Dancing With the Stars, bad English, and other miscellaneous thoughts.

[actor61]

I'm almost embarrassed to admit it but Dancing With the Stars has been my guilty pleasure since it started. I'm a former professional dancer and was initially interested because of that but now, I watch it for the beefcake. If either of the Chmerkovsky brothers or Derek Hough takes his shirt off, I'm a happy ex pro. It's a popularity contest and I get that; some of the best dancers get booted off and clutzes win but I've accepted that and it's a lot of fun.

 

There are 2 things, however, that drive me nuts when I watch the show: (1) Judge Bruno and (2) the phrase, "this has been an amazing journey." The Bruno problem is solved immediately with the mute button on my remote, the "amazing journey" problem, I fear, has no solution.

 

The phrases I hear the most on t.v. are the above mentioned "amazing journey" and also include "in terms of", "this will impact people", and on my favorite cooking shows: "this will add crunch", "just give it a rough chop", "the lemon zest will add freshness", "the lemon zest will add brightness", "the lemon zest will add flavor", "the lemon zest will bring out the other flavors". I've also noted that on public radio programs, people answer questions with the word "So", as in Q: When were the melting glaciers first noticed? A: So, this has been going on for a while. Q: Can we stop it? A: So, this is not something we can control. And on and on.

 

The expression I hear most in everyday life is "like". I actually once stopped dating someone because of his use of the word "like", as in "I'm like late. I'll be there in like 5 minutes. I hope you're not like mad." I also had a boss once when I worked in a "civilian" job who ran office meetings with that word. She had an MBA and a Ph.D. and sounded like a teenager hanging out with friends. "I'm so like glad to see all of you. So, we have like a million things to discuss today and I'm like not sure where to start so if there is anybody who'd like to like start the meeting with like a topic, I'd be like so open to that."

 

It feels good to vent.

[maninsoma]

DWTS is fun. At first I enjoyed Bruno because it was fun to have an over-the-top gay guy on TV, but now I just generally find him obnoxious. In addition to the hot pros, there is usually at least one celebrity contestant who provides lots of eye candy. This year that's James Maslow. May be too young for some people's tastes, but what a handsome face with a hot body.

 

http://www.eonline.com/eol_images/Entire_Site/2014316/rs_634x1024-140416130649-634.3james_Maslow-.ls.41614.jpg

[jakeleyman]

Wow actor you really have some nuances. (You probably hate the word "wow" also! ...and exclamation signs after sentences!). The word "like" used to drive me nuts also. My teen daughter says it in almost every sentence. My wife will not allow me to correct her, saying that she will "grow" out of it. Instead of her growing out of it, I have apparently caught, like, the disease. Recently I visited an old friend in San Francisco and in the course of getting to know each other again, he said "can I ask you something personal?...when did you pick up saying this word, "like"...?

[Samai139]

Don't watch DWTS or any cooking shows, but watching many television show can provide examples of the level of spoken English in the USA. Examples? Many politicians, experts, consultants, begin answers to questions with "Well" Perhaps just a way of filling in time before answering the question but my opinion of the person goes down with each "well" he/she uses. Same thing happens with the word "actually"--more than one use and I change channels or turn the tv off. If people who appear on television would watch their performances and listen to and follow some advice, I would be happier and less judgemental.

[adriano46]

Actor61 - I enjoyed reading your venting - and was smiling and nodding in agreement throughout.

 

For 3 years I was addicted to DWTS, and like others here, looked forward each week to the shirtless male dancers -- especially Derek Hough and the Chmerkovskiy brothers but also Mark Ballas (had dreams of he and Derek, roommates and training together....), Tristan MacManus (sort of nice muscular twink look), and even the older Tony Dovolani. As for Bruno Toniolo -- I turn the sound off when he starts emoting.

 

As for the US grammar and over the top phrasing... I agree completely and I would add to the list, "This is a life-changing moment etc..."

[+ Charlie]

So, yes, like wow! man. I mean, you know, this post is amazing.

[+ azdr0710]

very much agree with your comments, actor.....

 

here's the famous "Banished Words" list for 2014 from Lake Superior State University....click on "previous lists" for lists going back to 1976!!....very fun comments, too.....

 

http://www.lssu.edu/banished/current.php

[MFLV]

Don't watch it but after looking at that guy above maybe I should!

[Steven_Draker]

And I'm like ... seriously, dude?

 

http://theamericanscholar.org/and-im-like-read-this/#.U3ODPYkayc0

[actor61]

DWTS is fun. At first I enjoyed Bruno because it was fun to have an over-the-top gay guy on TV, but now I just generally find him obnoxious. In addition to the hot pros, there is usually at least one celebrity contestant who provides lots of eye candy. This year that's James Maslow. May be too young for some people's tastes, but what a handsome face with a hot body.

