We are finally here at the Finale! Tonight our Stars will dance (most of) their Final Dances one of which will be the infamous Freestyle Dance! Here are our Final Three:

Mya, who was an easy favorite to get here from the get go.

Donny Osmond, who some expected to get here based on his performance ability, but some others wondered if he was going to make it based on his roller coaster success on the technical side....... He is also trying to place higher than his sister Marie who finished 3rd in her season, and he's now guaranteed to, at worst, tie that mark......

Kelly Osbourne, who I think most felt she wouldn't make it past the halfway point, let alone to the Finale........... She is the ultimate dark horse in this race.........

• Drink of the night,whimsey, 08:54 PM, 11-23-09
  • RE: Drink of the night,qwertypie, 09:04 PM, 11-23-09
• RE: DWTS#9, Finale Performance ECST,vince3, 09:02 PM, 11-23-09
  • RE: DWTS#9, Finale Performance ECST,vince3, 09:02 PM, 11-23-09
• Kelly and Louis,vince3, 09:08 PM, 11-23-09
  • RE: Kelly and Louis,Snidget, 09:09 PM, 11-23-09
  • RE: Kelly and Louis,vince3, 09:10 PM, 11-23-09
  • RE: Kelly and Louis,whimsey, 09:10 PM, 11-23-09
  • RE: Kelly and Louis,qwertypie, 10:06 PM, 11-23-09
    • RE: Kelly and Louis,whimsey, 10:44 PM, 11-23-09
  • Stunned.,qwertypie, 00:09 AM, 11-24-09
    • RE: Stunned.,qwertypie, 00:10 AM, 11-24-09
      • RE: Stunned.,Loree, 08:44 AM, 11-24-09
    • RE: Stunned.,Snidget, 09:26 AM, 11-24-09
    • RE: Stunned.,JessicaRN, 11:05 AM, 11-24-09
      • RE: Stunned.,CTgirl, 03:05 PM, 11-24-09
• Mya and Dmitry,vince3, 09:20 PM, 11-23-09
  • RE: Mya and Dmitry,Snidget, 09:21 PM, 11-23-09
  • RE: Mya and Dmitry,whimsey, 09:22 PM, 11-23-09
  • RE: Mya and Dmitry,vince3, 09:23 PM, 11-23-09
  • RE: Mya and Dmitry,Loree, 09:07 AM, 11-24-09
• Donny and Kym,vince3, 09:33 PM, 11-23-09
  • RE: Donny and Kym,Snidget, 09:35 PM, 11-23-09
  • RE: Donny and Kym,whimsey, 09:35 PM, 11-23-09
  • RE: Donny and Kym,vince3, 09:39 PM, 11-23-09
  • RE: Donny and Kym,Loree, 09:11 AM, 11-24-09
• Megamix Challenge,vince3, 09:43 PM, 11-23-09
  • RE: Megamix Challenge,whimsey, 09:49 PM, 11-23-09
• Megamix Challenge,vince3, 09:52 PM, 11-23-09
  • RE: Megamix Challenge,vince3, 09:55 PM, 11-23-09
    • RE: Megamix Challenge,whimsey, 10:00 PM, 11-23-09
  • RE: Megamix Challenge,Loree, 09:17 AM, 11-24-09
    • RE: Megamix Challenge,JessicaRN, 11:08 AM, 11-24-09
• Kelly and Louis,vince3, 10:02 PM, 11-23-09
  • RE: Kelly and Louis,whimsey, 10:05 PM, 11-23-09
  • RE: Kelly and Louis,Snidget, 10:05 PM, 11-23-09
  • RE: Kelly and Louis,vince3, 10:08 PM, 11-23-09
  • RE: Kelly and Louis,Loree, 09:24 AM, 11-24-09
• Mya and Dmitry,vince3, 10:14 PM, 11-23-09
  • RE: Mya and Dmitry,Snidget, 10:16 PM, 11-23-09
    • RE: Mya and Dmitry,vince3, 10:18 PM, 11-23-09
  • RE: Mya and Dmitry,vince3, 10:17 PM, 11-23-09
  • RE: Mya and Dmitry,whimsey, 10:20 PM, 11-23-09
  • RE: Mya and Dmitry,qwertypie, 01:16 AM, 11-24-09
  • RE: Mya and Dmitry,qwertypie, 01:17 AM, 11-24-09
    • RE: Mya and Dmitry,JessicaRN, 11:11 AM, 11-24-09
  • RE: Mya and Dmitry,Loree, 09:32 AM, 11-24-09
• Donny and Kym,vince3, 10:25 PM, 11-23-09
  • RE: Donny and Kym,Snidget, 10:26 PM, 11-23-09
  • RE: Donny and Kym,whimsey, 10:28 PM, 11-23-09
  • RE: Donny and Kym,vince3, 10:29 PM, 11-23-09
  • RE: Donny and Kym,Loree, 09:38 AM, 11-24-09
    • RE: Donny and Kym,JessicaRN, 11:15 AM, 11-24-09
      • RE: Donny and Kym,Loree, 05:59 PM, 11-24-09
• Thanks, vince,whimsey, 10:40 PM, 11-23-09
• RE: DWTS#9, Finale Performance ECST,DrKegel, 11:25 AM, 11-24-09
  • RE: DWTS#9, Finale Performance ECST,qwertypie, 01:31 PM, 11-24-09
    • RE: DWTS#9, Finale Performance ECST,DrKegel, 06:08 PM, 11-26-09
      • RE: DWTS#9, Finale Performance ECST,Round Robin, 01:40 AM, 11-27-09
        • RE: DWTS#9, Finale Performance ECST,DrKegel, 11:45 AM, 11-27-09
          • RE: DWTS#9, Finale Performance ECST,Sagebrush Dan, 03:12 PM, 11-27-09
            • RE: DWTS#9, Finale Performance ECST,DrKegel, 07:21 PM, 11-27-09
              • RE: DWTS#9, Finale Performance ECST,Sagebrush Dan, 10:06 PM, 11-27-09
          • RE: DWTS#9, Finale Performance ECST,Round Robin, 01:46 AM, 11-29-09
            • RE: DWTS#9, Finale Performance ECST,DrKegel, 12:28 PM, 12-04-09
              • RE: DWTS#9, Finale Performance ECST,Round Robin, 00:47 AM, 12-07-09

