'Dancing With the Stars': Nice Guys Never Win
Well, what do I know? Adam Carolla? Marissa Jaret Winokur? Both dancers are declared safe early in Week 3's elimination show. (Which doesn't mean that one of them was not in the bottom two, voting-wise. Once again, the bottom two were not revealed). But they'll both be back for Week 4.
The "Gute," however, will not.
The nickname is hideous. In fact, it drives the mind to places the mind would rather not go. But beyond that, Steve Guttenberg was total class on this show. Enthusiastic, positive, eager. Yeah, he wasn't going to dance himself all that far, but to be bounced before Adam, whose combined scores over the first three weeks were identical? Who clearly can't be declared any better a dancer? Whose main asset on this show is his partner, Julianne Hough?
Yup, folks, this is reality television, and in reality TV, obnoxiousness does have its fans. Whether those fans kept Adam on -- or whether we should we chalk it up to many dialing devotees of Julianne -- it's impossible to know (although I would like to know how you voting viewers saw it). Marissa surviving to another day was far less surprising. She has a Broadway following, and the judges clearly see her as having unmet potential.
As for Guttenberg, his play-along spirit was evident from the get-go, and was highlighted on this show, when he was selected to perform the judges' repeat dance...with Jonathan Roberts as his partner. (The night before, it was explained that Guttenberg's actual partner, Anna, was sick during rehearsal week and Jonathan, her husband, "stepped in" to practice the tango with him.) It was actually a pretty funny bit -- unlike the completely lame April Fools' Day sequence about the stars' secret hobbies. Total waste of airtime.
Guttenberg made another effort to be Mr. Good Guy later in the show, when he tried to smooth over Adam's insults to the costume team the previous night (bad gay joke included) by giving a by-name shout-out to those who dress the dancers. But there was no saving Steve at that point.
In the final minutes, it was Mario and Guttenberg sweating out the results. This viewer is firmly in the camp that believes Mario is nowhere near big enough yet to go by one name only (and that he needs a better agent if he's letting his dancing slide -- in what is the best nationally televised publicity op he could for -- so he can continue a concert tour that involves the venues we saw on Monday's show). Still, the guy can dance, and it would have been quite the shocker to see him get bounced so soon.
All that said, here's a plea: Would someone please, please explain to me what is funny about Adam Carolla? Please? I would consider it a public service as we proceed into the weeks ahead.
-- JENNIFER FREY
Jennifer Frey
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April 2, 2008; 6:11 AM ET
Dancing With the Stars
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Posted by: Irish_Ed | April 2, 2008 8:44 AM
Carolla seems to be a camera hog. Every time he gets near the microphone, he starts. Did you notice how uncomfortable he made Kristi and Pricilla last night? He's like a child (or D-list celebrity) trying for his 5 minutes in the spotlight. I would have thought he was above that.
Posted by: Bob | April 2, 2008 9:17 AM
Carolla is NOT funny. He is crude, rude, and socially unacceptable. The only reason he is still on the show is Julianne. She is MUCH more popular then him.
Posted by: dw | April 2, 2008 9:41 AM
It is Julianne that's keeping him from being voted off. People (mostly boorish men) who enjoy Carolla's type of behavior do not watch DWTS, so people are voting for Julianne to try to keep her dancing for as long as possible.
Adam is so vulgar. DWTS is too classy for him.
Posted by: puresnow | April 2, 2008 10:10 AM
I am really mad at DWTS that they paired Julianne with Adam. She is one of my most favorite dancers, but to be able to continue to see her I must vote for the clod that is Adam. Occasionally he is funny, as when he told Kristi to stop talking down to them, but for the most part, it's really painful to watch.
Posted by: jshu | April 2, 2008 10:29 AM
There are people out there who do watch DWTS and enjoy Carolla's type of behavior. Of course, most people voting for Carolla are actually voting for Julianne.
DWTS too classy, pa-lease; thats like saying the celebrities are on DWTS only for the dancing.
Posted by: Cachi | April 2, 2008 11:32 AM
Julianne was purposely teamed w/ Adam. After winning two in a row, they figured he was a sure early loser and they were giving someone else a chance--same as they did w/ Cheryl. But she's popular enough to carry even the boorish Adam for a few rounds.
I think the judges tried to save Guttenberg by giving him relatively high scores this week, but it wasn't enough. No one was voting for Mr. Nice Guy.
I also think the producers were giving a warning to Mario by making him sweat it out at the end. I think they were telling him to not take this for granted, put in the rehearsal time, curb the arrogance, etc. I think he may have gotten the message.
I didn't realize before Monday's show that Jonathan and Anna were married. I like both of them, but would never have thought to pair them together. Now I wish they'd both stuck around longer!
Posted by: alex | April 2, 2008 12:52 PM
Adam was funnier last night. Some of the times. but i do agree his is often crude and is certainly a camera hogger.
I am still shocked that Steve went before he did. I can only assume 2 things:
1) every one loves a court jester. Some of the stars seems to take this gig way too seriously. and Adam is there to bring them back to earth like he did last night for Kristi and Lisa
2) Julianne's Star power from the last 2 seasons is carrying him for this ride. It will probably last him a couple more rounds.
Predictions: next week, Marissa's sympathy vote runs out. she is gone
Posted by: justsayin | April 2, 2008 1:25 PM
Adam should have gone home, but was saved by the popularity of Julianne. I was sorry to see Steve go - nice guy having fun and gracious. Adam is so painfully inappropriate - how did he get his far in his career? Duct tape, please.
I agree he occasionally actually is funny but his batting average is poor. I think he makes the hosts, judges, and other contestants uncomfortable. Watch their body language toward him. Sadly, Julianne may be able to keep him in a bit longer. It's up to judges to really downgrade him.
Marissa got sympathy votes plus her absolute likability - she comes across as one of your childhood best friends. I think the judges were correct - it was boring and she is capable of more. The costuming of her and Tony was horrible.
Now that the show has several seasons, the audience is more familiar with the pros, plus we get to know them better since more emphasis in now placed on who they are.
In addition to Julianne, her brother Derek, Edyta, and Cheryl are all appealing personalities. They should be able to help keep their partners in. I miss Maksym - a bit rude, but utterly sexy.
I hope viewers realize that the pros of bounced stars get to keep performing in the results shows along with their peers. Given Julianne's popularity, the show producers will do anything to keep her highly visible after Adam goes - not soon enough, IMO.
Posted by: Holly | April 2, 2008 2:58 PM
The only reason to watch this show - Adam Carolla - has left. He is extremely funny and clearly a classy enough guy to impress Juliana. Now all we have are bunch of super-serious celebs trying to out-practice each other. No fun.
Posted by: Andrew | April 9, 2008 1:08 PM
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Actually, I thought Carolla's comments were funny last night. Carolla is doing his best to subvert the sugary sweetness of the show with unpolite comments (comments that many tv viewers are thinking at home). It was entertaining when he ripped the microphone from Samantha's hand and started berating Priscilla and Kristi.