Ladies with an attitude

October 20, 2015 10:52 AM

Paula Deen channels Madonna on Dancing With The Stars. For some reason.

For comparison, here's Her Madgeness doing it right.

posted by feckless fecal fear mongering (50 comments total)

She looks so desperately uncomfortable, I kinda feel bad for her.
posted by mochapickle at 11:00 AM on October 20, 2015

Consider this: Mainstream entertainment is now watching a famous racist and butter advocate dressed as ratchet Marie Antoinette listlessly walk around while a song that was sort of subversive 25 years ago plays.

I'm going to go stare out a window and try not to have any thoughts.
posted by cmoj at 11:09 AM on October 20, 2015 [59 favorites]

Presumably she is well aware that this dance was appropriated by Madonna from poor, urban, young, gay, black men..
posted by Captain Chesapeake at 11:12 AM on October 20, 2015 [10 favorites]

A song that blatantly appropriated black gay culture and made it palatable for the masses, moreover.
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 11:12 AM on October 20, 2015 [9 favorites]

(which is what kinda made me go buuuuuuuh? about the whole thing--Vogue has been so divorced from where it actually originated that I doubt many people who made decisions about this recognized the grotesque irony of having a racist perform it. See also: Paris is Burning.)
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 11:14 AM on October 20, 2015 [6 favorites]

Yeah, this is both horrible and full of so much American cultural racial history from my lifetime that I still must enjoy its horribleness.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 11:14 AM on October 20, 2015 [2 favorites]

But like I enjoy it with my cynical brain but not my true heart.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 11:17 AM on October 20, 2015 [3 favorites]

This is kind of fascinating and I would love to know the thought process of whoever decides their dance assignments. There's got to be a lot that goes into the decision of what dance/costume/etc will work for each of the guests, and presumably they're trying to make the guests look good, right? I've never watched the show -- do they show this process as part of it or do the dance assignments kind of come down from on high?

Like, did Deen ask to have a big historic dress like that, but they figured they couldn't put her in an antebellum southern look, so....? Did they deliberately want to tweak her by putting her in a drag role? Did they only settle on this because it's a famous dance with just arm movements?
posted by LobsterMitten at 11:23 AM on October 20, 2015 [5 favorites]

I've never watched the show -- do they show this process as part of it or do the dance assignments kind of come down from on high?

It seems like some producer decides who will do what dance and the pro dancer and their partner hear about it once the decision has been made. There are some weeks where the the contestants get more say, but for this week, it was like, "Okay, so we've been given 'You're the one that I want' from Grease" or "We've been assigned 'Pony' from Magic Mike."

I don't think it's random, but I'm also not entirely sure that the goal is always to make them "look good." For example, the guy who got assigned to do the stripper dance is apparently some sort of (newly?) devout Christian. He was not pleased about having to do a stripper dance, and they're is a somewhat cynical part of me that has to wonder if the powers that be didn't do that on purpose. To be fair, he also definitely was able to pull it off (and he's got great abs), so I'm not saying that "bait the Christian" would have been their only or even their primary motivation.

Basically, I think they're going for maximum entertainment value.

I also have all sorts of theories about how the judging actually works for this show, but that's not really relevant to this fpp so I'll save that for another time.
posted by litera scripta manet at 11:49 AM on October 20, 2015 [1 favorite]

Bruno Tonioli (one of the judges on DWTS) described Paula Deen as "A rococo lampshade on wheels," which was so spot on that I almost died laughing when I heard him say it.
posted by litera scripta manet at 11:56 AM on October 20, 2015 [12 favorites]

Mod note: A few comments deleted; if you want to criticize something go ahead but maybe make it clearer how that fits into the actual conversation already in progress here?
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 11:56 AM on October 20, 2015

I have no idea who Paula Deen is. And I know it's customary to bitch on Madonna. But her performance gives me goosebumps. Cultural appropriation and all.
posted by Lleyam at 12:02 PM on October 20, 2015 [1 favorite]

I think it was adorable. That show is high camp, and who better than the Butter Queen to rule?
posted by LuckyMonkey21 at 12:06 PM on October 20, 2015 [1 favorite]

For me, the standout of the night was Nick Carter, of Backstreet Boys fame, doing the "John Travolta" dance from Saturday Night Fever. I also have to give a lot of credit to his pro partner Sharna Burgess for managing to actually incorporate samba elements into a disco dance.

