As promised, here is the thread to keep up with our Benji (and Heidi).

Please post media and internet links as a resource for everyone.

Then, we can have fun discussing all the news and watching Benji grow!

This thread was a great idea! :thumbsup:

Here is his appearance on Regis & Kelly in case anybody else missed it like I did. I just searched for it because I forgot to set my dvr. :headsmack: He's so adorable, and Kelly really loves him!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0uRA1pGKqg

OMG!!! Thank you! I missed it and I was hoping YouTube would have it, but I forgot to search for it.

:woohoo:

:rocker:

Awesome video of Benji doing the weather on Fox News:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gMdockGm4c

:wub:

That video was so cute. They danced together pretty well. A man who can dance well can make most women look good on the dance floor.

:rocker: You guys are awesome for posting these. Thank you so much.
Benji is very articulate and has so much energy and humour - and those crazy legs! Rubberband Man!

Benji has so much natural personality and warmth, but he really did NOT look well on Regis and Kelly. I could really see his weight loss. I do hope he will be able to maintain his health while on the tour.

The weatherman slot was absolutely hilarious! Did you hear the staff in the background cracking up? Benji is a natural comedian, more and more the Dick VanDyke, right Meta? With some direction and control (he does tend to border on the nerdy buffoon edge...as did VanDyke and I wasn't as fond of that side of him), he will be just hilarious, while at the same time, I think he can be a serious actor. He has seen and experienced a lot at a young age.

Thought I'd fall over laughing at the "eating my words" stunt on the weather chart. :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

:rotfl: That part was hilarious!

Ecat -- glad to see someone else liken Benji to Dick Van Dyke. I must have missed Meta's post (gasp) -- but I have long thought them similar. I keep picturing him in Mary Poppins! LOL

Yes, that is exactly the picture in my mind, especially the dancing on the rooftops as chimney sweep. Dyke was actually a great actor who could not be taken seriously after he was established as a comedian on television.

Article on Benji:

http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories...17.3b7d84d.html

Thanks so much for that. That was funny! :rotfl: I loved how he just went with it.

Here's an article on Heidi.

http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=e...jd2cWVlRUV5eTc=

Benji himself messaged me on myspace and I nearly pooped my pants.

WHAT?????????????????? So, what did he say?

I don't believe this!

Now we know why Dmitry and Heidi were never paired together!

http://www.dancesportinfo.net/CoupleProfile.aspx?id=28722

You do know that she auditioned with him didn't you EC?

No, the only audition I saw of Dmitry was with a blonde girl that was stated to be his partner. She had spangles all over her jeans (and I don't think it was Heidi). She didn't make it. I saw Benji dance with a younger girl (a student) and then Heidi. Never saw Heidi and Dmitry dance together at all in the auditions. Nothing was ever said on these boards about them being Latin partners, ever. I just don't think anyone here knew this at all (except maybe you, Berky? was there some reason it was never mentioned? With all the talk about Heidi and Benji not being paired together because it wouldn't be fair, etc. I don't remember anyone saying that Heidi and Dmitry were partners).

Oh well...it's a shock to me! (A good one, of course... I think they would look great together.) They've only competed together one time so far, but they are ranked way up there.

So, Berky, what do you know about the talk of Dmitry and Natalie. Deely implied there was a relationship OFF the stage, so what do you hear about that?

Yeah Dmitry auditioned with Heidi. She was in Jeans sort of jeans I think and a goldish bra sparkly top.

And there is nothing going on between Natalie and Dmitry. Natalie is engaged, and Dmitry has a long time girlfriend. (I saw her on his myspace. Which I have to find the link too.)

But they are both part of the circle of trust. (Which consisted of Ryan, Nat, Dmitry, Travis, Allison, and Ivan.) It seemed they hung out while it was Heidi, Donyelle, Benji, Martha, Jason, Aleks, and Musa who were the other close group.

A small article about Benji, not much new:

http://www.redlandsdailyfacts.com/news/ci_4250488

From Benj's MySpace:

hey guys...well some new twists and turns of events have conspired in the last few days...
so much news to announce. I have agreed to do my first feature film with heidi. Its dubbed "For Love and Dance" ...we both will have soeaking roles in it to get our feet wet. We play champion swing dancers(far fetched eh?)...its going to be a lot of fun and we film at the end of this year after the tour. Tour is coming along very well....we are in our second day of rehersals...theyre going great!!!! Great dancing with everyone again. The whole conceptualization of the tour is just awesome! We reherse in a secret location right next to Janet and her tour as well as Pink and Tom Petty. I have a new song I will be doing for my solo in the tour. That should be fun!!!
On other news...
Sadly, the Fred Astaire movie is not going to happen. BUT!!!! I have just recieved a few new scripts and Im wrestling with a few different sitcoms and possibly Broadway shows coming after the tour. Things are crazy right now....butin a good way!!! Im just counting my lucky stars and blessings....DEMAND is coming along amazingly. I have new staff working on getting the website up as well as international recognition coming to the forfront for more exposure and attention. Come the end of the year I will be asking for volunteers as well as donations and fundraisers so keep in touch with this site in the coming months.
I love you guys...and miss performing live on TV for all of you...CANT WAIT FOR THE TOUR!
Brush your teeth!!!
Benji

Thanks for posting that info IBTMS - I am so sad to hear about the Fred Astaire thing falling through. While I would be sorry to see that Benji did not play Astaire, I really would like the film to be made. I don't know if Benji's statement means only that he will not be playing Astaire or if the movie won't be made.

Here's a new article about Benji. His dad makes some comments, one involving Benji as a partner and "holding back" when he was dancing with Donnyelle. We've commented to death about that, but I think Daddy Schwimmer confirms it once and for all.

We also learn that Benji's sister will try out for the show next year.

http://www.pe.com/columns/cassiemacduff/st...29.3d68011.html