Drink of the night
Ice cold beer

snack of the night

My mom's chili .... chunks of beef, onions, peppers, beer, fresh diced tomatoes cooked for hours and seasoned to the 9s, better today than yesterday. Topped with diced red onions, shredded cheddar and pepperjack mix and on the side, homemade cornbread.

Well, the ice cold beer I can do, kind of late notice for the chili (yes, I am very, very, very jealous!)

3 brand new dances tonight, slates wiped clean......

I wonder if they're going to do that same dance-same song thing again?

Also, can we get the horns section a tune up?

Guess so, Megamix Challenge tonight.....

We get a week by week review of some of the dances highlights.......

She never thought she was going to make it to the Finals......

Carrie Ann visits them and gives them pointers for how to do their dance........

Dancing the Argentine Tango to what sounds like traditional Argentine Tango music....... *has recovery supplies on standby for qwerty......*

I was going to say something about a possible lift midway, but then I remembered that the Argentine Tango does permit lifts in character in the dance.......

She had a lot more confidence with the close work than I think she ever showed before. Good job.

5 votes per phone line and email address to vote for your champion.....

Scores: 9~9~8 for a total of 26

Kelly is gorgeous in that dress, her lines are beautiful. Lovely.

Still have almost 2 hours to go before it's on. GRRRRRR!

Here's another beer, hon. You're gonna need it.

*jaw drop*

I am stunned.

Probably my favorite choreo that I have seen on TV (closest to what you would actually see people dance).

Stunned.

And Bruno is an idiot.

>And Bruno is an idiot.

Bruno has bothered me more this season than ever before. I guess I am just getting really sick of his hyper excitement over everything.

Kelly should have gotten all 9s for that. Bruno has an agenda.

Oh good. I think this was my favorite Argentine Tango on one of these dance shows I've seen and since I have no idea what I should be looking for I was hoping it actually was a good one.

Louis used to really bug me (maybe it was during the Lisa Rinna season), but when he did some choreo for SYTYCD, it was always impressive. I just think that he has really tapped into exactly what Kelly needs and what her strengths are.

My impression of Louis changed after I saw him on SYTYCD too. He is an great choreographer and has done an amazing job with Kelly.

I'm not surprised that Len ended up being their judge/coach for this week.......

Dancing the Paso Doble to We Will Rock You

The monitors on the edges of the stage are flashing M-Y-A and the three above the band are flasing them like cheerleaders would at a sporting event..........

I felt a lot more intensity from Kelly. She moves well, but it just didn't seem to have the fierceness I wanted.

Nicely done, but I thought I saw a couple of slips. NO Mel B, not even a Warren Sapp, but nice.

Whitney Houston will be a musical guest tomorrow.... plus they're hyping the Michael Irvin/Jerry Rice Dance Off...

