Carrie Ann is the worst judge out of the three of them. She is so biased. There are pros that she does not like and will make it as difficult as possible for them to get good scores. She constantly nitpicked Brandys dances and was always looking for a reason to give her less points.

The row between Maks and Len has been escalating all week and James' outburst is nothing compared with what's going on in the US. Lacey and Chaz are not happy bunnies either.

If any one is interested in following what's happening, then check out the clips uploaded to YT here. I subscribe to clips uploaded by this user and there have been new clips every day.

James and Len spoke after the show on Saturday night and agree to draw a line under their row. That's not what's happening in the US.

Let's hope it hasnt put Len in a bad mood for Saturday night. I was a bit startled to see that 80% of viewers polled think the judging marks are fixed mind you....over here...

I know! Mind you I'd have thought he'd be glad to be back in the UK tbh.

I think they needed the controversy over there as ratings were falling. I think they may have asked Maks to stir it up a bit and he went a bit further than they expected,just my take.

Remembering why I liked Cameron so much too

I don't think it was a set up tbh, but I do think it is possible that Maks (and Lacey and maybe others) heard about James and were ready to have a go. But I also think with it being Maks, it could have just been an 'in the heat of the moment' thing.

I'm not one who believes the producers on either show would stir up this kind of thing because the fact that Chaz is involved on the edges, makes me think this is bad PR for the show. Also in the first interview with Len, he talks about Maks as his golfing buddy and how it will all blow over now that maks will have slept in it by now, etc. - I don't think Len expected Maks to actually go on to say even more about what he is is unhappy about on the show.

I think there is a lot going on behind the scenes with the pros and some of them are looking for change - and that includes replacing Len and Bruno with American judges who will sugar coat their comments. But I think this could backfire for Maks because now he has gone on to criticise what are essentially production decisions and if he looked at his own history on the show, he's had at least 3 or 4 celebs with the potential to win.

You hear about celebs not wanting to be paired with Maks (well except Carson ), but celebs do want to be paired with Derek. Mak's professional jealousy is shining through, whereas others are keeping it quiet and getting on with the job.

I am a bit biased because Maks and Lacey are my least favourite pros - Maks because of how he treats his celebs and Lacey because I don't think she showcases her celebs well.

Cameron is such sweetie!

And I am probably biased the other way as Maks is my favourite male pro on the show (and Kirstie did request him) and Derek is one of my least favourite(Mark is my least fave now but I used to think he was great),don't get me wrong I think he's a fantastic dancer and choreographer but to me he always comes over as entitled and dare I say it smug.

Yes Maks has had a few 'ringers' as well can't argue that but Mel B was I think robbed against the Hough bandwagon (although I adore Julianne so not too bothered about that!) Laila Ali was never going to win against the might of the gorgeous Apollo and Joey and Brandy was robbed against the tea party fave of Bristol. He has also had some no hopers I can't recall Derek ever having a total no hoper and no one is more of a ringer than Nicole and Jennifer so I can see the point being made there

I wouldn't say their teaching styles are that much different both are hot headed and get frustrated perhaps Derek is sweeter but then its all in the VT and we get less of a background with the US shows than we do the UK

Others have muttered against the Derek bias though ,Louis Van Amstel made rumblings in a previous season and Cheryl has too,I have more admiration for Maks saying it out loud rather than bitching behind the scenes

Its all a show for the producers one that has seen its ratings fall over there what does the x factor do when they need a boost? stir up controversy why wouldn't DWTS?Just because we see them as different beasts doesn't mean the producers do

I adore season 4 and 5 of DWTS (strangely I think for both DWTS and SCD they were the best series)

I hope most of that made sense and I'm glad we can discuss it properly the US boards are far worse than here,they scare me!

Edited to add I think both series need new judges not necessarily ones that sugar coat (Craig after all is my fave) but I just think they need a change (particularly Len & Carrie Ann...I would suggest Shirley Ballas as a replacement but then you would have even more difficulties on the Derick question as he lived in her house and she trained him and of course Mark)

Chaz is one mixed up dude. So is the Arquette dude.
And that Kasdashian dude with a tatto of his dad (WTF?)
And that bossy blonde lady.
Go Rickie for me.
And the person with the most annoying voice on tv.
Brooke Burke Chavy. Shut up luv!!
Tom Begeron is perfect for the job.

