I know there are more important issues around but I cannot let the week pass without commenting on the continued presence of Rodney Hide on Dancing With The Stars. Initially, I felt admiration for the man for having the courage to accept the challenge of the competition but as the
weeks go by and he seems to be getting worse, not better and as he stoically accepts the excoriating comments from the judges about his lack of ability, and insists that he just has to try harder, I'm starting to feel pity for him.
And I don't want to feel pity for a big, hairy-chested politician. I want to be able to critique his political policies and performance in a vigorous fashion without holding back. I don't want to be in the middle of analysing Act's law-and-order policy and suddenly see Rodney's wee crestfallen face after yet another shocking performance. You shouldn't want to give politicians sympathetic hugs, for heaven's sake. No, the sooner he's gone the better.
Maybe it's the charity he's dancing - or not dancing - for. St John has undoubtedly galvanised their volunteers to hit the phones to keep Rodney in the competition.
Maybe it's the Krystal factor. My Irishman is in deep love with Krystal and was devastated at the thought he might not be seeing her again and I'm picking he's not the only man who feels that way.
Maybe it's Kiwis fighting for the underdog. If it comes to a choice between a smartarse judge and a struggling, cheerful battler, Kiwis will go with the good, honest tryer any day. And maybe this is all part of the producers' cunning plan to get us voting. It would be a great idea if they showed a bar graph during the show letting viewers know how their favourites were doing in the voting stakes.
That would give us the impetus we need to get off our bums and vote, and it means more money for the production. But while Rodney continues to win in the voting, we're all losing as viewers.