Scores: 10~10~10 for a total of 30

I thought it was a pale immitation of Mel B/Maks Paso. Even the outfit looked familiar. Mya is lacking any real connection with Dmitry or the audience. She is just "there".

He was saved by the votes last week after a disasterous start to last week's dances......

Of course Bruno was their Coach/Trainer........

Dancing the Cha Cha Cha to Do You Remember (the 21st Night of September) (I think that's the title.....)

I dunno why the judge like it so much, for me wasn't up to the standard of the other two dances. It was good, but nothing special, IMO.

Entertaining and fun. Not as good as some of his other performances, but fun.

Scores: 9~9~9 for a total of 27

I agreed with the 9s on this. It was not 10 worthy but yet I was entertained.

Viennese Waltz to Samba to Jive. All 3 couples at the same time, in formation, to the same choreography.......

The couples will be ranked from 1st to 3rd...... for points....

Ow. Donny said that he was 25 years older than Kelly, and then Kym jabbed that both Mya and Kelly could be his daughters!!!!!

I'm going to need a fresh beer for this one.

Dancing the Viennese Waltz to *shrug* I'm not sure...... (Had it, then lost it....)

Dancing the Samba to Whenever, Wherever

Dancing the Jive to She's a Maniac

Rankings:

1st Mya/Dmitry 30, total of 60

2nd Donny/Kym 28, total of 55

3rd Kelly Louie 26, total of 52

And before we get into those scores, I think those were the pre-planned scores for each of those rankings........

Interesting, but I kept watching Kelly/Louis and occasionally Donny/Kym.

I believe the judges had those rankings down before the megamix dance even started. And of course Mya was right in front of them too.

I think that would have worked better if the final 3 were all female or all male. But with a mixture I was comparing Donny to the male pros and Kym was outdancing the female stars. There was too much to watch at once.

I didn't realize it at the time, but you are exactly right.

LET'S GET READY TO FREESTYLE!

Sounds like this time they can either pick or request their song this time.....

We get to see some of her pain with her feet....... and some of Louis's choreography that definitely would've been impossible for her in the early weeks..........

Dancing Freestyle to I Will Survive!

Kelly was just beaming with pride and joy! Yes, she goofed a couple of times, big goofs, but my heavens that was great!

A few oopsies, but she kept going and kept the smile on her face and went for it.

There was one obvious stumble where Kelly landed awkwardly and fell onto the floor........

Wozniak, Cloris and one other wild child will have a new dance tomorrow night...... and the Loser's Club will induct their newest member..........

Scores: 8~8~8 for a total of 24, total of 76

There is one more dance tomorrow for scores......

That was so much fun. She goofed up but kept on going with a smile on her face. It was like we were in on the joke. I smiled the entire time. Watching Kelly and Louis just makes me feel good.

Dancing Freestyle to You Can't Stop?

You Can't Stop The Beat.

It was OK, but just not smacktabular.

I had thought that that might be the title.......

Scores: 9~9~9 for a total of 27, 87 for the night

That should have been great, but they seemed to be dancing 2 different dances. I don't know if Mya decided to give up on Dmitry's choreography, or Dmitry decided to give up on Mya. They let each other down, but they may still take it.

Well, I saw her do the pony step. Very little dancing. *thumbs down*

And I think Mya's mouth is going to lose her votes, too.

You're right. I don't like her personality one bit, and I'm sure poor Dmitry is hearing about his choice in routines. I kept thinking about the routine that Benji Schwimmer and his partner did to the same song on SYTYCD, and they did it with the joy and fun that was missing here.

I'm sure behind the scenes Mya is blasting Dmitry for this. But I think most of the blame is that Mya never connects with the audience. She never dances "with" Dmitry. She just dances beside him. And then she preaches about changing history and about her great sacrifices to do this show. Did she make sacrifices that the other contestants didn't make? I believe both Kelly and Donny are dancing with foot injuries.

One of the things Mya is missing this season is any improvement arc. She was technically good from the beginning and just went through the motions. I never enjoyed her performances. I was just bored.

LAST EDITED ON 11-23-09 AT 10:26 PM (EST)

Kym decided to have Marie and the stagehands try distract Donny so that it doesn't happen during Freestyle.....

Dancing Freestyle to Back In Business? Let the Good Times Roll?

That was fun!

That was "show business" folks! Wonderful.

Scores: 10~10~10 for a total of 30, 85 for the night

Kym was very smart with her choices. She just got Donny his first 10s. I would be very happy if Kym finally gets her Mirror Ball Trophy. Donny is over 50 and had to work for this.

