Dancing with the stars

Last night’s premiere of Dancing with the Stars recorded a staggering peak audience of 2.173 million viewers* and was 220,000 viewers up on last year’s premiere.

Scoring an average national audience of 2.207 million viewers across all markets (metropolitan and regional), Dancing with the Stars placed in the top 10 programs in all key audiences: total viewers, 16-39s, 18-49s and 25-54s and secured a 36% share in all people.

The ninth series premiere of the program made Dancing with the Stars history when its first blind competitor, adventurer and paralympian Gerrard Gosens, took to the floor with partner Jessica Raffa for a moving performance earning the couple a standing ovation.

The competition heats up Sunday night with the first elimination for the series.  In the lead after last night’s premiere is international cover girl Emily Scott and partner Michael  Miziner, followed closely by comedian Fiona O’Loughlin and partner Craig Monley.  In last place on the leader board, entertainer Rob Mills and partner Sriani Argaet will be feeling the pressure to stay in the competition.

*(one minute average peak audience across 6.30-9.00pm)

According to Media Week, a program seen on the Sky Business News Channel, Dancing With the Stars will return to channel 7 at 6.30pm on Sunday July 5^th.

While the date is no surprise, the time slot is. This means that 7’s weekly current affairs program Sunday Night will be rested to make way for two hours of Dancing With the Stars. The move comes as quite a surprise as Sunday Night has not been performing too badly, sometimes beating 60 Minutes in terms of total viewers, winning its time slot and ending up as one of the top 10 programs for the week.

This new line up means that Dancing With the Stars will be against both Merlin and Masterchef on 10, both shows performing very well. It also means that programming from 8.30 onwards will remain unchanged, with both Bones and Castle regularly winning their respective time slots. A decision that makes a lot of sense.

The current series of Border Security USA and The Force conclude the week before on Sunday June 28. That week could also see Packed to the Rafters return to Tuesday nights, but that is yet to be confirmed.

Seven has revealed its next dance cast for Dancing with the Stars, which includes four network personalities and blind paralympian Gerrard Gosens. Personalities from radio, performing arts, sports and a swimsuit model will fill out the rest of the dance card.

Amongst the Seven names are Lincoln Lewis, Jess McNamee, Kylie Gillies and Today Tonight’s Matt White – a somewhat curious choice given the normally serious nature of news and current affairs. Still, those days are arguably long gone, and Seven news presenters have previously appeared on the show.

The series will be again hosted by Daniel McPherson and Sonia Kruger and is expected to air Sunday July 5th.

Layne Beachley – dancing with Dannial Gosper
This fiercely talented surfer and astute business woman rewrote history when she achieved the greatest number of consecutive World Championship titles; male or female. With a total of seven world championships under her belt, Beachley’s determination and dedication will be hard to beat.

Emily Scott – dancing with Michael Miziner
This international swimsuit model and former gymnast was crowned “Australia’s Sexist Woman” by FHM Magazine, appeared in Robbie Williams Rock DJ music clip and has snagged a guest role on the cult TV series Entourage. With a bourgeoning DJ career on the rise, she’s definitely got rhythm but does she have the steps to match?

Kylie Gilles – dancing with Carmelo Pizzino
With her co-host Larry Emdur, Kylie Gillies serves up a mix of entertainment, news and humour five days a week on Channel Seven’s The Morning Show. She’s sung live on national television performing a duet with Irish crooner Ronan Keating, now she’s about to make her dancing debut.

Jess McNamee – dancing with Stefano Oliveri
This popular actress is known to millions of Australians as the unflappable Sammy from Channel Seven’s top-rating drama, Packed to the Rafters. Growing up with musical theatre, Jess is a natural performer, having scored a role in Home and Away not long after leaving school. But is she a natural dancer?

Fiona O’Loughlin – dancing with Craig Monley
Hailing from Alice Springs, Fiona “Full House” O’Loughlin is one of Australia’s most successful comediennes and a very busy mother of five! She has performed at the invitation only Montreal Comedy Festival and on the top-rating US program Last Comic Standing, but can she win over the judges on DANCING WITH THE STARS?

Peter ‘Spida’ Everitt – dancing with Linda de Nicola
Peter ‘Spida’ Everitt made his debut for St Kilda in a sea of dreadlocks and tattoos in 1993. As one of the game’s best ruckmen, he was in high demand playing for Hawthorn and the Sydney Swans during his envied AFL career. His huge following on the field led to the phenomenon that is the ‘spida dance’.