And now I've officially revealed myself to be someone who has spent way too much time watching and thinking about this show.
posted by litera scripta manet at 12:16 PM on October 20, 2015 [5 favorites]

Oh, one last thing:

Like, did Deen ask to have a big historic dress like that, but they figured they couldn't put her in an antebellum southern look, so....? Did they deliberately want to tweak her by putting her in a drag role? Did they only settle on this because it's a famous dance with just arm movements?
I'm pretty sure the one choice Deen and her partner got to make was that they decided to do the MTV VMA performance of Vogue instead of doing the dance from the Vogue music video. Or at least that's what I gathered from Paula Deen talking about refusing to wear a spiky cone bra.
posted by litera scripta manet at 12:18 PM on October 20, 2015 [1 favorite]

Thanks for that visual, litera.
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 12:19 PM on October 20, 2015 [6 favorites]

It's nice to know that there are people out there with even less rhythm and musicality than me.
posted by jacquilynne at 12:19 PM on October 20, 2015 [1 favorite]

Sadly, Dancing with the Food Network Stars, nestled between Cutthroat Kitchen and Guy's Grocery Games, would fit right in to the "Food" Network's current embarrassment of a lineup.
posted by mudpuppie at 12:32 PM on October 20, 2015 [4 favorites]

I have an friend who used to work as a server at Paula Deen's restaurant, The Lady and Sons, in Savannah. After her racist comments and N-word usage came to light, the restaurant didn't really suffer but some of the customers started doing this thing:

Racist customer (usually a white, middle-aged dad): Let me ask you a question...
Server friend, knowing what's coming: .....yes?
RC: I think what she said was just fine. I mean really, who hasn't said it? I've said it.
RC's wife: Honey, please...
RC: I just think everyone's being so unfair! They can say it. Why can't we (gestures between himself and server) say it?
RC's wife and kids: (dying of embarrassment)

At this point, he would look around expectantly. Waiting for validation. Initially, my friend would kind of politely disengage, with a "Sir....are you ready to order?" But after encountering this day after day for months, he eventually began just letting the comments hang there, until everyone was extremely uncomfortable. Then the backtracking would start. They usually left terrible tips, I guess because they were disappointed that their pilgrimage to The Last Place A Decent White Guy Can Still Use The N Word didn't play out like they expected.
posted by almostmanda at 12:38 PM on October 20, 2015 [48 favorites]

I was SURE that if I checked the soundtrack listing for Marie Antoinette, this song would be on it because otherwise whatthefuck?

um what was her score?
posted by janey47 at 12:48 PM on October 20, 2015

What a masterful performance of American middlebrow. With this performance I can't decide if I feel sorry for Paula Deen or scorn or some grudging admiration.
posted by Nelson at 1:02 PM on October 20, 2015

I've always been really discomfited by the creepy photo retouching on Paula's seemingly infinite magazines.

No Paula, that's not what you look like. That's not what humans look like, Paula.
posted by the uncomplicated soups of my childhood at 1:08 PM on October 20, 2015 [11 favorites]

I've always been really discomfited by the creepy photo retouching on Paula's seemingly infinite magazines.

Marlon Brando, Paula Deen
on the cover of a magazine
posted by mama casserole at 1:11 PM on October 20, 2015 [28 favorites]

It was strangely compelling until the 0:59 mark, where she grabbed the guys head and pushed it into her bosom, at which point I physically recoiled and had to hit pause.

I'm going to give it a few minutes and then see if I can finish the video.
posted by kanewai at 1:12 PM on October 20, 2015 [1 favorite]

I have no idea who Paula Deen is.

She's a American chef with a cooking show about Southern cuisine. She talks about butter a lot. She made some really racist comments a few years ago. Kathy Griffin "interviewed" her during a latter season of My Life on the D-List and all I remember about that was that Deen had a young gay assistant who was really drunk.
posted by psoas at 1:16 PM on October 20, 2015 [1 favorite]

Because nothing says the Queen of Pop quite like the Queen of Butter.

If only they'd managed to fit the Queen of Corn in there - then they'd really have something!
posted by Greg_Ace at 1:21 PM on October 20, 2015 [2 favorites]

I have an friend who used to work as a server at Paula Deen's restaurant

Was she black? Because that would make it really awkward.
posted by theorique at 1:26 PM on October 20, 2015

um what was her score?

