The new cast of Dancing with the Stars has been chosen, and I'm not among them. I'm disappointed--even though there's no reason I'd be on the DWTS' radar. I'm a dancer, mostly in my mind and living room. But, if I were chosen--I'd love the weeks of hard-core dance training and the feeling that comes with it--being totally, fantastically, alive.
Dancing appears to be Reality TV at its finest. Losers are praised as winners, winners are incredibly humble, and no one gets a tongue lashing. (But...at closer look, I note there aren't any "real" people on the show. This likely accounts for the lack of criticisms. Who would dare criticize Nancy Grace's two-step?)
I used to watch Project Runway, the show where young designers get a chance to show off their talents; they have limited time and money to create the assigned fashion look. These looks are theatrical, silly, sophisticated, sexy, and every one of them, uniquely creative. Would it be so hard for Nina Garcia to say something nice? Doesn't "trying" count anymore?
As a designer (now and then), I get great vicarious pleasure watching this show. But as it has grown in popularity, the "losers" have been getting raked over the coals. The harsh insults by people who forgot they were once "real people" too, detracts from my enjoyment; which is why I am now someone who "used to watch Project Runway."
This morning I woke to Carrie Fisher denigrating herself for Jenny Craig on a commercial. I wondered why she does it. Good PR for Jenny C., not so good for Fisher and people who want to lose weight.
I digress. I want the TV viewing public to pony up and ask for something better. Kindness and intelligence --should we even have to ask?
And one more tiny thing. If I had it to do all over again, I'd put the computer away and stand on line (a real line, that is) at 5:00 a.m. to audition to be a Broadway hoofer.
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