Rob Mills – dancing with Sriani Argaet
Currently playing the role of Fiyero in Wicked – the hottest musical theatre ticket in town – actor, singer, entertainer and former Australian Idol top 5 Rob Mills is looking to emulate his success on the dance floor . . .

Matt White – dancing with Ash-Leigh Hunter
Matt’s no stranger to stiff competition having covered some of the world’s elite sporting events during his career as a sports journalist and commentator for Channel Seven. He’s also leading the battle in the news and public affairs arena as East Coast host of Channel Seven’s top-rating Today Tonight.

Gerrard Gosens – dancing with Jessica Raffa
He’s climbed Mt Everest, swum with sharks and flown a motor glider around Queensland. In a Dancing with the Stars world first, Blind adventurer and three-time paralympian, Gerrard Gosens is about to face his greatest challenge ever when he takes to the dance floor with partner Jessica Raffa.

Lincoln Lewis – dancing with Luda Kroitor
He won a Logie for Most Popular New Talent in 2008 for his endearing portrayal of farm boy Geoff Campbell on Channel Seven’s Home and Away. Now Lincoln is looking to add another trophy to add to the mantle piece when he teams with Luda.

Adam Brand – dancing with Jade Hatcher
His latest album Hell Of A Ride débuted at No.1 on the ARIA Top 20 Australian Artist Country Chart and with eight Golden Guitars, three platinum and two gold albums, Brand is preparing for another challenge as a contestant in DANCING WITH THE STARS.

Source: Tv Tonight, Today Tonight

Luke Jacobz is the eighth champion of Dancing With The Stars, with a knockout perfect last dance wrestling the glitter ball from boxer Danny Green’s fingertips.

Luke, dancing for the Wesley Mission, commanded a standing ovation for his freestyle dance routine with partner Luda Kroitor and walked away with perfect scores from all three judges – Todd McKenney, Helen Richey and Mark Wilson – and the coveted trophy.

It was Luke and Luda’s first perfect score – and only the third of the competition – in a series that the judges found the toughest and closest ever.

The overwhelmed Home and Away star said: “Luda has been in three finals during her time on Dancing with the Stars, and now she’s won one. It’s awesome!

“The Wesley Mission do great things around the country and have been doing so for years, so it’s great to be able to support such a worthy cause.”

Dancing in green, Danny came close as runner-up with his charity SIDS Australia benefiting from his time on the dance floor.

For the first time in Australian Dancing With the Stars history, three couples contested the final with a cha cha cha face-off deciding the final two. Despite a perfect score for his first dance of the finale, and his second of the competition, Paul Licuria was the first to be eliminated.

All 10 dancing partnerships returned to the dance floor for performances of their favourite routines: Brooke Hanson and John Paul Collins dancing the tango; James Tobin and Jade Hatcher dancing the jive; Cal Wilson and Craig Monley dancing the quickstep; Red Symons and Ana Andre dancing with Argentine tango; Jodi Gordon and Stefano Oliveri dancing the rumba; Toni Pearen and Henry Byalikov dancing the cha cha; and Charli Delaney and Csaba Szirmai dancing the rumba.

Week 10 scorecard:

Luke Jacobz and Luda Kroitor – 85 (29 for waltz, 26 for cha cha, 30 for freestyle)

Danny Green and Natalie Lowe – 71 (23 for tango, 22 for cha cha, 26 for freestyle)
Paul Licuria and Eliza Campagna – 54 (30 for quickstep and 24 for cha cha)

The next Dancing With The Stars champion will be a male celebrity after Charli Delaney’s run on the dance floor ended tonight.

For the first time in Australian Dancing With the Stars, three couples will contest the grand final – Danny Green and partner Natalie Lowe, Luke Jacobz and his partner Luda Kroitor and Paul Licuria and his partner Eliza Campagna.

Former Hi5 member and Battle of the Choirs judge Delaney fell one week short but says she loved every minute of her time on the show and left nothing on the dance floor.

“I’ve loved every single second of it. I wake up every day with a smile on my face to go to training,” Delaney said.

“I really tried. I danced my butt off. I really tried. I’ve had literally the time of my life.”

After last week’s twist, in which no couple was eliminated and the series was labelled the tightest ever competition, the judges scores and audience votes for the past fortnight were combined.

Unfortunately for Delaney, she was given the lowest scores by the judges for both weeks and the audience vote wasn’t enough to save her from elimination.

Delaney, who is a presenter for Channel Seven’s coverage of the 2008 Emirates Melbourne Cup Carnival, was delighted money from viewer votes will go to her nominated charity, Day of Difference.

Now all eyes turn to which of the Dancing kings will take home the coveted Dancing with the Stars trophy.

