(S04E19) After ten weeks, nineteen episodes, and an uncountable number of teases about results coming after the break, it all came down to tonight. As we have come to expect from the finale, ABC pulled out all the stops, bringing back all of the contestants, the pros, and the past champions. Also expected, they allotted an hour more airtime than they really needed, which led to a night that was heavy with pre-taped packages.
One of those got the ball rolling as Tom took us on a trip down memory lane for a look at the history of the show. I think most of that was known to fans, and I'm not sure that anyone that didn't know really cared. It was interesting to see Kelly Monaco, Drew Lachey, and some of the other past contestants, but they were going to be coming up on the live show anyway. I could have gone for scrapping this one, or any of a number of other taped segments, and adding in another pro performance or two.
The lone pro performance of the night followed that up, and it was a welcome change. I'm glad that they got their moment to shine in the finale. Too often the attention gets focused just on the celebrities. I'm guilty of doing that myself. It's important to acknowledge just how big a part of the show all of the pros are, and how great they are at what they do.
Then it was performance time, the so-called third judges dance. I could have done without all the theatrics. The judges completely took themselves out of the equation by giving everyone the same score because the results had already been established. Do you think that they did that whole segment comparing Joey & Apolo just in case the two of them were the final two? They should have just called it an encore performance and been done with it. Pretending that the third dance was actually going to have an effect on the outcome wasn't going to make a difference in viewership. 
Apolo Anton Ohno and Julianne Hough (Pasa Doble) - This was the dance I would have picked for Apolo & Julianne. Going with something that already earned them a perfect 30 was a safe choice, and it was one of my favorite numbers of the entire season, and it was just as good the third time around. A little better even since Julianne was able to correct the one small mistake she made when they originally performed it. Len praised Apolo for his commitment to the show, and that is a very good point. From early on it was clear that he was working very hard. He added that there wasn't one step he could fault. Carrie Ann was pleased with their chemistry. Bruno thought the thing that encapsulates them is the elixir or youth. Score: 30 (10, 10, 10) I think we all saw that one coming.
Joey Fatone and Kym Johnson (Tango) - Choosing a different path, Joey and Kym decided to go with their Star Wars themed tango. Interesting, because it wasn't one of their perfect 30 performances. It's a really good number and they performed it well. Joey's ballroom form has improved, and his ability to entertain is as good as ever. Bruno called Joey a method dancer. Carrie Ann made a point of how Joey puts his mark on every dance. Len said that Joey has been trained, but he's never been tamed. He also liked that they chose a dance that they got an 8 on. Score:30 (10, 10, 10) Joey's daughter in her own little Leia costume was very cute as well.
Laila Ali and Maksim Chmerkovskiy (Mambo) - They also chose to go with a performance that they didn't get a perfect score on. The mambo was an excellent choice. It's a fun dance, and it really plays to Laila's strengths. There is a lot of good choreography to showcase her. Carie Ann was proud of Laila, and said she always brings sophistication. Len liked that she bounced back from some criticism the night before. Bruno thought she did a great job. Score: 30 (10, 10, 10) A nice way for Laila to finish up her season.
After all the dancing was done, that left the judges scores at:
Apolo & Julianne - 88
Joey & Kym - 86
Laila & Maksim - 85
After a segment with the friends and families of the contestants, it was finally time to get to the first of the results. As many suspected, Laila & Maksim finished in third place. I'm sure it was a disappointment, having come so far. But that is still a very nice accomplishment and Laila has a lot to be proud of. She represented herself well in this competition. In the end, Joey and Apolo were just a step ahead of her in the dancing.
All of the eliminated couples came back out for one final, albeit short, turn on the dance floor. It was nice to see everyone one last time, and it left me wondering what would have happened if Shandi could have made it a couple more weeks into the competition. Hers was probably the elimination I disagreed with the most this season.
That led us to one last segment with Jimmy and Guillermo. I haven't been much of a fan of these bits as the season has moved along, but they did finish on a high note. The cut to Len where he said "I'm British, you know?" and the surprise appearance of Clay Aiken were both very funny.
Tom got in on the comedy as he interviewed each of the eliminated celebrities one last time. When Paulina remarked that she didn't like being judged he said, "Lucky for you it didn't last very long." And when Clyde tried to make a joke about the "three hour practices," Tom topped it by asking if that was per week. Nicely done. That led to two more taped bits, one comparing Joey the Entertainer and Apolo the Olympian. The other looking back at the journey the two of them have been on. They were ok, but most of it felt like things we have seen before.