I really didn't want to like Donny, but you kind of can't help it. I've been impressed with his work ethic, and I'm sure he has made at least as many sacrifices as Mya talked about making. He has a large family, continues to do his show with Marie, and worked through age, sickness and injuries.

(Marie looks really good. I had to chuckle when they brought up her doll freestyle.)

I thought it was funny that Marie kept hugging Gilles. Smart Gal!

You are a 10~10~10.

Hey all -

Haven't posted in awhile, but just needed to get the frustration over last night's performance out. Think I disagree with most of you, but that's okay, isn't it? Just stating my opinion and understand if anyone feels differently.

To me, last night's performances were a debacle. No one deserved to win. Kelly started great and then just tripped over her own feet. That lift with her feet curling and sickling was the start of it. Could a position have looked more silly and undancerlike? Very disappointed. And Mya? That dance was ridiculous! She can't blame her partner because she went along with that nonsense! It looked like she was on some ghastly audition to work in the chorus and not be the star! It was a horrible dance that didn't highlight any advanced skillset at all. And Donny and Kym? The worst! I hated that routine! It was old, tired and had no dancing. It was like an old vaudeville act and we know what happened to vaudeville.

I remember all Cheryl's winning freestyle numbers and just want to cry. Her dance with Drew Lachey was hot, funny and creative. I'm very, very disappointed over this year's finalists. Don't even think Donny should have been in the finals, but that's voters for you. Because he messed up, they felt sorry for him? Great reason for putting someone in the finals!

Can't help wonder what Joanna would have done. Her routines were developing in complexity, but of course we needed to see Donny in a pink boa ... wasn't that just so funny ... not! Reminds me of Marie's doll routine.

If I had to vote just on the basis of last night's routines, I'd have to go with Kelly. At least the idea was there and the beginning was very good. It set a mood. Don't think she really deserves to win, but maybe should win by default. And this is from someone that loved Mya and voted for Mya to be in the finals.

Talk about someone just giving a trophy away! What the heck was she thinking?

I hate to say this, but think Donny will win. Yuck! It'd be almost worth giving him the trophy if Marie promises never, ever to interject her presence on that show and be seen on camera. Like that's going to ever happen!

I actually was thinking about what it would take to bring you out of hiding. *waves*

qwertypie -

Just got time to check this thread and wasn't I pleasantly surprised! Hey you doing?

Yes, nothing like a good rant to bring me out from under that rock!

And wouldn't you know it? The one time I'm right has to be about Donny winning?

Oh, good lord, no!

I think we need to remember that Dancing With the Stars is NOT about the dancing, and never was. From the network's and producers' points of view it's strictly about ratings, what will gain new viewers and what will retain old ones, and other reality competition shows have found that unpopular people doing well can be brutally injurious to ratings. So the purity of the dancing and who the real best dancer is are at best secondary considerations to the network and producers. And from the competitors' point of view, DWTS is half about what will get the judges to raise the highest numbered paddle possible and half about motivating viewers to vote for them, so for them also the quality of the dancing, though important, is at best a secondary consideration. And in motivating judges and viewers to favor you, you have to make yourself at least somewhat likeable, and at this Mya failed spectacularly and Donny flat out dominated. And had Kelly danced better the last 2 nights, Mya would have been 3rd, because Kelly was much more likeable than Mya and would have only needed to be close to her in dancing skills to beat her out like Donny did. Mya and her supporters have no beef. She got what she deserved.

And in motivating judges
>and viewers to favor you,
>you have to make yourself
>at least somewhat likeable, and
>at this Mya failed spectacularly
>and Donny flat out dominated.
>And had Kelly danced better
>the last 2 nights, Mya
>would have been 3rd, because
>Kelly was much more likeable
>than Mya and would have
>only needed to be close
>to her in dancing skills
>to beat her out like
>Donny did. Mya and her
>supporters have no beef. She
>got what she deserved.

Round Robin -

Absolutely! You have to remember those things called "sound bytes." Mya didn't and made those really silly remarks. Now I knew what she meant, but it came across badly that the trophy was hers.

I really think ultimately what the viewers "like" is talent. A good freestyle fosters an emotional connection with someone that we don't have one with. That's why the song choices and performance is crucial. It's not just who is going to survive a round - it's who we're awarding the trophy to! And very, very few people want to give a trophy to someone that isn't nice or who doesn't earn it.

Mya should have kept her mouth shut and concentrated on picking out a dance that would have showcased her dancing skills and that fostered that emotional connection. That dreadful song they picked has no crescendo! It has no hook. I wouldn't be able to hum that if I tried! Then think back to movies with songs and dances that highlight this emotional chord. Like "Dirty Dancing." I can still remember the words and visualize them dancing to "I Had the Time of My Life." And that song not only brought out the emotion of the audience watching, but established an emotional connection between the two characters. You had to dance as if you were interested in your partner for it to work!

