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April 13, 2007
Apolo will attend White House Correspondents' Association Dinner again
The Examiner | Dinner not ‘Desperate’ for talent
Other bold-faced names who will be at ABC’s tables are actress Morgan Fairchild, Olympic short-track speed skater Apolo Anton Ohno, Heisman Trophy winner and New Orleans Saints rookie running back Reggie Bush, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and British Ambassador David Manning.
The 2007 dinner will take place on April 21. The entertainer this year is scheduled to be celebrity impersonator Rich Little.
Plus: Honolulu Advertiser | SIGHT 'EMS
When Olympics medalist Apolo Anton Ohno appeared on "Dancing With the Stars," he flashed a shaka sign. You recall he visited us for the first time last year and took a shine to the food, the people, the lifestyle. He ate (appropriately) at Ono's Hawaiian Food two days in a row, chomped on shave ice at Waiola Bakery & Shave Ice, and left with T-shirts that said "Ohnolulu."
Posted by noelle at 9:29 AM | Comments (23)
April 11, 2007
Dancing With the Stars post-mortem - week 4
People | Monday's Dancing with the Stars: What You Didn't See
Sew What: Apolo Anton Ohno's brown suit looked regal and elegant as he performed a seamless waltz with partner Julianne Hough. That is, until after the show he removed the jacket to reveal – tricks of the trade spoiler alert! – his shirt sleeves were missing. What's up with that? The speed-skating star's shirt cuffs were sewn onto the jacket and going sleeveless allowed him to move more freely. Hey, whatever works!
People | Tuesday's Dancing with the Stars: What You Didn't See
TV Squad | Apolo Ohno, you are a salesman
Where is this chemistry everyone was talking about? [Apolo's] partner Julianne is a charismatic dancer, but together, they reminded me more of the captain of the chess team being paired with the homecoming queen for a high school performance.
TV Squad | Dancing With The Stars: Week 4 results
They opened the show tonight by naming Apolo and Joey as the standouts. I think they have it right on that one. Ian and Laila have the stuff to get themselves back in contention, but as we sit now, Apolo and Joey are a step ahead of everyone else. Two steps in front of a few people.
TV Squad | Dancing With The Stars: Week 4
Apolo Anton Ohno and Julianne Hough (Waltz) - Good grief, I think Julianne just gets cuter every week. And the two of them do have a very good rapport. They certainly have danced well, but their chemistry helps as well. That really shined through in their performance this week. It was a very romantic dance, and I thought Apollo really held his own in selling the performance. Bruno called them the crown jewels of the competition. Carrie Ann thought it was very romantic. Len jumped on them for bad footwork and technique. It's becoming something of a DWTS tradition to hammer on the really good dancers while going easy on the weaker couples.
(Carol Kaelson/ABC) more week 4 photos
MSNBC | ‘Dancing’ isn’t kind to middle-aged women
The second couple taken off the hook early was a no-brainer: Apolo Anton Ohno and the adorable Julianne Hough, who are not only dancing very well, but showing a lot of charm that seems likely to result in strong viewer support.
AOL | Outtake from Apolo and Julianne's waltz - video clip
MSNBC | Joey finds the right steps on ‘Dancing’
Apolo Anton Ohno and his young partner Julianne Hough have developed an adorable chemistry that, as Apolo pointed out, is quite sibling-like in nature. Thus, the waltz presented some challenges of the “I can’t look at you all sexy without laughing” variety. Interestingly, the dance was lovely, and actually had more openly lingering looks than any other all night.Apolo’s hesitation about delivering a dance he thought of as “older and slower” turned out to be unnecessary, and their performance looked good. While Len marked them down for some technique mistakes and only gave them an 8, Carrie-Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli gave them 9s, making it one of the better-scored dances.
