in-show DwtS chat, starting at 9 ET/8 CT.

DwtS 6 Premiere Week: The Men

One dancer stood out from the crowd, as the men took the floor for the premiere of Dancing with the Stars 6.

A group performance by the DwtS pros kicked off the evening. Since Maksim Chmerkovskiy wasn't around to wear a vest with no shirt underneath, Tony Dovolani and his hairless chest happily took on that solemn duty.

Penn Jillette & Kym Johnson -- Cha Cha Cha
Kym was initially struck by how much shorter she is than Penn. Making the show's first ever reference to Pompeii, Penn said, "If there were a volcano and we were preserved, archaeologists in the future would assume that you were my dinner."

Penn enthusiastically slid across the floor during their Cha Cha, only he did it on his belly instead of his feet. The big guy can move, but not smoothly. There's plenty of room for growth. Mercifully, he limited the magic tricks to pulling some flowers out of his vest at the end of their routine, presenting the artificial buds to Kym.

Len Goodman told Penn, "I thought you captured the flavor of the Cha Cha Cha. Your problem was your feet." Bruno Tonioli agreed: "It was like watching a trailer for 'Shrek Goes Cha Cha Cha'." Carrie Ann Inaba commended Penn for his "great energy...great attitude."

Judges Scores: Carrie Ann...5, Len...6, Bruno...5 = 16/30



Jason Taylor & Edyta Sliwinska -- Fox Trot
The teasing began as soon as pro football player Jason announced that he'd be ballroom dancing on TV: "My poker friends gave me a tutu. A pink one."

For a big, macho guy, Jason is surprising fluid in his movements. And his wide wingspan highlights his great extension. Most importantly, he and Edyta looked like they were having fun together.

Len joked with Jason, "You are a good looking guy. It's like looking in a mirror," before adding, "You've got great posture. Now you've just gotta try and act the dance a little bit." Carrie Ann said, "I love the detail with your hands." Bruno recommended "a little bit more drive. Romance. Heat."

Judges Scores: Carrie Ann...7, Len...8, Bruno...7 = 22/30



Cristian de la Fuente & Cheryl Burke -- Cha Cha Cha
Upon learning that Cheryl was his partner, Cristian cheered, "I have a chance to win!"

Cristian's stellar footwork made his hunched posture look that much worse. But once Cheryl applies some of the same posture correcting techniques that worked on Drew Lachey, Cristian will be in great shape to succeed in the competition.

Carrie Ann told Cristian, "You gotta watch your shoulders." Bruno added the visual, "It looks like you're riding a bike." Len warned Cristian, "Work on it for next week. You're doing the Quickstep. If your posture's no good, you're gonna get terrible marks."

Judges Scores: Carrie Ann...7, Len...7, Bruno...7 = 21/30




Adam Carolla & Julianne Hough -- Fox Trot
As they rehearsed, Adam asked Julianne, "Are there any dances that favor the guys with the rolled shoulders and the low self-esteem?" Dances that require chemistry could be a problem, given Adam's concern about their age difference. He told Julianne, "I feel like your dad's watching the show, and I'm gonna try to suck his daughter into my groin. I was raised better than that."

The dance started out a little slow, and Adam's posture was stiff. But halfway through the routine, Julianne included a choreographic masterstroke: she made Adam high kick. This made him laugh, which loosened him up for the last few measures of the performance.

Bruno said, "There is a lot of work to do." Len told Adam, "Your footwork was good. You've gotta just relax a little bit." In response, Adam asked Len, "I'm supposed to get in a 9-piece suit in front of 25 million people and relax doing something I'm horrible at?" Carrie Ann said, "You had these moments when I thought, 'Ooh, almost'."

Upon receiving their scores, Adam told Julianne, "Good news! You can hit the road and promote the country album early this year, 'cause there ain't gonna be no three-peat in your future, honey."

Judges Scores: Carrie Ann...5, Len...5, Bruno...5 = 15/30



Mario & Karina Smirnoff -- Cha Cha Cha
Things were going well in rehearsal until Karina had to have surgery on a herniated disc in her neck.

Karina looked to be in tip-top shape during their performance. None of the men are even in the same league as Mario, and despite his protests to the contrary, I think his experience dancing hip-hop is an asset.

Carrie Ann exclaimed, "Dang! You can dance!" Len warned Mario about his "heel leads," which is Len code for "I couldn't find anything else to criticize." Bruno asked, "Karina, do you have a monopoly on hot Marios?"

