‘Dancing With the Stars’ Season 8 Wraps Up: Hosts Reflect on Glamour and Camaraderie
Table of Contents
- 1. ‘Dancing With the Stars’ Season 8 Wraps Up: Hosts Reflect on Glamour and Camaraderie
- 2. The Final Four Face Off
- 3. Zamparelli’s Post-Show Plans: Travel and Training
- 4. Garrihy’s Return to Drivetime Radio
- 5. camaraderie and a rock ‘n’ Roll Wrap Party
- 6. Predicting the Winner: Too Close to Call
- 7. No Contestant Dreams, But a Desire to Return
- 8. Missing the Glamour and the People
- 9. Looking Ahead
- 10. which costume from this past season best captured the essence of the dance and the personality of the contestant, and why?
- 11. Dancing with the Stars Season 8: An exclusive Interview with Wardrobe Stylist, Ciara O’Malley
- 12. Crafting the Glamour: A Behind-the-Scenes Look
- 13. Memorable Moments and Favorite Looks
- 14. The Camaraderie Behind the Camera
- 15. The Pressure of Perfection: Live Television
- 16. Looking Ahead: Trends and Inspirations
- 17. A Thought-Provoking Question for Our Readers
as the eighth season of “Dancing With the Stars” drew too a close, hosts Jennifer Zamparelli and Doireann Garrihy shared their thoughts on the experience, reflecting on what thay’ll miss most about the show.
The Final Four Face Off
The season culminated with four finalists vying for the glitterball trophy: Olympic gymnast Rhys McClenaghan, “Mrs. Brown’s Boys” actor Danny O’Carroll, social media personality Kayleigh Trappe, and Taekwondo athlete Jack Woolley. Each contestant brought their unique talents to the dance floor, making the competition fierce.
Zamparelli’s Post-Show Plans: Travel and Training
Zamparelli, who stepped back from her mid-morning show on 2FM in May, revealed her plans to unwind after the season. “I’m blowing all my savings,” she laughed, detailing trips to Porto with friends, Verona with her husband, and Lanzarote with her father.These vacations represent a well-deserved break and a chance to reconnect with loved ones.
Along with travel, Zamparelli is also focusing on her fitness. “I’m also training for the mini-marathon for Coolmine house, which is keeping me focused on my fitness,” she explained. While she admits that running is “unbelievably boring,” she sees it as a personal challenge and an prospect to support a good cause.
Zamparelli looks forward to a break from the demands of television. “But I think when the show is over it’ll be nice to not have to wear makeup for a little bit and to not have to get the nails done religiously. And just kind of let myself go,” she added jokingly.
Garrihy’s Return to Drivetime Radio
For Garrihy, life after “DWTS” involves settling into her new 2FM drivetime slot. “Usually I would try to go away straight away afterwards,” she said, noting that her previous breakfast radio schedule made post-show relaxation more challenging. “For the most part, the focus is to bed in with the drivetime show. It just hasn’t been as exhausting because there’s no breakfast, you know, up at 5am on a Monday.”
Garrihy is eager about her return to radio.”I’m really loving being back on air, I missed it so much,” she said.She described the process of adjusting to a new job, experimenting with different approaches, and refining her on-air presence.
Reflecting on her decision to leave breakfast radio, Garrihy said it was based on a “gut feeling”.”It was hard, but it also wasn’t because it was vrey much a gut feeling that it was the right thing to do at the time,” she explained. “It really was the most amazing couple of years, but I’ve no regrets and I know that I made the right decision at the time for me.”
camaraderie and a rock ‘n’ Roll Wrap Party
Despite their busy schedules, Zamparelli and Garrihy value their friendship and working relationship. While they haven’t had time for post-work drinks, Zamparelli joked that she’s “tearing out of there, I’m down the M50 at about 8.35pm, I’m gone,” they both promised to fully embrace the wrap party.
Zamparelli described their typical post-show routine: “For me, it’s a marathon, it’s a very long run and I enjoy it more when I’m not wrecked and tired. I really enjoy getting home and decompressing,” she said.”I don’t know if it’s old age or what it is indeed, but I just want to get home and get my pajamas on and sit in silence.” Garrihy humorously added, “I wish we could say we’re more rock’n’roll than that, but we’re not, we’re quite boring,” before Zamparelli countered, “We will be fairly rock’n’roll, we tend to tear the arse out of it at the wrap party. So we make up for it then.”
Predicting the Winner: Too Close to Call
When asked about who she thought would win,Garrihy demurred,saying it was “so hard to call.” Zamparelli shared a conversation she had with Carl Mullen, a 2FM host and previous “DWTS” winner: “I had a conversation with [2FM host and previous DWTS winner] Carl Mullen the other day and we were like, we think Kayleigh Trappe is peaking at the right time, so it could be her year.” Ultimately,Zamparelli concluded,”Like Doireann said it’s so hard to call,it really depends on the day. I think when it gets to the final all bets are off,it’s a clean slate. What happens on the night will decide.”
No Contestant Dreams, But a Desire to Return
Both hosts were firm in their decision not to participate as contestants.”No! It’s such a massive, major commitment,” Doireann said, citing a “dodgy knee” as another reason. Zamparelli added, “There’s one thing standing on the floor reading words, there’s another thing standing on the floor and thinking of the music and the dancing and everybody looking at you and the potential to fall, it’s the scariest thing ever.”
