Derek Hough, Dancing With the Stars pro and legal guardian of “Little Derek,” is taking season 12 (premiering Monday, March 21 on ABC) off to play a New Orleans street dancer in the upcoming movie Cobu 3D. The three-time winner of the COVETED MIRRORBALL TROPHY should be back for season 13 in September. After the jump, let’s take a trip down Planet Mirrorballus’ spray-tanned mammary lane. EW proudly presents: The Best of Derek Hough’s Hidden Gems from 2010.
Season 10, week 3
”During Derek and Nicole’s interview with Brooke, it was obvious why men should NOT wear white, flat-fronted pants while dancing, or really at all. ‘Little Derek’ was very noticeable in that section, as was the cameraman who moved the shot up to chest level!!!” –Tricia
”I vote for Derek’s gem (see crotch on white pants) ready to anchor while being interviewed after their dance!” –Angel
Season 10, week 4
”Maybe it was just me, but did ‘Little Derek’ make another appearance last night when he leaned against the dance studio beam in the rehearsal footage? Maybe that was just the way his pants were.” –April
Season 10, week 5
“Hidden gem: Derek sniffing the shoe during the shopping sequence when Nicole is trying on clothes? Shoe sniffing? What the heck?” –Staci, seconded by REALLY?, IAA Evan, and glenn
Season 10, week 6
“Has anyone else noticed the creepy Spencer Pratt-esque mustache Derek has?” –maggie, seconded by KarenNJ, JH, and psychoanalyzer
Season 10, week 8
“During Derek and Nicole’s rehearsal, there was a quick shot of the mirror ball on the piano bench. This is not the first time the mirror ball has shown up in rehearsal and it cannot be a coincidence. Obviously the DWTS producers are following Annie’s blog, and placing a ‘hidden’ gem in plain sight for us to find.” –s-diver43
Season 10 semifinals
Best Hidden Gem for me was in the pre-commercial segment leading into Nicole & Derek’s second dance. The real make-up lady seemed very amused by Derek & Nicole as she watched them paw at each others faces and hair while they sat in the make-up chairs backstage. –JR
“Bruno’s jump slap reaction in the background when Derek and Nicole hit the last beat of their Prince routine.” –@msmandee, Gemseeker, Fresh, JH, queue55, Kittyvan, Colleen
“It’s like at that moment he decided it was a 10.” –Melissa
Season 10 finals
“Derek’s hand made a seamless transition from Nicole’s trademark ‘hang loose’ gesture to a normal thumbs-up.” –ANWTWHR
Season 11, week 3
“What’s going on with this random large wardrobe in the studio? Who lives there??? In my dreams: me.” –EW.com’s Fringe Fairy
Season 11, week 6
“Derek grabbing his ‘hidden gems’ in the dance marathon, right after Audrina and Tony were eliminated.” –Diana, endorsed by orvile, Anna, Katja, gigi
Season 11 semifinals
“Not all that hidden, but what was up with Mark and Derek loosening up like they were about to compete in sprints? What happened to cheesy swaying and bouncing to the music while waving shamelessly at the camera?” –Riley
“Derek blowing on Jennifer’s boob. I know he was going for the feathered fringe, but it didn’t really look that way!” –AR, endorsed by KWo, Katja, Jenn, JH, Rebecca, @mcdeallover, Tracy, KC
Season 11 finals
“Derek couldn’t just have a plain white tee… he had to have a BEDAZZLED plain white tee.” –jasmine, endorsed by Jamie0415
Derek took this of himself during rehearsal to show off his “Jenougher” team shirt. “All sweat!” he remarked. I’m trying to ignore that it looks like he’s trying to show off something else!
Derek, for Tuesday’s Design-a-Dance, how far did you actually position yourself from where Cheryl would slam the door into your crotch? What if you miscalculated?!
DH: My sensitive areas were never in danger. I’m a highly trained professional.
Read more:
All PopWatch interviews with Derek Hough
EW.com’s ‘Dancing With the Stars’ hub
Annie on Twitter: @EWAnnieBarrett
Can’t say that I’ll miss him much, but I will miss his hidden gems. He seemed to be the king of them. Maks will just have to pick up the slack!
Finally, my prayers have been answered. I’ve been writing her during DWTS season that he has gone from professional dancer to pervert. I hope the Producers have decided to send him away for a while so he can cool off a bit.
He was definitely getting too, too big for his britches!!!
oops, “writing here”
professional dancer to pervert. That made me laugh and it is so true.
Well, it’s hot. so…
Think Annie’s HG’s proved he was ” getting too, too big for his britches!!!”
(If you know what I mean.)
Jethro could you tell me what Derek did that came across as pervert?
Is the picture above on your list?
Look at clips of Jen and Derek. Remember how young Derek is and Jen
the 50 yr. old. Jennifer constantly was sweeping her hands all over Derek and basically on top of him. Many times the camera
quickly moved off her.
so glad to see him skip a season I need a break from his always winning
How fair would it be to his celebrities if he tried to not win?
How fair is it to all the other celebrities that Derek, who is already the best choreographer, always gets someone with a lot of the most dance experience?
Oops, meant to say “a lot of OR the most dance experience.”
