ABC Dance War Casting Call!

Are you ready to rumble? Well Bruno and Carrie Ann obviously are and have sent out a nationwide casting call for their second season of Dance War. Once again they put their reputations on the line and battle it out to create the ultimate perfromance group.

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Dance War’s Zack Wilson Scores HSM3 Job!

There’s no possible way any woman with a pulse who watched Dance War: Bruno vs. Carrie Ann would not remember Zack Wilson on Bruno’s team. Hint: he was the super-cute guy who tapped into his inner sex-machine toward the end of the competish, helping propel Team Bruno to the win.

Apparently, High School Musical 3 director, Kenny Ortega remembered Zack, too. Recently Wilson was hired by Ortega to serve as stand-in for HSM3 star Zac Efron. Wilson’s job: learn Efron’s routines when Efron is too busy with other projects to make it to rehearsal and then teach them to Efron. It’s a perfect gig for Wilson, who is a quick learner and who claims to have been originally inspired as a dancer by Ortega’s work. Wilson must have impressed Ortega as well, as he’s now been given a spot dancing during a few scenes in the movie.

As for the two big reality stars in Wilson’s life… Dance War mentor Bruno Tonioli and Dancing with the Stars pro dancer (and Wilson’s ex-fiance) Julianne Hough both openly report to be very proud of Wilson.

Are you a High School Musical fan? Check out Reality TV Magazine’s coverage of High School Musical: Summer Session!

Photo Courtesy: ABC

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ABC Keeps on A-Dancin’…and A-Swappin’…and A-Movin’ That Bus

Better keep that bus warmed up, Ty — ABC isn’t letting go of its hit reality shows any time soon.

ABC recently announced renewals of five unscripted shows, including the popular and dramatic Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.

Also on the list is Wife Swap, Supernanny, The Bachelor, and The Bachelorette. And, of course, reality TV wouldn’t be the same without ABC’s Dancing With the Stars, also renewed.

Likewise, viewers can expect to keep laughing over those hilarious home videos, as ABC has renewed a 19th — yes, I said 19th!!! — season of America’s Funniest Home Videos.

Not on the list of renewed shows is Dancing with the Stars spin-off, Dance War (C’mon, I really liked that show!).

Check back with Reality TV Magazine for dates and times of the shows as they’re announced.

Photo Courtesy: ABC

Topics: America's Funniest Home Videos, Dance War, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Supernanny, The Bachelor, The Bachelorette, Wife Swap | No Comments »

Team Bruno Wins Dance War

For nine singers and dancers, it all comes down to tonight. Zack, Kelsey, Lacey, Phillip, Bradley, Chris, Qis, Mariel, and Elizabeth — otherwise known as Team Bruno and Team Carrie Ann — have been working tirelessly for weeks just to get to tonight, the season finale of Dance War: Bruno vs. Carrie Ann. They’ve all been spending tireless hours in the studio and survived the emotional ups and downs that come with live competition, just for a shot at being crowned America’s next “super group,” and being awarded the recording contract with Hollywood Records.

We spend the first several minutes of tonight’s season finale episode reliving the contestants’ journey to the stage. We get to remember Chris’smicrophone mishaps andmalfunctions, Bruno’s indignation when Carrie Ann calls his team a “chorus,” and Bruno’s accusation that Team Carrie Ann is “gimmicky” and relies on props such as a Pavarotti handkerchief.

Soon it’s time for the dancers to do their thing. And for host Drew Lachey to do his. Dudded up in a dapper tux, Drew takes lead in singing Steppin’ Out, backed up by the contestants. Drew even does a little dancing himself, which is oddly impressive, and the number is entertaining enough. At the end, just as Drew and the gang have the audience whipped into a frenzy, he brings out Bruno and Carrie Ann, who are both excited to get down to finale business, Bruno promising that his team will do their “best to entertain you.”

