Who Won Season 10 of Dancing with the Stars?

With Erin & Maks leaving Evan & Anna and Nicole & Derek to dance once final time.

Derek/Nicole scored 30, Evan/Anna scored 28.   That meant their scores were 115 and 108 respectively.  These were then combined with the viewers votes from Monday.

Nicole Scherzinger and Derek Hough are the champions of season 10 of Dancing with the Stars.

Nicole seemed pretty happy about it...

Who Finished Third in Season 10 of Dancing with the Stars

The couples danced for the third time on the Finale of Dancing with the Stars, each performing the Argentine Tango.

The judges had to rank the performances - the best getting 30, second 28 and third 26 (even if it didn't deserve 26!).

The total scores after those performances weer:

Erin Andrews & Maksim Chmerkovskiy - 29 & 26 & 26 = 81
Nicole Scherzinger & Derek Hough - 28 & 27 & 30 = 85
Evan Lysacek & Anna Trebunskaya - 28 & 24 & 28 = 80

And Erin and Maks were voted off.

Scores from the Last Performance Round of Dancing with the Stars Season 10

It's the final week of the tenth season of Dancing with the Stars and the couples have performed their first two dances.

Monday night saw the couples attempting the dances the judges felt they were least adept and then the must anticipated freestyle round.

Here are the scores:

Erin Andrews & Maksim Chmerkovskiy - 29 & 26 = 55
Evan Lysacek & Anna Trebunskaya - 28 & 24 = 52
Nicole Scherzinger & Derek Hough - 28 & 27 = 55

Here are my thoughts on the show:

• Overall I thought the performances were a little sloppy.  Perhaps everyone was trying a little too hard, but there were errors made by all the couples.
• Can you believe it?  Erin and Maks got the highest score of the night with their Samba.  Good for them.  Their freestyle was just OK, a little heavy on the "messin' around" as Len would say.
• I thought Evan and Anna were a little unlucky to score 28 with their Viennese Waltz, I thought it was pretty flawless.  I had to agree with the judges on the freestyle though - the choreography was all over the place.  They couldn't agree what to do and they came up with a bit of a mish-mash.  They danced with fire though.
• Nicole and Derek did a very nice Rumba - Carrie Ann was saying something about lifts but I wasn't really listening.  Their freestyle was perfect - technically and artistically - apart from one error at the end.  They would have got 30 if not for that, and that would have been under-scoring it!

Tomorrow night each couple dances the Argentine Tango.  Then the final two dance once more.  (Viewer votes are only tonight though).

Erin has certainly upset the apple cart by scoring so well - she has just as much chance as the other two!

Dancing with the Stars: Finale Details

ABC have announced the format of the Finale of Dancing with the Stars.

Actually, it's a sort of double Finale as all three couples with dance on both nights.

The Performance Show: Monday, 8-9PM on ABC

Each of the couples will dance twice. The first dance, the "redemption dance" is the one the judges felt they did poorly on. Erin and Maks will perform a Samba, the Viennese Waltz is for Evan and Anna, and the Nicole and Derek will Rumba for us.  The couples will then perform their freestyle dance - one of the highlights of the season.

The Results Show: Tuesday, 9pm-11pm on ABC

The finale is normally simulcast, so there won't be a tape delay on the west coast.

The couples will perform their favorite dance of the season - and everyone has chosen an Argentine Tango! After the judges scores have been factored in, the third place couple will be announced.

The final two will then perform one more time, the judges' scores will be announced (normally very close!) and we will finally know who the winners are!

As usual, all the contestants will return to dance including Chad Ochocinco with a romantic Rumba (ahh, the happy couple...), Pamela Anderson's "hottest dance yet" (I see a stripper pole in the future), a high wire act by Kate Gosselin (even I wouldn't want her to fall...) and a Viennese Waltz performed by Bachelor Jake Pavelka and his fiance, Vienna (where's Chelsie?). The winner of the college competition will also be announced.

I think it's been one of the best seasons yet, and I can't wait to find out who's going to win!

Who are in the finals of Dancing with the Stars?

This week was the semi-finals of Dancing with the Stars - probably the worst time to be voted off.  So close, but didn't reach the final.

After the performing twice, the couples' scores were:

Nicole/Derek 59
Evan/Anna 59
Erin/Maks 56
Chad/Cheryl 52

It's closer than it looks as the viewers votes can have a large effect.

At the end of the results show, we were left with two celebrities - Erin and Chad.

And Chad was voted off. 

Chad was much more personable than I expected, and he really is quite witty (an under-used word nowadays).  With no "formal" training he went further than I expected and definitely grew as a dancer.  He just needs to get over that natural shyness.  Here is the samba he and Cheryl performed in week 9 (the one where he took his shirt off):

Chad Ochocinco & