DWTS (Duncing With The Sponsors)

So, what in the world is going on with Dancing With The Stars? If you watch the program, you know that the scoring format is a joke. The judges are there to score the contestants on dance quality, and anybody with a phone or Internet account gets to vote on who they think is most popular. This has made for some very unusual outcomes on results night, from very talented performers being voted off the show, to very bad contestants allowed to continue. I've never been a fan of the scoring, but if you look past it, you can usually see some of the stars efforts to improve and make a legitimate attempt to learn ballroom dancing.

Well, in my humble opinion, the scoring format has been changed. If you've been watching this year's show, you may have seen the judges make some very hard and wholly well deserved criticisms of this years football star. Chad Ochocinco is at best slightly better than mediocre, but he appears to be trying, he just can't overcome some inherent gawkiness. In the first six weeks of the show, the judges comments showed in his facial expressions, but he kept returning. And to be fair, he is no where near the worst contestant they have had. I recall a basketball player who did little more than walk around the floor, yet fans kept voting him back (or at least, we all assume they were his fans).

Two weeks ago, something changed. The judges have become much more lenient with Chad, and their criticisms are suddenly dripping with honey to take off the sting, and he seems to be getting a couple free points on each of the paddles. I can only conclude that the sponsors have weighed in and told them to lighten up, they don't want to lose the viewership if he is voted off, and frankly, he's about two weeks past his time.

I don't recall seeing such a turnabout in the judges opinions in previous years, but I have to wonder if the sponsors have had their influence on the votes. Perhaps the viewers votes aren't really counted at all. The sponsors decide who sells the most product, and arrange to keep them on the show as long as possible. (They don't get too crazy, some contestants are way too talented to lose).

I'm not a dancing fan, but I do like watching these stars struggle to learn something new. I just wish they had a fair shake with a fair scoring system. The fans can vote for most congenial.