Judges Scores: Carrie Ann...8, Len...8, Bruno...8 = 24/30



Steve Guttenberg & Anna Trebunskaya -- Fox Trot
Steve is a fan of the show, and he was a little starstruck when he met Anna. He remained upbeat during practice: "I've nailed the Fox Trot in my mind, and now my body just needs to get on board."

Speaking of Steve's body, dude is ripped for a guy about to turn 50. He started off a little stiff and slow, but he just looked so damned happy to be out there that you can't help but root for him. His potential started to show as the routine progressed and he relaxed a bit.

Bruno said, "It started a bit shakily. It was a little bit like a graduation from the Billy Ray Academy of Dance." Carrie Ann told Steve he was "charming," but warned, "Watch your musicality." Len said, "Your smile is infectious. You've gotta work on your technique, but as a performance, it was really, really good."

Judges Scores: Carrie Ann...6, Len...6, Bruno...6 = 18/30



Before the show concluded, Tom Bergeron chatted with the female stars, who will dance Tuesday night. He gave Marissa Jaret Winokur and Shannon Elizabeth a hard time for allegedly betting on what the judges would say after each of the men's performances.

Judges Leaderboard:
24 -- Mario & Karina
22 -- Jason & Edyta
21 -- Cristian & Cheryl
18 -- Steve & Anna
16 -- Penn & Kym
15 -- Adam & Julianne

Mario was undoubtedly the standout performer of the night. But all of my votes are going to Adam Carolla for one simple reason: Kenny Mayne.

Kenny, you may recall, was a terrible dancer. He was the first celebrity eliminated from Season 2, and his partner, Andrea Hale, never returned to the show. But he's since hosted several hilarious editions of Dance Center.

So, based on what we know about Kenny now, would you still have voted to keep Tatum O'Neal on the show instead of him? Giselle Fernandez? MASTER P?!

People, this is our chance to right the wrong we all unwittingly committed against Kenny Mayne four seasons ago. SAVE ADAM CAROLLA! Only one mediocre dancer can go home each week, and there are several to choose from. Let's keep the funny guy around, at least for a few more weeks.

Ox Notes: March 17, 2007

Today's post is an all Dancing with the Stars edition of Ox Notes. Season 6 premieres tonight at 8 ET, with either the best or worst cast ever, depending on which newspaper you read.

If you're still unfamiliar with some of the cast members, TV Guide's All Things Dancing with the Stars blog has star bios. And, of course, there's plenty of information at the official ABC DwtS website.

ABC's DwtS site offers a couple of new features this season, including weekly dance tutorials with Carrie Ann Inaba, and insights into the pro dancers' fitness regimes.

Throughout the season, fans of Monica Seles will be able to keep up with her on a special blog at the Tennis Channel's website.

Based on recent interviews, Marlee Matlin, Cristian de la Fuente, and Jason Taylor sound ready for their dance floor debuts. And DwtS pro Mark Ballas told People that his partner, Kristi Yamaguchi, is "very pretty to watch in the ballroom."

Tonight's show will feature performances by the six male celebrities, and the six female celebs will dance tomorrow night. Next week, all twelve couples will perform on Monday, and scores and votes from that night will be combined with the scores and votes from this week.

During the season's first Results Show next Tuesday, one male and one female celebrity will be eliminated from the show. Based on everything but their dance ability, here's how I've ranked this season's couples.

The Men
6. Adam Carolla & Julianne Hough
5. Penn Jillette & Kym Johnson
4. Steve Guttenberg & Anna Trebunskaya
3. Jason Taylor & Edyta Sliwinska
2. Mario & Karina Smirnoff
1. Cristian de la Fuenta & Cheryl Burke

The Women
6. Shannon Elizabeth & Derek Hough
5. Marissa Jaret Winokur & Tony Dovolani
4. Priscilla Presley & Louis van Amstel
3. Marlee Matlin & Fabian Sanchez
2. Monica Seles & Jonathan Roberts
1. Kristi Yamaguchi & Mark Ballas

Given that Julianne Hough has mentioned in several interviews how clumsy Adam Carolla is, this seems like the couple who could be in the biggest danger tonight. But Julianne is very popular, and she might also be clever enough to find a creative way to work around Adam's inherent awkwardness.

Tomorrow night, Shannon Elizabeth and Marissa Jaret Winokur should both be nervous, given the star power of the women they're competing against. Marissa's a Broadway actress, so she's got a leg up on Shannon in terms of dance ability. Shannon has the more charming partner, but I'm not sure that will be enough to ingratiate her to an audience made up of older adults who probably didn't see American Pie.

