Page 50 of Wicked Dance
“I’m going to pull over for this one,” Duke says. He turns into the parking lot of a pharmacy and shifts the car into park.
My belly quivers a little. This must be big.
Shelly tugs on a piece of her pink hair, her lips twisted. “They changed the format of the show,” she says. “You weren’t here yesterday for the kickoff meeting, since you insisted on arriving today.”
“What is the new format?” Blitz asks.
Shelly reaches into an oversized bag and pulls out a sheaf of papers. “These are the roughs,” she says. “They outline the five episodes.”
The first page has five paragraphs labeled S3 E1 to E5. I guess it stands for season three, and episodes one through five.
I’ve only read a couple lines about the first episode being based on four dates, when Blitz flings it to the floor. “Nobody said ANYTHING about doing a live weekly!” he says.
“The live format for the finale was really popular,” she says. “And it’s the best way to get big numbers on the audience vote since they are short on publicity due to the quick timeline. They are trying to salvage the original release dates.”
“It’s a live show again?” I ask.
Blitz nods and covers his eyes with his hand for a moment, struggling to control his anger.
“We can do that,” I say. “We did it before.”
“That’s not the real rub,” Duke says. “You’re missing the point.”
I look from Blitz to Shelly to Duke. “What are you talking about?”
“The new format is so they can do live voting,” Shelly explains. “It’s not up to Blitz to choose this time. This winner will be determined by the TV audience.”
~*´`*~
I sink back against the seat. Blitz’s face is hard and angry. “Who authorized this without my input?” he demands.
“You’ll have to talk to the execs,” Shelly says. “I think under the new agreement, the one that you signed to avoid the lawsuit, the format is no longer under your control.”
“You told Larry to get you off the show after five,” I say. “This is probably what he had to do.”
Duke pulls out of the parking lot. “Still Micky D’s?” he asks.
“Forget it,” Blitz says. “I want to get to the hotel and make some calls.”
He’s as stormy as I’ve ever seen him. I’m anxious too. I know my dancing isn’t nearly at the level of the other girls. The audience will be unforgiving. I’ll be voted off the first show.
I reach down and pick up the sheaf of papers again, trying to puzzle out what will happen.
Episode 1 is called “Meet the Dates.” It doesn’t have any dance numbers. And it’s not live either. Blitz will go on four dates, one with each of the three finalists and one with me, and clips will be aired along with the host, who will talk to the audience about the girls. No one will be eliminated.
Episode 2 is the first live show. It’s called “Slow Dance.” There’s a dance number with each girl, and Blitz will do interviews about each of us as a partner, plus interview spotlights on each of us. Callers will vote during the show and up to two hours after.
Episode 3 is called “Classic Dance.” All four of us do a dance with Blitz, interspersed with interviews and rehearsal footage. The votes from Episode 2 will be revealed and the girl who was eliminated does a “Final Dance” with Blitz.
Episode 4 is “Sexy Dance.” Same format. Another girl goes in the end.
In the last episode, the competition will be down to two girls, both showing the unique dance style they have developed with Blitz. Previous dancers from earlier in the series will do numbers with Blitz, reliving some of the moments that were iconic to the show. I scan and note that the sexy bed scene is only shown as a clip. That girl wasn’t invited back.
These dances are just for fun, because the audience has already decided on the winner based on the sexy dance episode. The winner is announced at the end.
At least there is no wedding proposal scripted in. They didn’t go that far.
I roll up the papers and tap my palm anxiously as the streets of LA roll by. It will be dark soon, and before I know it, we’ll be up and at the studio.
