Judges give contestants standing ovation!
With a lot of fanfare, CBS launched - "Live to Dance" - Paula Abdul's attempt to rise up and prove critics wrong after a much-publicized (embarrassing) fall from Grace last year when she parted ways with Fox's American Idol.
To the reality-show's credit, Paula (who wears a hat as Executive Producer) has laid a workable foundation to build on, in the event the dance competition gains momentum in the coming weeks and rustles up a solid fan base sufficient to please the Network brass and sponsors alike.
Although the entertaining bill-of-fare - packaged into one-hour segments - doesn't stray far from its roots (i.e. talent shows where viewers at home root for the underdog or participate in the voting process).
There are a couple of departures from stale old concepts, however, that have the potential to uplift.
The "open door" policy is refreshing, for starters.
Dance enthusiasts aren't burdened down with a set of criteria - age restrictions, a need for an armful of professional credits to land an audition, training - that might otherwise discourage hopeful two-steppers (with original ideas on choreographed moves) from pursuing their day in the sun.
The contestants need only demonstrate their dance ability to take a stab at the jaw-dropping $500,000.00 prize!
In contrast to other popular ratings-getters on air 'til now - the panel of Judges presiding over the auditions (Michael Jackson's choreographer, a Pussy Dolls band member, and Paula Abdul) have a background in the discipline.
Consequently - the panel is able to render intelligent, well-rounded, truthful assessments (based on style, originality, and technique) that resonate with a chord of truth.
Decisions that fly-by-the-seat of the pants rarely go over well with sophisticated audiences around the country today, after all.
Unfortunately, disgruntled contestants are not always that easy to appease, when they are rejected.
Such was the case tonight, sadly, in one isolated incident.
When a hefty middle-aged gal got the thumbs down from the Pussy Doll adjudicator, the angry contestant was quick on the uptake.
"The skinny girl's hate," she snarled at the pretty celebrity, as a hush fell over the "dome".
Which begs the question.
"American Idol" often fueled controversies to trigger angry viewer response - with the aim achieving that end.
For example - the producers appeared to rub their hands with glee whenever ugly battles (and mind-boggling sinister power-plays) between Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul - played out in all their tawdry glory in the weekly gossip rags.
I'm betting that all the superficial "sweetness and light" - on the part of Paula Abdul in particular (a transparent B-list celeb who gushed once-too-often tonight on air in my estimation) - may eventually grate on the nerves.
"Live to Dance" may have to take a cue from the Wild World of Wrestling to appeal to the gladiator mentality now-and-then during sluggish runs.
A bitch fight may just be in the offing in the near future if the overnight ratings aren't up to snuff tomorrow morning.
News at 11!
http://www.thetattler.biz/
Paula & Simon before the split!
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