DWTS Media Thread

[Zinnia]

DWTS contestants get $200,000 for doing the show, no matter how long they last. The top three finishers get a bonus, with the winner getting $100,000.


This article gives a look into DWTS and the pay and other motivators for participation:


Reality Shows Pay With Resuscitated Careers
By Andrew Gumbel

Not so long ago, reality TV was the last place any self-respecting celebrity would wish to end up.

Now, though, the famous -- and almost-famous -- are lining round the block to get on the most popular shows, like "Dancing With the Stars" or "Celebrity Apprentice." And it isn't for the money.

Stars on a multi-character scripted drama can make upwards of $50,000 an episode – sometimes way upward. On reality shows, celebrities get what is referred to as Most Favored Nation status -- which means nobody gets more than anybody else. The celebs on "Dancing With the Stars," for example, get $200,000 for the entire season, whether they're booted or not, a bonus of $100,00 [sic] if they're number one, a smaller bonus if they're number two, an even smaller bonus if they're number 3, a top TV agent told The Wrap.

So Marie Osmond made what Emmitt Smith made, what Cloris Leachman made, what Belinda Carlisle made this season -- and she was the first celeb booted off.

Of course, every reality show is different. A celebrity with a show built around his or her life is likely to get producer credit and maybe something on the back end. Participants on an existing show generally get a flat fee without residuals.

"Between scripted shows and reality shows," said a leading TV agent, "in the success scenario there's just no comparison -- and that's the way it should be. On scripted shows, they have to have talent."

But, in Hollywood, there's always more than money. Especially former celebrities are sniffing out any opportunity to put themselves on the map -- or sell themselves in a different guise to a whole new generation of fans.

"It's all about the endorsements and other appearances. There's a lot of heat coming off that show," the TV agent said.

Lauren Conrad has gone from nobody to television mega-celebrity by committing her young adult life to video on the MTV series "Laguna Beach" and its follow-up "The Hills." No longer simply an aspiring fashion designer, she has launched her own clothing line on the back of her cable network visibility.

Her fellow cast members Heidi Montag, Audrina Patridge and Whitney Port have similarly diversified into music, film acting, fashion design, earning themselves millions of dollars in the process.

"Emmitt Smith always says that people outside of football didn't really know his face before he was on the show," said Deena Katz, senior talent producer on "DWTS." "Marie Osmond and her dolls... they're more of a multi-million-dollar property now. It put these guys back in the spotlight."

Jerry Springer used "Dancing With the Stars" to help him escape the pigeonhole of his notorious daytime circus and turned it into a hosting slot on "America's Got Talent." It also put him in a position to be fielding, for the first time in his career, movie offers. Joey Fatone used the show as a springboard to become the host of "The Singing Bee."

And the list goes on: "DWTS'" Julianne Hough got a boost to her fledgling country music career; Mario Lopez was tabbed to host "Extra."

The thing that has changed from the "Battle of the Network Stars" days is, in a word, volume. "There's more of it out there," said one television agent who has set up reality shows for his clients. "With more out there come more opportunities for people who wouldn't otherwise have had an in on television. Now they are given their shot, their 15 minutes. And some people are parlaying those 15 minutes into 30 minutes or hours or full careers."

Though, for some, like Gary Busey, the options for reinvention seem limited to a stint on "Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew" -- a hit show that is unlikely to do very much for its participants other than reinforce stereotypical views.

The television agent said he will spend several hours in development meetings trying to identify career goals and branding options for his clients before coming up with a reality show pitch. His greatest successes have come when he has been able to resuscitate a career -- he did not want to name names, but he has done so several times by now.

"Some shows have been proven to be safe and have developed reputations as career rejuvenators," a television insider said. "'Dancing With the Stars' is a show people can do. 'Celebrity Apprentice' is safe to do. Of course, it's up to you to conduct yourself in a way consistent with your celebrity brand."

Indeed, there's no question a cleverly crafted reality show stint can do wonders -- especially if the celeb is willing to open up the idiosyncracies of his or her personal or professional lives to public scrutiny.

"At a time when the business is contracting and opportunities for a lot of celebrities are disappearing," the insider said, "there is greater pressure to take advantage of those kinds of shows."

[justsaying]

Maybe they thought they needed to add a little drama to this season!

Maybe Cloris will ask the judges to give her a another chance. It's not too late, they haven't proposed.. err...picked a winner yet.

[MiniDiva]

Maybe Cloris will ask the judges to give her a another chance. It's not too late, they haven't proposed.. err...picked a winner yet.

Hey, they should have asked Cloris to come back when Jewel dropped out. She could have come back as the DWTS Dumpee and competed with Melissa for the most talked about Reality Show Dumpee!