EW.com | The Scold and the Beautiful
Apolo and Julianne delighted yet again with their super-smooth waltz. I'm pretty sure if you looked up sunshine in the most up-to-date dictionary, so up-to-date it doesn't even exist yet, you'd find a still of Apolo and Julianne performing matching arabesques with Serene Facial Expressions. These kids could easily take the competition just because they're so bouncy and utterly likable. I can't even think of a complaint. I know I heard Len say ''bad footwork,'' but Bruno quickly drowned him out with a quintessential DWTS-esque quip: ''He's an ice skater, and he's dancing!''
zap2it | 'Dancing' judges strike back
San Jose Mercury News | Dancing With the Stars: Joey Fatone and Apolo Anton Ohno rise to top; Billy Ray Cyrus shows heart
Posted by noelle at 9:14 PM | Comments (54)
April 10, 2007
Live blogging Dancing with the Stars - week 4 results show
Who will be chosen to dance the encore tonight? Joey & Kym reprise their top-rated paso doble from Monday, natch. Travesty! I mean, not really, but still. I can't wait till it's Apolo and Julianne's turn! The woman host - don't know her name yet - says J&K are 'teacher's pets.'
The season 2 champion (Drew Lachey, I presume?) returns to take part in a raucous country and western dance with some of the pros.
Good lord, Billy Ray Cyrus pimps his new album again. he never misses an opportunity to get in a commercial for himself.
Quote from a fan in the audience: Apolo and Julianne looked like 'Prince Charming and Cinderella dancing at the ball.' Word up!
First 2 safe couples are Billy Ray & Karina and Apolo & Julianne. I love it when they announce Apolianne are safe early like this. Is there any doubt? No, but it's still nice to have it be official. Could they be the top 2 vote-getting couples? It would not surprise me!
One of next week's dances is the samba, so 2 of the pros show how it's done. What's with their weird, exaggerated mouth movements? So campy looking. Surely this is the dance Apolianne will perform next week.
Apolo says 'more training' and schedule juggling are in order to upgrade their results from silver and bronze to gold. Then I think Apolo flubbed his line in the interview. The expression on his face was priceless!
Huh, the other dance is rumba. I guess that's 2 Latin dances next week so it's anyone's guess which Apolianne will have. But Jimmy Kimmel says the rumba is the 'woman's dance' because it's meant to show her off. Call me crazy, but aren't all partner dances meant to show the woman off?
Julianne and Brian (voted off last week with partner Shandi) dance a rumba. I guess it's slower, and a samba is faster... ? Like Edyta last night, Julianne looks like a wardrobe malfunction waiting to happen. In fact, it sure looks like J. was holding her swatch of fabric closed with one hand as she spun around like a top several times.
Next 2 safe couples: Laila & Maks and Clyde & Elena... I am guessing Leeza Gibbons' heart just sank.
Now we find out who's going home...
Joey & Kym are, naturally, staying. As are Ian & Cheryl and Heather & her partner. No surprises there!
Which leaves Leeza & Tony and John & Edyta in the bottom 2.
This show has an insane amount of commercials.
And at long, long last, confirmation that Leeza & Tony are indeed voted off this week.
Posted by noelle at 8:41 PM | Comments (50)
April 9, 2007
Live-blogging Dancing With the Stars - week 4
VOTE FOR APOLIANNE! 1-800-868-3411 and/or VOTE ONLINE You can vote up to 9 times per phone line or screen name so get busy!!
9:30 - So the top 3 are.... 1. Joey & Kym, 2. Apolo & Julianne, 3. Ian & Cheryl
9:17 - Finally, the favorites Joey Fatone and Kym are up. Let's see if they can bring it, or will AAO and Julianne take home their first win? I'm betting on A & J.
Joey and Kym dance the paso doble, and seem to realize they need a gimmick-free number, for once. Yet, he's carrying her onto the floor piggy-back style, I dunno. It improves a lot after that. With his nostrils flaring, I'd say Joey looks more bull than matador, though. They receive the first standing O of the night. Hey, there's Lance Bass cheering his buddy on. (Aside: I can't believe I know who Lance Bass is.) Man, are they gonna take first? Please, no! Scores: 10,9,9 First 10 of the season. WTF?!?! I am soooo biased.
