<p>OK, I didn’t like Shawn’s routine. Looked like a floor exercise, not a dance.</p>
<p>I loved Melissa’s, really liked Shawn’s but more gymnastics than dancing, and I don’t like Kelly. I would be happy with Shawn or Melissa but rooting for Melissa</p>
<p>Sent from my SCH-I535 using CC</p>
<p>I was actually expecting more gymnastics and less dancing in Shawn’s routine - I was pleasantly surprised and thought the dancing in the routine was lots of fun.</p>
<p>This was probably my favorite night as far as Kelly was concerned. For some reason her dancing doesn’t usually click with me, but I liked her tonight. </p>
<p>I think I liked Melissa’s best though. I’d like to see her win. She is so graceful down to the tip of her fingers when she dances.</p>
<p>What was Derek thinking–re-doing the routine that didn’t follow the rules and got low marks from the judges last time and NOT changing the routine!!! I only wish that Shawn was old enough to tell him that he was being stupid!!! Hello…the judges scored it lower again…has he been paid off to throw the match?</p>
<p>Loved the Shawn freestyle and thought that Melissa did an absolutely wonderful job on her two dances. I think Melissa’s stock has gone up after tonight.</p>
<p>I just voted for Melissa. I’d like to see her and Tony win. Shawn and Derek can come in second place, Kelly/Val third. </p>
<p>I have no idea how scores/votes get tallied. I think Shawn/Derek can break dance rules with more impunity than either of the other two due to solid fan bases, Derek’s independent of Shawn’s. I think final scores will be close and I wouldn’t put money down on any particular couple.</p>
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<p>Exactly. </p>
<p>I was really put off by Derek and Shawn’s grandstanding about “pushing the envelope.” For doG’s sake, she’s a gold-medal winning Olympic gymnast. It is nothing to her to do tricks and lifts. It WOULD be something if she actually danced without depending on tricks. IMHO, they picked the quickstep because they could A) do a lot of tricks and lifts, and B) play to the fan base sympathy by posing as freedom fighters who were “dedicating this season to the fans.” I would have been more impressed if she had performed one of the routines where she actually just danced. I remember one where she was surprisingly good. Tango? Rhumba? It would have provided a contrast to their freestyle. Then bringing in yet more Olympic gymnasts to bring in yet more of that fan base instead of using troupe dancers… they have no shame. If this were called Tumbling with the Stars, Shawn should win.</p>
<p>Melissa and Tony really deserve to win. Val and Kelly did a lovely job, but they will undoubtedly be third.</p>
<p>I would like to know how much the judges know about the popular vote. Do they look like they’re standing on principle by scoring Derek and Shawn low on the first dance, knowing it’s not going to hurt them anyway?</p>
<p>If you are going to fault a contestant for their previous experience (ie Shawn’s being a gymnast), then how about the fact that Melissa was a Dallas Cowboy’s Cheerleader? Pretty strong dance background there, I’d say.</p>
<p>^^^ That’s why I’m partial to Kelly.</p>
<p>I don’t fault Shawn for being a gymnast, I fault her for relying too much on gymnastics and not enough on actual dancing.</p>
<p>I agree re Kelly.</p>
<p>Agreed. Also I think Melissa and Tony took more of a risk with their choice of freestyle. I would have been shocked if Shawn had done so. Everyone knew her routine would be upbeat and featuring lots of flips. Too predictable.</p>
<p>Exactly, Youdon’tsay. Melissa and Tony were the real risk-taking envelope-stretchers. And it was beautiful and elegant as hell.</p>
<p>But I also loved Kelly and Val. They played the romance angle up just right last night. No longer moody and clingy – the final dance was the happy ending, full of fun. She’s too old to be the ingenue, but just imagining Kelly feeling giddy in love like a schoolgirl was just sweet. I know I’m reading too much into it, but, for me, it’s been like movie and I’m willing to be swept up in it all. I’m not saying that Shawn is Darth Vader, churchmusicmom, just that Derek usually gets great partners and that Shawn has, IMO, overly relied on her gymnastics. It’s like they were preordained to win. I like to root for the underdog.</p>
<p>For some reason, watching Kelly dance doesn’t make me happy. If I didn’t love Shawn I’d be hoping Melissa would win. </p>
<p>I actually do think Melissa will win. I think Derik’s idea to break the rules again came off as arogant. He ask Shawn something like “do you want to follow the rules or do you want to be entertaining?” as if it’s an either/or proposition, or as if the other couples who do follow the rules aren’t entertaining.</p>
<p>I was glad to see the Fierce Five there, just because it’s great to see those young ladies having so many fun opportunities.</p>
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<p>Made me smile, just imagining this…</p>
<p>Going into last night’s show, I thought Shawn has been the best of these three all season. But last night, I thought Melissa was the best. I haven’t felt that Shawn’s previous dances have been too gymanstic-y, but the freestyle (yes, anything goes) did seem like she was doing a gymnastic routine more than dancing. I’ve enjoyed her other dances more (even though it was entertaining). Kelly’s freestyle was lovely. Melissa’s modern dance was really good and had some challenging lifts and such. So, while for the season, I’d have picked Shawn, I may have gone with Melissa for the night itself.</p>
<p>9-11 pm for the finale??? Forget it! I’ll find out who won in the morning!!</p>
<p>Since I can’t get the channel, I guess I’ll just have to wait. :)</p>
<p>Yes! America got it right!</p>
<p>Great ending except it was a shame they were so stingy with the ticker-tape and stuff</p>