Hope seems to be performing well in rehearsals but then reverts to being ragdollish & loses technique during live shows. Up until this week, i'd assumed that it was just nerves. Having now rewatched some of her post dance backstage footage and taking into account the row, i'm wondering if she feels somehow intimidated by the judges and the comments that are coming her way. It probably doesn't help that there seems to be a contradiction between the critical comments she recieves and the good (admittedly sometimes undeserved) marks that she's getting. It probably makes her feel that they don't like her personally for this to happen. If this is the case then I can understand how Maks has become frustrated with the situation. I do think that his comment to Len about it being time to give up, was intended as a spur of the moment joke (he was smiling as he said it), but Carrie-Ann overeacted and inflamed the situation.

I do think that both Maks and James have a point in that the judges on both shows are inconsistent and on both shows they are unneccesarily rude at times but maybe the way that they went about making their points was wrong. However, I think that James is wrong that the judges should not comment on choreography. If the judges feel that the choreography is doing their celeb a disservice (too hard, not enough content etc) then they should say so. Again, the judges need to be consistent though.

I would hope that the comment by Maks about it being his show was just a case of english being his second language and he chose the wrong words. That's what his apology on tuesday seemed to imply.

Sorry for wittering, hope it all made sense

Makes sense to me and I agree with your assessment of Hope

Both of your post make sense to me and I wouldn't go near the US boards!

I think that Maks saying "This is my show" will be put down to a language thing, but I don't think it was tbh. If he had made other mistakes like that in the past, fair enough, but I've never heard him do that before. I could believe Maks' comment to Len about retiring was a joke, if he hadn't said later that 10 years ago he told Len he should retire and he did, only for them to meet up again on DWTS.

Hope does look fine in the training room, especially when the female pros came in to help her. I don't know why she can't bring it to the dancer floor, but it might just be that she is just too far out of her comfort zone to perform.

I'm in no way saying the judges are consistent because they are not and they do have their favourites. But the clever pros can adapt the teaching styles to suit their celeb and also choreograph to please both the judges and the public. That more than a naturally talented celeb, keeps couples in the competition - they may not win, but they will last (e.g. Kelly & Louis). With Maks does that, it's his way or there's trouble. Trouble is fine with the public as long as the pro is being supportive and the celeb is clearly trying their best. I think that's why Maks gets voted out.

Some interesting stats:

* Maks and Derek have both been in the top four 5 times each.

* I know Maks has more series under his belt than Derek, but Maks has actually been in the top three 4 times to Derek's three.

* I know that Derek has won three times while Maks never has, but I don't think Maks has genuine reason to think that Derek gets better partners.

I think it comes down to personalities and Mak's temperament lets him down.

I'd love Shirely Ballas as a judge on either show, but obviously the Houghs and Mark (Corky too) are the problem.

Also I think we all see things slightly differently though because of who we support. Until James shouted from the balcony (unforgivable), imho he had not been rude, just foolish. I also think that Craig deliberately provoked James with his comments, but I do agree there is nothing wrong with the judges commenting on the choreography. However, Maks was blatantly rude to Len at the time he was giving his comments and has continued to expand his gripes to claims of favouritism. He's not doing himself any favours sticking his neck out so far.

PS I had forgotten about Kirsty, but tbh I was never sure if Kirsty really meant it when she said she wanted Maks as her partner and I went off Mark a few years ago too!

I can see what you're saying

The 'My show' bit I took as a how much he has invested in the show/how proud he is to be part of it way rather than an arrogant or a language thing. If you had worked for so long in an office and was proud of how much your business had achieved and then something or someone came in and upset that you might say 'I'm not having you spoil MY business' you're not saying you own it but taht you are deeply commited to it...thats how I took it anyway

I haven't warmed to Hope at all,I think I would find her terribly frustrating but thankfully I'm not a teacher.Have a feeling she will be out this week. A combination of her not pulling it off and Maks outburst.

I think Maks did manage to adapt his style for Kirstie and you're right it worked but I also think looking at the stats he can't be doing too much wrong if his and D's stats are broadly similar (apart from winning of course!..somehow he just has to push that extra step further,however I think he will leave after this series so not to be)

I still think Maks was in jokey mode when he did say that to Len (he was smiling and getting the audience along) and Carrie-Ann was the one that managed to turn it. But I do I agree that it was rude rather than Cheeky and he should apologise for that(as does his father apparantly)

I think there are probably a lot of frustrations behind the scenes and he is reacting to them,perhaps D is only a small part of them and is being over exagerated. I do think its wrong to bring them onto the programme a la X factor though as I don't think most of us watch it for that.

I don't think Maks will be back next series(I was surprised he came back for this one to be honest) I'm not entirely sure D will be either as I think he will try and follow Julianne into films. I can only hope that Mark will go too. I think Tristan is a great addition and Val is probably the new Maks(not as hot though)

Don't get me wrong, I don't think that Maks is faultless in this. I also agree with you about James' shouting from the balcony being ridiculous... that did his cause no favours at all. If Maks made the same comment to Len years ago though then it seems more likely to me that it was meant as a joke... referencing a former argument.

