The finale of season 11 of Dancing with the Stars was billed as the most exciting and controversial ever. If you didn’t know that before watching it, hosts Tom Bergeron and Brooke Burke reminded the viewers how shocking the season was seemingly every 9 seconds.
In a finale stuffed with a lot of filler (at one point I walked away when David Hasselhoff was talking and came back a few minutes later to Florence Henderson dancing really poorly in a yellow turban), most of the season’s losing contestants came back, except Michael Bolton who was performing in London, and Audrina Patridge, who was reportedly sick, possibly suffering a bad case of SoreLoseritis.
The three finalists had two more dances to do for the judges’ scores. Half of the competitors’ final score comes from the judges and half comes from popular votes, which weren’t a factor in last night’s scoring. Only the judges’ scores counted, and Jennifer Grey led from start to finish.
Bristol Palin was the competitor who caused the most controversy, inspiring debate on her success all the way to the finals that was fueld solely by popular votes, because the judges’ scores put her at the bottom nearly every week. But fan votes couldn’t push her all the way to the mirror ball tropthy. She placed third, deservedly so. Her dance moves improved over the course of the season, and she loosened up a lot, but her performance just wasn’t mirror ball trophy material.
So then there were two: Jennifer Grey, who the judges drooled over most of the season, consistently giving her perfect 10 scores, and Kyle Massey, so full of energy and force of personality that overcame his sometimes technical problems.
After a really long suspenseful pause, Jennifer Grey was crowned the champion of Dancing with the Stars.
Jennifer’s win was deserved. She was the best dancer with a good attitude to match.
Kyle Massey has nothing to be ashamed of. If he’s smart, he can parlay his runner-up status into a much bigger career, either continuing with Disney or on his own.
What can I say about Bristol Palin that won’t be controversial? Nothing, so all I’ll say is TGIO, Thank Goodness It’s Over.
Photos via NYDN and thanks to ABC.
I have a crush on Mark Ballas.
I’m glad Jennifer Grey won 🙂
Nobody puts baby in a corner ( I had to say it). I didn’t watch at all but I love Jennifer Grey and I am very happy for her.
Thanks god Jennifer won.
I really wanted Kyle to win but I knew it was going to be Jennifer.
I did not know who Kyle was going into to this season of Dancing and being a child of the 80’s I’ve watched Dirty Dancing countless times so I was pulling for Jennifer from the get go…BUT..Kyle really won me over during the season and I was kind of hoping he would win. I got sick of listening to Jennifer complain about being old and having injuries…
Am I the only one who finds it “interesting” that someone with severe back problems is not only able to perform two dances, but get two perfect scores as well? Sorry, but I never cared for whiny “drama queen” Jennifer, and was really hoping Kyle would win. That said…at least the winner wasn’t Bristol!
I am shocked at how heavy Bristol got.
Why is it that even by doing all that exercise she gained weight? I really want to know!
Professional dancer. Feigning injury. Beats amateurs. What a contest!
One thing that I thought was interesting last night was after Bristol danced, Kyle was applauding wildly up in the balcony, but after Jennifer danced, he gave her golf claps. I wish Kyle had won, and I hope that Derek Hough gets someone like Rosie O’donnell next season.
Maybe Bristol is one of those stress eaters. I mean it seems as soon as she started this show she put on weight. If she wasn’t exercising, I can only imagine how heavy she would’ve gotten.
I was rooting for Kyle. Jennifer was an obvious ringer and I got tired of her constant whining about how her back hurt, etc, etc. If it wasn’t for DWTS she’d be doing an occasional Lifetime movie. In fact, even with DWTS she’s still going to only be doing Lifetime movies. I think Kyle is the only one of the final 3 who can use this experience to his advantage.
Story is that Bristol ate fast food while on the show bc she didnt have any time so she put on weight.
Celebitchy, I heard Bristol was a sore loser last night and made some comments – any word on those?
i’m not a fan of the show but i am super glad ms. grey won! she’s certainly earned it!
It turned out the way it should have, IMO. Jennifer got the best scores, Kyle did really well & has a great personality, and Bristol had no experience & did well but not enough to win.
i wouldve never recognized jennifer grey if it wasnt pointed out to me. im guessing she got a nose job. its a cute nose, but her old nose really separated her from everyone else. im glad she won
I’m delighted Jennifer Gray won. I knew she would. Somewhere, Patrick Swayze is smiling…
Oh, and the go-go boots and the feathers on Bristol-who comes up with the costumes?
Ugh! Can’t stand the tantrum throwing Jennifer Gray. I was rooting for Kyle.
Sammie323,
Excellent report. I too walked away when David showed up – couldn’t watch, embarrassed for him. I love your term for the two no shows. Soreloseritis.
Filler was not necessary. It shouldve only been an hour show.
So happy Jennifer won. She was graceful and gracious.
Again, I truly enjoyed you writing. So refreshing.
I really wanted Kyle to win. As pointed out, he has such a great personality, and I just LOVED him. I have to say though, when Derek and Jennifer did the dirty dancing on top of the judges table…I kinda cheered. Dirty Dancing is one of my all time fave movies, and that made me incredibly happy 😀
#16- You do know that Patrick Swayze and Jen Grey were on the outs throughout the making of DD, don’t you? They weren’t the big buddies, as it has been portrayed. Kyle was the true winner. No whining, just classy.