My early prediction for the finale is that Kristi Yamaguchi will edge out Cristian de la Fuenta for the win. But, just like my predictions for which couples will be first to go, they don't mean anything until I've seen the couples dance.

Which couples do you think will be first to go? Who are your early favorites to win?

Ox Notes: March 14, 2007

Last night's episode of Survivor: Micronesia was a doozy. Even though I knew it was coming, I teared up when Jonathan Penner had to leave the game for medical treatment. And I can't believe Chet ruined one of the biggest blindsides ever and passed on the chance to make himself a Survivor legend. Instead, he'll forever be remembered as that useless beauty pageant guy.

Veronica Mars creator Rob Thomas (no, not the guy from Matchbox 20) has two cool projects in the works. He's reviving his short-lived show Cupid for ABC, and the CW has commissioned him to write a Beverly Hills, 90210 spin-off.

Nickelodeon is working on a couple of interesting projects of its own. The kids' network has plans for a dance competition show for teens, and is preparing to launch a multiplayer online green game to promote environmental awareness.

Cast members of Battlestar Galactica will present a special Top 10 List on Late Night with David Letterman on Wednesday, March 19, presumably to help promote Tuesday's release of the BSG Season 3 DVD.

I just noticed a totally kick-ass feature at TVShowsOnDVD.com. They have a complete list of Amazon sales on TV show DVD sets that is updated hourly, and can be sorted by the percentage discounted off the suggested retail price, with a minimum of 35% off. As of this writing, there are 279 titles available for 50% off or more. Sweet!

Evil Dead director Sam Raimi is working on a new horror reality show for the CW. 13, which debuts this summer, will eliminate contests through a series of scary challenges.

This show sounds an awful lot like MTV's Fear, which tortured willing young adults by sending them to supposedly haunted locales and making them sit alone in the dark for hours at a time. Believe it or not, it was exceptionally entertaining to watch contestants freak themselves out.

Take, for example, my favorite contestant, Holly. One of her challenges at a haunted military academy involved enduring a mild electrical shock. Her whiny valley girl voice made her exaggeration of the pain and minimal understanding of electrical conductivity all the more memorable: "I hope nothing's physically wrong with me. I have piercings on my body and stuff." (Quote is at the 5:00 mark in the video below.)



I hope to see you all on Monday night for our first Dancing with the Stars live chat of Season 6. A post at the MOIB homepage will direct you to the chat, and we'll discuss the show live during the East Coast broadcast, which starts at 8 EST. West Coasters and those outside the U.S. are welcome to join in if you just can't wait to find out what happened on the show.

Can't wait to talk to you on Monday night!

Ox Notes: March 12, 2007

Marlee Matlin was interviewed during rehearsal for Dancing with the Stars 6, and said, "We're all challenged in some way. ... The only thing I can't do is hear." Her partner, new pro Fabian Sanchez said, "She's got a natural rhythm. She's on time every single time."

MOIB reader Marina alerted me to these photos of Marissa Jaret Winokur rehearsing with her partner, Tony Dovolani. And this article about Mario contains information about the charity he founded to assist young people with drug-addicted parents.

Nick Lachey is looking to remake Fame as a reality show for MTV.

Online video service Hulu is now up and running.

Joel, the most recent castaway voted off of Survivor: Micronesia, told TV Guide that he is a big fan of Cirie, even though she's the one responsible for getting him voted off.

Another Survivor: Micronesia contestant, Jonny Fairplay, has been asked by a judge to provide more information as to why he feels Fox Reality Channel is to blame for Danny Bonaduce (justifiably) body slamming him at the network's awards show.

The contestants for Hell's Kitchen 4, which premieres on Fox on April 1, have been announced.

The best competitive cooking show on television -- Top Chef -- debuts its fourth season tonight on Bravo. Guest judge Ted Allen spoke with TV Guide about this season's Chicago setting, and admitted, "If I were in this cast, I would be the first one kicked off."

An MSN.com article about Top Chef: Chicago reveals that contestant Manuel Trevino may be better known to some viewers by his nickname, Memo. He was the sous chef at Mario Batali's Babbo restaurant featured in Bill Buford's book, Heat. The book is a great read, and I might have to break out my copy and reread it during the season.

