Donna Barstow Blog #2 Posts

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I like all of the stars so far this season! So no grumpies. Yet.

Audrina did very well, I thought, and had a sweet personality. Suspicions of the? judges begins right now, since I think they underscored her terribly. In the rehearsals Tony looked shocked that he had a natural dancer on his hands for once!

Brandy was younger than I thought. She was good, didn’t wow me. I liked how happy she was at her scores.

rick fox cheryl burke
rick fox cheryl burke

Margaret Cho was fun! Sort of sincere, modest. I thought it was a funny performance, once I knew it was supposed to be. She worked hard. As usual, Louis made an offcolor remark – he was even more vulgar on Bachelor Pad. Not my favorite pro.

Kurt Warner – way to bore me, showing your way too big, over-populated family. Shut up with your wife and too many kids. Dancing was attractive.

Michael Bolton – I felt so sorry for him! Way out of his element – just a bad dancer. And he looked so self-conscious.? Chelsie always has a kind of bored/spoiled look, as usual.

Rick Fox brought the sexy, and Cheryl is the consummate professional, and improved it! Really looking forward to more from them.

Bristol Palin was bad, but sweet. Just a normal girl, and we’d all probably do the same as her. I saw Mark actually act spontaneously for the first time in forever – he? broke down and laughed when she answered Brooke’s question with just one sentence.

Florence Henderson – careful. Much better than Chloris. (throw up)

Kyle Massey – almost forgot him. Well, I forgot him while I was watching him and the newly blonde still showing off Lacey. I couldn’t believe the judges. Don’t believe them. Carrie Anne, you look stupid trying to chair dance and look cool.

Jennifer Grey and Derek – I got tearful when she did over Patrick Swayze (and we all know they didn’t get along on the movie, but she is missing that experience), and did I see Derek shed a tear, as well? I thought she was very good, but not necessarily better than everyone. Judges, you lie.

David Hasselhoff – pretty bad, but also funny and candid, which counts for a lot. How old is he? Acts like he’s 60. Kym looks the skinniest ever – bad, actually. I think she’s at a dangerous weight.

Oops, forgot The Situation and Karina! I liked him. He seemed ready to work hard. Karina was laughing a lot, so she likes him – she flirts really well, doesn’t she?

Talking about dangerous, I don’t watch Ellen (youtube here which they don’t let you share), but I wanted to see the segment today on Riley, a dog found by climber Zak Anderegg while he was 350 feet underground, exploring a canyon cave. (Here’s his Facebook page.) Some ahole DUMPED the dog there, left him to die in the dark, underground, on a tiny little ledge.

I don't Watch TV

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From the Hollywood Reporter, a news item they claim is exclu. (their ridiculous made up half word, not mine.)

According to a source involved with casting, the network approached Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg to join the dance card for the show’s 11th cycle but was unable to secure him. The network also lobbied unsuccessfully for Sylvester Stallone, political commentator Ann Coulter, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, the real Erin Brockovich, billionaire Richard Branson, comic actor Tim Allen and former TV darling Suzanne Somers.

Bristol Palin, daughter of former GOP vice presidential hopeful Sarah Palin, already has been dubbed this season’s Kate Gosselin, who was famously difficult at times last season.

“Bristol was really annoyed by all the questions about whether her mom would be in the audience to support her,” the source said. “She kept complaining about the amount of press she had to do. She is acting like this is all a big pain.”

I don’t believe that about Bristol. Kate wasn’t at all difficult last season – everything we saw showed she was hesitant, maybe reluctant, and she didn’t work very hard, but she wasn’t the problem – Tony was the prima donna, refusing to listen to her, not letting her finish talking, and totally assy acting. I wouldn’t trust anything Tony says now. He’s the teacher, not the star.

patrick swayze and Jennifer grey hot - okay, superhot
patrick swayze and Jennifer grey hot - okay, superhot

Anyway, this just sounds like a disgruntled Lib. Lots of them on Hollywood sets.

But the best part of the article is the MONEY!

According to the casting source, all contestants earn equal compensation for the show, subject to their ability to avoid elimination.

With a $345,000 pot up for grabs during the 10 weeks of airtime, the source said each star makes an initial $125,000 for signing, three weeks of rehearsal before the premiere and competing in the first two episodes, even if the cast member is cut after the first dance.

The breakdown for the remaining weeks is $10,000 an episode for Weeks 3 and 4, $20,000 an episode for Weeks 5 and 6, $30,000 an episode for Weeks 7 and 8, and $50,000 an episode for the final two weeks.

The production source said contestants forfeit a portion of their salary if they fail to meet the ultra-strict rehearsal schedule.

“Initially, they rehearse six hours a day, every day,” the source said. “Then it moves to eight hours a day. If they don’t comply with the entire schedule, the network will deduct it from their paycheck.”

I don't Watch TV

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For Illustration Friday: DESSERT!!!!! And I love Fridays, too! Dessert sounds swell. I am embarrassed to confess that I’ve started a new blog – I bought the name a while…

New Yorker cartoons

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Sergio Aragones, famed cartoonist for MAD is also known in Los Angeles as a bon vivant, and man about town! I’ve known Sergio for many years, through CAPS and NCS…

The Others

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Of course, I mean the remaining six on Bachelor Pad.

This was such a CHEAP, CHEAP show – get out of my life. The dates are so lame – I think they were all within 3 miles of the house or so. So boring to look at. And since it’s cheaper to film in daytime, the lame “contests” – as if spin the bottle was a contest in any way – and I hope they saved money on that one by using one of their own empty wine bottles – have the contestants all squinting, all ugly, in the hot sun.

Now, the people: I really liked Gia, even though she played the game so poorly. Wes seemed pretty sincere – I was one of the few who liked him in Jillian’s season. It was Fleiss who did a number on him.

I liked a lot of the women – Nikki, Ashley, and especially Krisily – she’s an outspoken girl of my own heart! That’s exactly how I would have played it, too, and lost! All gone now.

Peyton was the last girl I liked, and now she’s gone. I could call the remaining six names, but why bring myself down – they’re all undeserving of the win. I have to say, however, that even though Kiptyn fancies himself a good person, I DON’T THINK SO. Cannot stand fake Tenley, and David Good is the worst.

On a much more interesting note, I saw Vienna today!!! I hardly ever recognize anyone, and it’s not a spot where I would expect to see even a reality star: in Joann’s Fabrics, in Glendale!

I don't Watch TV

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New Yorker cartoons