At least we can all agree that we don't like Mark

Actually I do think he meant the 'My show' bit in the way you say, rather than as an arrogant thing and tbh, even though Len as been on the show even longer than Maks, I think he was saying the judges were no longer playing fair. He's right of course and it's the same on SCD because the judges have developed role playing characters as part of the entertainment.

Hope has surprised me because I thought she'd have the attack and discipline of all the other sports people we have seen on the show. That discipline and focus on working hard in a physical way has helped all the other sports people overcome their lack of performance experience i.e. it might take them longer to get there, but they will get there by working at it. She seems to lack the self belief a lot of sport people have and needs a lot of reassurance - which she's not going to get from Maks. She's a bit of a wimp really and she might be a tomboy, but she's a girly tomboy!

Do you really think he will leave after this series? Maybe if he knows he's not going to do the show any more he's now burning his boats?

I can see Derek moving on and maybe specialising as a choreographer and IIRC Derek, Julianne and Mark went to stage school when they lived in the UK, so maybe he will go into acting.

Mark seems to have a been through a bad phase or something, maybe because their band has been a huge success - I don't know about him, he just doesn't seem happy.

I love Tristan and he's settled in very well and Val has too - I agree he's not quite as hot as Maks!

I was watching some old clips on YT last night this is probably my favourite Maks clip - that jump was stunning and I think they should have got a perfect 30!

With Hope I think he has tried teaching her the same way he did Laila,which was very successful,but in comparison Hope is a complete wimp (I think anyone would be)

I think he will leave,I thought he would after his speech in the finale last series when he said all his partners were his trophies. He has four studios is rumoured to want to get into acting (although can't see this working out but stranger things have happened)I don't know what lured him back this year,possibly Val being included or them giving him Hope after his tweet,if the latter it proves the be careful what you wish for addage

Which stage school did the Houghs/Ballas go to? Not Italia Conti? My daughter keeps going on about wanting to go there..I think you can guess my reply!

Mark hasn't seemed to be happy for a long time,I used to like him when he first started but he just comes over as a grumpy git whose dancing is all about him rather than the celeb nowadays

That was an amazing jump,very brave of her. Loved Erin & Evan that year

One must not forget Hope is going through a rough time. Her football team has been terminated this week by the WPS because the owner of the club did not pay the players' salaries for months. There were all kinds of other trouble surrounding that team. Maybe Hope is preoccupied by that. It is after all her professional carreer.
Being put down by the judges doesn't help to make things better. She started off well, but from week to week she lost confidence. And I don't think Maks is the kind of person to have a therapeutic listening ear and do something about it. She would have been better off with Louis. He worked wonders with Kelly.

I've just had a look on wiki and it was!


I don't know anything about Hope's football career except that she is the goalie for the national team which is the top ranked team in the world right now, so I hope she will get picked up by another team (if that's what she wants, as she is 30 now). It was Louis I was thinking about as a good partner for Hope, but she is too tall for him.

Och, I didn't think of that. He is just 1.70m, which at Dutch standards is rather small.

She looks too tall for Maks as well(imo as does Holly for Artem) and isn't he one of the taller pros?

I couldn't resist a search. Maks is 1.88m. Hope is 1.75m.
(sorry, I'm no good at imperial)
They should be OK heightwise.

Oh ok that surprises me,she seems taller

I think thats 6 ft 2 and 5 ft 9,which I suppose makes her 6ft if she's wearing 3 inch heels

Yes, I thought she was my height (1,80m). Guess the camera not only adds pound, but also inches.

Thanks for the vids Force ten,enjoyed watching them as usual.

Some interesting dances,Maks clearly biting his tongue a lot and in a lot of pain with his broken toe.Clearly the Maks/Hope partnership isn't working but I wouldn't go as far as the American boards seem to be in saying that he is being abusive to her(the things they are citing are clearly part of the dance to me but hey ho). Teddy was very good with her but then he has less pressure on him (Teddy is Maks flatmate-along with Val- and one of his students and best friends so I can see why he brought him in)

How is Rob still there he is very flat footed. Would say Nancy/Hope or Rob should be out,Nancy and Rob because they are pretty poor,Hope becuase she clearly hates the whole thing

Jr will most definitely win unless Karina really messes up the finale(and he should because he is amazing),Ricki will be second think.

What happened with Maks and Hope that people are calling abusive

Not sure how much was payback from ABC in editing