The Finalists (includes wk 10 spoiler)

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martyboy

16-05-2009

I haven't had the time to post detailed comments on the various shows this season, though I have watched them all. I'd just like to make a few brief (and unresearched) comments about this season's finalists:

To me, the most watchable dancers are Melissa and Gilles. Hard to choose between them, though I have a personal preference for Melissa (because she's female, and I loved her samba solo last week).

For once, all the finalists do seem to be genuinely talented dancers. There's noone left who is there because they "made a journey". Ty was such a person. I think that Ty and Chelsea, were both "nice people", and it's a bit of pity that they left.

I don't have much enthousiasm for Shawn as she seems a bit mechanical - proficient but lacking emotional involvement. And I can't stand her partner, Mark Ballas. He still gives me the impression of overdancing, making more and sharper moves than his partner, and gives me the impression of being an egotistical show-off, which I strongly dislike.

(I noticed an article on Google News last week about Shawn's celebrity fees. ABC normally keep these details under wraps, but because Shawn's only 17, there was some legal process she had to go through to get on the show, and which made her fee public. Besides the $125,000 she gets for appearing on the series, she's gets a $50,000 bonus for extra each week she stays in).

One difference which fascinated me was the difference in the closeness between Melissa and Tony, and between Gilles and Cheryl. I particularly noticed that in Melissa's foxtrot and in her q/s this week, she and Toni kept their bodies miles apart. This spells, to me, a lack of chemistry. Whereas Gilles and Cheryl seemed to have their bodies glued together in their foxtrot, with Cheryl writhing about sensually. Their closeness was noticable in this week's dreamy waltz too.

kaycee

16-05-2009

Originally Posted by martyboy:
“
To me, the most watchable dancers are Melissa and Gilles. Hard to choose between them, though I have a personal preference for Melissa (because she's female, and I loved her samba solo last week).

I don't have much enthousiasm for Shawn as she seems a bit mechanical - proficient but lacking emotional involvement. And I can't stand her partner, Mark Ballas. He still gives me the impression of overdancing, making more and sharper moves than his partner, and gives me the impression of being an egotistical show-off, which I strongly dislike.

One difference which fascinated me was the difference in the closeness between Melissa and Tony, and between Gilles and Cheryl. I particularly noticed that in Melissa's foxtrot and in her q/s this week, she and Toni kept their bodies miles apart. This spells, to me, a lack of chemistry. Whereas Gilles and Cheryl seemed to have their bodies glued together in their foxtrot, with Cheryl writhing about sensually. Their closeness was noticable in this week's dreamy waltz too.”

I agree with most of what you have said; Gilles & Melissa should be destined to be first and second, but I have to say Melissa really let herself down big time this week with her cha cha. I was very weak, and more worthy of week 3 or 4 at best, not the semi.

I don't agree though, that because the gapping in Melissa and Tony's quickstep is an indication that there is less chemistry between them than between Gilles and Cheryl. It is much easier for a pro dancer to "glue" herself to a celeb partner than it is the other way round; also foxtrot being much slower it is easier to keep body contact than it is in quickstep with all its flicks and kicks and very fast tricky steps.

I do agree about Shawn; I too find her cold....... a friend of mine who watched the show this week for the first time (she's not interested in dancing) said she thought Shawn was very pretty in a gormless sort of way. And Mark egotistical show-off?

He's always been that way inclined, but in real life is really nice with it! (Honest!)

martyboy

20-05-2009

Comment below includes implied final results spoiler...

Spoiler

footygirl

20-05-2009

Originally Posted by martyboy:
“Comment below includes implied final results spoiler...

Spoiler

Well, having seen the outcome, I got that completely wrong didn't I.

Presumably the US voting public see things differently.

”

So what happened with the result then- don't tell me they went for Shawn over Gilles and Melissa

Force Ten

20-05-2009

If you look on the Links to Watch and Read about DWTS, you find all the links to the clips of the Finale plus loads of comments in spoilers. Please don't let on who won as there are several people who are trying to avoid finding out until they can watch it on Watch on Friday.

kaycee

21-05-2009

Reply = results spoiler, so don't look if you don't want to know!