9:07 - Heather Mills and Jonathan are up. She's another one who has great difficulty in rehearsals with feeling the innate romance of the waltz. In performance, she reminds me of a music-box ballerina, so rigid is she able to hold her body. Bruno: 'You are the mistress of bad.' At least, I think that's what he said!! Sheesh, the judges are all in disagreement and just wind up talking over one another. Scores: 7,8,8
8:57 - Whoa, Billy Ray Cyrus reduces his partner Karina to tears - sobbing, actually - in rehearsals. Who knows, maybe that was contrived too.
They're taking the man-as-matador, woman-as-cape metaphor quite literally. Goodness. I'm not sure BR is doing any actual, you know, dancing here, though. It's like he stands around while Karina dances around him. The crack-smoking Len heaps praise on Billy Ray. WTF? Scores: 7,7,7
8:52 - Carrie Ann chastises Clyde Drexler for choreography that looks the same for all the dances, but hello, he's not doing the choreography, is he? Len says he 'can forgive bad footwork and bad posture' (huh? can you say 'double standard', Len?) but that Clyde doesn't look like he's even trying. Pretty harsh from the judges. Not undeservedly, but still Scores: 6,4,5
8:40 - John Ratzenberger and Edyta. Man, her gown is a wardrobe malfunction waiting to happen. It's as though she's wearing a curtain on one half of her body and pasties on the other. Bruno: 'The magic backfired tonight and you turned yourself into a curse.' Boy, if looks could kill... Edyta is looking daggers at the judges. Scores: 6,5,5 - same as Leeza
8:28 - Here are Ian Ziering and Cheryl. She chastises him mercilessly in rehearsal for being a jokester and not inhabiting the essential classiness of the waltz. He's in white tie and tails; she has a flowing yellow gown. His outfit looks a lot classier than hers, IMO. It's a nice number, but dull and lackluster (to quote Len on Leeza) compared with Apolo and Jullianne's. Len on the other hand thinks their waltz was 'really, really good.' Bruno says Ian went from 'McDreamy to McStiffy.' Clearly something got lost in the translation there. Haha.. Bruno doesn't get why people start to snicker. Carrie Ann tries to explain the vernacular of 'stiffy' but it doesn't sink in. Only so much you can say on broadcast tv! Score: 7,9,8
Len, HOW was that better than Apolianne? Bruno, how was that equal to Apolianne? C'mon guys - put down the crack pipes. Still, they have 24 points to Apolianne's 26. So there is some justice.
8:22 - Leeza and partner are next. I didn't watch. They're getting panned. 'Dull, dull, dull. Lackluster,' says Len. Ouch! Still and all, Leeza is a hot-looking mama tonight. I didn't look that good when I was 21. Scores: 6,5,5 OUCH!
8:10 - Yay, Apolianne are up 2nd!! Thank goodness. They do indeed perform a waltz. Apolo says in pre-dance segment that he feels they have something to prove after last week. [The waltz] is 'slow and older, complete opposites of what Julianne and I are.' They address their chemistry, saying again it's a 'brother-sister relationship,' making it hard to get into the romance of the dance (and show goofy outtakes from rehearsal to prove it). They rehearse in an old-Hollywood location and camp it up while there...
Here's the real performance, and it's indeed quite romantic. Wow. Nice twirls, AAO... nice! You have a future in figure skating... Just beautiful. They look elegant, romantic and totally at ease. How can they not get 10s tonight??? Music is 'If You Don't Know Me by Now.' Julianne makes a flourish towards the judges just before the end. You west coasters are gonna LOVE this.
Tom: They 'don't look like bro and sis at all.'
Bruno: 'the dream team! the crown jewels of the competition! You're in it to win it.'
