DWTS Pro Watch: Contracts

I know things are heating up with speculation about the pros and who is returning for Season 17. One thing that has raised my eyebrows though was yesterday's news that Kym Johnson wasn't returning. She is reportedly headed to DWTS Australia to work as a judge for the next season, although she has yet to confirm that news. I found the announcement rather curious because of this: Contracts are pretty ironclad and it's hard to get out of a DWTS U.S. contract.  Yes, it's not one big happy family of DWTS shows, it isn't easy to jump from one country's show to another. That's not to say that it hasn't been done before, we know it has. I'm just saying a DWTS U.S. contract is more challenging than others. Is there subtext in this post? Perhaps.

SYTYCD on AfterBuzz TV: Top 8 Preview

I cannot believe we are down to the last four weeks on SYTYCD. This season flew by for me because I have really enjoyed the competition and the talent this year. As you know, I've talked a lot about our guests this season and how much they've added to our shows this year. So, I'm so excited to announce that this week's guest is Audrey Case.

She was a Top 10 contestant on Season 9 and you may have remember her for her routine with tWitch by Dave Scott or one of my favorites with her partner Matthew Kazmierczak by Travis Wall.  The "Unchained Melody" piece was picked for the finale and for the tour.

UPDATE: So I received a text from Audrey last night asking if she could bring a friend with her on the show.  This is who she is bringing...

Yep, Matthew Kazmierczak! Get those questions in for Matthew, too! It's going to be a great night on AfterBuzz TV.

So, get those questions in for Audrey and I will see you all on Wednesday on AfterBuzz TV at 9 p.m. PT. Watch here.

Hollywood and Mental Illness

This summer has been rough, hasn't it? We lost lots of young talent and TV personalities lately. Amanda Bynes will hopefully be saved, but I'm not sure the media will be saved. Yep, I am one of the people who has to cover celebrities with drug addictions, mental illness and trips to rehab. So, I am guilty as charged. However, I do feel like we have a responsibility to some of these celeb having public breakdowns.

I got to a point midway through the Bynes saga where I just felt sorry for her. I didn't want to write about her latest cry for attention on Twitter. I didn't want to hear who she targeted for her latest "you're ugly" comment. I just wanted her to get help.

The problem is that it ain't easy.  Every comment I read on articles about the former Nickelodeon star insinuated that her parents were horrible for not helping their daughter. Hey guys, guess what? Their daughter is over 18 years old, she can do whatever she wants. It wasn't until she had an epic event like burning someone's driveway that the law could finally do something with her. She's on an involuntary psychiatric hold where she is reportedly being treated for schizophrenia. It's a lot less funny now, right?

In the last week, the entertainment community has lost a reality TV star with Gia Allemand and Rizzoli & Isles star Lee Thompson Young to suicide. Depression runs deep and for some, suicide seems to be the only answer. Sadly, Allemand and Young felt like they had no other place to turn. 

In this 24/7 news cycle that I actively participate in, I want Hollywood to step up and be more sensitive to those that are suffering. I hope we don't see another saga like Amanda Bynes or even Paris Jackson. I hope their story has a better ending like Britney Spears who has moved forward with her life under controlled circumstances. 

Let's try to understand a bit more about mental illness and depression. Perhaps one more life will be saved.

If you need help, reach out to someone: National Suicide Prevention Hotline

AfterBuzz TV SYTYCD: Lindsay Nelko

What a night! So much to talk about and so little time. I am thrilled that this season of SYTYCD has brought such incredible talent. These kids are going to work a lot once they are off the show and done with the tour.

Lindsay Nelko was a great addition to the show. I wish we could have done an after, after show where we talked about her mentors Brian Friedman and Desmond Richardson. It was actually Richardson who recommended her for the show, but it's Friedman's The Pulse tour that got her noticed. We also had a personal discussion about being a young artist in the business and honoring commitments including making sure you understand the business part as much as the creative part. It was fascinating.

I want to thank Shannon Mather for talking to me on the phone about how she felt about her piece and what she on the show this week. It really does seem that "Medicine" is a popular piece for choreographers this year. She and Travis Wall are fine, so it's not a controversy. I know she really wants to choreograph for the show, so let's support Shannon and Travis. I think we cleared everything up on her end for the viewers.

Shannon Mather's Piece
Kristin McQuaid Piece
Travis Wall Piece

Finally, we have some great guests for the rest of the season. I hope you join us through our last show on Sept. 11. I know Jake and I will be rolling right into Season 17 of DWTS which will begin on Sept. 17 at 8pm PT.

You can download the podcast here.

SYTYCD on AfterBuzz TV Top 10 Preview

These last few weeks of SYTYCD are going to be so exciting. We have our Top 10 and the talent is just incredible. All of our guests are booked through the finale, so stop by and take a look. You might like what you see, we have all worked really hard to get the best guests possible this season for AfterBuzz TV.

I am thrilled that we were able to book Lindsay Nelko because she is one of the new emerging choreographers from Season 10. It's exciting to see new talent and Lindsay had an impressive debut this season. If you didn't see the number she choreographed for Paul and Makenzie, watch it below. The number is just gorgeous and it's one of the reasons I have been shocked Makenzie has seen so many Bottom 3 placements this year.

So watch us LIVE on Wednesday night at 9 p.m. PT on AfterBuzzTV here.

If you have questions for Lindsay, please put them in the comments below. See you tomorrow!

Dizzy Feet Foundation Gala: The Interviews

I decided to try something new here on my site, so definitely give me your feedback and let me know if you like it. I'm going to be updating this page over the next few days with a couple of the interviews I did on the red carpet at the Dizzy Feet Foundation Gala. I think there are some fun soundbites for fans of SYTYCD.

First up, it's tWitch who gives his thoughts on his role in dance, being a judge during the audition rounds and the importance of the Dizzy Feet Foundation:





Come back to this page later, I will continue to update it for you. Up next, Travis Wall!

If you missed my Dizzy Feet Foundation Gala photos, click here.
This week's ABTV interview with Spencer Liff, click here.
Or take my quick survey on Dance in the Media, click here.

AfterBuzz TV SYTYCD: Spencer Liff

What a show! I think I learned more about SYTYCD dance in this hour than in the last two seasons of covering this show. Spencer Liff gave us a real insider's look at the pressures the choreographers and the contestants are under. It's a time crunch each and every week. Doesn't it make you admire the work everyone puts in even more?

I hope you all take note of Spencer's career because you are going to hear his name a lot outside of SYTYCD. It's really exciting to see choreographer's emerge from this show. It also makes me excited to have Lindsay Nelko on as a guest on Aug. 14. We will get the opportunity to talk to someone who is just breaking out.

I have also updated our guest list for August, it's a great line-up this month and I like the variety that we have.

Finally, it was definitely time for Alexis and Curtis to exit, but I think this is going to be a great stepping stone for them. They both said they wanted to head to New York to Disney's Newsies. I hope to see them on the Great White Way soon.

Watch the show below or you can download the show in iTunes here.