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April 4, 2007
What Sanjaya can learn from Apolo
Love this; thanks to Melissa for sending these links!
Vizuble | Julianne Hough to fall for Apolo Anon Ohno?
Nice job by Melissa in setting the record straight!
Los Angeles Times | Sanjaya, cues you can use from Apolo
If you want to spiff up your image, not to mention your hair, take notes from the 'Dancing' contestant and former speed skater.
April 4, 2007
An open letter to Sanjaya Malakar:It's impossible to tell, at this point, whether you care what people in America actually think of you, or whether you're just waiting for the stupid contest to be over so you can just win and go do some more hula dancing in your back yard.
If, however, you are interested in cleaning up your image, it might help to take notes from Apolo Anton Ohno.
Rest of the letter is below the jump...
Sure, he's an Olympian and you're a 17-year-old, but the two of you have many parallels: you're both on major reality TV shows (you, "American Idol," he on "Dancing With the Stars"), you're both unthreateningly baby-faced, and you both have a wonderful all-American melting pot quality. However, there is a big difference between the two of you: Apolo rules, and you don't.Here is what you can learn from him:
--
The hair: Nothing says "I'm a rebel" and, simultaneously, "I'm a beautiful pony!" like a luxurious head of hair, which you both have. Sanjaya, take some cues from Apolo. He'll play with it, maybe a bandana, or a ponytail, but he uses his hair the way Joey Fatone uses his coattails: as a fun accessory but not the mane — get it? — event. Don't be like Leeza Gibbons showing off the "Tramp" temporary tattoo on her chest. It's desperate when you use your hair as a conversation piece — tone it down.
--
The competitive edge: What separates Apolo (as well as Fatone and Laila Ali) from the pack on "Stars" is that Apolo wants to win — he mentioned pulling away from the pack on the most recent episode. You seem to be in a world of your own, with no consideration of who you are up against. Sure, it might all be baloney — we all know Apolo won't exactly cry into his ice skates if he doesn't win — but at least act like you're playing to win, and not just, you know, whatever.
--
Be good at many things: This one might be hard. Apolo is a wonderful speed skater and a hell of a dancer. You're not a very good singer thus far and your hula dancing is pretty weak at best too. Can you give us something else?
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The appeal: Both of you have the kind of fresh-faced youth and twinge of mischievousness that can appeal to people of all ages and genders. And while Apolo certainly seems aware of his appeal — he and his partner, 18-year-old Julianne Hough, are just so darn cute!!!! together — he's a man and a pro. He doesn't overly wink or shake his butt or exhibit sass to the judges. If you don't have a good personality, it's not your fault. Just don't try and forge one. Otherwise you're going to look like — sorry to say it again — Gibbons.
If all else fails, though, you can take a page from everyone else on Monday night's episode of "Dancing With the Stars" and just take a piece of clothing off while you perform. We're sure that will make someone, maybe that crying girl, happy.
By Claire Zulkey
Special to The Times
Posted by noelle at 8:50 PM | Comments (110)
My worst nightmare
The TMZ-ification of Apolo has begun! It was inevitable, I s'pose. In this clip you can see he's all 'WTF?' as the camera follows him and Stacy Keibler around LA. I don't blame him. At least they sound semi-respectful, but leave AAO alone, paparazzi! Nice job playing it cool though, Apolo.
Plus, I mean, it's all a big bandwagon. You're 5 years behind the AAO curve, TMZ. Even though you yourself are only a year old.
I really debate whether to even post this stuff, but it's useless to pretend it's not out there. So, is it short track season yet?
Posted by noelle at 12:17 PM | Comments (125)
April 3, 2007
Semi-live blogging Dancing with the Stars - week 3 results show
[updated Wed. with links at bottom of post]
More week 3 photos here
Apolo and Julianne give their reactions to the judges' scores and criticisms yesterday and pronounce themselves pleased with their performance. Whoever commented that judge Len probably was unfamiliar with Pulp Fiction is onto something... I'm sure after they replayed his reaction that he had no clue. I think Apolo was about to say the same thing but smartly stopped himself - he knows a thing or two about fickle refs!
