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By K.O. Pemberton
MSN TV
Ordinary people who are extraordinary dancers mambo and jive their way to cash and a coveted title on "Dance Machine." This new dance competition show airs Fridays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC.
In this exclusive interview, MSN TV sat down with host Jason Kennedy (correspondent for E! News) and Executive Producer/Series Creator Greg Goldman to break down this latest dance-themed show.
MSN TV: How would you describe "Dance Machine"?
Jason Kennedy: "There are tons of dance shows out there. This one is definitely different -- 6 ordinary people from a 70-year-old grandma to a 21-year-old kid. So with each show you're going to see the grandma against a car salesman or a break dancer against a gravedigger who is 25. All age ranges are represented on the show. It's ordinary folks. And there's a winner each episode, so someone is taking home $100,000 every night."
"If you happen to miss an episode, you can always catch-up because it's not a continuing competition. The studio audience votes electronically, so no judges. The 6 people are narrowed down to 3 people who compete head-to-head and then narrowed down to 2 people who again compete head-to-head at the end of the show, and the audience votes."
Greg Goldman: "Every week six people go head-to-head in a series of dance-offs to crown one winner who becomes that night's 'Dance Machine.' The winner of that night takes home the title, the trophy and the check for $100,000. So every week it's a different 6 competitors. It's perfect for the summer. It's a show that doesn't take itself too seriously and has Jason hosting it. The show is kind of in the spirit of a 'Starsky and Hutch' dance-off."
Greg, how did you come up with the idea for "Dance Machine"?
Greg Goldman: "Great question. I was at a friend's wedding, and I was sitting across the table from a gentleman who I didn't have any idea who he was. He was very shy. He didn't say anything throughout the course of the evening. He was in his 60s, had a 3-piece suit, and towards the end of the night, all of the sudden the band cranked up with some 70's stuff, a little disco inferno. And he took the dance floor like, I don't know, a 'bat out of hell.' He had these incredible moves! Everyone was looking at this guy and thinking, 'Who is this guy? Where did he come from? What is his story?' And I was completely fascinated and blown away because here's this guy that looked so mild-mannered. He looked like some tax attorney or something. And all of the sudden this groove was playing, and he had to get out there and get his freak on. So, I thought there is no show that really captures the spirit and energy of someone like this. There's obviously 'Dancing with the Stars' with celebrities, and 'So You Think You Can Dance' with potential professionals, but there is no show out there for just, you know, the 'everyman.' And that's what this show is all about.
So is that what sets "Dance Machine" apart from the other dance-themed shows out there?
Greg Goldman: "Definitely. These are the people that we all come in contact with on a daily basis. It's everyone from a 70-year-old grandmother to 25-year-old grave digger, to teachers, nurses, doctors, accountants, everything!"
How did you ending up choosing Jason to be the show's host?
Greg Goldman: "I wanted a fresh face. Jason has the unique ability to connect with people. And I also wanted a new look and a great personality. People sort of recognize him from E! News and most importantly, Jason's willing to get out there and bust a move."
And Jason, how do you feel about hosting your first reality competition show?
Jason Kennedy: "When ABC came to me, we talked about the concept, and I jumped on board immediately. It's a huge honor. It's really not like anything I've done before. It's a stage show. There's the studio audience there, so the energy is unbelievable. We are on the same lot and stage as 'American Idol,' and growing up, I had gone to 'Idol' tapings, so to be in there on the stage myself hosting is a mind-blowing experience."
Have you started filming some episodes yet?
Jason Kennedy: "We already started filming. I'm so amazed at what people will do for money. It reminds me of those times when you go to a wedding, and there's that guy or girl on the dance floor, and they want everybody to watch them dance. They think that somehow they are an amazing specimen and something special in the world. We find those people and put them up on the stage in front of millions of people, and we throw $100,000 their way and see what they can do. It's great."
"Dance Machine" Executive Producer Greg
Goldman |
Do you have some favorites so far or some you want to make sure people look out for?
Jason Kennedy: "Honestly, I gotta say & a grandma doing a backflip on stage at age 70, a car salesman ripping his shirt off who is my dad's age, and a break dancer who is in his 20s and who literally looked like Michael Jackson! And these aren't professional dancers at all. They just have talent and are dancers at heart. All of them are definitely worth looking out for."
Greg Goldman: "We have a 50 year old used car salesman who splits his skull during a flip. We've got a NASA engineer who gets his freak on to 'Push It' by Salt-n-Pepa. We've got a 59-year-old bald hairdresser who rips off his shirt to 'Ladies Night' by Kool & the Gang. There are just a lot of cool things to look for"
Personally, what is your favorite back-pocket dance move that you will pull out on a special occasion?
Jason Kennedy: "Let's be honest, I'm not much of a dancer. On the rare occasion that I'm at a club, I kind do the "leg slap" and remain cool. Just lightly tap the leg and act like I have a little rhythm, a little beat. But you will not see me do any sort of intense moves at all, thankfully, because I have no rhythm! "
"I'm not even going to pretend that I have moves because people start making of fun of those people who think that they have moves and don't. I don't want to be the butt of the joke. "
"I do take one for the team though because the way the stage is set up, I'm pretty much in all the shots. So when these people are dancing their heart and souls out on TV, I'm in the background, and you see me moving a little bit. So hopefully people will see me and see that I'm trying."
Greg Goldman: "Oh god, that's a great question. Oh, let's see ... I gotta go back to the 'robot.' It all goes back to the 'robot' for me."
"Dance Machine" airs Fridays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC.
