In Australia The Dancing with the Stars
program was a great success. In the three series plus the play off, even with the public vote. The people who should have been the winners did win. In some of the earlier rounds with the public vote, who obviously voted for their favourite TV or sporting personality , there were some good couples who left the show a bit earlier than they should have. The judges who were the same for all three sections, were all competent dancers in their own right.The Professionals were all with International experience. There was also in three of the programs guest singers who were also International artists. Altogether excellent shows with no complaints from anybody I know.

My pity goes to poor Len Goodman.

By the end of the first series you could see he changed as he realized his real credibility as a legitimate ballroom judge was in jeapordy as he was saddled with two judges who had zero experience with ballroom. Goodman seemed to get a little more serious about what he was doing and his comments became more constructive and encouraging while recognizing at the same time these are not real dance students and that the show's purpose is to promote network issues first.

The real fault to my mind is the networks for giving him a judging panel with no experience. Cary-Ann Inoba has gotten better but Bruno's an idiot. If he was a clown or funny that would be different but he now seems to be parroting Goodman's comments for every follow up contestant.

It's been building but I sensed last night Goodman was a feather step away from pulling a Don Meredith on Howard Cossell from the old Monday Night Football. (For those of you that don't know Cossell had to suddenly leave a broadcast once saying he'd taken ill. Truth was Meredith decked him).

I think Goodman's trying to be as professional as possible now within the constraints of the program as Cary-Ann is now doing too. Bruno is what is ruining the show for me. He has absolutely no idea what he's talking about. Dump him please.

OB