Joey and Kym's Star Wars tango is picked as the encore dance.
I am still befuddled by the selection of Josh Groban as musical guest. I mean, he has a gorgeous voice, but I don't recall ever hearing him sing anything remotely danceable. I believe Julianne will be part of that. I read somewhere that Survivor will also be on, singing 'Eye of the Tiger.' Nice blast from the past for a child of the 80s like me!
Since I don't know any music recorded after about 1990 I have no clue who this first musical guest is. Did they say Sierra?
First safe couples - Joey and Kym and Apolo and Julianne! Apolo beams, says 'nice!' and embraces Julianne. Thanks, ABC. I think I can turn the tv off now! lol
Previewing the paso doble, which will be one of next week's dances, and this is where Eye of the Tiger comes in. Man, 6th grade flashbacks, not so fun.
Interviewing the 2 safe couples... Apolo admits he doesn't know what it's going to take to break away from the pack because all the couples are stepping it up and improving a lot week by week.
Josh is singing, I didn't hear what it is. Very pretty; lyric is about dancing. Here's Julianne and a guy. Very pretty. She performs what can only be described as a death spiral, a la pairs figure skating. Never seen that on dry land before! In fact this routine is very reminiscent of a pairs program I think.
They have clairvoyants and mediums making predictions for season 4. Oh brother.
They've got physical chemisty which will put them in the top 3, says the woman psychic. I guess that makes me psychic too.
2 more safe couples: Billy Ray and Karina, Laila and Maksim
1 of bottom 2 couples: Shandi and Brian
Apolo, on the eliminations: 'Everyone wants to stay - no one wants to go home - and I am going to dance as hard as I possibly can and go for the gold'
Also safe: Ian and Cheryl, John and Edyta, Heather and Brian, Clyde and Alaina
Leeza and Tony join Shandi and Brian in bottom 2. If there is any justice in this world, S & B will be going home! And it is indeed... Shandi and Brian.
And then there were 9!
Haha... S&B's swan song dance is to 'Careless Whisper' and the tv cuts in just as they sing the lyric 'got no rhythm'
[press roundup]
MSNBC | Shandi goes home on an odd ‘Dancing’ night
zap2it | 'Dancing' results, all 8 minutes of them
ABC | Week 3 photo gallery
Posted by noelle at 9:06 PM | Comments (40)
DWTS post-mortem - week 3
Tubular | Dancers on Dancing: Dispute about Apolo
ABC4.com | "Dancing with the Stars" Apollo and Julianne jive with Good Things Utah
Awesome video of Apolianne showing their moves while in Utah last week!
TV Squad | Dancing With The Stars: Week 3
Apolo Anton Ohno and Julianne Hough (Jive) - Apolo and Julianne's Pulp Fiction homage was an absolute show-stopper. Their performance featured some challenging moves, and plenty of fast footwork. Apolo and Julianne always deliver crowd-pleasing performances. Perhaps it's their youthful energy. I would have placed this Jive among the top dances of the night, but the judges placed the pair in the middle of the pack with a 23 (7, 8, 8). With all the 24's that were handed out, I cannot believe that Apolo didn't manage to snag one.
EW.com | Settling the Score
No, I'm mostly hazy as to how Joey, Ian Ziering, Leeza Gibbons, and Heather Mills all shared the night's top spot, while better performances, like Laila Ali's and Apolo Anton Ohno's, were underscored.[Mills is] getting special treatment, and unless the show starts acknowledging that, people are gonna get annoyed really fast.
a fave moment: That part in Apolo and Julianne's jive during the line ''rock, rhythm, and jazz'' when they did a whirly outstretched-arms move. (I'm sorry, but I told you I can't dance.) Rewound it three times. Synchronized! Hot!
TV Guide | Dancing with the Stars: All the Latest Backstage Buzz!
