5/24 Finale Pt 1 - Show Discussion Thread **Spoilers**

[karalott]

What was the deal with her doing a high wire act? I thought it was a joke but have seen it everywhere (I know how things can run in the media once it's out there).

For the freestyles, I think I call a draw on all 3. But one thing I don't get. I've heard in the press that the producers don't want any elements of ballroom in the freestyles, and would rather the couples either do something hip hop, showy, or just something that's risky and outside all their comfort zones. Yet Len loved the ballroom aspects of Nicole/Derek's, and I know in the past Joey/Kym, and Kelly/Alec all had different ballroom mixes in there's. So if that's the case, why do the pros, who can't do hip hop, attempt god awful hip hop routines? Anyway, makes me wonder what Chad would have came up with had he been here. Nicole/Derek's dancing was great, for 2 dancers, but thought the rest was dull. Evan/Anna's had a lot of good energy, really fun, and I think they were surprised by the criticism. Erin/Maks's was a risk not yet taken on the show, and to all the shippers, wonder if that's keeping their promise to reveal whether they are or aren't if they made it to the finals (either way, I barely got to see Maks shirtless, but his freestyle will do). I think they all had pros and cons to them.

[Bonbonlover]

Okay I can see why they feel they need to bring Jake back.... but why on tarnation do we have to watch Vienna dance?

[karalott]

Okay I can see why they feel they need to bring Jake back.... but why on tarnation do we have to watch Vienna dance?

Your guess is as good as mine. I guess because they're supposed to be America's sweetheart couple until the new bachelorette gets engaged, or that Jake demanded it to keep their 15 minutes of fame going (because now they'll both get interviewed backstage).

Jonathan tweeted that Donny/Marie are fully supporting Evan/Anna so maybe the Osmond fanbase will propel them to victory. I'd like to think the fan votes count but frankly, the judges decide tomorrow who wins anyway. And they have two dances to do it in. I was torn who to vote for. I love Erin/Maks and just want them to win so badly. They've earned it. There's just something so enjoyable about them, and Maks probably wouldn't take a risk like he did tonight with just anyone. But I felt crushed seeing Anna so upset. So will this be the season the Olympian doesn't win after making the finals, or the season where the winner of the freestyle doesn't win? Unless the judges give straight 30s tomorrow, that'll tell who's lacking in the fan votes and who they want to win.

All the couples are re-doing their AT, which Evan and Nicole got perfect 30s on. However, the judges are ranking them instead of scoring them individually for that round. From there someone gets eliminated, and the final 2 do their dance off dance (Evan/Anna a quick step, Nicole/Derek jive, and I don't know about Erin/Maks). I'm still calling Nicole, Evan, Erin in that order, but maybe they're trying to throw Evan under the bus and continue it tomorrow. There's never been an all female final 2, so that would be a first if Nicole and Erin made it. Erin could have the come from behind, endured so much, learned from scratch storyline. Nicole looks like the obvious winner, so maybe they don't want her to be. But she'd have the best ever dancer on this show to wind out the best season/cast ever, so what an ending (by their standard). Either way, I don't think they want Evan winning.

[Pandora2]

All the couples are re-doing their AT, which Evan and Nicole got perfect 30s on. However, the judges are ranking them instead of scoring them individually for that round. From there someone gets eliminated, and the final 2 do their dance off dance (Evan/Anna a quick step, Nicole/Derek jive, and I don't know about Erin/Maks).

karalott, can you explain how today's fan voting factors in? I've forgotten everything I learned in Season 4. If it even still works the same.

[fluff]

Well call me shocked - the judges did not give Nicole & Derek all 10's even though they made a ugly big mistake at the end! I guess it was too obvious for them not to deduct for it.

It was, but for them to only score one point higher than Erin and Maks, even with that flubbed lift, was ridiculous to me.
Until that lift they wer surely headed towards all 10's.
I don't see how you score that routine 9 and Erin and Maks' 9, even allowing for the fact they are very different styles.

[Fritz]

Julianne tweeted "PLEASE vote for Derek and Nicole!!!! Please please please!!! 18008683408 They were the only ones who did their own choreography!"

I was waiting for someone to start that argument, but it kind of disappointed me that she said that. She later took it back, and said her remark was catty.

And I know this is mean of me, but I totally burst out laughing when they messed up that lift.

[karalott]

I'm kind of disappointed Julianne would go there. I mean, she gave input to Mark/Kristi for their season 6 winning freestyle. Mark's mom has come in to help him choreograph. So isn't it the same thing? Did the others actually have their routines choreographed or just get help? It wouldn't be the first time. I was thinking that I wish the pros would just do their own thing and not ask for outside help, but after that remark, I hope Nicole/Derek go down. I get she wants her brother to win, and am fine with her asking for people to vote for him and support him (just like I am with the other pros supporting their spouses and friends). I'd find it odd if she didn't come out and ask for people to vote for her bro. But seriously, it's not the most amazing freestyle ever. And his partner happens to be a dancer. And he's never had a difficult partner to choreograph for/with. Big difference between choreographing for her and for Evan and Erin. Those are the couples who had something to prove. But a win for Derek is a win for the trio. And it'll happen. The judges will see to it tomorrow. I have to wonder if it ever crosses the winning couples mind that the judges, not the fans, are the ones who got them the trophy. So all that's left to wonder about is, will we see a tasteless victory celebration for Derek like we did in season 7? At least Julianne and Corky aren't there to bump Nicole out of the way.

Pandora, the voting is the same, although I think tonight's judges votes count for 25%, the fan voting is 50% (like always), and tomorrow the remaining judges votes make up the other 25%. So it's certainly enough to see where the viewers voted and tip the scale.

[northernviewer]

I'm hoping Maks and Erin win this, Nicole is a professional dancer (don't care that it's not ballroom) and full of herself, Evan, a dancer on ice, and forgettable IMO.... but Erin is,to me, the epitome of what Dancing with the Stars should be... a "star" that goes out of their element to perform on the show and has the natural ability and rhythm, and they just get better and better with training. I thought Erin and Maks were amazing all season, and their free style was risky and beautiful, showing what we all hope is a romance in the making... just love those two!!

[anemone]

from karalott:

Got all of my phone votes in without any trouble. Now lets see if ABC's website wants to be nice tonight.

I got through on the website easily, but only got 3 confirmed votes on the landline and 2 on the cell before I got the "you used all your votes from this phone" message. All of which were for Erin/Maks.

I really enjoyed their freestyle and thought it a good choice to differentiate themselves from the other two. I can't wait to see it again.
I was really glad that it wasn't a tongue-bathing 10 fest for Miss She'z-a-Ringer. I totally expect that they will be scored highest tomorrow, according to the proscribed plan.
I am glad that Erin/Maks did as well as they did today, though. This was a really good finale, considering most of the season was blehh.

[KatydidC]

I'm hoping Maks and Erin win this, Nicole is a professional dancer (don't care that it's not ballroom) and full of herself, Evan, a dancer on ice, and forgettable IMO.... but Erin is, IMO, the epitome of what Dancing with the Stars should be... a "star" that goes out of their element to perform on the show and has the natural ability and rhythm, and they just get better and better with training. I thought Erin and Maks were amazing all season, and their free style was risky and beautiful, showing what we all hope is a romance in the making... just love those two!!

WORD! WORD! WORD!