Talk show host is considering runs for Senate, White House.
Talent Hunter for 'Dancing With the Stars' Spills Secrets
On calming celebs' fears, whose careers have been resuscitated and ... wooing a dumped reality dating star.
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Since Arsenio Hall's groundbreaking show went off the air in the late 1990s, others have tried to diversify the late-night airwaves, with mixed results. Three new shows are tackling the issue again. Read more.
Deena Katz has been the senior talent producer on ABC's "Dancing With the Stars" since its inception four years ago.
When the show began, how did you approach the celebrities you wanted to appear?
This was a tough hurdle, because it's a live ballroom dance show. None of us were sure it was gonna work. Lots of reality shows pit people against each other -- I had to keep telling possible contestants, "It's not gonna be mean-spirited!"
What concerns did the celebrities have?
The concern was that it's not gonna be a hit. No one ever wants to sign on to something until they know who's doing it. Are we going to be showing them in the best light? I think that when Evander Holyfield said yes, he legitimized it.
Now that it’s is a hit, what hurdles do you face?
A lot of agents aren't sure they want their clients seen on a reality show at all -- I have to convince them that this will help their career. I'll talk until I'm blue in the face, but they still think their client is bigger than a reality show. I'll say, “This is better than doing pilot season, because this is your chance for everyone in this town to see you as opposed to going in and reading a script."
Has anyone seen an impact on their career as a result of being on the show?
You can be big in your own little world, but the crossover is amazing. Emmett Smith always says that people outside of football didn't really know his face before he was on the show. Jerry Springer and Joey Fatone have gone on to host shows -- Jerry was getting offers for movies he had never gotten before because people had only seen him in one way. Marie Osmond and her dolls ... they're more of a multi-million-dollar property now. It put these guys back in the spotlight.
So, has your job become easier?
It's easier because they can see what the show's done and how it can help your career. But it's also more difficult because the audience is expecting more. Not only do I have to get bigger names, I have to keep doing something different. We can't have the audience thinking the cast is boring.
Do you now have celebrities approaching you asking to be on the show?
Absolutely. I get hundreds of submissions of people who want to be on. But even if someone who comes to me isn't right for the show, it might spark me to think of someone else in their arena.
Do they get compensated?
They get compensated. But they don't get money when they win. They're just winning a trophy.
Was it difficult to get this year's jilted "Bachelor" contestant Melissa Rycroft to agree to be on the show so last minute?
She was my Cinderella story. I called her and said you have two days to learn the dance.
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John Says
How come we never get to see the numbers from the viewing audience's votes? As it stands, it looks as if the producers are deciding who is to return the next week to promote commerce. Let's say celebrity X is obviously a better dancer than celebrity Y, but the sponsors want Y to stay on the show because he/she brings back a certain target group the following week. This way more advertising is seen of their product and everyone is happy. The producers will agree with this sort of behind the scenes politics as long as everyone thinks the show is legit.
Now how is the show's voting system legit unless we actually see the scores tallied (in live time) by an accredited statistician NOT under contract with ABC. Then we'll see if the show is honest or not.
Anonymous Says
i am interest in the show jon and kate plus eight what is their private life
like , how much money do they make for a show and then there is the
reruns , also how has the show changed the personality of jon and kate
thankyou
Lauri Says
I would really like to see Kelly rippa on the show!I think she would make FUN for the show!
Mike Bennett from Irvine, CA Says
1. How much do the Professional dancers earn for being on the show?
2. Why don't they have new professional each season instead of the same ones over and over again? I think it would make the show more interesting to have new pros every season too. Someone who's currently competing and trying to make it to the top won't be interested or have the time to devote to the show but there are a lot of professional's in the dance world who have been top competitors and have won many titles who probably would be interested.
3. The Judges should go easier on their critics of the celebraties. They should be reminded that they're not judging the World Ballroom Championships in Blackpool, England. Most of the dancers have never danced before and being a dancer myself, I know how hard it is to do what they do in such a short time of instruction. So lighten up judges!
4. Why don't they invite more "local" Professional dancers, like Victor Fung & Anna Mikhed (ranked 4th in the World) perform on the show instead of having singers sing a song and the Pros dance to it?
PJ Says
ROCK STAR WIVES SHOULD BE ON THIS SHOW!! AND MAYBE SOME ROCKSTARS TOO...
Robert Varela of Tucson, AZ Says
To Amy Kaufman, How much do the Professional dancers earn in a season, and what about the Judges? How about a few secrets from somebody who likes to social dance: With all the talent surrounding them, the host and hostess of the show should learn not only how to dance, but the language of the dance, thus enabling them to be more qualified in performing their job. Secret number 2: I don't believe there has ever been any one celebrity since the shows' inception that has learned to dance socially. Most celebrities are very talented with good technical skills, however, due to time constraints, they only learn a choreographed routine put together by their professional partner. The irony of it all, is that all celebrities will have forgotten everything they learned during the season within 3-4 weeks after the season ends. Secret number 3. Every week the producers showcase an empty dance floor. This show promotes dancing. You have a large audience attending just dying to take a few spins around the dance floor. Why don't the producers of the show connect all this dots?
Sincerely,
Robert Varela
Michelle Says
I think they should get the old heavy metal guys out there and maybe people you haven't seen in awhile like Scott Baio, Pamela Anderson isn't really doing much these days, Jack Osbourne,Maybe somebody from food network would be nice.
christina Says
This is really interesting, although she didn't give a lot away. :) I think the show needs to do a list of accomplishments of alumni - could be a good selling point for some of the bigger stars. The ones she listed are just a few of the alums I've seen around the tv. Mario Lopez, Cameron Matheson have full-time hosting gigs and Mario was on broadway. Mel B is in Las Vegas and hosts on TLC. I don't know about Marie Osmond's dolls (weren't they already a huge business??), but I saw on ET that she has a sold-out gig in Las Vegas, a book and a talk show coming up. I have to admit, I came to love Jerry Springer on the show, and I certainly didn't before. :)
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