Ohno is making sliding a part of his routines on the dance floor. "Slides are in every single dance," says his partner, Julianne Hough. "He does it well, so we might as well take advantage of that." But given his background as an Olympic gold-medal speed skater, is Ohno trying to turn the floor into an ice rink? "That'd be a good idea," he says. "Get a little water out there, get a little freeze going." If he could put ice on the floor, would he? "Maybe a little patch," he says, smiling.
MSNBC | Ian Ziering is fast on his feet on ‘Dancing’
Things started to pick up with Apolo Anton Ohno, who continues to impress, even though Carrie-Ann Inaba complained that his jive was “sloppy.” His dance with young Julianne Hough was inspired by “Pulp Fiction,” and they made a cute, twisting pair. Apolo wasn’t perhaps as sharp as he has been at other times, but he moves with tremendous charisma, and the segment where he taught Julianne to skate was more appealing and less annoying than such segments typically turn out. He may not have been as conspicuous a favorite as usual, but he did a good job.
e! online | Korbi's Quickie
Len Goodman has gone mad, chastising Apollo Ohno and his partner for the Pulp Fiction-themed extras incorporated into their jive. That was awesome, you fool!
FindItt.com | 'Dancing with the Stars': Mills, Fatone, Ali, Ohno, Ziering Should Be Safe From Elimination
Posted by noelle at 5:02 PM | Comments (19)
April 2, 2007
Live-blogging Dancing With the Stars - week 3
VOTE FOR APOLIANNE! 1-800-868-3411 and/or VOTE ONLINE You can vote up to 11 times per phone line or screen name so get busy!!
9:34 - 4 way tie for first ... leaves Apolianne alone in - 5th, I guess. Then a 2-way tie for 6th. Just wait till next week! Make sure to get in every vote you can, people!
9:40 - Billy Ray Cyrus: 'I definitely have an achy breaky butt right now.'
9:13 - What? Leeza gets 8's across the board too?! Bloody hell!
9:11 - Okay, I've had enough! They need to keep this show to an hour. Waaay too many commercial breaks, and they're way long.
9:03 - Ian seems to behaving a ton of fun with this too. I'm not sure what they're singing too - it sounds familiar and the choreography totally reminds me of Grease... Bruno: 'Ian you are turning into a hot rod.' Len was ready to give them a 9 but says Ian spoiled it at the end with his arms, I think. Carrie Ann agrees. I guess they'll get 8's then. Pfftht. Funny, Ian is totally out of breath! That never is a problem for AAO. Scores: 8,8,8
9:00 - Josh Groban is tomorrow's special guest. hm.
8:55 - Joey Fatone, the other threat, is up with Kim. They have a certain advantage, following Apolianne and Laila/Maks, knowing the score they need to beat! Dancing a tango to 'Star Wars', eh? This should be interesting!
Whoa, it starts in the dark with Joey brandishing a light saber. Too gimmicky? For anyone but Fatone it would be... Pretty fun actually. He looks super serious, poker-faced, but I guess that's the tango. Still, I just don't really see the music working with the dance itself. Maybe the music is just TOO specific. Huh, Carrie Ann LOVED it, she positively gushes. Scores: 8,8,8 Hmph!
8:44 - Aploianne are up! He's looking kinda Antonia Banderas-ish! 'I'm in a great position to strike at any moment.' Julianne expects jive technique to prove a struggle for Apolo. But first he takes her skating. She loses her grace! So awesome to see him on skates though, even if only for 10 seconds...
Their dance! John Travolta and Uma Thurman in Pulp Fiction all the way. How fun! Apolo slides under and between her legs... He's got his feet going. I think he's moving faster than her almost! Man, Apolo does not miss a step, as far as I can tell! Go AAO! He picks her up and swings her around, under his legs, lifting his legs over her one at a time - extremely impressive coordination!
Carrie Anne says they have great energy, but footwork was sloppy. Bruno says Apolo is Travolta's mini-me, he should be in Disneyland b/c he's pure entertainment. Len says 'YOU ARE A DANCER' to Apolo. Julianne looks nervous as scores are revealed. Scores: 7,8,8 YES! Best scores of the night, and Laila has already gone. 'VIncent Vega' looks pleased!
