I live in Europe, so I don’t watch American television yet, (although I’m trying to get JayBird to install one of those Slingbox devices so I can.) Right now I’m on “vacation” in the states, though, and my mother loves Dancing with the Stars and we watched a couple of episodes, fast forwarding through the results episode because they just drag that shit out as long as possible.

The show is quite entertaining, and it’s easy to see how people get hooked. When excellent dancer and Cheetah Girl Sabrina Bryan was eliminated in an upset last week, I suspected that she was involved with her partner, because of the way he was clinging to her and she called him “baby” all romantic-like. Sabrina and her partner, Mark Ballas, are indeed dating, with Sabrina confirming their romance to TVGuide, saying that “I always call him ‘Baby Marky.’ I absolutely love and adore him.” She also said they were going out on a date the next day. Sabrina and Mark were spotted out at Hollywood hotspot Hyde, and TMZ has video of a photographer asking them when they’re getting married, with Sabrina answering “August of 08.”

With all the attention and fame that comes with competing on the dance show, many c and d-listers are vying for a place. Tori Spelling is said to be anxious to appear next season, and to follow her 90210 cast mates, Jennie Garth and Ian Ziering’s, lead. The thing is, she’s also gunning for her husband, Dean McDermott, to be on the show, and since he’s only known as Mr. Tori Spelling, producers don’t want to take him on:

[Tori Spelling] is campaigning to be on next season’s Dancing with the Stars after seeing how it helped Beverly Hills 90210 pals Jennie Garth and Ian Ziering. “She is hoping it will open doors,” says an insider. “At the very least, she can earn some money from touring with the dancers after the show. She’s the breadwinner in her family and needs to keep her career alive.” There’s just one hitch - Tori has hinted that she wants her husband, Dean McDermott, on the show. The show’s producers “don’t want Dean at all,” adds the source.

[From Star Magazine, print edition, November 12, 2007]

I can see Tori appearing on the show, but she seems so gawky to me that you wouldn’t expect her to get the hang of it. Maybe it’s just her um, features, that give you that impression and she could be a surprisingly good dancer.

Jane Seymour and her partner were eliminated from last night’s Dancing with The Stars, with Jennie Garth also in the bottom two. Four couples remain on the show, Melanie B and Makshim, Helio Castroneves and Julianne, Jennie Garth and Derek, Marie Osmond and Jonathan, and Cameron Mathison and Edyta. Marie Osmond was absent from last night’s results show due to the death of her father. Jane Seymour also missed a results show in week two due to her mother’s death that day.

Nearly 50 million people watched the premiere of Dancing With The Stars this season, so you can see how the show appeals to minor celebrities like Tori.

Tori and Dean are shown on 9/28/07 in Vegas before Tori’s appearance with The Pussycat Dolls.