Spoiler

martyboy

21-05-2009

Spoiler

Force Ten

21-05-2009

Spoiler

Puffle

21-05-2009

Originally Posted by Force Ten:
“

Spoiler

It was very very close apparently - less than 1% between Gilles and Shawn. I knew should have voted lol.

”

me too!!! lol

kp2ni

21-05-2009

Spoiler

I saw the finale and thought that Shawn would win because her freestyle was far superior to the other two.

Melissa freestyle was all tricks and no substance and Giles freestyle was all about Cheryl

Also people thought she was undermarked in the group tango as Melissa did an obvious mistake but still got tens from Carrie Ann and Bruno and more marks than Shawn

A lot of people saw the three as equal going into the final. Giles started great but was becoming too safe and predictable almost too consistence , Melissa had trouble with injuries and had a dance background whereas Shawn did get better in the last three/four weeks whether or not you think she is cold.She reminded me on Kristi who I also thought was mechanical or cold at times

Going into the final I wanted to see Melissa win due to the fact she was a great dancer and I wanted Tony to win but after seeing the final I wanted Shawn to win. I like Giles and if he was with Lacey or Karina I think he probably would have won (or maybe it just that i would have liked to see him win more with Lacey or Karina) but Cheryl choreography has been getting worst the last few weeks it became more about her and choreography started to look the same as stuff they did before (Kind of remind me on why I didn't like Karen and Mark in some of their dances)

As for Melissa's background She was on the bachelor where she was picked by the bachelor as the girl he wanted to be with. In between when the show was taped and the reunion show he split with Melissa and got with the runner up the same week the reunion show went to aired Melissa was picked to replace Nancy

As for Shawn being plump

I'm sure a lot of girls would love to be as "plump" as Shawn. Hardly wondered there are so many eating disorders and size zero sticks when people think an athletic like Shawn is plump

Sorry your favourite didn't win but personal insults about a 17 year old girl is just a bit

- i know you probably didn't mean anything by it but I never understand why it is necessary to comment on girls size like Shawn or Sabrina yet if they were guys no-one would care as long as they can dance

kaycee

21-05-2009

Whooops, I seem to have hit a nerve and apologise for any offence.

I don't think girls should be a size zero (an American equivalent to a British size 8), and certainly not suggesting Shawn should be that size, but she is certainly no size 10 either, which would probably be quite healthy for her height. And I can't help it if I find her cold and devoid of personality, that's how she comes across to me.

We all have our opinions; but as I say I apologise for causing offence.

kp2ni

22-05-2009

Originally Posted by kaycee:
“Whooops, I seem to have hit a nerve and apologise for any offence.

I don't think girls should be a size zero (an American equivalent to a British size 8), and certainly not suggesting Shawn should be that size, but she is certainly no size 10 either, which would probably be quite healthy for her height. And I can't help it if I find her cold and devoid of personality, that's how she comes across to me.

We all have our opinions; but as I say I apologise for causing offence.”

No offence caused

just tired of hearing about people's weight last year it was Cheryl and Lacey, the year before it was Sabrina now it is Shawn. Even on Strictly this year people were talking about Ola and Lilia's weight

I didn't realise Shawn was only 4'10"/ 4'11" What height is Mark? Is that not a big height different between them?

As for finding Shawn cold I had the same problem until a few weeks ago. I think she just concentrated so much on her steps she forgot to have fun or show her personality similar to Rachel Stevens but she seemed to have more fun the more she thought she had no chance to win

Spoiler

Would have loved to see Ty freestyle

Spoiler

babinaba

23-05-2009

I'm assuming I can talk about it now that it's been aired. Anyway I wanted Melissa to win - I didn't want Giles to win but that was purely down to Cheryl - I'm so glad that I didn't watch DWTS when she was dancing with Drew Lachey cause I love him but wouldn't have wanted her to win - have never warmed to her at all.
I have to say that on the night Shawn really was great - I loved her freestyle and I agree about Giles' being all about Cheryl - she obviously wants the lead in the Flashdance stage show (if there is such a thing) lol.
Good finale (spoiled slightly by the most annoying person in the world - Lady Gaga - luckily no pros were dancing so I could fast forward her stupid annoying voice)
Re: Shawns weight - I don't think she's a big girl - I think she may just be carrying a bit of puppy fat which is quite normal for a teenage girl. She's obviously not unfit and must train for her gymnastics.