Co-host Sonia Kruger revealed tonight that in the first hour of the blockbuster series finale, one couple would be eliminated in a cha cha cha face-off.

Also, Austrian maestro Andre Rieu, in Australia for the first time, will perform the classics Bolero and Blue Danube.

Week 9 scorecard:

Luke Jacobz and Luda Kroitor – 54 (28 for swing and 26 for quickstep, salsa and tango)

Danny Green and Natalie Lowe – 53 (24 for foxtrot and 29 for quickstep, salsa, tango)
Paul Licuria and Eliza Campagna –50 (25 for jive and 25 for segue – waltz, rumba and foxtrot.)

Charli Delaney and Csaba Szirmai – 46 (26 for tango and 20 for segue of cha cha, quick step, salsa)

The Dancing with the Stars Grand Final, hosted by Daniel MacPherson and Sonia Kruger, will air live Sunday from 7.30pm on Channel Seven.

Sunday November 9
7:30pm

** GRAND FINALE **
* EXCLUSIVE PERFORMANCE BY ANDRE RIEU *

Tonight, the 10 celebrities and their dancing partners return to the dance floor for the grand final. Who will be the Dancing With The Stars 2008 champion?

The celebrities and their partners for 2008 are:

Cal Wilson and Craig Monley (eliminated 21 September)
Charli Delaney and Csaba Szirmai
James Tobin and Jade Hatcher (eliminated 14 September)
Luke Jacobz and Luda Kroitor
Red Symons and Ana Andre (eliminated 28 September)
Brooke Hanson and John Paul Collins (eliminated 7 September)
Danny Green and Natalie Lowe
Jodi Gordon and Stefano Oliveri (eliminated 12 October)
Paul Licuria and Eliza Campagna
Toni Pearen and Henry Byalikov (eliminated 19 October)

This diverse group of brave entertainers are fired up to burn the dance floor live to impress those who will decide their fate – the home viewers and the DWTS judges, TODD McKENNEY, HELEN RICHEY and MARK WILSON.

Sunday November 2
7:30pm

Tonight, the remaining three fight it out on the dance floor to make it through to next week’s Grand Final. Who will be the Dancing With The Stars 2008 champion?

The celebrities and their partners for 2008 are:

Cal Wilson and Craig Monley (eliminated 21 September)
Charli Delaney and Csaba Szirmai
James Tobin and Jade Hatcher (eliminated 14 September)
Luke Jacobz and Luda Kroitor
Red Symons and Ana Andre (eliminated 28 September)
Brooke Hanson and John Paul Collins (eliminated 7 September)
Danny Green and Natalie Lowe
Jodi Gordon and Stefano Oliveri (eliminated 12 October)
Paul Licuria and Eliza Campagna
Toni Pearen and Henry Byalikov

This diverse group of brave entertainers are fired up to burn the dance floor live to impress those who will decide their fate – the home viewers and the DWTS judges, TODD McKENNEY, HELEN RICHEY and MARK WILSON.

The all new DANCING WITH THE STARS is hosted by DANIEL MacPHERSON and SONIA KRUGER.

Jodi Gordon won’t be away from home any longer following her elimination from Dancing with the Stars.

The popular Home and Away actress and her dancing partner Stefano Oliveri scored 22 from the judging panel for their Rumba to Leona Lewis’ Bleeding Love, and when combined with the viewer’s votes it wasn’t enough to keep them in the competition for another round.

Dancing for the Sydney Children’s Hospital Randwick, Jodi said all funds raised through the show would be put towards their new emergency department.

“I hope this small amount of money can do some good for them,” she said.

Week six of Dancing with the Stars saw the second perfect score of the series with AFL champ Paul Licuria being awarded a 10 from Todd McKenney. Jodi is the fifth celebrity to leave the show behind Brooke Hanson, James Tobin, Cal Wilson and Red Symons.

The score card for the five remaining couples in the competition:

Danny Green and Natalie Lowe – 19 for Swing
Paul Licuria and Eliza Campagna – 28 for Rumba
Toni Pearen and Henry Byalikov – 24 for Rumba
Charli Delaney and Csaba Szirmai – 24 for Swing
Luke Jacobz and Luda Kroitor – 23 for Swing

Dancing with the Stars, hosted by Daniel MacPherson and Sonia Kruger, is live Sundays at 7.30pm on Channel Seven.

Dancing with the Stars is a hit BBC format now in more than 30 countries. It is produced by Freehand Productions for the Seven Network and BBC Worldwide.

Last week it was bit of a surprise to see Cal & Craig eliminated. Can the low scoring Red and Ana survive yet another week? Let’s find out.

