And The Winner Is... #DancingWithTheStars #DWTS #ABC #SeasonFinale
All pictures courtesy of ABC
What a crazy two nights it has been with all the dancing and the
singing and the Christmas spirit and the emotional
tug-at-your-heartstrings roller coaster ride. Christmas came a little
early this year as Dancing With The Stars (#DWTS) had it's two-night
four hour 21st season finale (#SeasonFinale). Woo!
With four couples in the finale, the judges and America had plenty of
potential winners from which to choose. First, there was the
All-American Hero Alek Skarlatos who, after he and his friends helped
thwart a train terrorist in London, became an international story of
American bravery. His story along with his shy and humble nature
propelled him to the top three as his dancing was clearly not the
best. However, the charm coupled with his partner's ingenuity on just
how to properly use him in the dances made for not only good
routines, but one of the more creative dance numbers in the four-hour
finale. Incorporating his military background into the dance, the set
designers and prop masters created a dance-worthy bootcamp set
equipped with ropes, climbing walls and even a drop wall trampoline
for them to fall into at the end of the routine. Though I disagree
with Carrie Ann (it wasn't an all-time great and memorable routine
that viewers will still look back on fondly), I will say that it was
quite possibly his best dance of the season in my eyes.
Next was Carlos Penavega from Big Time Rush fame. After the booting
of his wife Alexa (Spy Kids; Machete) a few weeks prior, he tried
really hard not only to keep positive (he really wanted to dance
against her in the finals), but to give it his all to win the whole
thing. While he had a few inspired moments during the first night, I
thought it was the freestyle where he both shined and may have
floundered. In a never-done-before twist, he invited a few of the
past contestants booted earlier in the season to come back and join
him and his partner in their sports-themed dance that saw them moving
and shaking to Missy Elliot's newest hit "WTF." Probably
the one thing everyone looked forward to the most--him dancing with
his wife--didn't pack the "oomph!" I would have liked to
see. Still, it was a very memorable dance.
Sadly, Carlos' journey would stall in the four spot as he was
eliminated after the first two hours on Monday, cutting the group
down to three.
My two big contenders for the entire season remained along with Alek.
Nick Carter of Backstreet Boys fame not only brought the funk, he
brought the speed in his first dance of Monday night. Truly one of
the most exciting dances of the night, he and Sharna got everyone on
their feet as even he was winded by the end of it, yet still
energized enough to run up the stairs to the balcony section of the
ballroom. Giving the fans more of what they wanted, in his freestyle
he danced to another Backstreet Boys smash hit "Larger Than
Life." Living up to its name, the production saw him not only
flanked by other professional dancers but holding his own in what was
mostly a solo effort in a near mosh pit stage, bringing laughs and
fan hysteria with him.
While Nick went for fun and entertaining, Bindi Irwin, daughter of
the late Steve Irwin AKA The Crocodile Hunter, went for a more
sentimental slant. Partnered with the All-Time great Derek Hough
(he's won five times; it's OK to say that), she danced in a number
that was a send-up of the big band era as helped by Carrie Ann.
Making not breaking hold a point of emphasis as Derek disobeyed that
rule of the dance the previous time he danced it with a partner in
the finale, he made sure not to break the sacred dance rule this
time, ensuring he and Bindi perfect tens for the perfect dance.
.@BindiIrwin & @derekhough definitely impressed with their moving freestyle. Will it be enough to win? #dwts https://t.co/RPxherlg38
— Official DWTS (@DancingABC) November 24, 2015
For their freestyle, they opted for an emotionally heartfelt dance to
encapsulate not only her time spent on the show, but the love she had
for her now deceased father. Dancing to a song based off the old poem
Footprints, she and Derek danced as one with movements more fluid
than water. Sandy footprints projected onto the floor, the routine
ended with a special surprise for Bindi from Derek. The surprise? A
picture of her kissing her father on the cheek as a little girl. All
eyes teary, she could barely make out the second string of perfect
tens she garnered for the night, giving her another perfect night for
the season.
With the top three set, what a night it was. Performances from Meghan
Trainor and Ariana Grande scattered the night with new music. Many of
the past contestants returned as they usually do. Kim Zolciak was
able to return to do the dance she would have had she not suffered
her serious medical condition--a send-up of I Dream of Jeannie.
Unfortunately, due to her ongoing condition Tamar could not return to
participate in the festivities.
Someone who did return was crazy ass Gary Busey and his strangely
hypnotic old man moves. There was also Paula Deen who returned to
meander her way through a dance so badly that she didn't even appear
to know she was back on Dancing With The Stars. Chaka Khan sang her
biggest hit "I'm Every Woman" while her partner pranced
onto camera in the most hilarious attention-seeking moment of the
night. She then sang with the country/pop guy whose name I forgot,
but who makes some really good music.
Another finale that was both outside and inside, the outside setting
was a winter wonderland not shying away from the Christian theme
equipped with both a huge Christmas tree with a star at the top as
well as Santa Claus and his reindeer flying across. The usual
shenanigans of clip compilations and behind-the-scenes stuff was
interrupted by a few important announcements. Not only would the
internet sensation teenager Hayes Grier eliminated earlier in the
season be going on tour with the Dancing pros, but Alek would also go
on tour with the dancing pros. But the biggest announcement of the
night outside of the winner came from across the pond when Len
Goodman videoed in that he would return next season to re-take his
position as head judge.
The time finally arriving, the contestants were whittled down to two after Alek was sent packing. And after all of that, the winner of the 21st season of DWTS is...
 |
| Derek takes home another mirrorball trophy. Almost as dominant as the 50s Celtics. |
Bindi Irwin and Derek Hough. Come on, did you really think that Derek
would not win with Bindi Irwin being a natural-born dancer and their
chemistry being so phenomenal? Congratulations Bindi and Derek...
again, and also congratulations to Nick for making it that far. He
was pretty good too.
What do you think? Did you watch this season of DWTS? Did you pick
Bindi to win? Are you happy that Len is returning? Let me know in the
comments below (hint: click the no comments button if you see no
comments).
If
you’re looking for a scare,
check #AFuriousWind, #DARKER, #BrandNewHome or
#ThePowerOfTen.
For those interested in something a little more dramatic, check
out #TheWriter.
The full first season is out now NOW exclusively on Amazon. If you
like fast action crime check out #ADangerousLow.
The sequel A New Low will be out in a few months. Join us on
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blog with that Google+ button to the right.
Until next time, "dance is not
just about dance. Dance is a lifestyle... about dance."
P.S. What? It's a quote about dance? I see nothing wrong with that.
I'll think of something better next time.
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