DWTS - Week 10

Hello everybody, and welcome to the final night of Season Six of “Dancing with the Stars.” It is the Final Results Show. Tonight, there are three couples left out of a competition that featured 12 at the start, and which has showcased some very fine dancing and some fine things about dance along the way, and it will be revealed which order they finished in, and which of these couples will win the “Mirror Ball” Trophy after a fine season of dancing. We will also have a musical guest, Usher, and some dancing from the other couples who started out on this journey 10 weeks ago.

Before the results show, there is a re-broadcast of the prior night’s finals, a nice touch for anyone who may have missed the show or who just wants to see the dancing again. Then the results show begins, and it is billed as the “Ultimate face-off” between an Olympic Gold Medalist (Skater Kristi Yamaguchi,) a “One Armed Hero” (Actor and Pilot Cristian De La Fuente) and a Gridiron guy (Miami Dolphins Player Jason Taylor.) All three of the remaining stars come out with their professional dance partners, wearing outfits they had danced in earlier in the season. Two couples would be doing an encore dance for the judges tonight as part of their final scores to determine a winner, along with their Judge and Viewer scores from last night. The couple in Third place after last night would not be dancing for a score, as they would be leaving before the final dance-off. (They don’t call it a dance off though. Hmm.) First we get some recorded thoughts from the couples after their dancing last night. Jason Taylor, with his partner Edyta Sliwinska beside him, talks about his Freestyle, saying “Funky’s more my style, the beach” than the Cha-Cha. Cristian De La Fuente, who danced the last few weeks of the competition, and the Finals, with a complete tear of a biceps tendon, sat with his partner Cheryl Burke, and they quoted Nietzsche: “What does not kill you makes you stronger.” Kristi Yamaguchi, sitting with her partner Mark Ballas, said she “left it all out there” for the Finals.

Host Tom Bergeron says that the Judges’ scores are in from last night, but with the Viewers voting as well, “Could we be in for a surprise?” He reminds everyone watching that the couple in the lead after the Judges scored the dances last night may not necessarily be in first place now. Then Usher comes out and does a number called “I Wanna Make Love” with his entourage. Then the time comes to reveal which couple is in third place, and will be out of the competition first, and which two couples will go on to dance another encore dance for a final round of scores. Stars from past seasons give predictions on who will win it all tonight.

Season Two winner Drew Lachey says that it is “Anybody’s guess” after the “intense” competition and dancing of the past weeks. Talk Show Host Jerry Springer and Singer Joey Fatone predict that Jason Taylor will go all the way. Vivica Fox, Harry Hamlin, and Jane Seymour predict that Kristi Yamaguchi will win it all tonight. Wayne Newton predicts that Cristian De La Fuente will take the mirror ball tonight along with “My girl Cheryl,” Wayne’s former dance partner. Lisa Rinna agrees with Wayne. Then Jerry Springer says he has no idea, really, and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban says it will be a “war” and ultimately up to the fans.

Then it is time to hear which two couples will go on and which is in last place and leaving the contest now. That third place couple is Cristian De La Fuente and Cheryl Burke. Cristian is interviewed by Hostess Samantha Harris, who said that he’d told people he’d wanted to “go out on my terms” after dancing and not leave due to his injury, and he said that he was glad he got to stay in and experience what it was like to get the feeling of going to the final with an arm injury. Tom Bergeron told Cristian that the night he came in and said he was staying in the show, with his arm wrapped, he’d thought Cristian was nuts, but that he thinks Cristian is amazing now. Then they showed a video of Cheryl and Cristian throughout the course of their ten weeks on the show together. Cristian said that he knew he was in good hands when he first saw Cheryl, and that Cheryl knew early on that he was a good person. Cheryl says that for all five past seasons of the show, it was always about the journey and not about winning the contest, and that she has loved dancing with Cristian and will miss him and his family.

After this, Cristian and Cheryl do their encore dance, not for scores but for their farewell to the season. They do their Paso Doble which has a heavy Spanish flavor and which they do very well. They really do the dance well given that they have just been eliminated and dance with a lot of joy. They hug after the dance.

Then host Tom Bergeron says that all the “Final 3” couples will be on Good Morning America on ABC Wednesday morning. Then we get a look back at the season, which featured “dancing and a lot of hospital visits.” Then we got some encore dances from the couples which were eliminated over the course of the season.

First up was magician, TV host and raconteur Penn Gillette, dancing with his partner, Australian dance champ Kym Johnson. They came out and did their Cha-Cha again. Penn said that that the show was “The greatest time of my life” despite being “only two weeks… or whatever.” He also promoted his stage act and coming TV show, and when asked if dance had changed him, he said they would be all dance now and his buddy Teller “…really fills his costume out well.”

