Studies have shown that Hidden Gems of the Week, EW.com’s collection of reader-submitted ridiculata, is the best way to enjoy Dancing With the Stars without ever having to turn it on. It’s a visual feast of sparkles, fringe, and stunning awkwardness. Ready to go down the rabbit hole? Behold this bountiful smattering of Visible Gems!
“Tom looks like Harry Styles of One Direction in his old prom photo.” –Pr
Update: Tom reacts! READ FULL STORY »
The Dancing With the Stars pro took some time out of his and Ricki Lake’s freestyle in the season 13 finals to make sure he “still got it” with his signature Crotch Bob dance move (originally executed with season 9 partner Joanna Krupa). READ FULL STORY »
Derek Hough, professional dancer/glistener extraordinaire on Dancing With the Stars, has sent in what could be the most exquisite Hidden Gem of the Set – that happens to lurk deep within the follicular waves of the insane Hair Department! After the jump, a closer look at these two behind-the-scenes Dancing With the Stars images — plus my burning question about Derek’s private parts. READ FULL STORY »
Five contestants left! With DWTS‘ season 11 down to the wire, Our Pro Derek Hough (who partners actress Jennifer Grey) checks in just before Week 8 goes liiiiiiiiiiiiive! Don’t miss his answers to questions about “Rock and Roll” Week 6, after the break.
How stressed out is everyone RIGHT THIS SECOND???
Everyone is fairly stressed out. But to be honest with most of the cast you’d never be able to tell. Everyone is always so composed.
I loved when you told Jennifer last week, “It’s fine. It’s just a dance show” to put things in perspective. Do you ever have to stop and remind yourself of that, too, or do you have a pretty steady sense of perspective having done this for many seasons?
Every season is something new and intense for me. It’s always a change as no two partners of mine have been alike. But at the end of the day, it’s a dance show and you win a mirror ball trophy. It can be competitive, but it always has to stay fun. READ FULL STORY »
On tonight’s Dancing With the Stars, each couple will perform one solo routine and then participate in a “Rock and Roll Marathon.” Professional dancer and enthusiastic infomercial actor Derek Hough checked in with EW.com between last-minute touch-ups!
The rehearsal footage for you and Jen on Week 5 suggested MAJOR DRAMA. How often are the cameras actually there with you in the studio and how much does their presence heighten the drama?
If we’re in the dance studio, cameras are there. Always. Can you imagine if something happened in a rehearsal session and it wasn’t on camera? A fall, a fight, an injury. For better or for worse, those are some of the things that make our show so audience-engaging. After a few moments, though, you’re so busy concentrating on teaching and learning that you forget about the cameras.
Don’t you think the manufacturers of Easy Steps sold you a little short? Similar products were valued at $300 but your price was only $150. What is the true market value of Derek Hough?
Can someone’s true value really be estimated? Maybe there needs to be an Edmunds.com for people on TV. That would be funny and possibly cruel. READ FULL STORY »
Baby Derek is back, and he would like to give you a high five. HIGH FIVE HIM! Thanks to all of you who submitted questions for Dancing With the Stars‘ own Fantastic Mr. Fox last week. Below, Derek helps us rev up for Week 5 with an all-readers’ Q&A!
You are doing a fantastic job with Jennifer [Grey] this season. How do you balance pushing and challenging her around her injuries? She looks fantastic for her age, but she is 50, not 30. Do you worry about pushing her too much, especially when you guys hit two dances for one week? –Susan
I do worry about pushing Jen, but the really great thing is that she’s a wonderful communicator. She lets me know when she can’t do something or when it doesn’t feel right and then we just change it up a bit to make sure it works for her. It’s very easy to forget that someone with her flexibility and stamina is 50.
I love your choreography. And I love seeing Louis and Dmitry on So You Think You Can Dance. Will you ever choreograph for SYTYCD? –Jwill
I don’t know that choreographing for them is in my future; they’d have to ask me and DWTS would have to give me permissions. But never say never. READ FULL STORY »
Image Credit: Adam Larkey/ABCBaby Derek is back! Thanks to all of you who submitted questions for Dancing With the Stars‘ own Fantastic Mr. Fox last week. Below, Derek helps us rev up for Week 4′s “Acoustic Night” with a (nearly) all-readers’ Q&A!
