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 Julianne Hough in the arms of winning partner Apolo Ohno |
From Olympics to dance floor, Ohno's our man
of TheColumnists.com
Call it “Dancing With the Sports Stars.”
Because they’re taking over the stage.
Olympic golden boy Apolo Ohno lifted the trophy last week on TV's "Dancing With the Stars."
NFL rushing king Emmitt Smith danced ahead of the pack last season.
NFL receiving champ Jerry Rice just about hauled in a “Dancing With the Stars” upset last year.
Suddenly the dance floor is sports turf. As soon as wideout Keyshawn Johnson quit football last week, he was in the running for next fall’s “Dancing” roster. He just might have the same winning steps he showed in the 2003 Super Bowl.
Thoughts during the last month of “Dancing With the Stars”:
Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.
John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John.
Apolo Ohno and Julianne Hough.
Oh, Yeah.
Their break dance finale last week broke the back of the competition. That was the exclamation mark on one poem of a season. Rhyme, rhythm. Ohno-Hough had those plus looks, smiles, sexiness, you name it.
Pull out the movie contract, baby. When Apolo and Julianne do their rendition of "Top Hat," they'll quick-step to the top of the box office. Ticket them for “Top This.”
God, was it good to see them win. Brazen Brit judge Len Goodman was right. Apolo and Julianne's youth drew us all in with their amazing acts. They were by far the most entertaining duo on the show.
You could see on opening night way back when that Hough was tough--in the most spectacular sense. She's simply the best package of cute-talent to hit the stage in TV history. I mean, who else had her face, legs, hair, voice, verve? Not to mention gutsy moves?
As for Apolo, his names fits. He's a rocket. He went from Olympic speed-skating champion to dancing demon.
Knowing his glittery background, I predicted after the first night of the season that Ohno would win this thing.
Now another call: He's a silver-screen star waiting to happen. Along with Julianne.
* Cutting the Fat One: Joey Fatone rocked and rolled and kicked. He was the best dancer, no question.
But so was Mario Lopez last season. And he bowed to Emmitt.
The problem was perception. Fatone was a pro. Only the 'N Sync boy could pull off those splits.
Voters knew it. And they didn’t back him with the passion they gave Ohno.
* Live with the stars: I sat in on the show’s action in April in Hollywood. Saw Joey rock, Ohno roll and Ali jab.
The ABC show actually takes place at the CBS building near the Grove.
Huge line to get in. Your regular Internet ticket from ocatv.com isn’t good enough. Too many seats go to fat cats. We waited two hours for nothing one week. Then called for the VIP tickets and got in the next.
Another reason not to go: lousy seats.
We sat in the upper deck. The officials warn of obstructed view.
Obstructed? Make it blind. If you sit, you see an eighth of the
dance floor. If you stand for a decent view, the network guards
tell you to sit. We stood anyway. Screw ’em.
Hough is way thinner than she looks on TV. Really hardly any
curves. As opposed to Kym Johnson, Fatone’s partner. Her
body won’t quit.
Chatted with Jann Carl of “Entertainment Tonight” after she did her post-dance interviews. Here’s a star who’s as nice as she looks. And smart. We both went to Mizzou. She’d make a solid addition to “The View.” With Jann onboard, that show would actually have someone to stare at and listen to.
After leaving, we hit La Piazza, an Italian restaurant at the Grove. In walked Goodman and Bruno Tonioli, who looked like pals, not the judging enemies of the screen. I traipsed to their table and told them they make the show go. Len applauded.
Nearby sat Maks Chmerkovskiy, Laila Ali’s partner. I went over and told him she performed like her dad in the Thrilla in Manila. He loved it.
In all, a knockout season.
©2007 by Bucky Fox. The photo is courtesy of ABC Television.
This column first posted May 28, 2007.
You can visit Bucky Fox's
website at www.BuckyFox.com
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