DWTS Finale for a Lackluster Season
I have to be honest and admit that this season has been a really lackluster season of Dancing with the Stars for me. I know that some people disagree and have loved the season, but for some reason I just could never get into this season in a big way. Of course, I’m sure the show doesn’t really care too much about me since the ratings have been off the charts this season. Although, I can’t help but wonder how much higher the ratings would have been if it wasn’t such a relatively boring season.
I should make the clarification that it’s still a great show. I wouldn’t have started this blog if I didn’t enjoy DWTS. The dancing is still fantastic to watch and for that I’ll continue to watch the show. However, on the other side of the reality TV mix, I haven’t enjoyed the characters on this season of DWTS.
It kind of reminds me of watching a basketball or football game for two teams that I don’t really care about. I enjoy the competition and the individual efforts, but it’s not nearly as fun when I don’t have a horse in the race. This season I haven’t found a horse that I could really get behind.
Let’s take a look at the final 3 story lines:
Kyle and Lacey – Ok, Kyle is a really likable character. He sure shocked the crap out of me when he was able to move the way he did. However, maybe he’s just a little bit goofy for me to really want to get behind him. Plus, Lacey’s approach to Kyle’s antics kind of turns me personally off to him and so it’s hard for me to support him. Plus, while he’s better at dancing performing than I thought, his dances are still pretty weak and so it’s hard for me to support such poor dancing ability. It’s not like he was Emmitt Smith that had a really incredible style that despite his lack of technique was fun to watch week after week.
Jennifer and Derek – I partially blame the producers for me not liking Jennifer as much as I should. They told the storyline of her injury and pain far too much. Is that her fault? Partially, but when you hear that she’s hurting that much it makes it harder for me to enjoy her dancing. I sit there wondering about how much pain she’s in instead of really enjoying the beauty of her movement and Derek’s choreography. I’m still shocked by her 50 year old physique, but that’s not enough for me to vote. Her dancing has been fantastic overall with only Brandy coming close to her technique. This said, I’m trying to remember if she’s ever had a really break out moment where I thought, she TOTALLY deserves to win because of that dance. Slow and steady might win the race, but if you want me to vote I prefer a bit of shock value.
Bristol and Mark – What can I say? She’s the worst dancer to ever make the finals of DWTS. I know some people love watching her dance and to each their own. It’s just not my thing. In fact, the most compelling reason for me to get behind Bristol is because of all the crazy people that have gone after her. I agree that she shouldn’t be in the finale, but America voted that way and so blame America, not Bristol. The funny thing is that all the Bristol haters might be the ones that propel her to the win. Many times on a reality TV show the people that hate a certain person incite all the Bristol fans to vote in extraordinary numbers. If I were a campaign strategists for the Bristol haters, I’d be telling them to share the story of “Jennifer deserves to win cause she’s a great dancer” as opposed to the story of hate that “Bristol shouldn’t win” just because. Either way, Bristol seems like a very nice girl to me and doesn’t deserve a lot of the negative things that people are saying about her. However, that’s not a reason for me to vote for her. In fact, that’s pretty much my feelings about voting for her mother too.
Is there a storyline that I’m missing here? Has there been something this season that really makes you want to vote? Maybe the vengeful Brandy fans will come out in big numbers tonight for them to vote. I’m just not that vengeful. Or maybe I am, but I wasn’t a huge Brandy fan either.
Either way, I still love the freestyle round. Let’s hope that doesn’t disappoint in tonight’s DWTS Finale.
Plus, let’s hope next season we have some really interesting story lines I can get behind. How about the return of Julianne and/or Edyta? Bringing those two back to the show would be a good place to start.
Poor John – Julianne said in an interview the other day that she doubted she’d be back in a full time capacity. 🙂
I’ll see your lackluster and raise you a “blah”. 🙂
I figured that might be the case. I bet Edyta in school won’t be back either. I can only hope that Peta goes back to blonde and that Lacey goes back to a brunette since she doesn’t count as a blonde;-)
John, I can totally understand. It’s been lackluster from the beginning. I hope for Edyta to return as well. I hope they will pick Peta to be on the show as a teacher. That would totally make up for this Season.
A small correcton, John: Jennifer is 50, not 40. Other than that, I’ll bet next season will be better, although I’m hearing crummy rumors to the contrary (Robin Roberts from GMA, LeAnn Rimes, and Kirsti Alley).
Thanks Carlie. Fat fingered that baby. I’ve updated it.
I bet it will be better too. LeAnn Rimes would be fun I think. The others…not so much. Kristi Alley would be a train wreck. Oh wait…she already is.
