All's Fair in Love and 'Dance War'

Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli Dish on Their Other Show

Jan. 18 -- 'Dance War: Bruno vs. Carrie Ann' is already off and running, but this Monday things finally get down and dirty. 'Dancing With the Stars' judges Bruno Tonioli and Carrie Ann Inaba have chosen their teams; now the two singing-and-dancing groups will work it for America. Then America (those who watch, anyway) will vote for one of the teams to eliminate a member.

AOL TV's Angel Cohn caught up with the dynamic (and oft-bickering) duo to find out if we can expect pepper spray in costumes, if they can really sing and if 'Dancing''s other judge feels left out.

Is there a big competition between you two off screen?
Tonioli: The show is a competition, [but] we're not going to fall out, we're not going to lose our friendship over it.

So there's no backstabbing or sabotaging going on?
Tonioli: No. We both want the best. We want our team to be the best possible team, so we're going to go for it. When we comment, we'll say what we think, but I'm not going to sabotage her or kick her or any of that. That would be inappropriate ... wouldn't you think?
Inaba: I hope so! I hope you're not gonna kick me! That wouldn't be right.

Well, there was pepper spray in the costumes at the Miss Puerto Rico pageant, so you never know.
Inaba: Right. Can you imagine?
Tonioli: Yeah, I could put a laxative in [her] coffee.
Inaba: [Laughs] It's a friendly competition. Bruno and I have been choreographing for most of our lives, I've been doing it for 20 years and he's been doing it for about 30 years. It's really showcasing to America what we do, what background we have and how we look at things creatively. It will help people get to know us. Plus, you get to know these amazingly talented kids who we've chosen to put on our teams, and it's really going to be fun.
Tonioli: What you see is not just us judging but the creative process, the transformation of raw talent into a great performance and the journey [the kids] will take with us and with America to create this ultimate all-singing/all-dancing group. We don't know what's going to happen week by week. That's what's good about the show -- it all happens as you see it.

There's a singing element, which makes this trickier than just dancing. Do either of you sing as well?
Inaba: Yeah, both of us. I was a pop star in Japan a long time ago.
Tonioli: I was in a band called Duke and the Aces in the UK, and then I did musicals and I made a record called 'Love Is Alive.' My accent was even worse, so I sounded like a [comedian]. We have experience in all these things because that's what you have to do to have a [choreography] career. One week you could be doing a film, a period piece, you choreograph a musical, you choreograph a band; that's what freelance choreographers in this industry do; that's what we've been doing for years. You may work with an artist, an actor or an actress to sing a performance or choreograph for a part in a movie. So this is the kind of thing we've been doing all of our lives before ['Dancing With the Stars'] sort of changed our careers.

Most of America only knows you as 'Dancing' judges ...
Tonioli: 'Dancing With the Stars' has been a phenomenon, really.
Inaba: We're very happy to be a part of it. It's really quite amazing.

Is fellow 'Dancing' judge Len Goodman jealous that the two of you have your own show?
Inaba: No, Len is happy.
Tonioli: Len is touring at the moment in the UK, with the UK version of 'Dancing With the Stars.' I couldn't do it, obviously, because I'm doing this show.
Inaba: I miss Len.
Tonioli: We love him.
Inaba: He usually sits between us, like a safeguard.

Bruno, can we expect some of your great metaphors?
Tonioli: I don't know. I can't just plan that. That's something that will happen on the day.
Inaba: We'll see what happens, I'm sure there will be plenty.

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