Carrie Ann high fives Apolo! All is forgiven. 'That was SO romantic, good technique, my God!'
Len sort of pans them for a routine 'riddled with bad footwork' which elicits overwhelming disagreement from Bruno, who won't even let Len continue speaking.
Tom to Len: 'Are your knickers in a twist or something?'
Scores: 9,8,9 YES!
Apolo: 'We worked really hard on this dance this week. I actually loved this dance.'
So cute - AAO reaches around Julianne's head from behind and makes a phone with his fingers next to her ear, urging us to call in our votes for them. Not to worry, Apolo - we're on it!
8:05 - Some fake drama between Laila Ali and Maks of his decision to violate the rules by breaking their hold in last week's tango. 'We can still be friends,' she huffs. They dance a paso doble .. execution seems kind of herky-jerky to me. Great music (what is that? Carmen?). But their steps are so sedate compared to the energetic piece. It appears Len, Bruno and Carrie Ann agree with me. ha! Score: 7,7,7
8:03 - Len just gave all the contestants a tongue-lashing. Based on what, I'm not sure.
8:01 - Wow, Apolo and Julianne look simply stunning and elegant, Apolo in chauffeur-style black tie and Julianne in ivory gown with long gloves and fabulous hair. I'm guessing that means waltz. I'm excited - I love waltz music, Viennese waltzes in particular. Alas, it looks like they'll be going last again! Wah. Kym Johnson seems to be sporting wench-chic on the other hand. Like an Oktoberfest barmaid on stilettos.
8pm - Wow, based on a 1-second outtake, I'd say we're going to see a pretty sensual dance this week from Apolianne. Will it be paso doble or waltz?? And please don't make us wait till the end.
Posted by noelle at 7:10 PM | Comments (91)
Apolo/DWTS updates
[Monday update] - new links courtesy of Susie
People | Bruno Tonioli Reveals Top Picks for Dancing with the Stars
Tonioli says there are four stand-out dancers commanding his attention this season. Apolo Ohno, for one, is "a natural," says the Italian dance maestro. "Apolo is a great performer," says Tonioli. "He just lights up the room."
Hell yeah!
ABC News | Rhinestones And Painted Faces: Dancing Stars Look The Part
On the day of the airing, about 45 minutes is spent on each endividual's body makeup alone. The contestants are given a spray tan before a stain is hand-buffed over the top. [Lead makeup artist Melanie] Mills and her team then choose from a variety of bronze, gold and pearl lotions. Finally, they are given a sprinkling of glitter to make sure they shimmer and glimmer their way across the stage.
NY Post | 'DANCING' WITH THE JOCKS
In general, there's the growing sense that all those years of training, discipline and pressure to perform in front of a crowd make athletes naturals.This season the show upped the athletic quotient with NBA hall-of-famer Clyde Drexler, Olympic gold medal speed skater Apolo Ohno, and women's boxing champ Laila Ali, daughter of the legendary Muhammad Ali.
Deb found a bunch of great info. ApoloAntonOhno.com has listed some upcoming appearances of Apolo:
4/9 - STARR 98.7 listener contest to win tickets to sit at Apolo's table on DWTS Monday night
4/13 - Apolo will be featured in People magazine
4/19 - Apolo will be a guest on Good Day LA (morning show on Fox)
Also:
ABC7.com | Send Us Your "Dancing with the Stars" Questions
This page has a collection of about 8 videos from the local ABC affiliate's coverage of DWTS, with several interview clips of Apolo.
Posted by noelle at 7:03 PM | Comments (30)
April 8, 2007
Results from Korean national team trials
Thanks to Kiseop for sharing results of Korea's national ST team trials with us! There are some surprises here.
Qualifying Event results for 2007/2008 korean short track speed skating national team
Note: As current world champions, Hyun-soo Ahn and Sun-yu Jin received byes onto the national team.
Posted by noelle at 9:42 PM | Comments (16)