8:43 - The Bachelor is in the audience tonight.
8:33 - Frontrunners Laila Ali and Maksim are up. Laila was on the road this past week, like Apolianne, and feels concerned about getting enough tango practice in. His brother, also a dancer, comes to critique their practices. Laila admits she's nervous. I think they look good, but it does seem like Laila has to work to keep up. Not blatantly though. Maybe that's what I want to see! But an engaging number, I think. Bruno doesn't like their long separation in the middle; I think he has a point. Len agrees. They'll be marked down for that. Carrie Anne criticizes 'pancake hands' - what on earth does that mean? Scores: 7,7,7 - Not exactly shabby - but it opens a door for Apolianne!
8:28 - YES! A teaser of Apolianne at the Kearns oval a few days ago. We see Julianne on her new skates in the speed skater's crouch while Apolo 'gets his revenge' as he barks commands and corrections. Sounds like she's swinging her arms wrong (that got me too the first time I tried speedskating!) - or maybe not swinging them at all. Man, I feel so happy seeing speedskating, even if it's a stunt for DWTS!
8:23 - Clyde and Elena are up... can't help wanting to see him do well! His enormous size is really a disadvantage, I'm thinking. Clyde's mom is a guest at rehearsal and comes in to demonstrate zydeco dancing... she looks to be a tall lady! Nice use of Elena's long train as a prop for the dance. Clyde's movements seem kind of out of sync in their side-by-side footwork though. This seemed like a joyful routine. Len says Clyde has regressed. Scores: 6,5,5
8:19 - Another teaser of the athletes before break. Apolo is really taking a leaf out of Jordan Malone's playbook. he's turning into quite a ham! My boss mentioned today that he and his wife are quickly becoming AAO fans...
8:13 - I'm confused. John Ratzenberger is performing a tango? But I thought male stars were doing jive this week. 'Looks like we're madly in love, yet hate each other at same time,' explains his partner Edyta. 'Gotcha,' says John unconvincingly. Such a strange dance. I think Edyta is doing all the actual dancing here. Ok, some footwork by John now, that's more like it. Mainly an excuse for Edyta to flash her sensational gams. I didn't get worked up over this one. Now he's dragging her off the floor to face the judges - literally. Okaaay... Scores: 7,6,7
8:10 - Haha... before break they show the trio of athletes, Clyde, Laila and Apolo (squaring off against the actors of John, Ian and I forget who... Leeza?). They're shown in ascending order of height with Clyde towering over Laila who towers over AAO. AAO playfully rests his head on Laila's shoulder and then flashes a huge grin. These guys are having fun!
8:05 - Shandi Finnessy knows she and Brian are marked after last week's dismal perforamances. She still looks hot though... CRAP! I'm on call for work and in fact, I just got called. Please don't let that happen again... Anyway, missed Shandi. She's getting better reviews from judges this week tho. Sounds like a big improvement!
8:01 - Intros of the pairs... Everyone looks quite elegant tonight, though Ian Ziering is rocking the terrorist look with several days' beard growth. And ... oh my, Apolo. What have they done with your hair? It's slicked back within an inch of its life and in a ponytail in back. Reserving judgment.... He certainly looks dapper in black tie, and I was so astonished by the coif I didn't even have time to take in Julianne's attire.
7:59 Are they really starting the broadcast early? Did I really just see AAO take a spill in rehearsal (or was that a planned move)?And I love how they highlight Apolianne's quickstep from last week right at the start of the intro... we all know who's best!
Posted by noelle at 7:41 PM | Comments (142)
Detroit News | Waltz this way: 5 reasons to watch ABC's hit dancing show
Carol Kaelson / ABC
Posted by noelle at 9:33 AM | Comments (11)
April 1, 2007
Air Apolo
Amazing screengrab Sonia got from last week's DWTS showing Apolo and Julianne rehearsing for their quickstep performance!
Posted by noelle at 10:55 PM | Comments (33)