'Dancing With the Stars': Mid-season controversy

I doubt the oddsmakers even had a scenario in which 82-year-old Cloris Leachman stayed in contention through half of the season, but that's now officially the case.  And you know who's not happy about it?  That whippersnapper Florence Henderson, 74.  According to Life & Style Weekly, Henderson said, "I hope the audience doesn’t think all older people act like her."  She continues: "I love Cloris, but sometimes she acts like she’s not all there, or she’s wandering around the ballroom acting silly."  And Florence concurs with many of our commenters here when she says that Leachman “is given a lot of leeway because of her age.  But you also have to respect the rules, the show and what it’s about.” 

And TV Guide is reporting that pro Louis van Amstel (who appeared with Priscilla Presley last season and is not paired with any of the current season's stars) wants dancers Cheryl Burke and Lacey Schwimmer to take responsibility for their apparent weight gain: "If you want to gain weight, it's your prerogative.  We all put on weight because there was no summer tour.  But you have to deal with the consequences."  And he thinks those consequences could be the demoralization of America: "If [the viewers] watch someone who's dancing her butt off and she's still heavy, they can be discouraged.  You have to take responsibility."  TV Guide also managed to get a supporting dis from dancer Maksim Chmerkovskiy, who said, "When I first saw these women this season, I said, 'Guys, you know the camera adds 10 pounds.'  You have to do something about this." 

-- Sarah Rogers

Comments

[Kim Quinn]

I agree with Florence Henderson. The judges have bent more rules for Cloris than any other celebrity in any other season. Usually, they tell the celebrity and pro that they have to use ALL of the dance floor. Cloris and Corky barely use 10 sq feet! Plus, she's not funny. I'm tired of her blathering away when she is being critiqued. And smarting off to the judges. She should have been the 2nd to go! Finally, I'm peeved about Louis and Maks' comments about ANYONE'S weight, but especially their friends/co workers. CHERYL IS NOT FAT!!!!! At least she's still in the competition!

[Claire Zulkey]

you know what, I'd get very self-righteous and upset if any other guy said that but because it's Maks, I'm like, "Oh he's incorrigible!"

[DONNA SPAID]

CLORIS IS 82 AND SHE IS BEING JUDGED AGAINST PEOPLE LIKE LANCE BASS AND BROOKE BURKE. HOW IS THAT EVEN CONSIDERED FAIR. IF SHE BREAKS A FEW "RULES" GET OVER IT. IF SHE BEATS ANYONE THAT THINKS SHE WASN'T FAIR THEN MAYBE YOU SHOULD HAVE DANCED BETTER. SHE IS BEING HERSELF AND IF PERSONALITY GETS HER THRU EACH WEEK SO BE IT. SHE IS OUT DANCING LUCCI AND OTHERS. SHE IS FLAMBOUYANT, AND SHE IS 82. LET'S HOPE YOU AND I CAN DO A SALSA AT THAT AGE. WAY TO GO CLORIS KEEP IT UP.

[Carol]

Cloris is very entertaining and talented. She may not be a great dancer, but her personality, and knowing how to work an audience, is exceptional. I would have stopped watching the show the first night, if Cloris had not been on the show. Cloris not only appeal to the older generation, but the young. At her age, give her a break. How many people her age are couch potatoes or worse because they have given in to what society say you can do at her age?

Susan Lucci is like a stiff board, maybe she should have been voted off too. Popularity is what keeps you on the show.

By the way, Cheryl looks great. Who say we have to be skinny (look like bones). If she is healthy and feel good about her weight gain, leave her alone. It is great to have a youthful physique, but life does not end, or begin with what I, or someone else think you should look like or be.

Dancing with the Stars, in my opinion, is a joke. How long Cloris stays in will not affect the outcome. The true winner will have victory. Therefore, Susan Lucci and others, if the information provided is accurate, you will not be the winner. So stop complaining and enjoy your moment before the public.

[Carol]

Cloris is very entertaining and talented. She may not be a great dancer, but her personality, and knowing how to work an audience, is exceptional. I would have stopped watching the show the first night, if Cloris had not been on the show. Cloris not only appeal to the older generation, but the young. At her age, give her a break. How many people her age are couch potatoes or worse because they have given in to what society say you can do at her age?

Susan Lucci is like a stiff board, maybe she should have been voted off too. Popularity is what keeps you on the show.

By the way, Cheryl looks great. Who say we have to be skinny (look like bones). If she is healthy and feel good about her weight gain, leave her alone. It is great to have a youthful physique, but life does not end, or begin with what I, or someone else think you should look like or be.

Dancing with the Stars, in my opinion, is a joke. How long Cloris stays in will not affect the outcome. The true winner will have victory. Therefore, Susan Lucci and others, if the information provided is accurate, you will not be the winner. So stop complaining and enjoy your moment before the public.

[DJ]

I also agree with Florence Henderson, Cloris Henderson is getting a lot of leeway because of her age and the judges are scoring her way too high when she's barely dancing. To be honest, it's not just Cloris, her partner Corky is even worse, he's always grabbing on her and humping her like it's really disgusting. I never thought this show was serious, but she is making a joke of this show like Sanjaya made a joke of American Idol, even though as serious as they want to make American Idol seem, that show really is a joke.

As far as this weight gain issue is concerned, I thought people like Cheryl/Lacey have rigorous schedules where they're always dancing so wieght really shouldn't be an issue, but I guess it is. Both of them still look good, so I really don't know what the big deal is.

[Beth]

Florence should put her money where her mouth is and get on the show herself. Can she do better then Cloris or even as well? Those that can do, those that can't or won't, criticize. I think Cloris is a joy and an inspiration and certainly deserves to stay on longer than some of the celebs still in it like Susan Lucci and Maurice Green. If entertainment was not part of the equation, then the judges scores would be all that mattered. Lighten up, Florence. They're competing for a mirror ball trophy, for heaven's sake! As for Cheryl and Lacey's weight, that is a total non-issue. They're beautiful, curvey women and I'm glad they're not gawky, boney, self-starved sticks. They should not listen to people telling them to be someone other than who they are and just keep on lighting up the dance floor with their enormous talent. No one's telling Warren Sapp to lose weight.

[TG]

Look, this is a DANCING show, not a personality contest. Not a show hi-lighting what old people can do. Cloris knew who she was up against shen she signed up for this show. I am so angry that she has lasted this long, and like Carrie Ann said last night, it's a shame that we lost Toni B, and still have to look at Cloris' old, no-dancing, no-rhythm-having behind. There is a time and place for antics, and Dancing with the Stars is not that place.

Additionally, Brook and Lacey are beautiful. PERIOD.

[Cindy]

Good for Cloris Leachman. You won't ever convince me that they didn't put her on the show becuase it would be this huge joke, since she's 82 and wouldn't be able to keep up. Well the joke's on them. I think she is hilarious. I love the way the judges have to sit there and try to keep control while she runs away with the audience.

Regarding the weight issue, here's a thought Louie and Max, Cheryl and Lacy look healthy. They show that you don't have to be a size 2 to dance your butt off. I love watching both of them and Cheryl has a few more trophies that either of them.