WE tv to Debut New Original Series Dirty DancingOn YouTube I have found the following old promotional videos.
WE tv will premiere its original series Dirty Dancing on Wednesday, December 6th at 10 pm ... . Now Dirty Dancing the competition series is poised to hit the airwaves with all the hot beats, seductive dancing, and fairy-tale dreams that had people around the world wishing for a romance like Johnny and Baby.
Dirty Dancing brings 30 young women to a “Kellerman’s” like resort where they meet six male dance instructors. Through a series of energetic performances and personal interaction, each male instructor will select one woman to be his partner for the final dance-off.
The winning couple will receive a professional dance contract and a trip to see the stage show in London. Hosted by professional choreographer Cris Judd, the half-hour, eight-episode series is produced by Lions Gate in association with Don Weiner Productions.
The Wikipedia article about WE tv includes the following passages.
As Romance Classics (1997–2001)
WE tv was originally known as Romance Classics when it launched on September 1, 1997 under the ownership of what was then the Cablevision Systems Corporation-controlled Rainbow Media. It was originally a movie channel focusing mostly on romantic dramas and comedies, and television miniseries; similar to the original format of sister network, AMC (as American Movie Classics), the channel initially broadcast its films commercial-free.
Format change as WE tv (2001–2014)
This format was abandoned on January 1, 2001, when the channel was relaunched as WE: Women's Entertainment, taking on an ad-supported general entertainment format.
In 2006, the channel was renamed WE tv. The channel aired the first three seasons of the popular Logie Award-winning Australian television series McLeod's Daughters, but dropped the show in April 2006.
The channel's format then shifted towards reality shows, with several having topics related to weddings (such as Bridezillas, Big Easy Brides and My Fair Wedding with David Tutera). Other popular shows on the network included Secret Lives of Women, The Locator and Amazing Cakes. ....
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| Cris Judd |
Cristan Lee Judd (born 15 August 1969) is an American actor and choreographer known for his brief marriage to Jennifer Lopez.On the show's premier date, December 6, 2006, the TV Guide website published an article titled Dirty Dancing: The Secrets Behind Its Sexy TV Makeover, which includes the following passages.
Before Hollywood, Judd spent his early years growing up on Air Force bases in Angeles City in the Philippines and Hawaii. His mother, Violeta (née Calventos) is Filipina, and his father, Larry Judd, is Portuguese.
The Air Force then moved his family to Niceville, Florida, where he attended Niceville High School. While in Florida, Judd, an avid athlete, spent a lot of time surfing and golfing. With a golf handicap of four, he even considered going pro after graduation, but instead decided to go to college.
At age 21, Judd became interested in dance. Within a year, he switched jobs and began dancing professionally with Disney. He was hired to dance with Michael Jackson for the 1995 MTV Video Music Awards and then danced with Jackson on the HIStory Tour, eventually becoming lead dancer for the tour. In 1999, he performed at the Billboard Music Awards with Celine Dion, the MTV Music Awards with N'SYNC, and in 2000 at the American Music Awards with Enrique Iglesias and Brian McKnight, and for "Best Song" nominee That Thing You Do at the 69th Annual Academy Awards. Judd teamed up for the first time with choreographer Eddie Garcia, a collaboration that continues to this day, to choreograph the 2000 Tour for Jordan Knight.
Judd choreographed numerous music videos including My Way for Usher, Jump, Jive and Wail for the Brian Setzer Orchestra, If I Could Go for Angie Martinez and Tango for Julio Iglesias. He also directed the music video, Ain't It Funny-Remix, with Ja Rule. Judd then became creative director for Handprint Entertainment, overseeing a $5 million budget and delivering Jennifer Lopez's NBC concert special Let's Get Loud (DVD), which was filmed at the Roberto Clemente Coliseum in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Judd appeared as a back-up dancer for ex-wife, Jennifer Lopez's music videos Love Don't Cost a Thing, Play, and I'm Real, and appeared in her I'm Gonna Be Alright video. He and Garcia produced an interactive dance DVD released in summer 2005, and has prepared the Midnight Fantasy musical for the Luxor Resort in Las Vegas. ....