 

http://www.eonline.com/eol_images/Entire_Site/2014316/rs_634x1024-140416130649-634.3james_Maslow-.ls.41614.jpg

 

Maslow is definitely an eye full but I was very partial to Charlie White while he was on the show. His geeky gorgeousness was very appealing.

[actor61]

Actor61 - I enjoyed reading your venting - and was smiling and nodding in agreement throughout.

 

For 3 years I was addicted to DWTS, and like others here, looked forward each week to the shirtless male dancers -- especially Derek Hough and the Chmerkovskiy brothers but also Mark Ballas (had dreams of he and Derek, roommates and training together....), Tristan MacManus (sort of nice muscular twink look), and even the older Tony Dovolani. As for Bruno Toniolo -- I turn the sound off when he starts emoting.

 

As for the US grammar and over the top phrasing... I agree completely and I would add to the list, "This is a life-changing moment etc..."

 

I had the serious hots for Mark Ballas in the early seasons but once he started tattooing his back and arms, I lost interest. I agree with you about Tristan MacManus but again, the tattoos turned me off. Tony Dovolani is superb. His makeover this season is impressive but I thought he was perfect even before that.

[actor61]

Wow actor you really have some nuances. (You probably hate the word "wow" also! ...and exclamation signs after sentences!). The word "like" used to drive me nuts also. My teen daughter says it in almost every sentence. My wife will not allow me to correct her, saying that she will "grow" out of it. Instead of her growing out of it, I have apparently caught, like, the disease. Recently I visited an old friend in San Francisco and in the course of getting to know each other again, he said "can I ask you something personal?...when did you pick up saying this word, "like"...?

 

I had some friends over on a rainy Sunday afternoon and one of them was flicking around channels on t.v. and landed on the Kardashians. I had never watched the show before and was fascinated in a very surprising way. They are horrible but a somewhat accurate indication of what's going on in culture and society today. We ended playing a game with a jar in the middle of the coffee table. Every time a Kardashian or Kardashian relative said the word like we dropped a penny in the bottle. By the end of two episodes (it was a marathon on E! -shudder), we had over $20.

[N13]

Let's not forget Gleb! https://www.google.com/search?biw=1434&bih=932&tbm=isch&q=gleb%20savchenko&revid=81800743&ei=V5pzU9rPF8aiyATts4DQDg&ved=0CCAQsiU

[brettnyc]

Let's not forget Gleb! https://www.google.com/search?biw=1434&bih=932&tbm=isch&q=gleb%20savchenko&revid=81800743&ei=V5pzU9rPF8aiyATts4DQDg&ved=0CCAQsiU

 

OHHH YES...where did he go ??! GLEB was dripping with sexiness...

[actor61]

OHHH YES...where did he go ??! GLEB was dripping with sexiness...

 

And Dmitri Smirnoff (I think that was his last name). Remember him? First he was on So You Think You Can Dance, and then did a couple of seasons on DWTS. I had to take a cold shower after every episode!!

[adriano46]

I think you mean Dmitri Chaplin - who was paired with Karina Smirnoff - and YES he is another hottie.

 

Actor61 -- I had the same reaction to the over-the-top tats on Mark and lost interest once it went down the back and arms.... and while I like Tristan too, his sleeve tattoo is a bit too much - but people here know I have a thing against body art in general unless it can be minimalist and not marring the body itself.

[actor61]

I think you mean Dmitri Chaplin - who was paired with Karina Smirnoff - and YES he is another hottie.

 

Actor61 -- I had the same reaction to the over-the-top tats on Mark and lost interest once it went down the back and arms.... and while I like Tristan too, his sleeve tattoo is a bit too much - but people here know I have a thing against body art in general unless it can be minimalist and not marring the body itself.

 

Chaplin - of course. Thanks so much for the correction. And we're 100% in agreement about tatts. I have an elderly neighbor (probably late 70s) who is virtually covered in tattoos. It's very warm here at the moment, and I saw her this morning in a tank top and shorts. Both breasts have slogans on them, her upper back has a butterfly, and there are various birds on her arms. It just looks ridiculous on an old lady. So, when you're in your 20s and get yourself covered in ink, maybe you should consider what they're going to look like when your body is no longer as tight as it was. "Born to be wild" on a droopy boob just ain't pretty!!

[+ deej]

Many politicians, experts, consultants, begin answers to questions with "Well" Perhaps just a way of filling in time before answering the question but my opinion of the person goes down with each "well" he/she uses.

