Dancing for their supper

Hey, I’ve got a great idea for a TV series! First of all, get Hey Hey, It’s Saturday hasbeen Daryl Somers to host it, and on top of that have him warble the occasional classic like Begin the Beguine. Then get a lot of people who can’t dance to dance in a ballroom competition and have the viewers vote for the best.

In theory, the idea sucks. Bigtime. And yet for some strange reason, Dancing with the Stars has managed to shoot to the top of the ratings and stay there. Now in its third season, the series shows no sign of losing its popularity – my mum certainly wouldn’t miss it – and no doubt there are many D and E list celebs hoping they can have a crack at raising their profiles in series 4.

Let’s not kid ourselves that this was an original concept when it hit our screens. Originally successful in the U.K., it was already roadtested by the time Aussie network Channel 7 gave it a whirl. And what a whirl it’s been, helping to boost the former underdog station’s fortunes last year alongside the hot U.S. hits, Desperate Housewives and Lost.

So what is the allure of watching stars of TV soaps, newsreaders, sportspeople, musicians and even former politicians popping on some eyepopping costumes and struggling to keep up with their professional dancer partners? Well, I guess it’s the music, the dancing, the lights, the glamour, and the fact that it’s good old-fashioned entertainment. And when you put it up against the reality shows that have inundated the TV screens, it offers the multitudes who don’t actually enjoy seeing self-obsessed show-offs engaged in childish games of oneupmanship something a little more refined.

What’s that? There are childish games of oneupmanship? Well, okay. Regular judge and former Boy From Oz, Todd McKenney (oh, he must hate Hugh Jackman!) has had a few personal run-ins with contestants, from incurring the wrath of the Australian public by giving Nikki Webster a score of 1 for the tango to having an all-out public brawl before this series even started with Kate Langbroek. Well, it’s all good for the ratings, isn’t it.

Then there was his perceived nastiness at the beginning of series 1 when he told Pauline Hanson the cold, hard truth about her lack of toetapping skills. But it had the effect of making her somehow irresistible to the viewers who kept voting her in week after week. The former pollie, once renowned as an ill-informed racist bigot, can thank the show for transforming her into a star of cabaret, having toured the RSL Club circuit singing and dancing with McKenney! No wonder the wannabes are lining up to be chosen for their chance at greatness.

While you might not actually like Dancing with the Stars, it’s hard to hate it or wish it television death. Well, maybe that doesn’t go for Daryl Somers.

Vicki Englund

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Dancing With the Stars

On: Seven

Time: Tuesday, 7.30 pm