I thought the finalists were all wrong this year. Joanna should have been in the finals. I think her connection with that dreadful man and his bunny eared empire derailed that hope. I don't think the men that purchase those magazines vote for that particular TV show. I also liked that Iron Chef guy. And what about that blond kid? He was fantabulous. No wonder they got rid of him.

Too much competition.

I enjoyed Joanna the one time she was with Max. I thought that was a great pairing, and I think Max would have been a much better partner for her in the long run. Derek, in spite of his skill and talent, seems to be sort of kid stuff out there (and making the dance all about Derek). I usually don't like Max, but he added a missing element of strength and maturity to the partnership that would have been interesting to watch.

Sagebrush Dan -

Don't know what's going on, but I agree with you also.

I liked Derek with Joanna, but they were like brother and sister. Max and Joanna sizzled although I think she would have shot herself in the foot rather than switch over to Max. Personalities .... difficult ... clash ... that's all I'm saying.

Personalities aside, Max is so uber male and Joanna is uber female and there were sparks. He also highlighted her body because he's so polar opposite of her.

Those two dancing were like watching the Kirov. They have those kind of dancers - ultra feminine beautiful women and really testosterone amplified men.

Yeah, you nailed it exactly.

The blond kid, Aaron Carter, got the gate because he didn't have much of a fan base and his partner Karina Smirnoff has become somewhat unpopular, though not as unpopular as Derek Hough, whose attitude turned so many people off that it probably was what cost her a place in the finals. Aaron and Joanna were probably both better dancers than Donny and Kelly, but unpopular partners and weak fan bases will kill you in an audience-vote show, and good looks won't save you from that because good looks abound on DWTS.

>The blond kid, Aaron Carter, got
>the gate because he didn't
>have much of a fan
>base and his partner Karina
>Smirnoff has become somewhat unpopular,
>though not as unpopular as
>Derek Hough, whose attitude turned
>so many people off that
>it probably was what cost
>her a place in the
>finals. Aaron and Joanna were
>probably both better dancers than
>Donny and Kelly, but unpopular
>partners and weak fan bases
>will kill you in an
>audience-vote show, and good looks
>won't save you from that
>because good looks abound on
>DWTS.

Good points. Although I don't know what would kill you off from going to the finals and losing popularity points more than seeing that old relic of debauchery - Hefner - sitting in the audience cheering you on. I know I didn't like the idea of Joanna being in the finals for that reason alone. And Hef has done a masterful job of promoting his "bunnydom," with the scattering of playmates throughout the world of reality TV. Frankly, I'd rather not see anymore playmates compete to become Mrs. Antonio or Mrs. Bachelor.

I think one of the points you left out - if you consider it a valid point at all - is the judges subtle role in getting rid of a popular contestant's competition. I've seen it over and over again. Aaron was targeted for removal. They went after him like sharks in a tank in some Bond film. Where was Carrie Ann's vitriolic and bogus rants come from about him being embarrassing? You mean, Kelly screwing up every week wasn't? And I like Kelly and am merely making a comparison that Carrie Ann overlooks Kelly's weekly disasters with footwork and choreography, but Aaron who nails everything gets called on the carpet? Really squirrelly. Carrie Ann did so much butt kissing of Kelly that it that was embarrassing!

I think the ratings prove out that when shows go for the Miss Congeniality Award over talent, they sound their own death knell. And I mean when the judges are complicit in this sort of nonsense.

Personally, in spite of all I've said, this year I think it was Mya's trophy to lose and she did. She has only herself to blame for making that disastrous decision to do that stupid, insipid freestyle and making those equally ridiculous remarks.

I wouldn't say Mya's freestyle was stupid or insipid, but it wasn't anything special either, and that is enough to kill you on DWTS. I don't think the judges necessarily always actively try to undermine less popular competitors, but they do seem to at times blatantly kiss the a$$e$ of popular people and obviously favor them in the scores if necessary. I don't think this sounds the death knell for a show, in fact I think it may happen because the judges and their bosses may fear that ratings will drop and the show will die if unpopular people do too well. I have read unsubstantiated reports that Big Brother has had ratings drops at times when unpopular players stayed in and/or won at the expense of popular players, and have heard of similar drops on Survivor as well as other reality competition shows, and if any of the same is going on on DWTS, I can understand if them what're in charge decide they'd rather whizz away their integrity rather than their cash cow.