Season 19 Week 1

Singly - I actually really like Erin.  The first week definitely she was trying too hard, but she has settled into the job nicely and does some good interviews with the contestants.  And she can handle the things that don't go right way better than Brooke or Samantha ever could.  She's pretty quick with an ad-lib.  Once in a while she gets a bit cringeworthy, but mostly I really enjoy her. 

Newto - I was sad to see Keo leave as well.  He's a terrific dancer, and he seems to have a nice personality.  I would have liked to see more of him as a teacher.  But I think the show tried to give him a chance with Lolo.  An Olympic athlete is rarely the first off, no matter how bad they are.  But a lot of people didn't understand that Lolo wasn't arguing with the judges - she was just upset at herself.  And Keo didn't have enough experience to know how to settle her down quickly enough.  I hope he'll be back next season.

I'm hoping that Val and Janel stay around a while.  I thought she did really well, but there seems to be some backlash against a perceived "showmance," which I don't see myself, but then I rarely do.    Janel was kind of over-the-top, but I'm chalking that up to being over-excited.  With any luck, she'll calm down now that opening night is over.

I'm on the fence about Bethany.  Never heard of her before, and she seems nice enough but a bit bland so far.  Her dance was weird with those lapses she had.  No idea what was going on there.  And she's with Derek, so I will have a hard time voting for her.  Which I know is awful, but he's just won too many times for me to want to see him win again.  And I know it's not about him - it's about her, but unfortunately it is kinda about him.  With getting to choreograph, direct and star in the dance segments last season, and him frequently getting a pass on scores when the judges don't like his choreography (even though other celebs get docked in scores under the same circumstances), I do feel as though he gets some 'diva' treatment.  But I voted for Amber several times in her season and voted for Amy a few times last season despite Derek, so if Bethany grows on me and really comes on strong, Derek won't stop me from throwing some votes her way.

I'm really interested to see if Randy was a one-shot wonder or if he can continue to deliver.  Loved his dance on Monday.  Did not see that coming!

Same with Alfonso.  I know he has dance background, and his jive was fantastic.  But a lot of people seem to think it's a foregone conclusion that he'll win, and I think it's a bit premature to call it.  We've seen plenty of celebs that were great at some dances and horrid at others, so it'll be a bit longer before we can say he's good across the board.  And even then that will sometimes work against a celeb.  A lot of folks thought Corbin had it in the bag in his season. 

Loved Lea's foxtrot, and I like Lea Thompson.  A lot of folks seemed to be annoyed by her giggling, though.  It didn't bother me for the first week, but if she keeps it up, it'll get annoying.  I'm looking forward to seeing how she does with some of the other dances and hoping she stays around.  Same with Jonathan.  He seems likeable and funny, and he did a nice job with his dance.  He needs to cool it with the bug-eyes, though.  They're a bit creepy! 

Of the remaining group, I suspect that Tommy, Betsy and Michael will be the next three out unless one of the others messes up badly.  From perusing a couple of other boards, they seem to have the least support.  Lots of folks like Tommy and Betsy but feel we've pretty much seen all they've got to offer, and I agree with that.  Tommy might be this year's Bill Engvall (sorry Michael), but we'll see.  Although Tavis could be in that group as well.  Nobody seems to be talking about him at all, which doesn't bode well for him.

I think a lot of what is being said about Phil Robertson in the media is taken out of context. Yes, he is an older Southern Baptist preacher and in all of my years growing up of being around church and these type of pastors that is how they are. They will find every chance they get to throw quotes from the Bible at you and preach to you....maybe that's part of why I rebelled as I got older. When you go back and read the original GQ article it is basically Phil Robertson doing a lot of "preaching" to the reporter and the reporter being rather sarcastic at times in the finished article. Anyone being sarcastic always comes off as having some sort of agenda in my opinion. Phil quoted a verse from the Bible that people just ran with after reading the article. Jep, the youngest son of Phil and Kate Robertson when asked by the reporter how he feels about what Phil said stated that they don't necessarily agree with how Phil goes about saying what he says but they do agree with what the Bible says. After that GQ article Phil was suspended from the show because of how people interpreted what he said. The family stood behind him as the leader of their family as I would expect they would.



All I'm saying is that I don't think Sadie should be vilified due to what her grandfathers stance is. My BF watches the show and that's how I came to watching it...if I don't want a fight over the remote control. She is in no way a spoiled princess....heck, that family is so big that your lucky if you're even noticed in the crowd. She has always come off as a sweet girl. As the oldest grand daughter in that clan (unless there are older ones they haven't shown) I'm sure she has been noticed by certain people which I'm sure is why she came about being in a fashion show recently and is being given some opportunities that the others aren't given including being on DWTS. As to the no dancing policy at her school, that doesn't surprise me. I went to a conservative Christian school for two years growing up and that is how they are. That doesn't mean that you follow the same policy in your home and social life. Heck, I love to dance and if given the opportunity to go on DWTS your darn right I would.



All I'm saying is that the whole family shouldn't be taken out back and shot because of how Phil is....but to each his own.

I don't want them taken out back and shot . . . but I don't want to see them on my tv either.  I don't think that's "vilifying" Sadie. 

The problem is not the GQ article.  Much of what Phil said was crude and coarse, but it's relatively mild.  The problem is the other things he has said that are horrifically homophobic or misogynistic or just plain whacked out.  Here's a direct quote from a sermon he gave - he's speaking about gays:  "They're full of murder, envy, strife, hatred. They are insolent, arrogant, God-haters. They are heartless, they are faithless, they are senseless, they are ruthless. They invent ways of doing evil."  None of that is in the Bible.  That's his homophobia lashing out.  Phil has said that men should marry young girls and that all that is required of a woman is that she "pluck your duck and carry a Bible."  He cautions men that if they wait until a woman is 20, "all that gets plucked is your wallet."  In other words, once a woman is grown, she's nothing but a gold-digger who wants your money.  Not exactly "biblical" either.  Guess he skipped over Proverbs 31.  Nowhere in the Bible does it tell us to kill those we can't convert, but Phil says it does.  That's what gets people going about that family - not the GQ article. 

I would have no problem with the family saying they support his right to free speech even though they don't agree with his ideas.  Heck, I support his right to free speech as well as my right to think he's an ass because of what he says.  But they don't.  They have never once attempted to distance themselves from any of his really egregious statements, and that's my issue.  If they are comfortable with that, then they most likely believe as he does.  And there is nothing Biblical about that stuff.  There is nothing even remotely Christian about some of his attitudes.  It's unfortunate that Sadie is caught up in that, but her parents are certainly well aware of how polarizing the family is, and they don't seem to care. 

I guess what it all comes down to is that I am a Christian as well, and my faith is extremely important to me.  Phil Robertson, and by extension his family since they will not repudiate any of his clearly un-Biblical stances, take a beautiful faith and turn it into something ugly and self-serving.  That deeply offends me.

But, as you say (and as my dad always said, God rest his soul) . . . to each his own.  Only for some reason, my dad always said it in French.  No idea why, and even less idea how I'd spell that.    I will register my protest of Sadie's presence on the show going forward by not mentioning her or her family again.  Swear to God. 

mustang, I can understand your sense of injustice when someone perverts the Bible to fit their own agenda, fears and hatred.  It's no different than than the Islamic extremists who twist the Koran to satisfy their lust for revenge and power.

rkc, I chuckle at your upbringing.  Mine was Catholic - only cathechism - but, I was the rebellious one of the family.  Once I left home, church only saw me for weddings, baptisms and funerals.  I've never felt any spiritual connection inside a church - only in my personal conversations with God, and my conviction that he's listening.