[Copyman12]

Gun-Toting Shawn Johnson Fan Arrested

A man claiming he was "meant to be" with Shawn Johnson was arrested early Tuesday morning after trying to sneak on to the set of "Dancing With the Stars" -- and cops say he had two loaded guns and duct tape in his car.

Johnson's mother, Teri, has just filed a petition for a restraining order against the man, 34-year-old Robert O'Ryan. The restraining order seeks protection for 17-year-old Shawn, her mother, her father and her "Dancing" partner Mark Ballas.


for the rest go to TMZ.com

[karalott]

Dang that's scary Poor Shawn. She's still so young and probably has more of her gymnastics career ahead of her, too.

I thought about how the DWTS pros sort of got catapulted into stardom and wondered if any of them had had any run ins with creepy stalker types.

[beachgirl4]

I just saw Maks & Denise on Regis and Kelly. Kelly said to Denise, something to the effect of 'It must be hard since so many of the stars have dance experience now, not to have any." Her reply was that she felt sorry for Maks because she had none, and Maks said "the show is evolving, and you have people like Steve, and Cloris last season, who stay because people like them and in the end it doesn't matter who has experience, it just comes down to what people the viewers want to see." Sounds like he's had a little talking-to.

[ButterScotch7]

I just saw Maks & Denise on Regis and Kelly. Kelly said to Denise, something to the effect of 'It must be hard since so many of the stars have dance experience now, not to have any." Her reply was that she felt sorry for Maks because she had none, and Maks said "the show is evolving, and you have people like Steve, and Cloris last season, who stay because people like them and in the end it doesn't matter who has experience, it just comes down to what people the viewers want to see." Sounds like he's had a little talking-to.

Beachgirl4, sounds like someone did talk to him....however, the damage has already been done. Maks is an adult, he should have known better!:nono

[steppemaster]

I just saw Maks & Denise on Regis and Kelly. Kelly said to Denise, something to the effect of 'It must be hard since so many of the stars have dance experience now, not to have any." Her reply was that she felt sorry for Maks because she had none, and Maks said "the show is evolving, and you have people like Steve, and Cloris last season, who stay because people like them and in the end it doesn't matter who has experience, it just comes down to what people the viewers want to see." Sounds like he's had a little talking-to.

I saw that too.

I thught Maks was very lackadasicial--especially when they were dancing. I don't think he cared if he was there or not.


That was my impression anyway.

[beachgirl4]

I saw that too.

I thught Maks was very lackadasicial--especially when they were dancing. I don't think he cared if he was there or not.


That was my impression anyway.

I agree - they pretty much looked like they were going through the motions. They didn't dance very well, either, even compared to how they did on the show.

[MissThing]

Dancing with the Stars: Woz Shrinking, Says Costume Designer | A+E Interactive

The hours Steve Wozniak has put into practicing his dance moves may not have perfected his form, but he’s whittled at least four inches off his waistline, according to the show’s costume designer.
“He keeps losing weight…four inches over the last two weeks,” said Randall Christensen, who was alarmed to see Woz incorporating a “yanking pants up” move during his rehearsals last week.
“He is one of the most charming, genuine people I know,” the designer said of Woz. “He is endearing in that he will try anything Karina throws his way.”
An expert in creating costumes that can withstand the strenuous moves of professional dancers, Christensen used an old trick: hidden elastic that would hold Woz’s trousers in place.
It’s one of the many tricks the designer uses to ensure that the costumes don’t ride up or ride down, “jiggly bits” are kept in place and both men’s and women’s bodies look sleek, athletic and sinewy.
Easy, perhaps, to do for Edyta Sliwinska, Christensen’s muse and favorite pro dancer, but a little tougher to achieve for Woz.
“The biggest challenge is taking body types into consideration,” he said of the celebrities he works with. For male dancers, the muscles in the hips and the gluteous maximus hold up the waistband. Actor Gilles Marini, he said, has the physique of a dancer.
Woz, not so much.
But hidden suspenders and elastic do the trick when butt muscles are nonexistent.
The designer also cuts down the collars of Woz’s shirts to make his neck look longer and lengthens the vest to elongate and slim the torso. Inside jackets, he engineers elastic bands that loop around buttons attached to the pants to keep the jacket from flying up.
After tonight’s results show, Christensen will spend 20 minutes with each couple to plan next week’s costumes.
He’ll shop for fabric, feathers and frou-frou sparkles on Wednesday and by Saturday, the costumes are done and ready to be worn for Sunday’s dress rehearsal. He does have help sewing them: one main tailor, his wife and a team of 24 seamstresses.