CHAZ BONO SAYS HIS MOTHER, CHER, WAS “SHOCKED” BY HIS FIRST “DANCING WITH THE STARS” PERFORMANCE AND RESPONDS TO CRITICS TODAY ON “THE TALK,” WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21

On His Mother, Cher’s, Reaction: “She was so proud. She cried when she saw it.”

http://www.cbs.com/daytime/the_talk/video/?pid=WNjKbpud40xEaOEqZpxo_DCWQTN5Gy0q&vs=Clips&play=true

Chaz Bono visited THE TALK, Wednesday, September 21, 2011, with his “Dancing with the Stars” partner Lacey Schwimmer, to talk about what it was like taking the stage for the first time and performing live this week. Plus, he revealed what his mom, Cher, thought of their performance and responds to negative critics who say that it’s confusing for children to see him as a contestant on the show. He and Lacey also reveal their strategy to stay in the game. Please see below for partial transcription of the interview which aired at 2:00-3:00 PM, ET; 1:00-2:00 PM, PT on the CBS Television Network.

Chaz on first ‘DWTS’ performance:

Chaz Bono: “I kind of felt like I was in a bubble, to be honest. I mean, I was just focusing on Lacey and remembering what to do.

Kris Jenner: “Were you counting?”

Chaz Bono: “I was counting a little bit.”

Lacey Schwimmer: “I was yelling at him, ‘Smile!’”

Chaz Bono: “I had little stupid things in my head like ‘pretty hands’ and ‘point foot here’ and that kind of stuff.”

On DWTS Controversy and facing critics who say it is confusing for children to watch:

Sara: “Now when ABC announced you were on the show, there was a lot of controversy, and some people said it would be confusing for children to watch you. So how do you feel about that? Do you have a response to that?”

Chaz Bono: “You know, no, not really. I think kids are really smart and very open minded, and so if you just explain things to them in an open way, they’re usually very understanding about it.”

Julie Chen: “There were some critics who came out, as I like to call them, the haters. When they came out, did it make you stronger? Did it make you say, ‘You know what? I wanted to win this thing before all those critics came out, but now I’m really going to kill it out there.’”

Chaz Bono: “You know, I think for both of us, neither of us paid attention to the critics. But the positive response we have gotten because of what the critics started has been so overwhelming that that’s been really inspirational. I want to do a good job for all the people who just have been so supportive of us.”

Sara Gilbert: “Is there part of you that feels if you could win this you’d help transgender kids out there?”

Chaz Bono: I think the longer I stay on, the more I can help my community, so I would love to win it but really I’m going to take it one show at a time and try to do my best and hope that I can stay on as long as possible, but I’m having a great time.”

On Cher’s reaction to him joining ‘DWTS’ and watching first performance:

Molly Shannon: “Your mother Cher is such a legendary performer. What was her reaction when you told her you were going to be on the show?”

Chaz Bono: “I think she was very supportive but a little surprised because I’m just not known as the performer guy in the family.”

Kris Jenner: “You know what I was thinking? I was sitting in the audience the last two nights and I was looking around in the little secret places thinking, ‘I know she’s here. Where is Cher?’ I really wanted her to come.”

Chaz Bono: “No, I think she will come, but she’s very sensitive and knows if she came the first night she could’ve overshadowed my performance and she didn’t want to do that.”

Sara Gilbert: “What did she think about your first dance together?”

Chaz Bono: “Pretty shocked. Yeah.”

Julie Chen: “Why was she shocked after your performance, because it was apparent to, I think, most people when you got out there that there is no doubt you have the Cher gene. You have the performer gene. Like, you really had it in your DNA to know how to be a showman. Did she call and say ‘I’m so proud’?”

Chaz Bono: “Oh yeah, she was so proud. She cried when she saw it. So yeah, she’s been so supportive, and I’ve been having really bad problems with my knees and ankles and she sent somebody over to work on me last night, which was really great because I do need all the help I can get at this point.”

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