‘Dancing With the Stars’: Threesome

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It’s interesting sometimes what hit reality shows share in common and what they don’t. With a call-in vote and elimination format, “Dancing With the Stars” is fairly similar to “American Idol.”

The difference is that the most entertaining portions of “Idol” are in the beginning but “Stars’” are at the end.

For most people, the time to watch “American Idol” is the audition stage of the show, i.e. the first three weeks or so. That way you get to see some good singing, hear a few sob stories, but most importantly, see a lot of amateurs making fools of themselves. (The end is entertaining, too -- for those willing to stick it out and get emotionally involved with yet more people who are going to go on to, in most cases, not do too much.)

“Dancing With the Stars,” though, last night surprised. Ian Ziering’s departure from the show was unexpectedly sincere and touching, but it felt like now, for real, the show had begun. Previously, with all the other contestants, the show felt top heavy, with some worth of TiVo’s fast forward. But it will be fascinating to see Laila Ali, Joey Fatone and Apolo Anton Ohno pitted directly against one another, teasing out weaknesses by playing on their own strengths. They’ve all got personality too, so it’s tough to pick a sentimental favorite. Fatone is Mr. Showbiz, entertaining, big-hearted, hardworking and talented. Ohno is an athletic youthful mini-heartthrob to many audience members. Laila Ali might be a bit of an underdog simply because history has not been kind to female constestants on the show, but her mix of toughness, elegance and unexpected sense of humor makes her a winning protagonist as well.

Watching weak dancing can be entertaining, like watching weak singing, but strong dancing feels much riskier, and realer, to watch than strong singing. Break your stride in “Idol” and you forget your lyrics; do it in “Dancing” and you might break your leg.

(Photo courtesy ABC)