Puffle

23-05-2009

babinaba I'm with you - I too wanted Melissa to win but to be honest her freestyle was AWFUL - had they come out and done a beautiful American Smooth type ballroom freestyle and really played to her elegance it could have made a difference. I have to say Shawns cha cha tonight was much better than the original - she really did look like she was having fun tonight.

I also think Gilles suffered for being partnered with Cheryl - she's won it twice and if the American's are any thing like us Brits they want some one else to win (and yes I know Mark has won it before) not the same person all the time. I'd love to have seen him dance with Karina as I don't think she's ever had a decent partner (certainly not in the shows that have been shown on the UK channels anyway) and it'd have been interesting to see what she could have done with someone with genuine talent.

Re Shawns weight - well to be honest I was shocked when I first saw her as she obviously had put on weight after the Olympics BUT it's not unusual for someone who's used to using lots of energy and perhaps being able to eat what they like to suddenly gain weight when they're not burning up the calories like they used to. I have no idea whether she's still training for gymnastics competitions or has retired but if she has retired then that's perhaps why she'd put on weight. Since she's been dancing she has lost a lot of the weight and being small she's always going to show a gain of a few pounds more than someone taller.

Fudd

23-05-2009

You can't out-trick a gymnast, and that was Melissa's problem. Shawn was always going to have the upper hand in that department, and it showed Tony and Melissa up. Melissa's advantage was in the gracefulness and elegance of her dancing, and Tony really needed to take advantage of that.

And that's where Shawn won it. Mark took advantage of her strengths, building a free-flowing, energetic, technically strong and very exciting show dance, which mixed lifts, tricks and dance. Melissa's was a cheer leading routine, which is good for a football stadium, but not the dance floor in this case, for the reasons stated above. Gilles...again Cheryl didn't play to his strengths. He was the strongest dancer in the competition, but the freestyle did not show this off.

As for the Paso Doble dance off...I really enjoyed it, but was I the only one who thought it appeared the three of them had gone backwards since the judge's coaching?

kaycee

23-05-2009

I liked the fact that - unlike scd - all 3 finalists get to last right to the end without 1 being eliminated after 2 dance. Much fairer.

PASO face off
Whoever was in charge of the costuming should be sacked QUICK! Mark & Gilles were way OTT & looked ridiculous; Cheryl's outfit was a mess, Shawn's was weirdly outdated & Melissa's... was it remake of Mel B's paso dress? Of the dance -

Gilles was the only one really convincing, having the right mannerisms and feeling;

Melissa was ok, but her feet and ankles were very weak;

Shawn also ok, but lacked performance and feeling.

Freestyle
Gilles It is easy to forget when watching freestyle that it is the man who orchestras all the lifts and as such has to more difficult roll to play, while sometimes appearing as if he isn't doing very much. Think this was the problem here, Gilles looked like a pro the way he lifted Cheryl, but he needed a bit more dancing in between...

Melissa Not really my cup of tea, but I thought Melissa was very brave doing something so out of her comfort zone, and different from her usual 'girly' (& I don't mean that in a derogatory way) image. Lots of difficult lifts that she managed really well.

Shawn The routine was fast & slick, with lots of moves that would be easy to her as a gymnast - though I have to add Mark did them just as well. It was good, but lacked the wow factor.

kaycee

23-05-2009

Results program

Without a shadow of a doubt it was soooooooooooooo long it became tedious. Apart from a number by Lady Gaga (I guess she's a matter of taste!) the first HOUR + QUARTER was all spent on repeats & pre-eliminated celebs. SCD gets their who final results show (incl eliminated celebs) in less time than that!

Last dance I don't know why the judges bothered to mark this as it seemed they may have agreed to give them all max points, as they didn't pick up on a single fault!!??

Shawn cha cha - A good dance BUT spoiled by a tendency to hunch shoulders, and look at the floor instead of up at her partner & the audience.

Melissa Samba is difficult but I thought Melissa danced it well. I wish I had her previous samba to compare it with, as (it might be my imagination) I thought this lacked a little of the energy of it's first outing.

Gilles This was the best dance of the final, and the entire season. It was in a league of its own, and should have been marked higher than the other 2.

