<p>D’s and I started watching a bit late in the season. Didn’t catch all the remaining shows, but enough to get a good idea of the dancers’ abilities. Anyone else surprised/disappointed by the finale tonight? So as not to spoil it for West Coast viewers, let’s just say we thought for sure the second place or third place finishers were going to be the ones to beat. </p>
<p>Not usually a big fan of dancing, but am always impressed with how good these non-professionals get by the end of each season.</p>
<p>I wasn’t disappointed with the result at all.</p>
<p>I’ve been watching for 3 seasons and that Gilles and Shawn were the last 2 standing was no surprise. I had 5 votes and I voted 3 for Shawn and 2 for Gilles.</p>
<p>I’ve noticed from past seasons that the free-style dance in that last finale is often what will determine the winner in a close competition. Both Melissa and Gilles’s freestyles were underwhelming (as if scores of 28 can be considered underwhelming) while Shawn Johnson’s was spectacular! </p>
<p>The freestyle is a tough dance because the pro has to choose the right choreography for the dance. By the finale, the stars can dance whatever it is you throw at them. Often the freestyle becomes a bunch of disjointed lifts, which doesn’t please the judges or the TV voters. (Think Mel B. and Helio Casteneves from 3 seasons ago–Helio’s race car freestyle was the only freestyle that the judges liked that season finale, and he won over someone who I considered was a better overall dancer.) The judges didn’t think that either Cheryl or Tony choreographed their freestyles well. And I’m sure that it cost a lot of votes.</p>
<p>I could have been happy with any of the three dancers getting the top prize (“the coveted mirror ball trophy”). Shawn Johnson has really come alive the past three weeks–once she learned the art of “selling” a performance (for me, that dance she did to that song from Aladdin was a turning point). Like any great athlete, Shawn Johnson peaked at the right moment (and she was LUCKY that Mark Ballas is a great choreographer who came up with a dance that really spotlighted her and her personality).</p>
<p>Shawn Johnson kept surprising me all season–I certainly underestimated her. Gilles may have earned the most judges’ points for the season, but once you get into the finale, it’s like post-season in the basketball championships…what you do NOW is what will determine your success.</p>
<p>Great season except that I saw way too much of Steve Wozniak and Steve-o, the dance off between the bottom two never changed the result even when one of the couples did better on the dance off, why in the heck would I want to watch the two worst dancers dance again anyway, and Ty Murray stayed one-two weeks too long.</p>
<p>I was disappointed that Gilles and Cheryl didn’t win but I would have been almost as happy if Melissa and Tony did. Shawn and Mark just didn’t do it for me. She didn’t have the elegance and grace of the others. I would have much preferred to see Lil Kim in the finals instead of Shawn.</p>
<p>I think Shawn grew so much as a dancer and was rooting for her and her cute smile. I do think Gilles was a fantastic dance and I expected him to win, but very happy Shawn won. Does anyone think </p>
<p>Cheryl could have lost it for Gilles? She is not as likable as Mark; maybe voter voter more for Mark than Cheryl. Mark and Shawn made a cute couple and one has to remember she just turned 17. Yes, Gilles had the sex appeal and I did love watching him. His wife is one lucky woman to have him!</p>
<p>I don’t know - maybe Gilles’ appeal swayed us a bit!
Every time we saw him dance he made it look very fluid and almost effortless, and think he could easily pass for a professional dancer. If I had to rank the three, I probably would have ranked him first for style and elegance, Shawn Johnson first for power and athleticism, and Melissa first for having the best combination of all those qualities.