Like 24 out of 40, I think. It was low enough to send her home.
posted by mochapickle at 1:27 PM on October 20, 2015 [1 favorite]

She's a American chef with a cooking show about Southern cuisine. She talks about butter a lot. She made some really racist comments a few years ago. Kathy Griffin "interviewed" her during a latter season of My Life on the D-List and all I remember about that was that Deen had a young gay assistant who was really drunk.

You forgot about the time she licked butter off the tummy of Robert Irvine (another tv cook person) and rode him around like a horse.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 1:41 PM on October 20, 2015 [4 favorites]

I am terrified that I might accidentally click this link.
posted by swift at 1:53 PM on October 20, 2015 [1 favorite]

You forgot about the time she licked butter off the tummy of Robert Irvine (another tv cook person) and rode him around like a horse.

I think we all forgot that... very carefully.
posted by Naberius at 1:57 PM on October 20, 2015 [2 favorites]

I made it :56 seconds!
posted by cjorgensen at 1:58 PM on October 20, 2015

Consider this: Mainstream entertainment is now watching a famous racist and butter advocate dressed as ratchet Marie Antoinette listlessly walk around while a song that was sort of subversive 25 years ago plays.

in 25 years ....Rand Paul, dressed as a founding father, singing 'Anaconda'.
posted by The Whelk at 2:20 PM on October 20, 2015 [12 favorites]

Here's Channing Tatum voguing as a palate cleanser
posted by The Whelk at 2:26 PM on October 20, 2015 [6 favorites]

oh, potatum
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 2:28 PM on October 20, 2015 [1 favorite]

in 25 years ....Rand Paul, dressed as a founding father, singing 'Anaconda'.

I immediately googled "bill clinton macarena" because this is a thing that I remember so clearly but the internets has failed me and i am sad about it.
posted by poffin boffin at 2:44 PM on October 20, 2015 [2 favorites]

I don't even understand how that could be considered a dance performance. Like, it's just confusing me that that happened.
posted by jaguar at 3:06 PM on October 20, 2015 [3 favorites]

This is...odd. I only know about Paula Deen from this very website, but regardless of who she is how is just walking around considered "dancing"? And are there always so many other dancers on stage on DWTS? Or were they just to distract from this one performance? What style of dancing was it even supposed to be? I'm confused and lost. (much as she herself seems to be)
posted by billiebee at 3:08 PM on October 20, 2015

That unrepentant racist does not deserve a second chance at fame.
posted by graventy at 3:09 PM on October 20, 2015 [1 favorite]

The style of dancing is called Voguing, thus the name of the song. It's mainly about posing, and has a fascinating history.
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 3:12 PM on October 20, 2015 [1 favorite]

This just seems like a mashup of everything wrong with 21st century Western culture.
posted by nubs at 3:14 PM on October 20, 2015

The style of dancing is called Voguing, thus the name of the song. It's mainly about posing, and has a fascinating history

No, I know, but looking at the Madonna video, she's... dancing. Even when she's posed. Deen is just... standing. While occasionally moving her arms.
posted by jaguar at 3:15 PM on October 20, 2015 [1 favorite]

Oh I know about voguing. But is that a usual dance on this show? I've never seen it, but I occasionally watch am a rabid fan of the British version (Strictly Come Dancing) and there are a set number of specific dances the contestants learn - Charleston, Tango, Waltz etc - so if they were dancing to Vogue it might incorporate some elements of that but within the dance, if that makes sense? So I just wondered what she was supposed to be doing here.
posted by billiebee at 3:16 PM on October 20, 2015

Amazingly, Dancing With the Stars is produced by BBC Worldwide, the same company that produces Strictly Come Dancing, the UK version where they actually, you know, dance. And where the "stars" are mostly judged on their dancing ability.

If you've never seen Strictly, you should check it out. There are plenty of videos available on YouTube.
posted by SteveInMaine at 3:22 PM on October 20, 2015

Oh I know about voguing. But is that a usual dance on this show?

