Credit ‘Wear’ Credit is Due – Carrie Ann Inaba

Robin Maryland, president, ActSensuous

     As you must know by now, I am nothing if not fair.   I’ve criticized Carrie Ann Inaba in earlier posts because she didn’t wear pantyhose during appearances that called for it, be it on late night talk shows, red carpet events, or on Dancing with the Stars. 

     I have searched for pics of Carrie Ann on the Internet, and here’s what I’ve found.  I have NEVER seen a photo of her wearing pantyhose.  Let me repeat that: NEVER!  Not one picture out of the hundreds and hundreds of them on the net.  

     So when I learned she was going to be the host of the new version of the game show, 1 vs. 100, I figured she wouldn’t wear dresses or skirts, and certainly not pantyhose, but I hoped with all my energy that she would. 

     Well, I am so happy to say that she has not let me down.  I’ve watched … I don’t know … half a dozen or so episodes, and in each case, she has worn a nice dress or skirt and sheer pantyhose – every single time.  I am so proud of her.  

     Does this mean she is maturing?  Exercising good judgment?   Showing she has class and professionalism?  Or maybe it’s the producer of the game and/or the Game Show Network (GSN) who is making the calls here.  

     Either way, she looks fantastic.  I mean she is such a beautiful woman, it was such a shame that she never showed any class or professionalism the way she dressed before.

      As a TV game show hostess, well, she’s no Bob Saget, who hosted the original version of the game show, but hey, who is? 

     In fact, many fans of the show have complained (justifiably so) that her voice is annoying, she has no sense of timing and she seems very uncomfortable.  That was all true, but I figured with time, she would improve, and she has. 

     The show may not survive, but it wouldn’t be Carrie Ann’s fault.  It just isn’t compelling with the top prize (if a contestant outlasts 100 opponents in answering multiple choice questions) being a whopping $50,000, when it was $1 million in the original version.  And then there’s the mob itself – 100 people who are shown via web cams, instead of live on the set as in the original.   I think for this show to survive, it has to make some major adjustments. 

     But this post is about Carrie Ann stepping up in a new role for herself – game show hostess.   I am proud of her for dressing professionally and with class and grace.  Of the several episodes I’ve seen, there were only two in which she (sorry) looked ridiculous – the ones where she wore a short skirt and knee-high boots.  Yuk! 

     Since I can’t find stills from the show online, I decided to take some pics myself with my cheap digital camera on my 15-year-old 60-inch TV.   I couldn’t get close enough because the set lighting is so bright, and the picture quality of my TV is better viewed from at least 12 feet away. 

     So while the pics I’m posting here aren’t of good quality, at least they’ll give you the idea of the outfits Carrie Ann is wearing.  

     Here’s what I want to know, and not just about, Carrie Ann:  When you look this good in a skirt and high heels and pantyhose, why would you ever wear goofy, dumpy, sloppy, ugly boots?  It’s the least feminine look there is. 

      Since the two episodes in which she wore those awful boots, Carrie Ann has worn high heels the past four or so episodes in a row.  I would hope that she sees what she looks like in boots, as compared to high heels, and made a conscious decision to pretty up her look.  

     I hope this is not just a fluke.  I hope Carrie Ann sees the light now, and that this is the beginning of a career choice for her – to dress femininely, and with class and professionalism when appearing on nationally televised shows.  

     For what it’s worth, Carrie Ann finally has won me over.  Like another game show hostess – Meredith Vieira – she is doing the right thing.  She is showing class, and she looks beautiful and glamorous in a skirt, sheer pantyhose and high heels in a venue that calls for it. 

     Good for you, Carrie Ann.

Dancing with the Slobs a huge bust

     UPDATE:  Tuesday March 30, 2010 -

     You know that (annoying) TV commercial in which everyday people take credit for the new Microsoft Windows 7: “It was my idea.” ?

     Well obviously, DWTS listened to me, or read my blog, because more of the pro dancers and celebrity dancers wore pantyhose during Monday’s second episode and tonight’s Results Show of the 2010 season.  

     But not my favorite from the first show last Monday night, Nicole Scherzinger.  Bimbo.  I knew it was too good to be true!

Monday March 22, 2010 -    

Celeb dancer Nicole Scherzinger practices with pro partner Derek Hough, but unfortunately, was almost never seen in pantyhose during her actual performances.

I had stopped watching Dancing with the Stars many seasons and many reasons ago.  But you had to know I’d at least watch Monday night’s (March 22, 2010) opening episode to see if, by some miracle, any of the female celebrity and pro dancers wore pantyhose.   Would any of them show any class, or like during the Oscars, would most of them  wear fabulous costumes, jewelry and heels but go bare-legged? 

     Helloooo … this is ballroom, people!  Where’s the grace and elegance?  

     Two places, actually:

• First, as usual, the women in the audience looked better than the celebs and pros, as almost everyone of them wore pantyhose.  After all, these ordinary people have the class and good sense to realize they’ll be seen on national TV.  When the audience members dress better than the stars, the costumer associated with the show should be ashamed. 
• Second, toward the end of the show, there was a wonderful commercial for L’eggs pantyhose, featuring an absolutely gorgeous Asian girl wearing a variety of pretty outfits and pantyhose.  Wow!  A pantyhose commercial.  Haven’t seen one of those since, what, the 1970s?  

      In all fairness, celebs Niecy Nash and Nicole Scherzinger (photo above), and pro dancers Chelsie Hightower and Anna Trebunskaya did wear pantyhose. 

    But celebs Shannen Doherty, Erin Andrews, Kate Gosselin and Pamela Anderson, and pro dancers Cheryl Burke, Ashly Costa (too bad because she’s very cute and sweet), and Edyta Sliwinska (whom I’ve NEVER seen in pantyhose ever) went with the bare legs look. 

     Here’s what I don’t get:  Dancing with the Stars does an elaborate job and must spend an enormous amount of money on the set.   On the surface, the overall look and atmosphere is one of class, elegance and glamour.  The orchestra is first rate.  The concept is well conceived.  So what is with the costumer for this show?   Hellooooo.  This is ballroom! 

     You don’t see professional or even amateur figure skaters going bare-legged just because pantyhose “aren’t in fashion” right now.  And cheerleaders of professional sports teams (and some college teams) wear pantyhose (or at least tights).    

     And who cast these celebs, anyway?   It seems that the show thinks it has to feature women with huge busts (hence my title for this post) to pull in viewers.  Pamela Anderson?   “The most downloaded celebrity of all time?”  Huh?  And all the male cast members and celebs just went ga-ga over this?  Ugh, I must belong on a completely different planet. 

Insert (June 2010): OK, I must admit, I had never really given Pamela Anderson a chance.  She actually grew on me during the course of the show, which I did monitor (only to see who wore and who didn’t).  I have to give Pamela credit.  She isn’t the bimbo I’d expected.  She was funny, she can dance, she maintained a professional attitude and she brought character to each of her performances.  AND she often wore pantyhose.  So, I am now admitting that I prejudged her, and for that, I am sorry.   

      Am I wrong here?   Too hard on this show?   Is it OK for celebs and pro dancers of the ballroom to allow their wardrobe to drop to the depths of what we can expect to see on late night talk shows and award shows?  Does anyone care?

Please let me know your thoughts:  Dancing with the Stars — or Dancing with the Slobs?