I am so glad Bristol finally got voted off, I would have been really pissed if she had won. And next season I hope they don’t bring on another dancer to “compete” with the “stars.” And maybe they’ll actually be able to get a star? Also was sick of Jennifer whinning and smug expression and her leering at the camera and shaking her fanny at the start of each show. She clearly was the best dancer, but I would loved to have seen the expression on her face if Kyle had won.
“jen”
“feigning injury”
Are you a moron? she had multiple surgeries in the past year and even survived cancer. The woman was in agony everyday (hence the crying)but she still pushed forward and I’m so happy she won. So suck on that loser!
I’m bummed it wasn’t Kyle. Jennifer left me cold. Bristol was likable to me, I don’t care who her mother is. She wasn’t winner material but Kyle certainly was.
Even my DAD watched this season! He did it so he could snark about everyone, but still!
I thought Kyle’s 90’s “fresh Prince” dance was awesome & hilarious! Yes, Bristol did improve, but she wasn’t the best. Out of those 3, Jennifer deserved to win.
I read that Bristol said something along the line of “if I win it’ll be a big middle finger to those people who hate me & my mom”.
Edit: @whatever ~ She ruptured a disc too! She looked pretty loopy during the beginning interview, but I’m glad she was able to work thru the pain
Ah…DWTS…I appreciate that people work their asses off and have a ton of guts to go on national tv and dance – I can’t imagine how scary that must be. That being said: THANK GOD IT IS OVER. PLEASE PLEASE GIVE US AT LEAST 6 MONTHS BEFORE WE HAVE TO SEE THE CONSTANT MEDIA ATTENTION THIS CHEESY POINTLESS SHOW GETS. PLEASE!
I admit it — I watch DWTS ever season — I love its tacky fun, so sue me. But the whole controversy over Bristol was the dumbest thing I’ve ever seen. Every year someone gets into the finals who doesn’t really “deserve” it based on the public votes. Marie Osmond, Jerry Rice, Emmitt Smith (who beat the far superior dancer, Mario Lopez). But this year, a guy actually shot his tv over it & Bristol & her partner Mark actually got death threats! WTF is wrong with these people? It is a DANCE SHOW for the love of cheese!
Jennifer Grey was the by far the best dancer, but I would have liked to see Kyle win it because I never really like the “ringers” (which Grey was). Plus, Kyle, who I didn’t even know before the show, was super adorable!! But all in all, I’m glad Bristol didn’t win because who knows what kind of crazy thing would have happened. Get a life, people, and CHILLAX.
@Vanessa: According to HuffPo, Bristol said that winning the award would have been like giving the middle finger to everybody who doesn’t like her and her mother.
Really classy. 🙄
I thought it was quite telling that Bristol even made it that far; it clearly shows Palin supportors are (A) Delusional since this is a dancing show and Bristol was pretty bad (even after her “journey”; or (B) Spiteful since again this was a dancing show and Bristol was pretty bad (compared to let’s say Brandy); or (C) All of the Above.
@heathen: word
okay, great, the show is over? can we stop with the over-obsessing with non-celebrities… oh and the DEATH THREATS! sheesh, its a gd reality show
/rant
I’d never watched DWTS before watching a few online clips from this season, but I MUST say, Kyle is all class, fun, and entertainment. He’s awesome. I hope he does become more successful. He seemed truly joyful on every episode I saw, and he was quite the gracious runner-up.
I do wish DWTS would stop letting professionals on the show, though. Injured or not, Jennifer Grey is still worlds beyond most people’s dance skills. As was Nicole from last year (or the year before?). That level of skill isn’t particularly necessary to make it entertaining.
I knew Bristol had lost the second they showed the audience and Sarah Palin was not there.
I would have liked the last 2 to have been Bristol and Kyle. It’s too bad a lot of negative stuff is printed about Bristol. The producers asked her to be in the show (not the other way around). I believe she behaved very well and always tried hard to learn and improve. Considering she had no experience, I found her refreshing.
Kyle’s energy was contagious.
I wanted Kyle to win, I think he was the real underdog in the competition, he probably came in with 0 fanbase and their was no drama surrounding him.
@Cheyenne – I actually heard Bristol make that comment last night during the show and I couldn’t believe what I was hearing! You’re right – she’s really a “class act” and I think she showed her true colors with that remark.
Everyone who says Jennifer Gray is a whiner must be under 35 years old and has never experienced any real pain. You just wait – it hurts as you age, especially if you have old injuries. She has my utmost respect for working through her pain. BTW – Jennifer was never a professional dancer, either.
She’s a great dancer, but Jennifer’s whining really annoyed me whenever I’d tune in.
You don’t get abs, arms, etc, like hers by having a body that “won’t do what [you] want it to.”
@ERM: It ALSO shows that there a lot of Palin supporters out there. They managed to accomplish the impossible, and they’ll do it again in 2012.
Hey AllieGator she lost…what exactly was accomplished here? (and the same thing will happen in 2012 please God and thank you God)…
I love dancing with the stars. I am a professional ballroom and latin dance instructor and always amazed at how quickly the stars learn. I think Jennifer Grey did an excellent job learning dance given the amount of time she had to learn.