Ox Notes: March 11, 2007

Marissa Jarrett Winokur gave an interview recently in which she talked about fighting for her spot in the cast of Dancing with the Stars 6. And reigning DwtS champ Helio Castroneves disclosed the advice he gave to one of Winokur's competitors, Jason Taylor.

In a Salon interview, DwtS vet Mark Cuban started out talking about having hip surgery weeks before dancing on national TV, but ended with some insights into how technology has changed the way we watch sports on television.

MSNBC announced that the afternoon news show helmed by DwtS vet Tucker Carlson has been officially dropped in favor of Race for the White House With David Gregory.

Britney Spears is scheduled to appear on an upcoming episode of How I Met Your Mother.

Production permits for scripted TV shows have been slow to pick up since the end of the writer's strike, although the number of permits for new reality shows remains high.

I wish the permit for TLC's new show Date My House, hosted by former Bachelor Bob Guiney, had been denied. The show, in which Guiney helps makeover houses before prospective buyers go on a "speed date" with them, just sounds stupid.

Another new reality show in the works will follow Motley Crue front man Vince Neil as his lives with and cares for his elderly parents. No network has picked up the show yet, and I kind of hope it stays that way.

MTV is working on a few new music-themed reality shows of its own. The one I'm most looking forward to is Rock the Cradle, in which the children of rock stars compete to see which of the offspring is the best singer.

This may be one of the few MTV shows that parents would want to watch with their kids, and kids might need their elders around to explain who the competitors' famous parents are. I'd bet my acid-washed jeans that most 15-year-olds aren't into Kenny Loggins, Joe Walsh, or Eddie Money -- even though they should be.

Ox Notes: March 10, 2007

The Dancing with the Stars pros are hitting the interview circuit one week ahead of the DwtS 6 premiere. ABC has an interview with Cheryl Burke, and a CBS news story excerpted segments from CosmoGirl's cover story on Julianne Hough.

Results from a survey by Spike TV and TVGuide.com show that Cheryl and Julianne are two of the reasons why men say they watch Dancing with the Stars.

Former DwtS champ Apolo Anton Ohno medaled at this weekend's short track speed skating world championships.

After Elton has an interview with Project Runway 4 runner-up, Rami Kashou. And the Chicago Tribune's Maureen Ryan has a juicy interview with Tim Gunn, who has strong opinions on "sourpuss" PR 4 contestant, Victorya Hong.

WE's new reality show/documentary, High School Confidential, debuts tonight, promising sex, drugs, and teen pregnancy within a group of Kansas high school students.

The Futon Critic has a round up of info on new shows in the works at various networks.

Old shows like Gilmore Girls will be coming back when the WB relaunches as an online network.

Late night talk show's have lost about 20% of their viewers in the last year.

A couple in New York were married by comedian Kathy Griffin over the weekend. If only I'd had the foresight, I would've asked Snarf from the Thundercats to officiate at my wedding.

Ox Notes: March 7, 2008

Christian Siriano is all over the place after winning Project Runway 4. People has another interview with him, and he explained his fierceness scale to TV Guide. The PR 4 finale was watched by 5.18 million viewers.

Fellow designer Jack Mackenroth, who left mid-season due to illness, told People he's thinking about returning for Project Runway 5, even though Tim Gunn and Christian think it might not be a good idea.

The fourth season of The Deadliest Catch returns to Discovery on April 15. The crews of the Northwestern, Time Bandit, Cornelia Marie, and Wizard will be back for the upcoming season, along with the crews of two new boats: the North American and the Early Dawn.

VH-1 announced plans for four more new reality shows in 2008. Celebrity Rehab wraps up its first season on VH-1 tonight, with an episode Reality Blurred describes as so honest that it's as compelling as it is hard to watch.

Lost producer Carlton Cuse was likewise a little more honest than I wanted him to be when he explained to TV Guide how the show's make-up crew created a fake beard for Desmond (Henry Ian Cusick) out of Cusick's own beard hair. Yuck.

Last night's episode of Survivor: Micronesia was brutal. Immediately after choosing new tribes (Zap2It's recap includes the lineups of New Malakal and New Airai), teams competed in the most dangerous challenge in the show's history, and all for the reward of a steak BBQ.

Pairs of players from each tribe were tied together by a rope, and each pair took turns chasing another pair from the opposing tribe through a wooden obstacle course. As competitors ran through the muddy maze, navigating over, under, and around the wooden beams, it was almost impossible to avoid injury.

