00:00When people ask me why I'm rooting for Tatyana Ali this season on Dancing with the Stars,
00:03it's because she keeps achieving in spite of circumstances that feel like they're not exactly
00:08cut out for her to accomplish or go far. And I know I'm certainly not the first person to say
00:12this and talk about it on the internet, but why is she being put up against Jenna Dewan,
00:16the former professional dancer and the highest scorer of this season, in a dance-off and we're
00:23just supposed to expect that she has a fighting chance? Like, really? And before anyone jumps
00:28down my throat and says, oh, so you're just counting her out before the dance even begins?
00:31No, but I am going to ask the question, who decides who wins? Because if it is the judges,
00:36which I believe it is, the judges consistently have been underscoring her this entire season.
00:42Meanwhile, again, Jenna Dewan is the highest scorer of the season. And we're not even getting into the
00:47fact that Tatyana Ali for this week has to learn two completely new dance styles to her while everyone
00:53else only has to learn one. And let me say this, I've never been one to get behind the argument
00:57of
00:57the whole show is rigged, but I do think that the situation, the system is set up for certain
01:04people to succeed over others. And I think to producers, it's shocking that Tatyana Ali is
01:10still there, but it shouldn't be. Because I know for myself and for many others at home,
01:14we root for an underdog. It is fun to get behind somebody who is joyful to watch, who makes this
01:19process a really fun and exciting thing, not just for themselves, but for everyone at home too.
01:24And that is what I love watching when it comes to Tatyana. I'm not saying that that's not the case
01:29with Jenna or Harry or anyone else who comes into the show with dance experience, but it does sometimes
01:34feel like it becomes more mechanical. And it's about one upping the dance from last week or getting a
01:38higher score and only getting a higher score. And it's less about learning and understanding what
01:44you're doing and why your body's moving that way and how it moves this way. That is just as much
01:48fun
01:48for me to watch as seeing them get their first 10 of the season or whatever. Just know that I
01:54would
01:54be so happy to see Tatyana Ali survive this week and continue to go all the way to the finale.
01:59Because I don't think anyone would argue that she is as great a dancer as Jenna or Harry,
02:04but that shouldn't disqualify her. In fact, for a show like this, I think it actually should give
02:09her a bump. But let us know in the comments if you agree and if you're rooting for Tatyana this
02:13season.