Second was Tennis Champ Monica Seles, with her partner Jonathan Roberts. They redid their Latin number to En Vogue’s “My Lovin’” (Never Gonna Get It) I remember she was one of the bigger names this year, it was sad to see her go early, she had a good sense of humor even though the dancing was hard for her. Hostess Samantha Harris asked Monica about dancing on “Your mom’s favorite show” and Ms. Seles told her that she had a new appreciation for the dancing on the show, as the pros can make it look a lot easier than it really is, and it takes a lot of work to do it that well.
 
The third couple out was another duo that I would have really liked to see stick around a bit longer. It was Movie Star Steve Guttenberg and his partner Anna Trebunskaya. (Yes, I am calling him a Movie Star. Marlee may have the Oscar but she was never in a Police Academy movie!) They dance their Tango that Steve practiced with both Anna and her husband (and danced with the other guy on the encore show that week.) They had a good time and Steve was in a good mood when interviewed, saying that he likes the crowd. Asked about his favorite moment, he said it was right now, being with his friends from the show and dancing with his favorite dance partner Anna. Asked what his least favorite moment, he said that it was saying “Wow” a lot on the show. He said that everyone he saw on the street said that to him now and he can’t say “Wow” anymore.

We then had a look back at weeks three and four, featuring Marissa Winokur being challenged by the judges to dance better, Adam Carolla being complimented on his dance, the two-guy Steve and Jonathan Tango, 10s coming for Kristi, Shannon Elizabeth and Jason in their dances, and Derek Hough hurting his neck.

That brought the fourth eliminated couple back to the ballroom to dance again. It was Comedian and Radio Host Adam Carolla, dancing with his partner, two-time “Dancing Stars” Champ Julianne Hough. In a classy move, Tom Bergeron acknowledged her afterwards as the defending Champion which she is until the season ends and another is crowned. Great move by Bergeron in my opinion to do that. They dance their “Zorro” Paso Doble from Week 4, complete with Adam’s introductory sequence on his Unicycle. Once again, they went to it with a fun attitude and good choreography, and this time Julianne yanked off his Zorro mask at the end of the dance. Afterwards, host Tom Bergeron told him he’d kept his dancer’s physique after losing some weight on the show. Adam promoted his website and radio show, as well as Julianne’s upcoming CD. Then he said “This is why the Terrorists hate us.” He went on to explain. “Black, White, Asian, Latin, Gay, Straight & Guttenberg, the Terrorists hate us because we’re all right here together to pursue the Mirror Ball trophy, and it’s all about dancing. God Bless this Show and God Bless the USA!” Right on.

Tom Bergeron then showed us a quick look at the Ballroom Kids competition, and said the crowd votes would be added into it tonight to reveal a winner. The winners were the “13 and under” entrants, Brandon and Brittany. Tom said that they had a special trophy for them, and because Brandon had said he’d like to have any of the Dallas Cowboys’ Cheerleaders for a dance partner if he ever became a pro on the show, they had some of those Cheerleaders present him and Brittany the trophy.

Then the fifth couple to return, Actress Priscilla Presley and partner (and new American citizen) Louis Van Amstel came out to Tango. After that they did a video package on Cristian and Jason’s friendship, with Bergeron saying they were going to save it for the wrap party but since creative editing can do so much, they wanted to share it with America too.

Couple number six among the returning dancers were actress Marlee Matlin (An Oscar winner, though she never did any Police Academy movies) and her partner Fabian Sanchez. Marlee put in a very strong performance this year and it was nice to see her back. They reprised their tropical Mambo and she kissed him after the final dip. Marlee spoke again through an interpreter who read her sign language, as she is deaf. Marlee said that people all over were supportive of her when she was on the show and told her that she inspires them, and she wanted to say that those people inspire her.

Couple number seven brought back actress Shannon Elizabeth and her partner Derek Hough, who Tom Bergeron said inspired us too, with their walks on the beach and their trips to the hospital. They came out and danced their Quickstep again, and they did great dancing with it once again. After the dance Shannon jumped on Tom Bergeron and clung to him, saying she was doing it “once more for old times’ sake.” Shannon thanked the judges, and said that she couldn’t before because “I was all over,” Derek carried and swung Shannon around, taking her to the stage. Then he went to look back out and she pulled him behind the curtain. They showed some flashbacks from Shannon dancing with a “falsie” costume and commenting on that, and Cristian hurting his arm. Afterwards, Tom Bergeron said “After Shannon left, my wife called with her lawyer.”

