Dancing with the Stars...on ABC...in HD! - Page 170

This was the best answer I could find.

I was pleasantly surprised with Paula. Her bit was very creative and entertaining with nuisances such as the dog and Max. I'm fine with the final three where you end up with the best dancers and the most compelling story. All three have stepped up their game. Technically, I'd give Melissa the win although I think fan wise Shawn will be hard to beat. Hopefully, Kelly gets to keep Val as I doubt another mirror ball is coming her way.

I fully expected Shawn and Melissa to be in the finals. They have both been outstanding this season and, Melissa epsecially, has gotten stronger as the show has come down the home stretch. It might be nice to see Tony, by all accounts, one of the nicest guys around, win one for a change. I was hoping that Kelly would make it as well. She may not be quite there with Shawn and Melissa but her improvement throughout the season and in comparison to her own season 1, has been hard to ignore. I was impressed with ther candid thoughts on not being the best dancer that season (John O'Hurley was) and being called out on that. It takes some real self awareness to state that on national TV. Her chemistry with Val has been, perhaps, the most smoldering that I can recall in any season (and I've watched them all). If those two aren't hooked up outside of the show, it's one of the great sales jobs of all time. The other plus is that Kelly's increased skill and confidence as a dancer has really allowed Val to shine and make his mark as a major player among the DWTS professionals. With Max deciding to take next season off, the Chmerkovskiy family will still be ably represented.

I loved Derek's routine with three of the most glorious SYTYCD alums ever. If you're going to put your toe into the contemporary pool for the first time, choreographing with Allison and performing with her, Melanie and Katherine isn't a bad way to go I've been very impressed (and pleased) by the amount of work that many of the SYTYCD dancers are getting. That show has really proven to be a gateway to the professional dance world for so many of them and I suspect that Nigel, Adam, et al are instrumental in that.

I guess her being called out was when ABC had both of them return for a dance-off and she lost (by less than one percent). At the time I thought it was some what rude.

Melissa has improved, but she still lacks the core strength to really be smooth during some of the multi lift routines they feature and looks a tad wobbly at times. Conversely, Shawn, with her hobbit body and mega muscle set, doesn't have to strain to obtain any shape, lift or shape. Coupled with Derek's choreography, to my eye test, she easily puts out the most outstanding routines of the remaining contestants. No, she's not eye candy, but her timing, musicality and control are supreme. I'm kind of surprised Kelly and Val made it over Apolo or Gilles. I thought they both out danced her. She must have a stronger audience segment than I estimated. I've seen some support from the other pros to send their votes onto Tony since he hasn't won in 15 seasons. It may happen, but he's no where near the choreographer that Derek is nor is his partner as good as Shawn (which doesn't mean much if the popular vote prevails). There won't be much of a gap in the judges voting unless someone screws the pooch big time in the finals. Anyway, my vote (which I never do) goes to Shawn, then Mellisa and Kelly.

I agree with Derek's choreography being top notch. He is simply outstanding. I wasn't that surprised with Kelly making the finals especially since she improved a few steps late in the season. My theory is your fan base is largely based on who relates to you and as such she has a lot of demographics to draw from. She's older but not old enough that it hurts her dancing so the older audience relates to her and sees themselves dancing along.

Even though Sabrina Bryan is 28 I think Shawn got a lot of her votes. She simply comes across as much younger. Regarding Apolo I think he came across as aloof and Gilles rather disingenuous at times. Like most reality shows with everything else being close whoever the demographics relates to wins... that is until all of those relate-able contestants have been voted off and they gang up.

So are Allison and Derek a thing now or am I reading too much into their "collaboration" on the choreography?

Last chance on this season for a wardrobe malfunction The credits for tonight's show on TitanTV.com's description are interesting: Tom Bergeron (Host), Brooke Burke (Host), Kelly Monaco (Participant). Hmmm did they miss anybody?

Based on how the scoring works by the time you throw in tonight's scores (for a total of three) the difference between 27 and a 30 is roughly 1 percent. Assuming 30 for all of the other dances. Even less if others receive a lower score (than 90) and since the judges score counts for 50% of the total score I guess that 1 per cent becomes .5 percent? Will they receive more viewer votes then that because they selected it...