No, they actually usually do more real dancing. In fact, the judges knocked Paula Deen and her pro Louis Van Amstel for not doing much actual dancing. It was also sort of a cop out since they were assigned "Jazz" which as far as I can tell means, "Do whatever you want!" Although that also seems to be what freestyle is so... idk. I think Jazz is something they recently added. It's also not typical to have that many dancers on stage. It happens sometimes for certain dances, but I would say the majority of the dances are just the pro and the "celebrity" dancer. It also depends on the theme. When it's something like "famous dances" or "dances from movies" then they tend to do less ballroom and more over the top staging.

Overall, it's definitely hit or miss, but they do have some really good dancers on the show. A lot depends on the pros as well. Some pros are much better at incorporating the correct ballroom elements and not going overboard with the props. Other dancers just love having as many people and props and smoke machines and sets as possible. (*cough* Derek Hough *cough*)

I actually only started watching the show a few seasons ago when Charlie White and Meryl Davis (the US gold medal ice dancers) were competing. I still go back and re-watch and Meryl and Maks's dances. My favorite is probably their freestyle, but I also really love their Rumba and their Argentine Tango. Okay, actually I love all of their dances. Here's a helpful youtube compilation.
posted by litera scripta manet at 8:47 PM on October 20, 2015 [3 favorites]

Um, I sort of got away from my main point which was that in general they are assigned a dance like Samba, Rumba, Jive, Viennese Waltz, Foxtrot, etc, and then they will work in the theme within that, but I would say Paula Deen's dance was definitely one of the least "dance-y" dances they've had. Typical themes are like "most memorable year" where they would get to pick the song but not dance style, or "Latin night" where they do all Latin style dances or "Disney night" (ugh).

If you want to see the kind of range of dance styles and themes, here's this a compilation of dances from season 19 winner, Alfonso Ribeiro, and this is one for season 20 winner, Rumer Willis. Also, here is a compilation for season 19 runner up, Sadie Robertson, who was actually pretty good despite having zero dance experience (although, um, I have some pretty bad feelings towards her family because of the whole Duck Dynasty thing, but she always seemed really sweet when she was on the show). The Super Mario Brothers inspired freestyle that Mark Ballas did with Sadie is probably one of the most fun and creative dances that I've seen on this show.

Okay, I'm going to stop now.
posted by litera scripta manet at 9:14 PM on October 20, 2015 [6 favorites]

That's got to be a revenge pickon someone's behalf, surely no one is so historyless as to do this on the up-and-up? I can tell you thought, I didn't come into this thread expecting to leave with a crush on Rumor Willis, how cool is she?
posted by Iteki at 11:38 PM on October 20, 2015 [2 favorites]

all I remember about that was that Deen had a young gay assistant who was really drunk

Oh. Kay.
posted by Lleyam at 3:05 AM on October 21, 2015

I didn't come into this thread expecting to leave with a crush on Rumor Willis, how cool is she?

Ditto, Iteki; wow!

But also, since I've been binge watching old episodes of Project Runway, I kept getting distracted by the dance outfits and imagining how they could be made in 12 hours using nothing but quilted toilet paper, discarded syringes, and ear wax.
posted by taz at 3:07 AM on October 21, 2015 [2 favorites]

The BBC version, Strictly Come Dancing, has had a number of contestants whose partners have had to very creatively dance around them. John Sargeant actively resigned from the show as the audience vote kept bringing him back. He said he thought there was a real danger he might win.

And though I had no respect for her whatsoever as a politician, Anne Widdecombe's Strictly attempts are really good-humoured - judges' comments here also worth watching (I don't think the American judges are quite so unkind?) Again, the audience vote kept bringing her back. Anton Du Beke is the usual dancing partner for people who might need a bit of extra twirling.

I'll bet the Deen thing was a revenge pick. If the production team doesn't like you, well, they have infinite ways of making you look stupid, which, it was rumoured, Nancy Dell'Ollio found out. And she was also an unpopular, unsympathetic, physically awkward candidate. Which just goes to show it's not all about having a beautiful bod.

Here's Pamela Stephenson proving you can dance while 60. Here she is 9 weeks later at the final (2010.)

Pamela Stephenson b. 1949, was 60 on Strictly. Nancy Dell'Ollio b. (hmmm) 1961. Anne Widdecombe b. 1947, was 64 during Strictly. John Sargeant b. 1944, 64 during Strictly. Keep doing your stretches, people.
posted by glasseyes at 5:30 AM on October 21, 2015 [3 favorites]