Then the eighth eliminated couple danced. R&B Singer Mario and his partner Karina Smirnoff did their Mambo and did a very good job of it, putting in a dance that was up there with anyone, and they went to former champs Drew Lachey, Kelly Monaco and Helio Castroneves for their opinions. Helio was sure to remind everyone the Indy 500 was coming up again this weekend and that he was out for the trophy there. 

The ninth and final returning couple brought us Tony Winning Broadway Actress Marissa Winokur and her partner Tony Dovolani. They did a Paso Doble for their encore. Afterwards Marissa said she never thought she’d last that long and that now she feels sexy and more confident than ever before. Tom Bergeron, remarking on Tony’s open shirt, said “Tony can stop waxing his chest now.”

Then it was time for the final two encore dances, the ones that the remaining two couples in the competition would be doing for their final scores of the competition. There was a video package, of course, with a “Footballer vs. Olympic Champion” theme. I guess they had to shoot several varieties just in case. That must have been strange for the dancers. Tom Bergeron said “That trophy looks better the closer you get.” Jason said that he’d grown up on two things, Wheaties and watching Kristi capture gold medals for our country.” Kristi said that she’d loved meeting Jason, who she called a true gentleman. Then Usher and his dance team came out and did another number. At the end the dancer pointing at him in the final shot looked a lot like Cheryl Burke!

Then the theme from “Rocky” played and the final two couples came out. There was a video about the first meeting of Kristi with Mark and their journey together on the show, and then they did their encore dance. It was their “Buddy Holly” style Jive, “Rock it Up.” As Kristi came over to the Judging are, she stumbled over Tom Bergeron’s feet, and Bergeron said “10 weeks and you finally trip once.” Then it was on to the judges.

Len Goodman said that Kristi was the most consistent dancer, not just for this season but for any season so far. He said it was a great dance, and “fantastic.” He also said that at one point in the dance where Kristi got her heel caught in her dress but made the save that he “Was afraid you’d pull your knickers off” but that she didn’t.
 
Bruno Tonioli told her that “Some collapse in the Final. You didn’t.”

Carrie-Ann Inaba told her that “You grew so much, I’m so proud of you” and thanked her for representing the ladies so well.

As she and Mark awaited the scores, Kristi said that she was trying to fight back tears before they started, and that it was great to meet and work with Mark; Mark said the same about her. Their scores came back: 10 + 10 + 10 = 30.

Then they showed a video package of the first meeting of Jason and Edyta meeting, and their journey through the course of the show. They also showed his initial shyness in dancing with Edyta. Jason said that Edyta was the best coach he ever had, as well as the easiest to look at. He also said that Football made him a better dancer and that he hopes dancing will make him a better Football player.
 
Their encore dance is their “Dirty Boogie” Quickstep. He starts off with the band and makes the huge jump to the ballroom floor again, and once again they did the dance excellently, with Jason throwing a pile of papers again at the end. (This time they had a stack for him so he didn’t have to throw the Judges’ notes!)

Bruno Tonioli was the first judge to give comments. “Jason and Edyta, I think the term “heavenly bodies” was coined for you.” He said that they move like angels and that “this was your best dance.” 

Carrie-Ann Inaba told Jason and Edyta that the elegance of their spirit shines through in the dancing and that the dance was beautiful.

Len Goodman said that every year someone surprises, not only with their dancing but with the personality that comes through. He says that Kristi is the Judges’ champ but that Jason is the Peoples’ champ.

Their scores came back: 10 + 10 + 10 = 30.

Jason said “10 weeks and I finally got one.” (A perfect score.) He went on to say “And Kristi, it does feel good! Wow!”

We then had some thoughts from the cast. First, Priscilla Presley talked about doing the show, even though she was very shy, and said it was a huge challenge for herself and that the experience gave her a great appreciation for dance and was a pleasure. Tom Bergeron asked Mario if he is a better performer now since the show, and Mario said it is pure fun and his hat was off to Priscilla and all the other “non dancers” who came out for the show and gave it everything. Shannon Elizabeth said she was crying, and that she always cries at things. Marlee Matlin made like she was crying too and smiled, and then she and Shannon hugged.

Then the winners were announced. They were Kristi Yamaguchi and Mark Ballas. Kristi thanked the fans and the people from the show, the makeup people, etc. and Mark thanked them too. Samantha Harris talked to Jason and Edyta. Jason said he never thought he’d get this far on the show and said that he’d had the time of his life. He also said that Kristi deserved her win. Kristi and Mark got the mirror ball trophy, and then the rest of the dancers came over to congratulate them. Jason and Cristian lifted Kristi up on their shoulders, and Derek Hough boosted Mark. With that, the sixth season of dancing on the show came to an end.

Thank you all for reading these, keep dancing out there!

Your friend in New Jersey, David Powell.