Former Dancing with the Stars (DWTS) pro-Cheryl Burke has no regrets about leaving the popular reality TV show. After being part of the competition for 26 seasons, Burke retired in 2022 and is not interested in returning. She has even mentioned that there are still many unanswered questions surrounding her departure.
In an exclusive interview with US Weekly, while promoting her podcast Sex, Lies, and Spray Tans, Burke confirmed that she is “done” with DWTS. She explained that teaching another celebrity to dance no longer excites her. The former DWTS star said she is in a much better place since leaving the show.
Burke shared that she no longer wants the show to define her identity, which it did in the past. While talking about her emotions and considering a return to the show, she said, “I’m still a little vulnerable to say, ‘OK, I’m ready to do that.’”
Burke also hinted that there were unresolved questions about why she wasn’t asked to participate in another role on DWTS. She thinks her podcast could be one of the reasons. However, she added that the DWTS team should know by now that she doesn’t mean any harm with her podcast.
She clarified that her podcast only touches on DWTS toward the end, while most of it focuses on her guests. Burke had also expressed her interest in being a judge on the show before she left.
Cheryl Burke Advises Nikki Garcia and Artem Chigvintsev
Burke, as a former DWTS pro, also advised Nikki Garcia and Artem Chigvintsev, following Chigvintsev’s arrest and their divorce battle. Chigvintsev was arrested in August 2024 on charges of domestic violence, but those charges have since been dropped. Soon after his arrest, Garcia filed for divorce on September 11, 2024.
In an interview with PEOPLE, Burke said the news of the arrest shocked her. She learned about it while recording an episode of her podcast. After reflecting on the situation, she said her “heart goes out” to everyone involved.
She showed concern and love for them, hoping they find healing, even if it means stepping away from their careers. Burke commented, “I hope that Nikki and Artem are protecting their heart, and I hope that, more importantly, their son is okay.”
Cheryl Burke (Credit: ABC)
Burke also shared that discussing sensitive news about her friends on her podcast segment, “Headlines and Hot Topics,” is difficult for her. She has to do it as part of her job but feels uncomfortable because she empathizes with the people she is talking about.
The latest season of Dancing with the Stars premieres every Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. You can also stream the episodes and previous seasons on Disney+.
It is always tough to be a parent, especially when you are facing personal problems. This is especially true for Mindy (played by Krsy Fox) in the new film Little Bites, directed by Spider One. Mindy has a horrible secret: she is trying to keep a demon happy by letting it eat her flesh, little by little.
Many films use demons or similar creatures to represent the mental health struggles of parents. Some examples are The Babadook and Clown. Little Bites has strong elements, but some problems with the story and how it is told weaken its full effect.
What Is Little Bites About?
In Little Bites, we meet Mindy, a caring mother who has been away from her daughter Alice (played by Elizabeth Phoenix Caro) for three weeks. Mindy is not in a good place to take care of Alice. She cannot sleep well and is in constant pain because of her terrible secret.
Throughout the day and night, she hears the sound of a bell. Whenever she hears it, she leaves what she is doing and goes into a dark room on the first floor of her house. In this room, there is a demon named Agyar (played by Jon Sklaroff), who survives by eating Mindy’s flesh, one small piece at a time.
Mindy feels trapped and unhappy. She is also distant from her mother (played by Bonnie Aarons), who shows a lot of frustration. Mindy desperately tries to find a new way to move forward when everything becomes too overwhelming.
Krsy Fox and Jon Sklaroff Shine Despite Story Issues
Little Bites highlights the performances of Krsy Fox and Jon Sklaroff. Fox, who also helped produce and edit the film, is in almost every scene. She gives a powerful performance as the exhausted mother, showing her character’s tiredness, need, and pain.
Sklaroff plays Agyar with an aristocratic and evil presence that comes through in every word he says. This is important since audiences rarely see him. His words are full of threats, but he does not have to force it because the tension is already there.
The film also features horror legends in smaller roles, such as Barbara Crampton as a stern CPS agent and Heather Langenkamp as a caring stranger who understands Mindy’s pain. Both actors give strong performances, along with Chaz Bono as the quiet character Paul, whose role will not be revealed.
Mindy’s character grows and changes, but the story does not flow logically. Some parts feel like random events or choices rather than connected moments in a tight story. While the scenes work well, thanks to the talented cast, improving the film’s internal logic and making the story feel more natural would have made it stronger.
As a close and metaphorical story about a mother dealing with addiction (with Agyar as a clear symbol), Little Bites only shines at times. Fox’s performance is sincere, hitting the emotional low points well. The brief moments with famous horror actors like Crampton and Langenkamp are interesting.
Still from Little Bites (Credit: IFC Films)
Agyar is a creepy demon presence, and his performance is excellent. Still, the film’s straightforwardness makes its story and character development feel too obvious.
Additionally, clearer connections between the events and character choices would add excitement and make the pacing smoother, rather than feeling like a series of jumps between typical plot points. Many things work well in Little Bites, but they often mix with elements that do not achieve their goals.
Little Bites Needs Minor Changes
Many parts of Little Bites work very well. The creature makeup looks impressive, and the performances are memorably threatening with added flair. Krsy Fox leads the story effectively, and the film asks a lot from her.
There are some excellent lines of dialogue and many scenes that work well, thanks to appearances from horror legends.
The film offers a mostly smooth viewing experience, but some parts feel too forced or overly simple, making the themes feel too obvious. There is a lot of potential in this film, but it does not fully realize it, resulting in a decent movie that stops short of being a truly great horror experience.