Jason's rope got tangled and he slammed into a tree. Parvati slipped and got a fat lip. Ami twisted her knee. A stick punctured Jonathan Penner's leg. And Joel refused to give his partner, Chet, time to stand up after slipping, and instead dragged Chet behind him, slamming Chet's head into wooden beams along the way.

Penner returned to camp with only a gauze bandage over his clearly painful leg wound. Later that night, a doctor was dispatched to camp to disinfect the wound and close it with three stitches. Penner participated in the Immunity Challenge, but previews for next week's episode show medics diagnosing him with an infection that could become fatal without treatment.

While the rule has been that, if you have to leave camp for medical treatment you're out of the game, don't the producers bear some responsibility for causing the injury? Were the challenge testers that good that none of them got hurt when running a trial of the course? The circumstances of Penner's injury are clearly not the same as when Michael Skupin fell into the fire during Survivor: Australia.

I admit that I'm partially upset because my favorite player is the one who's injured. But I'd feel the same had Chet sustained a concussion during the challenge and needed to be kept under medical observation. The producers got exactly what they wanted when Joel began dragging Chet around like a sack of potatoes (and I admit that I laughed the whole time), and they bear some responsibility for the outcome.

Now that I've got my rant out of the way, props to Cirie for being the most calculating and persuasive player to ever play the game. She's not looking too far ahead, and she never goes ahead with a plan unless she has an airtight explanation for why it's the only way to go. She's amazing, and I hope that it's a long time before Ozzy realizes she's been manipulating him all along.

Ox Notes: March 6, 2008

Project Runway 4 crowned a winner last night, and USA Today and People have interviews with the lucky designer. All three finalists' collections are up for bid as well.

Bravo's website posted its own interview with the winner of Project Runway, including some funny photos. The site also features a blog post by Tim Gunn, Michael Kors' advice for the winner, and a short Q&A with one of the losing designers, who said Victoria Beckham judged "by shopping."

Starting in August, TLC's fashion makeover show What Not to Wear will be paired with a show from Real Simple magazine, which aims to teach women how to simplify their lives.

VH-1 is working on a show called I Know My Kid's a Star, in which parents and their kids compete to see if they've got what it takes to make it in Hollywood. The show will be hosted by Danny Bonaduce, the poster child for why pushing your kid into showbiz at a young age is a bad idea.

The chances are good that Friday Night Lights will be back.

Big Brother 9 split up its competing couples last night, meaning that the show will continue for at least eight more weeks.

TV Guide interviewed the most recent Survivor voted out of Micronesia, Mikey B, who still harbors a grudge against Tracy for letting the Fans waste three days constructing unusable shelters before revealing that she builds houses for a living.

Tuesday's presidential primaries may have been a boon for cable news networks, but they marked the start of my official vacation from election coverage. For the rest of the month, I'm avoiding CNN and MSNBC (don't worry, I'll keep up with other news on the Internet.) There's only so much gossip-mongering I can take from guys like Tim Russert and Chris Matthews.

Ox Notes: March 5, 2008

Project Runway 4 concludes tonight on Bravo, and People interviewed Chris March, the last contestant cut before the finale. In order to keep the finalists' identities a secret at Fashion Week, Chris and fellow auf'd designer Sweet P presented collections that won't be shown in the finale, but are being auctioned online for charity.

Top Chef: Chicago, which assumes Project Runway's timeslot next Wednesday, announced which corporate sponsors will have products integrated into the show this season. I'd hate to be the guest judge for Clorox week.

Former Dancing with the Stars pro Maksim Chmerkovskiy thinks the four couples to watch this season are Christian & Cheryl, Jason & Edyta, Kristi & Mark, and Monica & Jonathan.

Mario Lopez is taking the skills he learned on DwtS to Broadway, where he will star in a revival of A Chorus Line.

Another former DwtS contestant, Paulina Porizkova, spoke with TV Guide about her new gig as a judge on America's Next Top Model. Paulina's insights into the world of modeling makes the interview a great read.

The CW announced its spring schedule, and NBC released its plans for an "All-American Summer."

Variety's Brian Lowry suggests that network "specials" become less special when there are so many of them.

The Futon Critic has a TV development update, including news about a young adult book series called How to Teach Filthy Rich Girls, which is being turned into a TV series for the CW, a la Gossip Girl.

E! has a new show in the works called Living Lohan that will follow Dina Lohan's attempts to turn 14-year-old daughter Ali into a superstar, just like her big sis Lindsay. I'm assuming they'll save the inevitable late night boozing/stint in rehab story arc for Season 2.