Jodi Gordon & Stefano Olivieri
Paso Doble
Scores
Last Week: 24
8 Todd McKenney
9 Helen Richey
8 Mark Wilson
25
Dancing With the Stars Voting Information

Toni Pearen & Henry Byalikov
Salsa
American Boy
Scores
Last Week: 28
8 Todd McKenney
8 Helen Richey
8 Mark Wilson
24
Dancing With the Stars Voting Information

Danny Green & Natalie Lowe
Argentine Tango
Scores
Last Week: 20
8 Todd McKenny
8 Helen Richey
8 Mark Wilson
24
Dancing With the Stars Voting Information

Charli Delaney & Csaba Szirmai
Salsa
Low
Scores
Last Week: 22
8 Todd McKenney
9 Helen Richey
9 Mark Wilson
26
Dancing With the Stars Voting Information

Red Symons & Ana Andre
Argentine Tango
Scores
Last Week: 19
7 Todd McKenney
7 Helen Richey
7 Mark Wilson
21
Dancing With the Stars Voting Information

Luke Jacobz & Luda Kroitor
Salsa
Bailamos
Scores
Last Week: 25
8 Todd McKenney
9 Helen Richey
9 Mark Wilson
26
Dancing With the Stars Voting Information

Paul Licuria & Eliza Campagna
Argentine Tango
Scores
Last Week: 23
9 Todd McKenney
9 Helen Richey
9 Mark Wilson
27
Dancing With the Stars Voting Information

The Leaderboard after tonight’s show is as follows:
Paul & Eliza: 27
Luke & Luda: 26
Charli & Csaba: 26
Jodi & Stefano: 25
Toni & Henry: 24
Danny & Natalie: 24
Red & Ana: 21

The votes are counted and added to the judges score to give us the bottom two couples this week. Jodi & Stefano and Red & Ana.

Finally, Red & Ana are eliminated.

Next week, the Swing and the Rumba and Jason Gilikson’s Burn the Floor presentation.

In a Dancing First, one of our dancers may not take to the floor tonight. Danny Green has popped a rib and has been taking time to heal but may not dance. He took a rehearsal earlier but that’s no guarantee of anything.

Last week it was James and Jade who were eliminated. Will Red and Ana survive another week? Let’s find out.

Charli Delaney & Csaba Szirmai
Quickstep
Right Now
Scores
Last Week: 22
6 Todd McKenney
8 Helen Richey
8 Mark Wilson
22
Dancing With the Stars Voting Information

Paul Licuria & Eliza Campagna
Paso Doble
Theme from Pirates of the Caribbean
Scores
Last Week: 23
7 Todd McKenney
8 Helen Richey
8 Mark Wilson
23
Dancing With the Stars Voting Information

Cal Wilson & Craig Monley
Quickstep
I Want to be Evil
Scores
Last Week: 24
7 Todd McKenney
7 Helen Richey
8 Mark Wilson
22
Dancing With the Stars Voting Information

Red Symons & Ana Andre
Paso Doble
Scores
Last Week: 14
6 Todd McKenney
6 Helen Richey
7 Mark Wilson
19
Dancing With the Stars Voting Information

Luke Jacobz & Luda Kroitor
Quickstep
Wonderwall
Scores
Last Week: 20
9 Todd McKenney
8 Helen Richey
8 Mark Wilson
25
Dancing With the Stars Voting Information

Jodi Gordon & Stefano Olivieri
Paso Doble
Scores
Last Week: 23
7 Todd McKenney
8 Helen Richey
9 Mark Wilson
24
Dancing With the Stars Voting Information

Toni Pearen & Henry Byalikov
Quickstep
Let’s Go Crazy
Scores
Last Week: 23
9 Todd McKenney
9 Helen Richey
10 Mark Wilson
28
Dancing With the Stars Voting Information

Danny Green & Natalie Lowe
Paso Doble
The Final Countdown
Scores
Last Week: 24
6 Todd McKenny
7 Helen Richey
7 Mark Wilson
20
Dancing With the Stars Voting Information

The Leaderboard after tonight’s show is as follows:
Toni & Henry: 28
Luke & Luda: 25
Jodi & Stefano: 24
Paul & Eliza: 23
Charli & Csaba: 22
Cal & Craig: 22
Danny & Natalie: 20
Red & Ana: 19

The votes are counted and added to the judges score to give us the bottom two couples this week. Charli & Csaba and Cal & Craig.

That’s a bit of a surprise result. One of them will be leaving. Who is it?

Cal & Craig are eliminated.

Next week, the Salsa and the Argentine Tango.