We catch up, via video,with Team Bruno, just on the heels of their first win over Carrie Ann’s team. They celebrate with a pool party, but too soon are back in rehearsal. Bruno is extra-critical of them this week, not giving them any leeway for mistakes in their performance. While he says the team he now sees before him is exactly the team he’d envisioned when the show began, Zack hints that Bruno is expecting them to outdo themselves this week. They hit the stage with a ramped-up version of These Boots are Made for Walking, and man if they don’t do an even better job of it than last time. Kelsey is gorgeous in those Daisy Dukes and Zack makes sexy cowboy an art form. Bruno says, “This is blossoming!” and calls Zack “one of the most gifted persons” he’s ever worked with. Carrie Ann calls the performance “fantastic” and tells Kelsey, “Jessica Simpson ain’t got nothin’ on you, girl!”

Next we get some behind-the-scenes time with Team Carrie Ann, still reeling from their loss of Allysa. Even effervescent Bradley seems subdued. But the team is going to work hard in the studio, if for no other reason than Bradley’s family is coming in to watch tonight’s performance. The group chooses to give an encore performance of Papa was a Rolling Stone, and once again Mariel proves herself to have THE bestvocals of both teams combined. Carrie Ann says that the team, which had been “raw” when they first got together, has come together as an amazing team. Bruno calls the performance “more entertaining and engaging than ever.”

Oddly, the announcement of the Dance War winner isn’t the only exciting thing happening in tonight’s performance. Scattered throughout the program is Kenny Mayne’s Dance Center, where Kenny, Jerry Rice, and Lisa Rinna are announcing the 12 new cast members of the upcoming Dancing with the Stars 6. Check out Reality TV Magazine’s report of the announcement here.

To give Dance War’s winner the best shot at hitting the ground running, Dance War has given each of the teams original songs. This week the teams have gone to the recording studio to lay down the tracks, and tonight they givedebut performances of their new singles. First up is Team Bruno, whose song “Falling in Love” is totally catchy. Team Carrie Ann’s song, Come with Me, has tons of radio potential, but strangely didn’t give the vocal punch you’d expect. The choreography, though, dawg, was H-O-T!

Finally the time has come to announce the winner of Dance War. Eliminated contestants, Tony, Charity, and Allysa are standing by to root their teams to victory (Charity claims she watches “at home like a proud mom!”). Drew gathers up the teams on stage and announces…the winner of Dance War is…Team…BRUNO!

Team Carrie Ann looks crestfallen. Carrie Ann burrows into her contestants’ arms and then turns a triumphant face to Drew, saying how proud she is of her team (and she looks genuinely proud, too).

Team Bruno is barely-controlled mayhem. Bruno wraps the contestants in a group hug, then clasps his hands together and thanks the audience (and us) repeatedly. “I’m so delighted I’m at a loss for words,” he says. He and his contestants get mobbed by fans in a cloud of celebratory confetti.

Reality TV Magazine is your source of Dance War news. For other great reality TV news, please feel free to visit SirLinksALot: Dance War.

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RTV Predicts: Our Writers Call the Week Ahead

Whether they’re singing, dancing, selling, or surviving, America is watching and talking. Whose designs will impress at Bryant Park? Who will form an island alliance? Who will gain weight this week? Who will be fired? We’ve asked our writers, who’ve been watching all of your favorite shows faithfully, for their predictions about the week ahead. Here’s what they had to say:

Joe, on American Idol:

1. At least one of the mystery top twenty-four semifinalists, whose auditions were not aired, will have a breakout performance. American Idol fans will rally around this contestant as an underdog favorite, because he or she received little previous screen time.

2. Simon Cowell will use the word “dreadful” or “karaoke” in describing at least half of the top twenty-four performances.

3. Paula Abdul will get weepy eyed during at least one of the guys performances and she will stand up and yell “touchdown” after at least one of the girls performances.

4. The judges will empathize with Carly Smithson over the tough week she’s had in the press, but her previous record deal with MCA will not be specifically mentioned. Performance-wise Carly will do great, and she will make it to the next round.

Jen, on Dance War: Bruno vs. Carrie Ann:

No matter which team wins the War, we’re promised some dance routines (and revealing outfits) that will wow this week.

Bruno will come out cocky and ready to put down Team Carrie Ann’s “lack of” dance skill and call their routine “gimmicky.” Carrie Ann will cry when she talks about how great her team really is (and Elizabeth will cry right along with her).

In the end, Bruno’s team will win — although it’ll be a close call as both teams are incredibly talented and fun to watch.

