Someone mentioned that male and female roles in dancing differ. To provide an even playing field DYAO should have the contestants dance in either only the male role OR only the female role. Could you see Ruben kicking a** as a female dancer...ha, ha, ha! NOT!! Could you see the females kicking *ss as male dancers? You betcha !! If the female contestants danced in a male role from the very beginning they would've kicked Ruben's a** off the show within the first few weeks! The judges have hidden behind this obvious disparity. The shame of it all is that even if DYAO takes my suggestion for the next season, Ruben's unethical judge manipulation will let him take home stolen, unearned winnings. SHAME ON THIS WHOLE "RUBEN THE CHARLATAN" MESS!! He should be disqualified for blatant judge manipulation!! Go Shayla (my favorite), Pinky, or Alicia!! ANYBODY but that undeserving, swindling shark!!

you're sooo on point that Shayla & Pinky should be in the Finally!
They have their judging face on when Their up but when ruben's up their smiling and being entertained! By what? God only knows. but these shows are pre-recorded so I only can hope these Judges have watched their behavior and are not only ashamed mostly Myta' and Danny have an Obvisious problem Lisa Ann has been more fair about 80% of the time. when I first watched the show I thought I would do this but now seeing this I would not go without bringing my Bitch Hat to tell insure that at the end of the show, I have my say because the ruben and alicia was never better than Shayla and Pinky or even Alicia who bet him hands down this last show where she was eleminated! so sad for for them but in our eyes we know who the real winner is SHAYLA 2nd up Pinky proud of u gurls

I agree. Reuben has it EASY although there are people on these boards that disagree. Yeah, let's see him try to be graceful in high heels! Yet the female contestants are docked points for being "stompy" in the high heels!! Good grief!!!

He's milked the sympathy of the judges with his whole "my partner has cancer" thing and has an unfair advantage because men lose weight much more easily than women.

HE'S JUST NOT THAT GREAT A DANCER!!!!

When threads are reduced to the likes of this it's time for the show to end. Geez.

Alicia outdanced Ruben last week? You gotta be kidding me! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHHAHAHAHAHHAAHHAHAHAHAHAHHHAAAA
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHHAHAHAHAHHAAHHAHAHAHAHAHHHAAAA

hey Sonographer - maybe the producers will let you produce the next show and have it be all women and let you in all your wisdom pick the judges.

I too disagree with the notion that Alicia outdanced Ruben (and I don't mean that in an offensive way to Alicia or as a personal attack; just that I thought Ruben's performance was better).

The notion that the show is sexist is absolutely ludicrous. I also think it's ridiculous that people think Ruben is getting good scores based on personal feelings rather than objective judging. Ruben is elegant and graceful. He EARNS his scores. If America were voting, then it would be more likely that some dancers (not just one dancer, but several) might get 'sympathy' votes or else votes based on their personality rather than their abilities and weight loss. Sometimes, I get the feeling that the judges expect more of him and Shayla than some of the other dancers. If anything, I feel that the judges are more forgiving of some of the less-graceful dancers and that as a result some people are eliminated even though they're not the worst dancer of the group.

Yes, Ruben doesn't dance in heels. However, the female dancers are smaller/have smaller frames and thus it's easier for them to move and be flexible/agile. And, the men are usually expected to be the leaders on the floor, which isn't an advantage and is something else to worry about. All things considered, the judging for men and women is as egalitarian as possible. Yes, there are different expectations, but I think it all balances out in the end.

I wanna believe this, because I do think that Ruben is coasting on Hilary's talent, but still... I think there are amazing male pro dance partners as well. I see them doing leaps and twirls. The only male/female combinations that I think made sense were Pink and Mr. Lucky, and Shayla and my gorgeous Mario. The rest, I think the pro dancers were covering up blatant holes in their partners.