Puffle

23-05-2009

Kaycee - I absolutely agree with everything you've said above. The costumes in the Paso were hideous. The freestyles weren't as WOW as I expected and I just couldn't agree more with your summaries. I would only add that I thought Shawn enjoyed her Cha Cha a lot more the second time - but the other two were equally as good and I agree about Melissa's samba - it seemed to lack a little bit of the bounce the first one had.

Really disappointing Final for me I have to say.

kaycee

23-05-2009

Puffle - I agree, the final seemed a little disappointing for me as well - a bit flat in places, would you say, as if they were just killing time?

Maybe - and it's only a theory - the series as a whole had been so much better than the previous series, that some of us had greater expectations?

Force Ten

23-05-2009

Originally Posted by kaycee:
“Results program

Without a shadow of a doubt it was soooooooooooooo long it became tedious. Apart from a number by Lady Gaga (I guess she's a matter of taste!) the first HOUR + QUARTER was all spent on repeats & pre-eliminated celebs. SCD gets their who final results show (incl eliminated celebs) in less time than that!

Last dance I don't know why the judges bothered to mark this as it seemed they may have agreed to give them all max points, as they didn't pick up on a single fault!!??

Shawn cha cha - A good dance BUT spoiled by a tendency to hunch shoulders, and look at the floor instead of up at her partner & the audience.

Melissa Samba is difficult but I thought Melissa danced it well. I wish I had her previous samba to compare it with, as (it might be my imagination) I thought this lacked a little of the energy of it's first outing.

Gilles This was the best dance of the final, and the entire season. It was in a league of its own, and should have been marked higher than the other 2.”

Here you go:

Melissa's First Samba in Week 9

Final Samba

kaycee

23-05-2009

Originally Posted by Force Ten:
“Here you go:

Melissa's First Samba in Week 9

Final Samba”

Oh my goodness - you are on the ball, aren't you? Thanks for posting the 2 sambas.

Having watched both again I think there is very little to choose between them - and maybe that is the problem. Usually when a dance is repeated in a final it is quite a bit stronger than the original, and this wasn't.
Gets back to that "expectation factor" I guess!

Puffle

23-05-2009

Originally Posted by kaycee:
“Puffle - I agree, the final seemed a little disappointing for me as well - a bit flat in places, would you say, as if they were just killing time?

Maybe - and it's only a theory - the series as a whole had been so much better than the previous series, that some of us had greater expectations?”

Yup I'd agree with that - I also think they dragged it out far too long, thank god for Sky+ so I was able to FF through most of the filler on the second programme.

Interesting to see that both Samba's are actually pretty similar and I'd agree with you about the dances they did being so good first time it's difficult to improve on them.

I'd have liked to have seen Melissa take a chance and do her Jive actually. I think it'd have been excellent and I'm really disappointed that we never got to see her do it.

kaycee

23-05-2009

Originally Posted by Puffle:
“Yup I'd agree with that - I also think they dragged it out far too long, thank god for Sky+ so I was able to FF through most of the filler on the second programme.

Interesting to see that both Samba's are actually pretty similar and I'd agree with you about the dances they did being so good first time it's difficult to improve on them.

I'd have liked to have seen Melissa take a chance and do her Jive actually. I think it'd have been excellent and I'm really disappointed that we never got to see her do it.”

Yes, that would have been good.

Lilystar

23-05-2009

I was also disappointed by the finale, but I think some of that may be that I didn't get the result I wanted. If I had, I would probably look back on the show and think it was slightly better.

I was really disappointed that the only pro dance we saw was Anna and Maks (despite loving that), I would have expected more. Could have easily done without one of the Lady GaGa numbers for me!

Oh well, only a couple of months to go til the next one

Puffle

23-05-2009

Originally Posted by Lilystar:
“I was also disappointed by the finale, but I think some of that may be that I didn't get the result I wanted. If I had, I would probably look back on the show and think it was slightly better.

I was really disappointed that the only pro dance we saw was Anna and Maks (despite loving that), I would have expected more. Could have easily done without one of the Lady GaGa numbers for me!
Oh well, only a couple of months to go til the next one ”

Agreed - LOVED Anna and Maks's quickstep BUT they could easily have had a pro dance for the eliminated pro's instead of the awful Lady GaGa

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