However, they expressed a clear desire to return as hosts for another season. “Of course, it’s the greatest show on television!” Zamparelli enthused. “It’s the greatest show to be part of. There’s no other show like it where you have that element of showbiz, because in reality, television isn’t glamorous.” She acknowledged the uncertainty of renewal, stating, “There’s no show like it, so we would love for it to come back and I love to know, but these things are always very last minute, unfortunately. And we always just have to wait and see.”
Missing the Glamour and the People
When asked what they would miss most about “Dancing with the Stars,” Doireann focused on the show’s aesthetic appeal.”I always feel like after dancing with Stars, no matter how hard I try to dress myself up, I look like a toe, so I will definitely miss the hair and makeup every weekend,” she laughed. She also admitted to looking forward to her weekends, of course adding, “Of course you miss the glamour and the camaraderie of it as well.It’s such an amazing behind the scenes show as well as on screen. There’s so much craic behind the scenes.”
Zamparelli echoed this sentiment. “I’ll miss the people as we don’t see them then for a long time,” she agreed. “The people, the craic, that’s what I’ll miss most of all.”
Looking Ahead
the eighth season of “Dancing with the Stars” may be over, but the memories and experiences shared by the hosts and contestants will undoubtedly last a lifetime. The future of the show remains uncertain, but fans can hold onto hope that Zamparelli and Garrihy will grace their screens once again.
What was your favorite moment from this past season,let us know in the comments below.
which costume from this past season best captured the essence of the dance and the personality of the contestant, and why?
Dancing with the Stars Season 8: An exclusive Interview with Wardrobe Stylist, Ciara O’Malley
As “Dancing with the Stars” Season 8 wrapped up, we at Archyde caught up with ciara O’Malley, the head wardrobe stylist for the show, to delve behind the sparkle and sequins. Ciara has been an integral part of the DWTS team for several seasons, and her insights are truly captivating.Here’s what she had to share:
Crafting the Glamour: A Behind-the-Scenes Look
Archyde: Ciara, thank you for joining us! “Dancing with the Stars” is known for its incredible costumes. Can you walk us through the process of designing and creating these stunning outfits each week?
Ciara O’Malley: It’s a pleasure to be here! The process is quite the whirlwind. We start with the music and dance styles the contestants will be performing. Then, our design team brainstorms concepts, drawing inspiration from various sources, from classic Hollywood glamour to modern art. Once we have the initial sketches, we work closely with the dancers to ensure the costumes not onyl look amazing but also allow for seamless movement on the dance floor. It’s a collaborative effort, and every detail, from the fabric to the embellishments, is carefully considered.
Memorable Moments and Favorite Looks
Archyde: This season featured some incredible personalities, including Olympian Rhys McClenaghan and actress Danny O’Carroll. Did any of the contestants have particularly strong opinions about their costumes, and did that influence your designs?
Ciara O’Malley: Absolutely! Each contestant brings their unique flair to the table. Danny, such as, has a fantastic sense of humor, and he wasn’t afraid to embrace bold, unexpected looks. Rhys trusted our vision completely, which allowed us to push the boundaries with some of his costumes. Their input is invaluable; it’s about finding a balance between the design concept and the contestant’s comfort and confidence.
The Camaraderie Behind the Camera
Archyde: Hosts Jennifer Zamparelli and Doireann Garrihy mentioned the strong camaraderie on set. How does that translate to the wardrobe department?
Ciara O’Malley: Oh,it’s a family! We spend long hours together,often under pressure,so a supportive and fun habitat is crucial. We celebrate each other’s successes and offer support during challenges (like a last-minute sequin emergency!).Jennifer and Doireann are both incredibly down-to-earth and appreciative, which makes our job even more enjoyable.
The Pressure of Perfection: Live Television
Archyde: what’s the biggest challenge of working on a live show like “Dancing with the Stars,” and how do you overcome it?
Ciara O’Malley: The biggest challenge is definitely the time pressure. We frequently enough have very little time to make adjustments between rehearsals and the live show. Also wardrobe malfunctions are always a worry.Our secret weapon is meticulous planning and having a highly skilled team. We have backup plans for everything, from spare embellishments to emergency alterations.The adrenaline of a live show is intense, but it’s also incredibly rewarding when everything comes together flawlessly.
Looking Ahead: Trends and Inspirations
Archyde: Do you see any emerging trends in dance costume design, and where do you find inspiration for your work?
Ciara O’Malley: Absolutely! We’re seeing a move towards more lasting and ethically sourced materials, which is fantastic. Also, ther’s a growing interest in incorporating technology into costumes, like LED lighting and interactive elements. I draw inspiration from everywhere – fashion runways, historical costumes, nature, even street art. keeping an open mind and constantly exploring new ideas is key.
A Thought-Provoking Question for Our Readers
Archyde: Ciara,thank you so much for your insights. Before we let you go, what’s one question you would ask the fans of “Dancing with the Stars” about the costumes?
Ciara O’Malley: I’d love to know: Which costume from this past season best captured the essence of the dance and the personality of the contestant, and why? I’m always eager to hear their perspectives!
What do you think, Archyde readers? Leave your thoughts and comments below!