Billy Bush SOUNDS OFF On Dancing With The Stars Becoming POPULARITY CONTEST With Latest Elimination

Hot Mike's News Alert, and there she is, Lauren Mincer-Clark. Nobody loves the dancing more than Lauren. Yes, but I will say that last night I was very excited that you seemed a little bit into it for the very first time. Live text from you, watching it. I watched it every day. I know, but your live reactions for the very first time, like this was like you were very into it. The outrage over the thong song with Maura and Mark. I'm Who the hell, of all the songs you can choose from to dance to, starting the thong song by Sisqó, look at that, so dangerous. I mean, it is just... It is a catchy song, I'm just saying, but... Let me see that. I can't even say it. It's just so wrong. to The wrong song. speak. So, but it got me. So, but yes, it was, but it was a big night, and it was a... Shocking elimination last night. Shocking. Shocking. With Jenna Dewan gone, who's going to look like Julianna Margulies on the show now? She looks exactly like a young Margulies. Margulies. Margulies. absolutely stunning. And honestly, they did an incredible job. Last night was pretty amazing. And I think that that's why the reaction, even by them afterwards, I mean, first of all, I would have to say, I point out that there was a lot of people are talking about on the internet about when Maura and Mark were saved, that the judges kind of like looked at each other like, oh, yay. Because then when Jenna got the boot with Val at the end, it was like gas actually Actually happened in. That ballroom and so you could tell that it was weird and we actually have a clip of Jenna and Val afterwards and you can tell that they were even caught off guard by this. And then they bring up a little bit of the drama. Very telling. Okay, definitely not the way we wanted it to go. Obviously, I was looking forward to dancing more and getting to create more pieces together and is It's sad. We're sad about it. I'm definitely bummed out. Like, I wish we could keep dancing. Good people showed me so much love, so much respect. There was so much noise, so much noise. And you know, People, be kind on social media. She kept her grade. We navigated so much that was thrown at us this whole journey, and we would show up every single day and look at each other and be like, but remember, our true intention here, we get to share this and have fun and our joy in our dance. Lauren, the comment there said, Jenna Dewan wasn't likable. See, and that was a big part. Remember, we talked, you know, through this is that people's stories really be, you know, it's a real big, everyone's a great dancer and everyone becomes a great dancer. So a lot of this has become everyone's stories and her story. She didn't have that much of a story, I'd have to say. And there was a lot of professional dancer, though, right? I mean, all the Olympians are professional dancers, too. Don't tell me a figure skater doesn't isn't a they're even better. They have a bigger lead than a regular dancer. They're doing it on a blade. Yep. I don't. And I don't disagree. I actually think that, you know, I think that it was just, you know, she had a rough start. She had, you know, but she was actually amazing. But then there was also a little bit of that drama that happened this season, which, you know, was that a factor? Maybe, you know, did that help add? I don't know. But it almost became her only story, I feel like. And that kind of like, you know, her and what she's doing kind of got lost in it. So, you know, I don't know. It seemed like that was a factor. Lauren, how much would you say is a popularity contest and how much is dancing ability? Because this guy, Connor Wood, who is adorable, and he did the whole thing with Jessica. Jessica, did I get that right? Oh, no. What's the other one? Connor. No, Connor had a little thing with. Oh, with Jennifer Lawrence. Jennifer Lawrence. Yes. And he had the whole thing, like, I saw you on 8th Avenue, and she responded. And so, you know, that was cute, and that played him up. And people think he's adorable. I also think, give the guy some credit, he's not a professional dancer. He doesn't have a head start like everybody else, and he's come along in a great way. I used to love Kirstie Alley. Like, I want to, she's a little nutty, but, I mean, she had a great transformation on the show. She lost a bunch of weight. She kind of. Learned she became a decent dancer. She, you know, I love that transformation. Well, and I think that's why people, a lot of people were rooting for like Julia Stiles because Julia Stiles had like come out of her shell. She was, you know, 45. So it's just, it's not as easy. She's not a professional dancer. She