Finally, it was time to get down to the big announcement. After ten weeks, the new champions of Dancing With The Stars are Apolo and Julianne! I was very happy to see them win. You can certainly make a case for either Apolo or Joey. They both did exceptionally well throughout the season. What tipped me in favor of Apolo was Julianne. She impressed me over and over again this season both with her choreography, and the grace and maturity with which she carries herself. It was a very impressive debut. 
All things considered, it was another very good season of the show, and I think the voters got it right in the end. I'd give the season as a whole a 6, because I think they have the formula working just right at this point. This episode in particular though, suffered from far too many filler segments. It would have been a great hour of television, but was just a good two hours. So I am giving this final episode a 5, out of 7.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
5-23-2007 @ 3:36AM
Mandee said...
Yup, Brett, I give the season a high 6 and this episode a 5.
There really was too much pre-recorded filler and -- aside from the contestants' final three terrific dances -- not enough real entertainment.
I think the best dance team won, but it truly was a very tight contest, especially between Apolo and Joey.
Maybe it's just me, but I thought Laila's concession remarks were a bit less gracious than they could have been.
But even with that said, overall, it was a fine finish by three fine performers.
p.s. One last thing: I really hope they ditch the Jimmy Kimmell connection next year. His "interview" with the winners last night on his own show was pathetic: Apolo and Julienne were treated as little more than a backdrop for more lame shtick between Jimmy and Guillermo.
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5-23-2007 @ 6:52AM
MarKeane said...
I agree that last night's show was too long but it's all about the ratings, isn't it? The competition evolved exactly as it should. My heart went out to Leila when she mentioned her bad knees. The injuries held her back. As a former athlete myself I can fully appreciate the difficulties of working through the pain. However, the best dancer did win the trophy. In all, a great and highly entertaining show.
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5-23-2007 @ 7:15AM
Dina said...
I think the show was too long and boring last night. They really didn't need 2 hours to eliminate Laila and 2 minutes left into the show to say Apolo won. I am happy that they brought back the previous winners and had them talk. I was sad to see Laila eliminated; but I loved her comment - I'm pissed! Til next season.
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5-23-2007 @ 7:46AM
Sheila said...
I agree with everyone else about the length of the show - too much filler and fluff - but again, it is about the ratings and the advertisers and - bottom line - $$$.
While I would have loved to see Joey win, I was pleased that it came down to Joey and Apolo as the final two. I agree with the first poster that Laila's comment was less than gracious. Certainly not the show of sophistication that has come to be expected from her.
My big surprise of the evening was Ian! I have been openly critical of him all season long. Yet, last night, when all the stars were introduced at the start, the way he came down the steps with Cheryl and moved across the floor - now THAT was worth watching! (But he lost some of it by the time they had their little turn on the floor later in the show.) Now if he had had more of that kind of energy, poise and character earlier in the season, I think he could have been a real contender.
Great season. Now - I'd like to see an ultimate championship dance-off - all the winners vying for a GRAND title!
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5-23-2007 @ 7:56AM
Bash said...
I never saw this show and had Apolo as the winner just from your reviews :-)
Nice work covering this show. I give the reviewer an 18 out of 20 ;-)
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5-23-2007 @ 8:16AM
Mern said...
Congratulations to Apolo and Julianne - they were fantastic and deserved to be the winners - the best dancers by far! I agree with #5 - let's have an ultimate dance-off and have all the winners come back and compete against each other. What a show that would be!
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5-23-2007 @ 9:14AM
Daniela said...
We all know Laila is the winner. She lost because the show was biased. On top of that, nobody could vote on monday night, if only they had let us vote properly, Laila would've been more than a champion! Laila deserves the shiny trophy. Yes, She does !
Anyways, she's proved to the world that she can box and dance.
Yep, that's Laila Ali. Always, the greatest!
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5-23-2007 @ 9:14AM
Caroline said...
I agree. Laila, thank you for the entertainment. I will miss you. I only watched teh shwo for you anyways. Thank you so much.
Stay pretty and positive.
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5-23-2007 @ 9:13AM
BobbyBuz said...
Finished exactly as I expected.
Apolo & Julianne were the best and deserved the title.
Judges negated themselves with "tens for everyone."
Two hours is much too long.
Laila Ali looked to be more than "pissed."
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5-23-2007 @ 9:15AM
Dave said...
Finally, my favorite won the show. I liked Stacy Kiebler and Mario Lopez in the past two seasons. Way to go, Apolo. Julianne's choreography was outstanding all season. She is wonderful.
I love the idea of past contestants coming back for a dance off. That would really pump up the competition a little.