 

My pet peeve in that regard is beginning every sentence with "So ...".

 

To be clear, I do understand that part of beginning every response with either "So" or "Well" is a way to let the brain run ahead forming the rest of the response. But the result is not unlike beginning every statement with "Ummm".

 

On DWTS my current fave is troupe member Henry Byalikov.

 

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[instudiocity]

Add my pet peeve....

 

"I have a question for you."

 

My response is typically, "Really, and you had to tell me it's a question because I wouldn't recognize it as a question by the words or by the change in your tone at the end of the sentence?"

[Samai139]

instudiocity---thanks for sharing YOUR pet peeve regarding language and the habits some of us get into without realising it. Not sure how many times I have used that phrase ("I have a questin for you.") but I know I have. The only justification I can muster is that I wanted to warn the listener that my question might cause some discomfort.

In the future? I'll do my best to re-phrase the prelude to the question.

[actor61]

My pet peeve in that regard is beginning every sentence with "So ...".

 

To be clear, I do understand that part of beginning every response with either "So" or "Well" is a way to let the brain run ahead forming the rest of the response. But the result is not unlike beginning every statement with "Ummm".

 

On DWTS my current fave is troupe member Henry Byalikov.

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]9[/ATTACH]

 

I mentioned the sue of "So" to begin a sentence in my original post. It drives me nuts. I first noticed it while listening to news programs on public radio. The most boring drones were the worst offenders. There was an interview with a woman about bees, for heaven's sake, and she started each of her responses with "so". The question would be, "Where are the bees coming from?" And the answer would be, "So, we don't really know." The interviewer asked, "Why are they so rare now?" and the boring guest would reply, "So, we think it's environmental." I'd love to know how that habit got started.

[+ deej]

I mentioned the sue of "So" to begin a sentence in my original post. It drives me nuts. I first noticed it while listening to news programs on public radio. The most boring drones were the worst offenders. There was an interview with a woman about bees, for heaven's sake, and she started each of her responses with "so". The question would be, "Where are the bees coming from?" And the answer would be, "So, we don't really know." The interviewer asked, "Why are they so rare now?" and the boring guest would reply, "So, we think it's environmental." I'd love to know how that habit got started.

 

It's EXTREMELY common among political talking heads. I'm guessing some public speaking instructor or image coach started it as a way to get his students/clients not to start with UMMMM.

 

Personally I'd prefer they start with substance but I'm also aware that in this day of TV appearances via satellite, and the delay between when the question ends and the responder can reply, they might want *something* to fill air time while waiting to hear the end of the question.

 

It still sounds like "ummmm". Mission NOT accomplished.

[instudiocity]

... It drives me nuts. I first noticed it while listening to news programs on public radio. The most boring drones were the worst offenders.

And then there are the TV News Anchors who respond to the on-scene reporters with "Thank you for that." Even worse, "And thank you for that."

 

That WHAT? Why not a simple "Thank you"? It's almost as if they think "NO DEAD AIR! EVEN THOUGH I SOUND LIKE AN AIRHEAD!"

 

Which, if the simile fits then so be it.

[happyguy2]

I started watching DWTS when I saw it for the first time at my mom's place (she and my sisters never stop talking about it), I think it had been on for several seaasons by then. The beefcake got me right away. I had heard the hints about Derek and Mark, so I was intrigued to watch them at first. Before long, I was smitten with all the folks you mentioned. Most of Derek's partners always seemed to appeal to me as well. The abuse of the language bothers me on most tv, but I hardly hear it on DWTS because I am all caught up in the guys lolz.

 

It is nice to be back, this is my first post in a long time.

[actor61]

I started watching DWTS when I saw it for the first time at my mom's place (she and my sisters never stop talking about it), I think it had been on for several seaasons by then. The beefcake got me right away. I had heard the hints about Derek and Mark, so I was intrigued to watch them at first. Before long, I was smitten with all the folks you mentioned. Most of Derek's partners always seemed to appeal to me as well. The abuse of the language bothers me on most tv, but I hardly hear it on DWTS because I am all caught up in the guys lolz.

 

It is nice to be back, this is my first post in a long time.

 

Welcome back to the fold, and also to the DWTS family. I'm sure you'll have an amazing journey and you'll come to realize that it's not about winning but about the journey. And if your journey is amazing, then that's all that matters because it isn't the winning that's important, it's the journey. And the journey is amazing. Everybody should have an amazing journey. And you'll be so proud of what you've accomplished because you will have made the amazing journey. And the journey is truly amazing. And journeys should always be amazing. And I'd love to have an amazing journey with some of those boys!!!