Sorry CzarinaAnya, I was confused on where I found that info, here is the quote from Mario, which doesn't amount to that much dance experience but this is likely where I got the two mixed up.
Mario - ". . Doing the cabbage patch isn't going to help you with the foxtrot, you know what I'm saying? So, when asked on the show, I thought she was asking about formal training, and it was all a blur and sort of surreal … but we're talking like over 20 years ago."
As MM is pointing out with improvement, you must also realize dancing is essentially entertaining. And If the populous were more entertained by Emmit, so be it. He was More entertaining, More improved and had a personality more people liked. That is the name of the game when you look at ANY public vote in contest. If people were under the impression that ONLY the best "skilled" dancer would win these, they were mistaken from the beginning.
And here we go with the #1 spot being the only thing. Geesh, the guy got second out of a very talented crowd in this. That is something to be proud of, particularly considering the forum for the votes.
I would not go as far as to say 2 left feet, I don't think anyone was exaggerating so far in the other direction to say he was the best dancer either. But I do trust in the Judges that were scoring based on how well they did in comparison as well, gave Emmit the comments on occasion, "that was the best dance this season." Might be a little hard to notice (obviously) with a larger man but, none the less his talent and skill at achieving the steps gave him the points from the Judges straight up.
I would also say personalities payed a big part in the Pro Dancer / instructor as well. Kat is not that sweet which would not be a problem if she wasn't that hot headed to add. Cheryl is a wonderful seeming woman - my bias aside - and people are influenced by a lot of factors. Should they be??? Well Shouldn't they?? The whole idea of having it be a professional Dance contest should not even be an issue once the realization that half the contestants are not pro dancers and the public votes for their "favorite." i.e "Favorite." They never say who you think is the best "Skilled Dancer," the closest they come is "....who you think deserves...."
The big problem is that when people have made their personal choice of their favorite - whether that is based on dance skill, improvement, funniest or looks - maybe just who they remember liking when they were younger - they suddenly think everyone should vote based on their criteria. It is not set up to have the most skilled always win - look how long Jerry was on there - just the favorite of the public. It can not always be the best as in cases like last season with Nick. He was not the most improved but, Nick was the best skilled dancer of the final 4. And don't forget he was up against a football hero (J Rice) and the vote still went to the teenage heart throb regardless of who danced better.
I think that says a lot about who the best instructor is as well.
Besides that, anyone who says Emmit was not a good quality dancer by the end of the show is guilty of the same bias that they don't agree with having him win the vote - he won by bias just the same as some one saying he shouldn't have is being bias.
If the show was about "who is the best skilled dancer", they would have them all practicing for the 2 months BEFORE their first public dance and no public vote. The show is just not set up to be a skills contest.
Without the public vote it is a professional competition, Professional Ballroom Dancing competitions were on PBS (I used to watch them in the 90s) and may still be on occasion. That did not make it to the Networks - i.e. People would rather see this which is different. Comps are comps, this is Obviously different from the get-go and I don't see how anyone could expect anything different.
And I again reiterate, Cheryl being the "type of coach(the best of the group IMO) and personality" she is is going to be a factor. Kat was not so liked by the public because she was really coming off as being a brat, hot head and then a sweet wonderful lady when Mario's Mommy came around.
The show is just set up that way, enjoy it for what it really is or you wont be able to enjoy it.
I Love Joe's Idea - of corse I love FS - but I don't see a problem with the caller vote in. The involvement of the public is one of the key factors in this type of shows popularity. The problem is people aren't enjoying it for the entertainment value and getting hung up on the technical aspects which should not be an issue at all to begin with due to the way the "TV contest" is set up in the first place.
The issue I had with Skating with Celebrities was what they were trying to tackle - Pairs FS??? too much in regarding the lifts. I think Dance would be a more achievable goal while educating the populous on the intricacies of the skate blade. When It comes down to the final 4 then the pairs element could come into play. But Stars on Ice did nothing by way of really exposing the "little know in general" aspects of FS. Just how hard it was and how people can get hurt.
Also the Fox line up was / is not conducive to that type of show. A good scenario (whether it works or not I don't know) is to approach the same Dancing with the Stars audience - not the Fox crowd - and possibly put "Ice" on when "Dance" is off, i.e. every other season is one or the other and back to back. Keeping the same crowd.