was, you know, she had a great story that people were getting behind. And I think that that's why she had a lot of that support. And so when she got knocked, a lot of people were kind of, I saw a lot of comments being like, well, then I'm out because I really was just voting for her. So to your, you know, question, It is very much a popularity contest because it's really about these stories. And now with social media and them being able to go on social, it really is kind of how it works. I just am stunned that young Margulies and Val got sent home. They had 28s. They're great dancers. I thought they had to have this be like a semi-pro type of competition. Then they should be going all the way if it's about dancing or go back to the way I like the show when Tucker Carlson would come out or some random person. Remember the minority leader, like the Senate guy from the Senate. He's not. I forgot who it was, but Tom DeLay. Tom DeLay was on Dancing with the Stars and talk about two left feet. I mean, he was horrible. But yeah, that's what I like to see that. And, you know, I think that that's what a lot of people like to see. Yes, and that's also why I think that you see, like in Andy Richter last season, like that's why those stories, and they've been getting a little bit further because people just love them. And to your point, they love seeing progress and that they're getting something out of it. And it's really fun to watch. When you're a dancer, they're trying to sell the story as, but you can become a better dancer. And it's all about wherever you're starting. It's just that that's how they're judging. But at home, you want to see the fun. That's why I'm turning down Dancing with the Stars when they ask me, because I'm going to say no. It has to be everyone else with no dancing experience, and then I'll do it. I'll do it against other people with no dancing experience, and we can all make fun of each other and all get better together. And that will be wonderful. But that's it. Okay. All right. I'm here for that. Tucker Carlson, LOL. You're damn right he was on Dancing with the Stars. He came here, you know, because we went to high school together. We did a shoot for Access Hollywood with Tucker in the backyard of my house right here with his partner. And Tucker was, I said, Tucker, you're the worst dancer I have ever seen in my life. He goes, can you believe he did Dancing with the Stars? I completely forgot that he actually did Dancing with the Stars when you said that. I forgot Sean Spicer. There's some weird ones from all. Yes, Spicer. Yes. All of it. I miss those days. I miss. See, I would be like the very first, one of the very first, one of the very first dancers that was John O'Hurley, Peterman from Seinfeld. He had the greatest method. His approach was. Everybody watching the face and the hands up here, don't look at the feet. He's distracting you. If he's got all this happening and these great expressions, you're not really looking at his feet. And Peterman made it pretty far. It's kind of like what I do when I don't know what I'm talking about. I just do it a lot. LJ says, zaddy shorts. Yes. Where is Billy hiding those? Well, I'll tell you what, if it looks like elimination week. And I'm down to the wire, and I got to pull out, you know, an audible. I got to pull out something nobody saw coming. You can expect the zaddy shorts to hop on at that point. Ha ha ha! Got to do what you got to do. All right, good news. Dane Cook is in the waiting room, so we'll get to him in a second. But according to Kalshi, regarding Dancing with the Stars here, Ezra Freck is the clear favorite right now. Sitting at 57% to win the whole thing. I'm going to go in a little bit of a different direction here. I'm putting $20 on Harry Shum Jr. Because he's, like, amazing. And another $20 on Connor Wood, right? One guy for his talent, one guy for his charm. Harry's sitting at 20%. Connor's at 16%. But look at the potential payouts on both guys. If Harry wins, my $20 trade could return about $86. If Connor pulls off the upset... That same 20 could return 118. So I'm spreading the risk, $40 total, two different contenders. If Harry wins, I'm covered. If Connor wins, I'm covered. If Ezra wins, heck, I just threw 40 bucks out the window. But anyway. No risk, no reward. That's the fun of Kalshi. It's a prediction market where you trade on real world outcomes. Winning contracts settle at a dollar, Losing contracts settle at zero. You can even trade out before the results are final. So there you go. Two underdogs, 40 bucks and a little Dancing with the Stars drama. Here we go. Trade $25 with code hot mics and Kalshi will throw in another $25 instantly. There you go. How about that? Trade responsibly.