My guess is Shawn takes the mirror ball... via viewer votes.
Edited by Charles R - 11/27/12 at 7:15am

Dialidol has Shawn and Derek 15 1/2 percentage points up on Tony and Melissa. It's clear that by thumbing their noses at the judges (especially Len who seems to have an issue with Derek every year), Shawn and Derek made a strategic choice to, in effect, go over the judges' head and play directly to the voters. Looks like it may pay off. That aside, the dancing by all three couples was wonderful. I don't expect Kelly and Val to win but they have been a joy to watch as much for their chemistry as their dancing. It was amusing to see the show runners actively pushing the showmance/ real romance angle that has been so intriguing throughout the season. Even in their their freestyle with the troupe dancers, they were always the center of attention.
Shawn incorporating the USA gymnastics women was a hoot and those girls moved pretty well on the floor. It would be nice to see Tony win. He has been such a mainstay of this show since its inception and has yet to have a partner who he could take all the way to the finish (Melissa is so much better now than she was in her original season). Whoever wins tonight will a worthy champion.

I have to give props to Tony and Melissa for doing contemporary. It was a cool move such that they would not be compared to Shawn and Derek's athletic skills.

I like them both but I would prefer Melissa to win.

I think all three freestyles were wonderful and highlighted each contestant nicely. And to a large degree I would probably prefer all three based on the type of dance. Which means there are no losers. I wouldn't be surprised if Derek decided by having a lower score it would ignite her fan base to vote.... thinking she is in trouble.
Edited by Charles R - 11/27/12 at 8:44am

I don't know that it was a question of Shawn being in trouble as much as calculated decision to go for the max entertainment value to insure that the voters would disregard the judges and call or text in for them. Shawn has been a consistent vote getter in both her seasons so I'm sure that Melissa would have had no great advantge in the final analysis. As you said, though, all three finalists were superb last night so they all win and the show, its produciton team and ABC do as well. Based upon this season, it would be nice to see the producers shy away from controversial or cloddish contestants and select celebs who appear to have the potential to be very good dancers. That makes this show so much more enjoyable IMHO.

I didn't mean she was actually in trouble. Rather simply giving her fans a reason to call in... versus thinking she was doing fine... via the judge's scores.


The ratings haven't been stellar to say the least. Hard to know what they would have been without the All-Stars but to some degree I think they need the duck out of water.

Yeah, the local ABC affiliate claimed that the Vegas oddsmakers has it as Shawn 1:3 Mellisa 4:1 and Kelly 5:1. So, the money is saying that Shawn is a big favorite.

But I'm hoping Mellisa and Tony can pull enough votes to win it.

Dial Idol is almost never right. Oddsmakers are counting the money, but are gamblers voters?. That said, as much as I like Tony and Melissa, they aren't the best dancing couple. If Shawn and Derek don't win, I'll be slightly disappointed. Kelly and Val are good, but I found their act just too cloying and her personality more than a bit off putting.

So if Derek didn't break the rules in his first dance and say they got a perfect 30 instead, would that of been enough to make them win? Anyway to actually know?

Interesting season this time. the funny thing is that when Shawn won in Season 8, she wasn't the best dancer that year. Both Gilles ( with Cheryl ) and Melissa were much better consistently and Shawn basically won with her Gold medal following and the fantastic freestyle in the finals.
This time, she was by far the best and most versatile dancer on the show, so I too, am a little disappointed in the result. Shawn was able to pull off routine after routine that none of the other dancers could duplicate. and this time around, she didn't have the glaring weaknesses that she showed in Season 8.

I still think that Gilles would have won if he had again been partnered with Cheryl. While Peta is drop dead gorgeous and a very good dancer, she didn't seem to understand what Gilles' real strengths were and Cheryl really did.

With that said, Melissa was very good, both she and Tony are very likeable and it was very good entertainment all Fall.

I pretty much agree with your thoughts in regard to Shawn's now pure ability as a dancer but, like you, I have no problem with Melissa and, especially, Tony finally winning after 15 seasons. You could see the high esteem in which he is held by his fellow professional dancers when he and Melissa won. His peers could not have been happier for him. I don't know anything about how the pros are paid and whether there are incentives and/or bonuses in their contracts but Tony has given a significant part of his life to this enterprise and it was nice to see him get to hoist the trophy. It has been a great season and I can only hope that when the show returns to its customary assortment of celebrities, it isn't too much of a let down quality-wise.

I believe they get paid each week they are in the competition. Now I'm sure they get paid (substantially less?) for performances once they have been eliminated. I remember one contestant noted they didn't want to get voted off as their partner would be out of work. My take is the right dancer won. I think she is a better dancer than Shawn and Kelly. Sure the others might excel at certain things but like gymnastics when you add in all of the dances Melissa wins the overall title.

For me the show is more about watching them develop as a dancer than perfection. I think that's one of the reasons Kelly made it so far... she came a long way during the season.