So I was pondering things tonight, after that elimination on DWTS. I wandered over to the blog from hell to see what 'the numbers' had decreed would happen (ie, how many more votes David needed over Simone to be staying) and lo' and behold, half the post was about a dancer who is no longer on the show. Anyway, it got me to thinking about pro-pimping and eyes on the screen and production's mandate. I also wonder how many votes in total get cast every week - that's the most closely-held secret in DWTSLandia, I think.
So it's a TV show. Always remember it's a TV show (thank you Shirley Ballas). The main goal of the TV show is to get eyes on the screen. What eyes? The coveted 18-49 demographic to be precise. That's how the show makes money and that's how they stay on the air. Getting those advertisers who want those viewers.
Okay, so... over the years, DWTS has become a great deal about following the pros. I think the majority of the regular viewership has their favourites and continue to tune in, in large part, to see them. And I think alot of that viewership is women between the ages of 25 - 55. So, they're going to have their favourites that they're going to root for, no matter who the celeb is. And some of them actually have as their favourites, some of the female pros and some of the married ones. But I don't think those viewers are a huge majority. Quite the contrary.
But the network wants more of those new eyes on their screen, so they figure that one way to do it is to have a star pro or two who would bring in the coveted eyes. In the past we've had Hough and Mark and Maks all at once or a couple at a time. But this season is different. Hough has moved on (thank God!) and Mark has as well, but I can actually see him coming back for a season if the partner and the $$ are right - and even then, he's a married man now, so would he attract a bunch of new eyes? I'm doubtful. And Maks... well, Maks has moved on and he hasn't. But my point is... where is the hunky single fellow that the young ladies can swoon over? Gleb? Married, wife pregnant with 2nd child and he's icky - okay, so that's my opinion, but I've seen it shared in a lot of places. Sasha? He's adorable but he's quirky and he's engaged to the lovely Emma. Artem? I don't think the young ladies have the taste to appreciate his uniqueness. *LOL* And I'm back to Maks who is head over heels for Peta and a new father and not likely to bring in a ton of young eyes. So who do we have? Who's still 'available'? We're left with the Little One. Val. He's going to be the pro that production is going to do their best for, I think, as the one with the greatest chance of bringing in the young eyes. Of course, if they bring Alan on board next season, he could get some competition.
And the ladies suffer from somewhat the same problem. I suspect most of the viewership is female and in reality, therefore, not really likely to be fanatical about them. Even if they are extremely talented and terrific.
So production sees the votes every week. They know who's pulling in the votes and they're not dumb, not really, they have a decent handle on the whys and wherefores. I think they have a good idea of how much of the vote is for the pro and how much for the celeb. They've been on top for a long time and it's not luck.
In the end though, I don't think that Simone got sent home because Normani was being pimped to promote Val. I think Normani is a pretty good dancer and is quite the crowd pleaser on her own. I think the judges being so harsh on Simone for so long poisoned a lot of the casual vote that she would have received. I also think that she isn't as DWTS crowd-friendly as Laurie was last season. Laurie just sparkled all over the place, but Simone is more quiet and demure - I honestly think she might be a true introvert. That being said, yes, I think they are 'highlighting' Val somewhat as the pro draw, but that's the business. He's the one most likely to bring in and keep viewers in the desired demographic. I don't like it, but it is what it is.
So that's what I think about the pro-pimping and the producer's so-called agenda. In the end, it's a TV show produced to make money for the network. And now I'm going to bed. *LOL*
No comments:
Post a Comment