Has DWTS Jumped the Shark?

In the TV Guide magazine (Oct 26 - Nov 1) there is an article in their Breaking News section regarding Season 9 DWTS and bemoaning its lackluster appeal compared to past seasons. When I first started reading it I thought, "Whaaa? DWTS is circling the drain?" However, I don't think that's the case.

Admittedly, a lot of what the article points out as the shortcomings of this season of DWTS I would have to agree. Some of them are:

Casting: This show obviously lives or dies by the "stars" that are on the show and I don't think this show has ever had "A" list celebrities in any of the seasons. More like some B and mostly C. However, this season has seen maybe a few B, mostly C, and even a few D listers. (Tom Delay, anyone? Chuck Liddell?? Louie Vito????) DWTS really stretched the understanding of a celebrity "STAR" to its outer limits. Honestly, if it weren't for Donny Osmond and possibly Mya I might have skipped this season entirely.

Dance Pros: Relative unknowns prior to the start of this whole ballroom dancing experiment by ABC, the dance pros have become stars in their own right eight seasons later. Unfortunately, not all dance pros are as popular as others and as the TV Guide article said, "four of the show's most popular pros - two-time champ Cheryl Burke, Edyta Sliwinska, Maksim Chmerkovskiy and Tony Dovolani - are already history. And fan favorite (not to mention two-time winner) Julianne Hough decided to sit this season out." THAT didn't bode well for the show let me tell you. The newer pros haven't really impressed me (Lacey annoyed me SO much her first season with DWTS) and don't think they've caught on with audiences the way the Fab Five have done which has hurt this season as well.

Desperate Measures: The TV Guide article discussed a recent episode where Derek Hugh went shirtless while dancing the lambada with Joanna Krupa. Derek did it on impulse to try and shake things up. Wonder if others will do the same. Sigh.

So is DWTS gonna call the Fonz with his leather jacket and water skis? Perhaps not just yet. They will probably survive this season though it will be a disappointing one.

I don't want to seem biased but from a programming point of view I would think the majority of viewers are women 18 - 99 and as such they NEED to cast stronger male celebrities that can go the distance. (Donny Osmond has kept this season alive imo). And it may not seem fair to the other lesser known dancers, but pairing Cheryl with Tom Delay type stars is just plain dumb. Tony with Kathy Ireland and Edyta with Ashley Hamilton were not much better. I realize DWTS is trying to spread the wealth among the dance pros and they have to consider height pairing of stars with pros, but seriously. IF the goal is ratings then DWTS has to try and keep their audience favorite dance pros on the dance floor for as long as possible. Just saying.

It may seem that DWTS peaked with Season 8, but don't plug on the show just yet, folks. IF they have a good cast for season 10 it could all turn around.

So keep the water ski boat at the docks and Fonzie's leather jacket on its hook. . . . for now.