"The Situation" Should be Unplugged on Dancing With the Stars

ABC tried something new last night on Dancing With the Stars.  Gone was the usual studio set up and in was a brand new stage in the round.

The stage was very close to the audience and much smaller than the previous stage.  Throw in acoustic music and this night had a lot of potential.

It really didn't live up to the billing. The couples seemed to struggle on the smaller, round stage.  It didn't give them enough room to get moving and that hurt their routines.  Derek and Maks did well with their choreography and were rewarded.

Another thing we learned is that The Situation still can't dance.  Karina is doing all she can to get The Sitch to look his best, but that is a tough job.  He received some of the lowest scores from the judges in the history of the show.  That performance should earn The Situation a one-way ticket home.

The frontrunners at this point continue to be Jennifer and Audrina.  Next week the pairs dance to television themes.  Anyone else think Florence will be dancing to The Brady Bunch theme?

Dancing With the Stars Week 3 Preview: Will 'The Situation' Boyle Over?

It's week three of this installment of Dancing With the Stars, and it's time I tell you a little story.  I mean the dancers tonight will tell you a story, or at least attmept to.

The pairs tonight must incorporate a story into their dance routines to move on to the third week.  To me, this actually favors dancers that have a story to tell.  That should eliminate "The Situation" who is living on borrowed time at this point.

Athletes Rick Fox and Kurt Warner should have great stories to tell as should Florence Henderson and even Margaret Cho.

This is an important week, and usually the last week where judges tend to give the benefit of the doubt to the lesser dancers.  Historically, after this week, the routing get more difficult and more is expected of the competitors.  "The Situation" should go, he is not the level of the other celebs, and I don't think he has the work ethic of the others as well.

On a side note, another "situation" is brewing.  British singing sensation Susan Boyle will not be appearing on Tuesday's episode.  She did not board a flight to L.A. possibly due to a throat infection and she will be replaced by another artist.  TMZ reported she was to sing "Hallelujah."

Should be entertaining shows Monday and Tuesday night.

Handicapping 'Dancing With the Stars' Season 11

What a group we have this season. I'd have to say the competition is really "open" as we get an early idea of the teams and try to find out what kind of dance background, if any the contestants may have.

Here are the pairings and the early odds at winning.

Jennifer Grey and Derek Hough, 4-1 - Grey has dancing experience in "Dirty Dancing"

Michael Bolton and Chelsie Hightower, 6-1 - A good pairing, I think Bolton will have some moves.

Brandy and Maksim Chmerkovskiy, 7-1 - Max gets the most out of his partners.

Mike "The Situation" and Karina Smifnoff, 15-2 - This pairing should be fun.

Rick Fox and Cheryl Burke, 10-1 - Don't count Rick and Cheryl out.

David Hasselhoff and Kym Johnson, 10-1 - A great pairing, welcome back Kym.

Bristol Palin and Mark Ballas, 15-1 - Don't know what to think of this duo.

Florence Henderson and Corky Ballas, 15-1 - Everybody loves Mrs. Brady.

Kyle Massey and Lacey Schwimmer, 20-1 - Can Kyle dance? We'll find out.

Margaret Cho and Louis Van Amstel, 25-1 - Margaret is crazy!

Audrina Patridge and Tony Dovolani, 35-1 - Poor Tony.

Dancing With the Stars Rumors

The new television season is approaching.  Tom Bergeron is expected to announce the entire Season 11 cast of "Dancing with the Stars" next Monday, Aug. 30, after ABC's "Bachelor Pad."

Looks like we may be subjected to Jersey Shore mania this season.  Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino may soon show off his rock-hard abs and fist-pumping skills on the hit ABC show.

Others in talks to compete this season include singer Michael Bolton, Audrina Patridge of "The Hills," former Dallas Cowboy quarterback Troy Aikman, singer Brandy and "The Bachelorette" star Ali Fedotowsky and her fiance, Roberto Martinez. 

Also heard that David Hasselhoff was interested in competing if his schedule would allow.

Maybe not as much star-power as last season, but interesting participants nonetheless.