Judd's television debut was on the first season of the American series of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!. He beat out all the other contestants, earning $200,000 for the Make-a-Wish Foundation when he was crowned "King of the Jungle" in a viewer vote.
In 2006, Judd hosted the reality version of Dirty Dancing, and in 2008 was a judge on Lifetime's Your Mama Don't Dance.
Judd met Jennifer Lopez in Spain in late 2000 when he was hired to direct her music video for "Love Don't Cost a Thing". He composed the song, "Alive", which was selected as the theme song for the movie Enough. The two married on September 29, 2001. The marriage ended less than a year later.
.... In the WE series (premiering tonight at 10 pm), 18 women get a chance to live out their Baby fantasies as they are separated into groups and led by male professional dancers, who will eventually pick one lass for a chance to perform a sexy dance for judges. TV Guide got a chance to catch up with Dirty Dancing host and celebrity choreographer Cris Judd about why this reality competition shouldn't be left in the corner.In this article's Part 2, I will provide some YouTube videos that seem to be from the show.
TV Guide
How did this series come about?
Cris Judd
I was originally approached to be one of the choreographers and judges. Not too long before that, I had come back from Europe and shot a pilot as the host of a show for MTV, so I inquired if there was going to be a [Dirty Dancing] host. They said they weren't thinking of having a host, that the three choreographers could be "correspondents" and co-host it together. Then three or four days later, they called me and asked if I wanted to be the host, because they thought it was a great idea.
[....]
TV Guide
Are you a little sad that you aren't out there dancing?
Cris Judd
Of course. Who wouldn't miss being on stage? But I've left that for the young kids. I had my time, and now it is time for other people. ...
I visit the groups while they are learning the combinations. And then I give my little two cents and partner with the girls a bit, just to help them out. It is all constructive advice regarding how to prepare themselves for partnering, information to help them out and to make their experience more fun and easier. It was a lot of fun to do that.
TV Guide
When I first heard about Dirty Dancing, I thought it would be the dance style from the movie, but it is more like real ballroom dancing.
Cris Judd
We have six professional ballroom dancers. They represent the "Johnny" of the movie, and the women represent "Baby."
TV Guide
How much experience did these women have going in?
Cris Judd
Some didn't have any dance experience at all. They came in here as teachers and secretaries trying to realize a dream that they had in them. And I commend them for doing that. There are some girls that had a lot of dance training, and obviously it helped out with their progress through the show. But I thought it was a great concept in the way that the [professional] guys actually eliminated the girls.
[....]
TV Guide
What else are you up to?
Cris Judd
.... I have a production company called Lee Grant Productions, and we produce music for film and television. I'm kind of taking a different route as far as being in behind-the-scenes production and direction. I still love to perform. ....
TV Guide
You got a lot of publicity for your personal life, when you were married to Jennifer Lopez. Do you find it hard to remind people that you are a dancer first and foremost?
Cris Judd
The majority of people know me as a dancer, but they don't also know that I'm a director, a songwriter and a producer. I was the creative director for Jennifer's NBC special, Let's Get Loud.
TV Guide
And you've worked with so many big names, like Cher, Janet Jackson, Celine Dion, Michael Jackson....
Cris Judd
I was on tour with Michael Jackson for a while; I did the "Dangerous" and "History" tours. I was also on tour with Diana Ross.
TV Guide
Does it get taxing doing the same thing every night?
Cris Judd
No! That time of my life to me was brilliant. When I danced with Michael, it was like I was dancing with everybody's idol as far as our generation is concerned. To be on tour with that man, I felt, was the crème de la crème of being a dancer, there was nowhere else I would rather [have been].
Now as I'm getting older, I start to think of other things I can do. When I first moved to L.A. as a dancer, all I wanted to do was dance. I never even considered trying to act or direct.
I have to thank Jennifer for a lot of that, because she saw the creativity in me, to believe in me enough to start directing her videos and to start being her choreographer.
TV Guide
Are you a fan of the movie Dirty Dancing?
Cris Judd
Absolutely! Who isn't a fan of that movie? Come on! ....
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