I beg to differ. For me, season 11 has been awesome. Strangely, as a Derek fan, I like Jennifer but she hasn’t been my favorite of his partners. I think the age difference messes with my fantasies LOL. I also wasn’t a fan of all the gimicks and themes. What I love is the announcement of a so-so cast that ends up proving me all wrong. I thought Jennifer, Brandy, Rick and Audrina would be in the top 4. Who knew that Kyle would be so good and Kurt hard not to love (especially partnered with Anna). In fact, now love Anna! I thought Cheryl and Rick would be awesome and was proved wrong. C’mon, The Hoff and The Sitch – who knew they would go so soon. Tony, well Audrina turned out to be a bummer. Brandy, who I was hoping Derek would get, was sort of awkward and hard to connect with. Bristol, well she’s a long way from where she started. So it is a finale where anyone of the 3 could take it. It’s exciting and fun. I think we will also get some great freestyles from these 3! Have fun tonight 🙂
season 11 is the only season i have watched. jennifer is old, kyle is fat, bristol is just right. vote for bristol as often as you can!!
razor44,
I actually think the fact that I’ve seen so many seasons makes a difference. If this were my first season I’d likely like it more.
John, you should really blog more! I agreed with EVERYTHING you just said. 🙂
xx,
Thanks. Maybe if next season is more interesting, then I will;-)
I have to beg a differ with you John. I think Jennifer’s Argetine Tango was amazing and deserved highers scores. Then her waltz she just performed. Its not her fault the producers capture her saying my knee hurts. Its not like she wants the attention on her for the injury. Sorry I just really like her because she is a little kid at heart and just enjoys being there. I would enjoy bristol but she seems she doesnt enjoy it as much as the other two. So if Kyle or Jen wins then I am happy.
Great Jordan!! I love when people differ with me. I should mention that I don’t base my opinions of the dances on the judges scores. They’re as scripted as possible. They play certain roles and are part of the story. Their scores matter to the dancers and the votes people get, but not how I rate the dancers.
Like I said, I blame all the Jennifer hurting moments on the producers. She’s only partially to blame since she gave them enough moments to put on the show. I agree the producers should have not put so many on. It makes for bad television when they put it on too much imho.
I wonder what Bristol looks like when she’s doing something she really loves. You’re right that I don’t ever think I’ve seen her have a moment like that on the entire season. Of course, I’m sure I’d be whetting myself every show if I was being seen by 20 million people too.
Too many themed nights is partially why I didn’t enjoy this season. Instant dance was great!
One thing I really missed this season is the group dance. Sure, they had team dances, but I’ve always looked forward to the big not-for-judges-scores mid-season dance. Everyone always seems more laidback and like they’re just having FUN dancing, not worrying about what scores they’re going to get.
Also, I’m usually okay with theme nights. But I wish they had the “Decades” theme in place of Rock Week. I’m a rock fan but that night kind of ended up being a dud.
Yeah, where was the group dance this season? That’s usually one of the best parts of the show. It’s strange they ditched it.
tonight, after watching Jennifer & Derek, I dialed the number to vote for them, countless times , but the number was busy all throughout the night, which made me think someone has blocked the line so people cud not vote for Jennifer and Derek. In the past competitions I would be able to vote , but no, not tonight , its quite obvious some people did what they can to stop the most deserving dancers to win. It is so bad that people would go down to such levels to win!
bring back the group dance. they could do without the decade theme dance and replace it with instant dance.
Marie,
That’s one way of looking at it. The other way is that so many people wanted Jennifer and Derek to win and not someone else that that’s why the phone lines were so busy.
I think the phone lines are jammed because alot of people are voting for Jen and Derek. That can be the only logical explanation. I still say they are gonna do it! They deserve it!
Vote this morning if you couldn’t get through?
I finally was able to vote online at 7:30 this morning!!!
If it wasn’t for Jennifer and Derek it would have been a very lacklustre season. Jen and Derek saved it imho. I actually love the whole process that Jen experienced, yes the pain and the agony, hell the woman has had 4 surgeries during the year before and still she was able to rise to the occassion when she needed to, and having fun and winning isn’t only for the young, but the young in spirit. The legacy of her family is not dance technique but perserverence. The providance of her dad showed us what it meant to be down but not out, and that showbusiness need not be the flavor of the month but the richness that real life brings to entertainment. People look back at the “golden age’ of hollywood entertainment as the best of times, and maybe those times will come back, but only if a taste for struggle and commitment is evidenced in the work. For these reasons Jennifer is my very favorite partner for Derek Hough, because Jennifer sees greatness in him, and her being his partner nurtured the legacy of the greats, comparing him favorably with Patrick and other great dancers before him.