What will 'Dancing With the Stars' do without Tom DeLay and his fractured feet and far-fetched footwork? DeLay's dropout on Tuesday may have ended a storyline that was a drag on ratings this season, but what else does the show have going for it now? This season has seen plunging viewership and desperate stunts to counteract it; now, deprived of its only drama, the show is likely to become only goofier and more pathetic in its efforts to win back its audience.Besides the saga of the stress fractures in both of the 62-year-old former Republican House majority leader's feet, there was this week's abortive attempt to bring a chimpanzee on as a guest judge (this, following the stampede of performers in 'Lion King' animal costumes in week 1). There was Donny Osmond's bizarre faux-makeout session with judge Bruno Tonioli, as Tonioli bellowed to the squeaky-clean star to "come to the dark side!" Not to mention the casting this season of drama magnets Kelly Osbourne and Macy Gray (alas, Gray was booted after just one week and one bleeped comment). Toss in a Miley Cyrus video, a Patrick Swayze tribute, visits from the Muppets and the USC Trojans marching band, and a just-for-geeks segment in which Steve Wozniak and ESPN's Matthew Berry attempted to predict the winner via some kind of complicated Da Vinci Code algorithm – are you excited yet?
Despite all these seemingly irrelevant bells and whistles, most of the suspense this season has come from wondering when DeLay's troubled tootsies would finally do him in. That saga was a bummer (even a more of a bummer than watching him drag down Cheryl Burke's reputation as a pro who could make any dance partner look good). It would be no wonder if ABC wanted him gone. ("Tom DeLay Takes a Bow, or Was He Pushed?" read the headline from the Washington Post after he dropped out.) There's no evidence in the article that anyone at ABC pressured the limping politician to make himself a lame duck, but producers must be as relieved as the show's judges that DeLay will waltz no more.
According to the Post, DeLay's ongoing stress-fracture saga led to some of the lowest-rated episodes in "Dancing"'s nine-season history. Monday's performance episode attracted the smallest audience ever for a fall edition's third performance show. Tuesday's results show earned a 2.4 rating and a 6 share, the lowest numbers for any episode in the series' history.
Was DeLay overplaying his aching soles? Maybe just a little. Certainly, his treatment sounds extensive. The 62-year-old gave an exit interview to PEOPLE's TV Watch blog in which he said his left foot is in a soft cast, both feet are in orthopedic shoes, and he sleeps with his feet in a bone-stimulating machine. However, when he showed up on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live' for that show's traditional 'Dancing' exit interview, he arrived onstage in a wheelbarrow. (See video below.)
At least Tuesday's elimination episode also saw the elimination of the chimp stunt, teased on Monday's show. Folks from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) dashed off a letter of complaint to 'Dancing''s executive producer, Conrad Green; receptive to PETA's pleas regarding animal cruelty, Green agreed to chuck the chimp segment. The Los Angeles Times' Dish Rag blog prints the full text of Green's apologetic letter to PETA, including his promise never to exploit chimps in the future. Rest assured, 'Dancing' will make sure that no chimp is subjected to anything cruel, like watching Tom DeLay dance, or sitting through the rest of what is likely to be an increasingly stunt-riddled season of 'Dancing.' -- By Gary Susman
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 23)
i thought tom delay was the chimp.....Watch "so you think you can Dance"if you want to see real dancers.................
Totally agree. So You Think You Can Dance is an amazing display of raw talent, (once the auditions are over, that is...) and most of them are simply kids. Because of the constant change in types of dances and choreographers, the show doesn't get boring like DWTS.
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Absolutely. All this time and effort spent trying to find "the missing link", and all they had to do was look at Tom! The big fat elephant on the back of his shirt was just TOO OBVIOUS of a political stunt even for the dainty-footed DeLay. Thank God he is gone-- at least until the NEXT bizarre sighting!
Well said! Dancing with the Stars picked the absolute worst contestants ever. I have not been able to fully watch an entire program and finally just quit. Oh well, maybe next year!
I don't watch anymore. I tried last week but the judges ruin the show. LOW scores and critical, rude feedback from ALL of the judges. I can't stand it anymore. It doesn't seem that the dancers get any credit for the long hours of rehearsals. Too bad; I used to love the show.
The show did confirm one thing....our politicians have become entertainers, and entertainers have become politicians. This is why our country is lacking real leadership.
Good for him, he is a good sport, now let's see YOU get up there and LOL dance!
i wonder if the show got such low ratings on monday because, I know in Wisconsin at least, that the Packers-Vikings game was on all night and DWTS wasn't aired until 2am....
In Minnesota, DWTS was pre-empted by football. I could have done without the football. I too agree that the judges are being overly dramatic this year. It is alittle off putting, but I still enjoy the show.