I do think the top three (and yes, I would have added Little/Lil Kim in there too) were the best we’ve ever seen on DWTS. I never would have expected to watch or enjoy a show about dancing this much.</p>
<p>We screamed with joy at our house - we’ve been huge Shawn fans for years - since gymnast D found video of her beam routines on YouTube, before she was a household name. She did a great job but I feared that Gilles would win. I’m pretty sure that all three judges had the hots for Gilles.</p>
<p>I screamed with fury at my house. Shawn was obviously being pushed for the win by the show. Simple to give her an advantage by having them go first on voting night and have inadequate lines available: the lines were immediately jammed, and it was virtually impossible to get through and vote. Anyone who waited to see how all three danced to start voting had little chance of getting through.</p>
<p>Gilles was consistently the best. (And a very nice guy.) If there were any justice he would have won. But Shawn had a bigger fan base. I will agree that their freestyle was not up to Cheryl’s usual choreography standard, although the performance was superb. (Unlike Mark and Shawn, who were cute but very ragged.) If she had done for him what she did for Drew, they would have had two more judge’s points and perhaps the win despite Shawn’s fan base.</p>
<p>I too, was totally pleased with the Top 3 couples this season and thought that any of them could have won. I just think that Shawn had a bit more “name recognition” than the other two, and that may have put her over the top. I did love her final freestyle dance much better than the other two. For those who enjoyed watching, try to take in the Live Tour when it comes to your area (although I don’t think they will tour now, it is usually after the fall season). I have seen it twice and really enjoyed it.</p>
<p>Shawn doesn’t have the elegant body lines like Melissa and Gilles do. But I thought Shawn had great elegance while dancing–the judges always gave her high marks on the elegant ballroom dances (foxtrot, waltz,etc.). I thought that she had trouble getting into character for the Latin dances, especially the paso and the tangos–but she finally learned to do that by the end of the season.</p>
<p>Lil Kim was my early favorite, but she never could break through on the elegant ballroom dances. Bruno was right: she had an easier time being the tramp than the lady. She should have been in the final 4, though. You knew that the finals would include Gilles and Melissa, with the 3rd position being up for grabs. I figured that Shawn and Lil Kim would be fighting for it. Who would have guessed it would be Ty and Shawn! For me, that was the BIG disappointment–not having Lil Kim fighting in the semis for a spot in the finals.</p>
<p>Great, great finals–but my favorite/best dancer in the 4 seasons I’ve seen is Kristi Yamaguchi, hands down!</p>
<p>ellemenope - I agree that Kristi Yamaguchi has been the best one they have ever had. My DD always felt she had an unfair advantage over the other dancers because of her ice skating background and all of the dance she would have had over the years to skate like she did. One of DD’s friends is a serious competitive ice skater and she takes as many dance lessons as skating lessons each week.</p>
<p>Weird. I posted earlier this a.m., but it’s not here now. I don’t think I said anything bad.</p>
<p>Bottom line: While I was hot for Gilles, I’m not disappointed Shawn won. </p>
<p>Cheryl’s “Flashdance” routine did not use him to the best of his ability. From the first notes, all I could think about is how that number is about the Jennifer Beals character and found myself the whole time watching Cheryl’s pink dress. Additionally, Mark played it just right with Shawn. He had to really use a light touch because she was only 17, but by the end he managed to, appropriately, releash her inner vamp.</p>
<p>Added note: I would kill for Melissa’s body.</p>
<p>I only watched it from the top 5 down or so but I was rooting for Gilles and Melissa. Shawn is cute but she just doesn’t have the dancer’s body and it detracts from the performance. She looks too much like a little girl dressed up in her mom’s clothes.</p>
<p>She can’t help it she’s short and muscular. I think that’s what makes her accomplishment all the greater (says the average-height, overweight poster!).</p>
<p>missypie, aren’t you in super shape from your Grand Canyon trip? You could be on the sidelines. ;)</p>
<p>And I’m lmao at my typo – releash. No S&M action for Shawn!</p>
<p>I am thrilled that Shawn won because she deserved it - Gilles had natural elegance and Melissa had the ballet training, and even though they were learning new dances, they didn’t have the obstacles the others had. Shawn, OTOH grew and became a ballroom dancer. She was always good at the beginning, but she became the most well-rounded dancer of the group, eventually becoming comfortable in the Latin dances, as well. Gilles still wasn’t totally at home outside of Latin as seen in his freestyle (although he did get better) and Melissa still had a tendency (which I noticed in her Paso) of doing ballet moves and positions. And I thought as I watched her freestyle that it was more of a cheer routine than a dance. I was cheering Shawn on the last 6 weeks!</p>
<p>What was amazing about Kristi is that she was soooooo uncomfortable with the Latin hip shaking, boob undulating moves, yet Mark was able to get her past that. Also, she was so stone faced at the beginning–he had to really work to get her out of that also. When you watch the pros’ faces while they dance, they make such exaggerated faces–but it works!</p>
<p>The judges never liked Gilles fast non-Latin dances–Len found them “too frenetic.” But, man oh man, could that guy dance the Latin ones–especially the dramatic ones like the tangos and especially the first paso they did. When he stabbed Cheryl in the chest at the end of the number, it really did look like a bullfighter doing the coup de grace on a bull! I don’t believe we’ll ever see a guy do Latin better.</p>
Shawn was obviously being pushed for the win by the show. Simple to give her an advantage by having them go first on voting night and have inadequate lines available: the lines were immediately jammed, and it was virtually impossible to get through and vote. Anyone who waited to see how all three danced to start voting had little chance of getting through.</p>