Jen, on The Biggest Loser Couples:

My, my, my, the men have lost again?! Well, I don’t think that losing streak will last much longer. We know that the teams will go home and that someone will succumb to the pressure to eat (and will also ignore his or her trainer while away from campus). But I think that someone will be Paul, whose zest for life will probably be more than he can resist in the celebratory feeling of homecoming (plus, he’ll be missing Kelly something fierce).

My prediction is that Team Black will find themselves in the Elimination Room this week and that Paul will be sent home.

Jen, on Celebrity Apprentice:

Can Piers keep battling EVERYONE and still stay in the game? That’s the real question this week. Personally, I think The Donald likes Piers’ arrogant, no-nonsense attitude, and that’s what’s kept Piers from being called on the carpet by the big guy. But eventually even The Donald will have to face the fact that Piers doesn’t play well with others. Will it be enough to send him home? Not this week.

Okay, we all want to see Empresario win, if for no other reason than we want to see poor Marilu finally pull off a victory. And I think maybe this will be their week. But who will go home from Hydra if Empresario wins? I’m betting Lennox, who is so easy he’s easy prey…for Piers.

Check back with Reality TV Magazine throughout the week for recaps of your favorite shows and to see how our predictions hold up.

Photo Courtesy: NBC

Topics: American Idol, Celebrity Apprentice, Dance War, The Biggest Loser | No Comments »

Who Will Win Dance War?

Weeks upon weeks ofdancing through nerves. Hours upon hoursof intensestudio training. Working, dancing, even when sleepy, hungry, emotional, or frustrated. It all comes down to this for Team Bruno and Team Carrie Ann. In this week’s finale episode we will find out which team will win the War and be awarded the Hollywood Records contract.

The episode will begin with Drew Lachey singing the opening number, and theeliminated contestants coming back to cheer on their former teammates as they perform one last original number. America’s votes will be revealed and a winner announced.

So who will win the War? It’s unusual for America to be presented with a reality TV voting choice for which there really is no clear-cut winner. Each team is incredibly talented and the contest really could (very fairly) go either way. But someone must be crowned victor. Will it be…:

Team Carrie Ann (Qis, Bradley, Chris, Elizabeth, and Mariel):

For a while there it looked like this team was unstoppable. With formally-trained dancers Bradley and Allysa andprimo vocalist Mariel they turned outperformances thatsquashed Team Bruno time and time again.

Carrie Ann is a gambler, however, her artistic visioncausing her to lead her team to “riskier” numbers such as Big Black Horse…for a country number and the sultry yet somewhat dull INeed to Know for Latin Week.While still amazing performances, they might hold her back with an audience who just wantshigh-energy action.

Who willsave this team? Qis (as long as they keep himbare-chested and out front) and Elizabeth (who is not the strongest talent on the team, but is so cute you can’t help go withwhatever she’s doing anyway).

Team Bruno (Zack, Phillip, Kelsey, and Lacey):

Bruno Tonioli has “taken more punches than Rocky,” he told Drew Lachey last week. But still he comes back swinging and hisgroup has managed to rally and finally pick off a member of Team Carrie Ann.

When it comes to flat-outperformin’ skillz, Team Bruno has it.Overall, the teamis better at both singing and dancing, and Bruno’s a stickler for tradition, which is quite possibly what saved their bumslast week.

Bruno seems to have cracked the mystery of what thisteam was missing — he coaxed a sexier version of Kelsey out for These Boots…on Country Week and helped Zack tap into his sex appeal (andhow!)last week for Latin Week.With the amazing chemistry this team has seemed to have found,they’re going to be tough to beat. They turned out twoterrific performances lastweek that could very well take them to the top.

Believe it or not, declaring a winner won’t be the only exciting announcement happening on this week’s episode. ABC will also be making a live announcement of who will be the cast of the season 6 Dancing With the Stars, in a special edition of Kenny Mayne’s Dance Center. Mayne will join up with fellow season 2 contestants Jerry Rice and Lisa Rinna to reveal which 12 celebs willbe dancing across our TV screens come the March 17th premiere.

Catch the Dance War: Bruno vs. Carrie Ann season finale on Monday, February 18, 8:00 PM (ET) on ABC.

Dancing with the Stars 6 premieres Monday, March 17, 8:00 PM (ET) on ABC.

Photo Courtesy: ABC

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