Yay! The finals, the finals, the finals. I love the finales of reality shows, as opposed to comedies or dramas. The excitement is just so freakin' real. That's why it's called reality. :)
DeAnna from the Bachelorette, Jane Seymour, Sabrina Bryan and Mel B from Season 5, Tony Award-winning Broadway actress, Marissa Jaret Winokur and her partner, Tony Dovolani and Academy Award-Winning actress, Marlee Matlin and her partner, Fabian Sanchez were just some of the celebrities that were standing in the audience, clapping to that funky DWTS-music beat.
With Carrie Ann wearing all black, the judges table certainly looked really professional with the same color of attire and that trophy shining before them. As Tom said, after 2857 combined hours of training, 89 competitive routines, 2125 judges points, several gallons of spray tan (mostly on Edyta) and three trips to the emergency room, it all comes down to this.
In the individual cha cha video segment, Christian tried to slide through Cheryl's legs but kept getting his head in her backside. Jason makes a statement about how 6'6" and cha cha don't go together. And Kristi pretends to enjoy Mark's "ooo" and "mmm" sounds. Hahaha. As for the group rehearsal, it sure looked like Jason and Christian had absolutely no chance to pull of as great a dance as Kristi. Of course Ballas hadn't done their whole routine yet! Perfection takes a lot of hard work and time. Then. Tom actually FORGETS to say "Live!". That was definitely the biggest shocker for me, wouldn't you agree?
As for the actual dance, Christian looked a little stiff, and Jason still looked awkward, although Christian still danced with a latino flare (as in no awkwardness), and Jason was actually... oh, no. He looked stiff as well. Jason's arm looked limp, the focus of the dance was all on Edyta as usual and the moves were the slowest of all three of them. Kristi certainly kicked their butts when she came out bouncing and clapping, then she kisses Bruno, then pulls off a dance that was totally... Kristi. She certainly brought charisma as she spun around, dropped, moved her hips around and pulled off all the crazy moves. There's a way about her that makes her look professional, but still look like an ice-skater still learning to dance. And well done to her, because Mark really gives her some crazy choreography. And at the end when they all danced together for a bit, Jason forgot the start to the steps. (Again, showing laziness). And WHAT about that end move, huh?! That was pretty freakin' awesome when Kristi was lifted into the air. Can't believe Christian still has that thing wrapped around his arm. And I can't picture what would've happened if either one of the guys went home instead of Marissa. I mean, what kind of spectacular move COULD you pull off without the two strong guys?
Lynn was excited, and loved Christian's hip action and rhythm, "all the gear at the rear", which I would agree with. Then Lynn said he liked Jason's elegance and style, and would've loved to see Jason's foxtrot again, although I think I didn't quite like his foxtrot either compared to Christian's or Kristi's. And of course, Lynn finally said that Kristi had the style and the elegance we saw from Jason, and the hips and rhythm we saw from Christian, the complete package. ...Totally. Bruno said Christian now 'banged' like the best and then he commented briefly on his improvement since the beginning, which I agree with as well. Jason was very athletic, but was a bit off. Kristi was in a class of her own. When Carrie Ann said Christian was fantastic although he looked like his posture was being affected, Jason still had the awkward arm and Kristi "won that hands down".
The judges gave Christian a 26, Jason a 24 and Kristi a 30. Woohoo! But comparing this season to last season, at this time, Helio Castroneves, Melanie Brown, Sabrina Bryan and Jennie Garth were already knocking out 30s all over the place. The standard this season really doesn't live up to last year's stars. If I could've controlled all the scores, I would've given Christian a 25, Kristi a perfect 30 and Jason a score even as low as 18.
Kristi and Mark's strategy was to bring Jason's strength and Christian's personality and more. And wow! Julianne Hough as Kristi's mentor! No way is Kristi gonna perform a bad dance. And the more I hear Mark talking about how a woman can finally win this thing in five seasons, the more I think to myself that Mark is thinking about how a male pro can finally win this thing. But that's just me.
As for the dance, Mark's fish mouth came back again, and totally distracted me for the most part. They had a lot of lifts and demanding dance moves, but to me, it didn't quite meet the standard of Mark Ballas choreography. And Carrie Ann gave her a 10 in the name of girl power. Lynn gave a 10 because the hiphop managed to hold his attention. And Bruno gave her a 10 as well for her awesomeness.
Edyta, again, dons her bikini top and short dress thing. Jason's dancing wasn't elegant at all. He wouldn't been better dancing a bit of foxtrot, and performing something a bit less revealing. But sure, the lifts were impressive. But for me, it wasn't worth a 30, which was why I'm thankful the judges gave him a 27. Giving him a total of 51 out of 60.
Christian landing on his arm looked pretty painful. But that didn't stop him from performing a totally Latin freestyle worthy of much, much praise. His left arm immobility didn't show at all as he moved those hips, as his right arm lifted everywhere, as he spun Cheryl round and round, and shook his chest like crazy. His hips and his legs all moved incredibly quickly. And it was actually somewhat good (although no way as good as Kristi). The judges gave him a 26, 52 out of 60.