Tonight you and Jennifer Grey will do the Argentine tango. Did you get to pick your own music? How, if at all, does the “acoustic” theme for week 4 change the vibe of the tango from what we usually see on DWTS?
We get to make song suggestions, but a lot of time the music is given to us and we work with those selections. The producers are great at giving us songs that challenge us as dancers and at the same time entertain the audience. This week being acoustic — that just makes every beat more intense. It’s going to be amazing.
Is your choreography influenced by former ballroom dance champions (I see a little Donnie Burns in there), or by movies, or anything else? –Lynn
Choreography is so specific. I think for the most part if I choreographed for anyone else, you’d be able to tell that it was a routine I created. Same with all the pros – Louis, Maks, Mark. We take our inspiration from anywhere we can. After several seasons on the show, you want to be able to keep bringing creative ideas to the dance floor. Things like acoustic week and story week really help keep us on our toes. READ FULL STORY »
Professional dancer/amateur meteorologist Derek Hough, 25, and his partner Jennifer Grey, 50, have earned the top spot on the JUDGES’ LEADERBOARD for two weeks running on ABC’s Dancing With the Stars. Below, Derek checks in for his weekly EW.com grilling.
Image Credit: PacificCoastNews.com; Adam Lakey/ABC
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Derek, what’s going on here? You’re deep in thought about these jeans. Are you regretting your decision to try to teach them a quick foxtrot?
DEREK HOUGH: The perfect pair of jeans is clearly a mind-numbing decision.
Do you agree with judge-under-fire Bruno Tonioli that Michael Bolton’s jive was the worst jive in 11 seasons? Whose might have been worse?
To tell someone that something they’ve spent hours trying to learn is the worst they’ve seen is a harsh critique to have to make. Luckily, I am not hired on this show as a judge.
This week is STORY WEEK. Can you give three hints about your samba story?
We have a great ’80s song everyone will know. Three hints for the story: bowtie, ruler, and apple. READ FULL STORY »
Image Credit: MAP/Splash News; Adam Larkey/ABCDance pro Derek Hough, 25, and his partner Jennifer Grey, 50, earned the top spot on last week’s Dancing With the Stars season 11 performance premiere with a Viennese waltz set to “These Arms of Mine” (a song featured on the Dirty Dancing soundtrack). Below, Derek checks in for his weekly grilling.
Derek, where are you going in this photo? Do you think the rule “No shirt no shoes no service” does not apply to you?
We were actually at rehearsal and I was super sweaty and needed to change my shirt. Jennifer had hidden my clothes, though, so I was forced to walk out to the parking lot to my car for a change of clothes without a shirt on. I will get her back though. Someday, when she least expects it.
Are you aware that your belt is not exactly doing its job here?
As long as my pants are not on the ground, the belt is succeeding. READ FULL STORY »
I am feeling so aliiiiiiiive! Dancing With the Stars begins tonight (update: read EW’s season 11 premiere recap here), and its most exquisite professional specimen Derek Hough, 25, has graciously agreed to answer some of our burning ballroom-related questions each week in between training sessions with his Star, Dirty Dancing actress Jennifer Grey, 50. Keep it clean! You know that’s always been Derek’s motto.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: First song and dance?
DEREK HOUGH: Our first dance is Viennese Waltz – can’t reveal the song though.
Have you decided on a nickname for your partnership (Grough, etc.) and was it extremely difficult to narrow down the field? I personally like Baby Derek.
We went back and forth a lot on our team name and logo. We finally settled on Jenougher which clearly is a take on both of our names. We had a great “iconic” logo that we wanted to use but for legal reasons we weren’t allowed to. Our first take on everything was ‘Baby Derek’ and our logo was going to be Jennifer holding a baby in her arms that had my head. It would have been fantastic. READ FULL STORY »