Dancing with the All-Stars?
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5-23-2007 @ 9:39AM
marvin said...
great season.
Kimmel needs to go, and a LOT less filler stuff next season.
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5-23-2007 @ 9:47AM
mary said...
Though the two guys were both terrific, the right guy won...precise and original. Julie is an exceptional choreographer. As for Laila, she was just better than mediocre, at best, her scores were hyped to keep the "Champs" daughter in the competition for ratings, and she showed arrogance and absolutely no class ever in the competition. I was not surprised by her comments when she lost... that is who she was throughout... not gracious at all. She thought she was in the same league as everyone else...wrong. Now she complains about injuries impeding her... cop out. No class. Her dad
has never made excuses.
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5-23-2007 @ 9:59AM
dbaker52 said...
I believe that Apolo and Julianne were the best. Joey is a performer, comes natural as far as personality, but Apolo and Julianne gave it 100% and they deserved to win 100%! Laila is a poor looser but glad she made it to the finals, but not the winner, she needs a lot more work and using an injury as an excuse is poor sportsmanship - she should know better than that! Julianne is adorable, very poised, a great dancer and will go very far. Apolo is a true winner!
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5-23-2007 @ 10:10AM
DancingLady1933 said...
--happy A&J won, although I would not have been upset to see J&K with the trophy...
I, too, think a dance-off will be coming, although perhaps not until after season 5. Of course, they could do a dance-off earlier by including each winner and runner's up, which would bring the number of couples to 8. And, it would give me the opportunity to watch my all-time favorite, Jerry Rice, again. I was so upset after Drew won in season 2 that I did not watch season 3. Then, I got hooked again by season 4. (Clyde was my early favorite.)
As for L-, well, what made me sad was to see her mother crying. L's mother has been so supportive. One can see how much she loves L. I have never been a fan of L's and I think she should not have been in the final three, but her mambo was one of her best dances. I wish she had been more gracious in her loss; the person she harmed most with her comments was herself.
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5-23-2007 @ 10:26AM
Joanne said...
I just loved Apollo and Julianne. I think that youth won out, but that's OK. Apollo gave 110% to training and winning the competition, showing what a true champion that he is. They were both charming, funny and willling to listen to criticism. I've watched every single show from each season. Thanks ABC for entertainment that my whole family watches together.
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5-23-2007 @ 10:29AM
Anne said...
Here's my take on it all:
First, I agree with #12 that Laila is an arrogant, rude, and self-centered remake of her old man. She has demonstrated this throughout the show and was ugly in her statements. NO CLASS---but then, what do you expect? She never was a good dancer, and should have been eliminated long ago.
Now, the other things. Everyone is right that last night's show was way too long. Boring, boring, boring. How many times can that air-head Samantha ask the contestants what they are taking away from this and how do they feel about the other contestants and what kind of relationship do they have with their partner? Good grief. It is so old and so shallow and so mononteous.
Too much "review". That needs to go to. Bring in more of the pros dancing with each other.
Anyone notice the reply of Heather Mills to Tom that what she missed most was him. Just like her.
And the thrid place elimination of one couple was lame. Samantha declaring that they "would not go on in the competition". Heck, the competition was over. That statement sounded like there was another week to go. How dumb.
There wasn't enough drama last night in the announcement. Of course, most of us had fallen asleep by the time the winner was named.
And, like others, I agree there was no need for that repeat "graded" dance. Along with the same costumes. Not necessary.
In all this season was a 6 and last night was a 3.5
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5-23-2007 @ 10:31AM
MacGuffin said...
It was a great season. Probably the best with the most dedicated and talented celebrities to date.
Like most people, I really dislike all the hype and the filler which is primarily used to get ratings, but which leave many a little dissatisfied with the show.
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5-23-2007 @ 10:39AM
jessie said...
I'm just glad when they took the walk down memory lane they had Kelly as the winner of season one and not that white-haired guy who was sjuch a poor loser and demanded a rematch.
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5-23-2007 @ 10:51AM
Cat said...
Hooray! Apolo and Julianne won! My favorites, and definitely the best. Joey did have the entertainment factor, but Apolo was the better dancer.
Re: Laila's comments. I wasn't offended by her comments-- and poor sports rub me the wrong way. I think she was surprised, but she laughed at herself and was smiling when she said she was pissed. I think she was just joking around. I mean, she worked her butt off only to fall short-- you'd probably be disappointed too, right?
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5-24-2007 @ 11:36AM
mike said...
The real problem will be getting the same caliber of celebrities. Let's hope this is not the high point for the show.
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