So, it looks like the judges have been favoring Kristi and Mark every since the start of this season. Hopefully the votes let them win, 'cause I really love them both and I really wish they win. I wanted Mel B to win last season, so I was really bummed when she didn't. And when Maksim said he didn't want to come back to the show. Let Mark Ballas and Kristi Yamaguchi win!moreless
Episode Summary
EDIT
The Best Is Yet to Come in part one of the special two part season finale, Kristi Yamaguchi, Jason Taylor and Cristian de la Fuente will all perform a special Cha Cha to the same song. Then they will perform their much anticipated freestyle routine.moreless
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Mark Ballas Jr.
Professional Dancer
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Tom Bergeron
Host
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Kristi Yamaguchi
Season 6 - Celebrity Dancer
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Bruno Tonioli
Judge
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Jason Taylor
Season 6 - Celebrity Dancer
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Cristian de la Fuente
Season 6 - Celebrity Dancer
Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions
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TRIVIA (0)
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QUOTES (10)
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Tom Bergeron: The winner takes home the trophy, the title and the smug satisfaction of being better than the other stars!
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Cristian de la Fuente: Seeing Cheryl's trophy makes me want one of my own.
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Cristian de la Fuente: In the past, the freestyle can make you or break you, and I'm already broken so bring it on!
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Jason Taylor: This is the finals, so it's go big or go home. And I ain't goin' home.
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Katina Taylor: (Directed towards her husband, Jason Taylor) This is just dancing, not football, but you better win Okay? Edyta Sliwinska: Right, you better win. Katina Taylor: Put those shoulders back, your chin up, chest out, look like a dancer. Jason Taylor: Great, now I got two of them.
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Mark Ballas: In the freestlyle, Jason is going to bring his strength, Cristian is going to bring his personality. So our strategy is to bring all of that and more so a woman can finally win this competition.
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(Some of the judges' comments after Cristian de la Fuente & Cheryl Burke's freestyle) Bruno Tonioli: For one arm, you did bloody well. Carrie Ann Inaba: I don't know if either (you or Jason) compare to Kristi tonight, but when I look at you, I see a winner in so many other ways. Len Goodman: As far as I was concerned, some of the lifts weren't quit up to the standard of the other two.
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(Some of the judges' comments after Jason Taylor & Edyta Sliwinska's freestyle) Bruno Tonioli: If you've got it, flaunt it. And the dance wasn't bad either. Carrie Ann Inaba: Edyta, it is so nice to see you here in the finals. Those were the most ambitious lifts I've ever seen. Len Goodman: I can see us on South Beach, you in your Speedo, me in my thong.
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(Some of the judges' comments Kristi Yamaguchi & Mark Ballas' freestyle) Bruno Tonioli: That routine was an inspiring infusion of Mambo and hip-hop. Worthy of the championship, for me. Carrie Ann Inaba: You were the big crowd pleaser. Love it! Len Goodman: I'm not a lover of hip-hop. But for me, this held my attention from start to finish. I absolutely loved it.
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Carrie Ann Inaba: (after Kristi Yamaguchi performed her portion of the Cha Cha) You won that, hands down.
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NOTES (4)
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In the audience tonight were Jane Seymour, Melanie Brown, Sabrina Bryan, DeAnna Pappas, Marlee Matlin, Fabian Sanchez, Marissa Jaret Winokur, and Tony Dovolani.
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Judges' Leaderboard for Week 10: 60 - Kristi Yamaguchi & Mark Ballas 52 - Cristian de la Fuente & Cheryl Burke 51 - Jason Taylor & Edyta Sliwinska
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Dances, Music, and Scores - Week 10: Round One: Cha Cha "Dancing On The Ceiling" by Lionel Richie Cristian & Cheryl Carrie Ann...8, Len...9, Bruno...9 Score: 26 Jason & Edyta Carrie Ann...8, Len...8, Bruno...8 Score: 24 Kristi & Mark Carrie Ann...10, Len...10, Bruno...10 Score: 30 Round Two: Freestyle: Kristi & Mark "Workin' Day And Night" by Michael Jackson Carrie Ann...10, Len...10, Bruno...10 Score: 30 Jason & Edyta "Miami" by Will Smith Carrie Ann...9, Len...9, Bruno...9 Score: 27 Cristian & Cheryl "Suavamente" by Elvis Crespo Carrie Ann...9, Len...8, Bruno...9 Score: 26
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Since Julianne Hough and Mark Ballas were once professional dance partners, Julianne came in to help Kristi with her free style dance.
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ALLUSIONS (0)
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Episode Discussion for Finale of Season 14 on 5/21 and 5/22/2012.
05/23/122
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Episode Discussion for Week 8 on 5/14 and 5/15/2012.
05/16/121
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Season 15 Rumor
05/13/122
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Episode Discussion for Week 8 on 5/7 and 5/8/2012.
05/09/122
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Episode Discussion for Week 7 on 4/30 and 5/1/2012.
05/03/124
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S 14 : Ep 18
Aired 5/21/12
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Episode 1409A
S 14 : Ep 17
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Episode 1409
S 14 : Ep 16
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