'Dancing With the Stars' finals: Three couples perform
It's the last week of Dancing With the Stars. Three stars, two dancers and one last chance to impress, says host Tom Bergeron. The couples will dance the paso doble side by side, then do what the program tells us is the long-awaited freestyle dance.
The dancers come out in their paso outfits, and I immediately regret eating cold pizza and a granola bar instead of going to the gym. I like to think that if I danced eight hours a day, I could look as awesome as Melissa Rycroft.
Next, judge Len Goodman, in a limo, calls judges Bruno Tonioli (by the pool) and Carrie Ann Inaba (eating at a restaurant) and summons them to go help the contestants. Such a cheesy introduction. Bruno tells Shawn Johnson to dance like a champion. Yes, that would be a good idea. Carrie Ann tries to get Melissa to be more aggressive and less balletlike. Len is amusing when he does the paso with Gilles Marini. The couples then rehearse in a room together, and they watch one another like hawks.
The group paso doble is choreographed to Pink's "So What." Really? I think it is an odd choice. Len says it's difficult to produce a paso to contemporary music (I called that one!). He says Shawn and Mark's paso was a lot more exciting than her last. He says Melissa had a slight mistake, but that it was much more convincing than her last. He says Gilles' dance wasn't hectic this time. Bruno calls each couple splendid or some such word. He compares Shawn to a serial killer. He says Melissa's confidence has grown. He says Gilles is self-assured. Carrie Ann says it has been her favorite season, and all three are great dancers. She continues by saying that watching them side by side, however, points out weaknesses and strengths. Shawn doesn't have as much of an emotional commitment as the others, Carrie Ann says, but her precision is stellar. Melissa nailed it, she says, and Gilles delivered perfection. So, Shawn's the only one with a weakness?
Shawn and Mark get 9/9/10 for a 28. Melissa and Tony get 10/9/10 for a 29. Gilles and Cheryl get 10/10/10 for a perfect 30. Host Samantha Harris awkwardly interviews Gilles.
Shawn and Mark will dance their freestyle first. During their rehersal, Season 4 winner Apollo Anton Ohno visits to offer his opinion and motivate the fellow Olympian. He mentions that no Olympian has made it to the finals and not won the show. "No pressure!" she says.
They start their dance ot Basement Jaxx's "Do Your Thing" with white masks a la Jabbawockeez. They strip their outfits and jump into a frantic dance. There are a lot of tricks, and it's youthful and fun. The energy is high. Bruno screams that Shawn is going for gold and, that, in addition to the moves, she really performed it. Carrie Ann says it was exactly what she wanted to see: energetic and precise. Len liked the speed and everything else Carrie Ann liked. "I loved it," he says sweetly. They get three 10s and are thrilled. Bruno even shouts "11!"Melissa says she's going for the viewers' votes in the freestyle. She and Tony are trying some tricks in rehearsal, and she accidentally bops him in the face. Tony says it's the most physical dance he's ever choreographed. No visit from a former winner for them. C&C Music Factory's "Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)" was awful in the 1990s, and it is still awful now, so I'm not sure why they choose the music. Plus, the dance isn't a good as Shawn and Mark's. Carrie Ann says it went from lift to lift, and that the choreography seemed a bit disjointed. Len said it wasn't his cup of tea, and that he would have liked to see something more elegant rather than cheerleader-y. Bruno says Carrie Ann was right, and it wasn't perfect. But he says, hey, you brought back the running man! Tom is optimistic, saying it was a crowd-pleaser. The scores are 9/9/9 for a 27.
Gilles and Cheryl practice, and his shoulder is in pain. He calls a doctor to help him out. Cheryl tries to draw out all of his charisma. The two dance to "What a Feeling" from Flashdance. It's just OK for me; it's not a show-stealer. The cameras cut away to the judges' faces during the performance -- and, hey, they look happy. Len says it's apparent to him that Bruno's a real dancer. Bruno says the performance was great, but that he wanted more dancing. Carrie Ann agrees with Bruno. She found it to be a weird choice. The scores are 9/10/9 for a 28.
The couples will dance for judges' scores one more time tomorrow, but their fate is 50 percent in the viewers' hands (or so ABC says). Vote and come back tomorrow for Sarah Kickler Kelber's recap!
Comments
Didn't get the final scores on air,
recorded. I got them in your article,
(no fone nbrs)
I liked Shawn because of her exuberance, and drive, and Mark is
an outstanding dancer also. Tnx
BBJ
Posted by: Bruce Jarvis | May 19, 2009 12:25 AM
I kept yelling at Gilles during the freestyle, "Dance! Dance!" It was nice posing, but it wasn't dancing.
Posted by: jds | May 19, 2009 12:55 AM
what did u expect from gilles? that he'll be lifted and cariied & flipped by cheryl? lol what an idea u have! ,,,i 'm still rooting for gilles to win coz he was awesome the whole season and not only for 1 night or 2 nights but practically the whole season!
Posted by: CHATZ | May 19, 2009 11:51 AM
We thought the judges were over-generous to Gilles throughout the season--he got tens even when there were obvious bloopers and stumbles.
Posted by: Dahlink | May 20, 2009 3:13 PM