How fair would it be if the producers of the show didn’t ALWAYS seem to pair him with a partner that really had the best chance to make it into the finals? At least with his sister, they paired her with Adam Carrola, Derek hasn’t had a weak partner ever…. Sure , he’s a great choreographer, but I feel that he’s never really been challenged with a partner that he really had to develop….
Jana, you and I were on the same wavelength at the same time. And excellent point about Julianne. I always loved her and still think she was the best choreographer, at her best. But at least they fairly gave her weaker partners, whereas Derek has never had anyone old or overweight, just unpopular.
Zach, as I remember it, Jennie Garth was not a ringer, Shannon Elizabeth was not a ringer, and before Brooke Burke, models were a joke on DWTS. Also, did anyone really expect Lil’ Kim to make it as far as she did? Oh, and Jennifer Gray is 50, which to most people is old. Do I think that he has gotten some good partners recently? Yes. But the producers know that the majority of the viewers love Derek (including me, I’m biased, I know). I watch for Derek and I know that a lot of others do too. It helps them with viewership is Derek sticks around.
I agree, it’s time for someone else to win. Plus, his flesh colored beard was almost as creepy as Spencer Pratt’s.
I am devastated! I love Derek!! (clearly)
I will miss him he is the best dancer on the show. I taught dancing for years. He is perfection.
He made DWTS fun to watch! He’s my daughters favorite. We can’t wait until he’s back next season. Good luck on your movie Derek. We love you
!
I miss Derek and I would like to see Julieanne Hough come back too. It’s not the same without them. Pervert – NOT – have you seen Max and his hands – those people are just wrong. Derek is the best. Jennifer Grey and Derek were wonderful and I don’t know if anyone can top their performances.
I won’t miss his mugging and hamming it up for the camera at all. Ironically, he’ll probably make more for the bomb to be he’ll be filming than he did on DWTS.
Thank heavens he’s gone….if only for the season…now if they don’t give us “ringers” the show will be fun to watch again. I cannot abide his arrogance and his getting the best dancers
“ringers” every season. Yea…he’s gone….he’s gone.
I agree about his arrogance and the fact that he always got the “ringers”. In fact, I agree with EVERYTHING you wrote.
I miss Derek, and he has worked for it….any of you with the loud mouths do a lot of dancing? or do you step on the scales and it go around 3 times.!!!!!!!
They’re gonna give the ringers strictly to Mark now. They alternated ringers.
I hope not…. I can do without Mark as well… I’d like to see Jonathan get a strong partner for a change.
yes!in every show there is always ringers and dead head try hards but eh.i think it would be nice if they cold have the dancers dance to the music that made the dance’s famous.
Could not agree more! I’d love to see Mark go too. Let’s let Maks, Tony, or Dimitri win for a change! Or how about Anna?
How ’bout it Maks or Tony actually do a “GREAT” routine for the last dance? THEY have lost it for their partners. They’ve had plenty of opportunity to win. Maks and Mel did get robbed.
I really do NOT see where Derek is arogant or perverted any more then the other dancers in the slightest.
They ALL have HUGE egos!!!
I will miss Derek. He is the BEST!!
Derek is the best choreographer and professional dancer on DWTS, hands down. Those that put him down are only jealous that their favorite pros can never beat him. All the luck in the world to you Derek! Looking forward to your return in Season 13 and for your movie next year.
what marie said…
He IS the best (other than his long-gone sister, Julianne). But it’s easy to be the best when you have the best partners.
Lil Kim, Joanna Krupa, Shannon Elizabeth and Jennie Garth were the best of their seasons? I didn’t know that! Or that Lil Kim and Joanna were that popular and obviously the best. Brooke Burke had absolutely no dance background and a model. How is that the best? Derek’s best partner was Nicole. Jennifer was fifty with injuries up until the end. His choreography is the best. He makes his partners look good. Watch Mark get another ringer now that Derek’s gone. I want to see Jonathan or Dimitry win.
Other than Nicole I wouldn’t say his partners were the best. He is good at what he does and brings the best out in his partners and his routines are amazing, that is why he does well in the show all the time.
What Marie said, a hundred times over…Derek is the best of the best and the show will be a poor sad boring thing without him.
Derek is fantastic. Great dancer and I will miss him. Gosh, so many haters
If a person loves dancing and brilliant choreography, you love Derek. If you watch the show for other reasons then he’s probably not your guy. He will be missed.
Cheryl Cole wouldn’t have anything to do with this would it?
lol. least convincing couple ever. all i think of is rainbows and unicorns when i see them.
Derek HANDS DOWN is the best choreographer, absolutely! However, it’s Derek’s HANDS ALL OVER that make me cringe! He is constantly grabbing his partners inappropriately while giving interviews, etc. He is creepy and I’m glad he’s taking a break. It’ll make the show that much more enjoyable. Watching him practically molest his partners every week was just getting to be too much.
So you would rather see one man grab anothers backside.
I’ll miss Derek. But I just explained the whole Hidden Gems phenomenon and my favorites from Derek’s career posted here to a friend who probably couldn’t care less, but wondered why I was laughing hysterically. As long as Annie stays with us, I can deal with Derek’s brief hiatus.
so glad he’s gone too much touching with his partners while waiting for scores and eliminations
Are you confusing him for Corky or Mark? Those two gross me out.
Well I will miss seeing Derek and his lil Derek to be honest his dances are always exciting. Good luck to him though, hopefully the movie does well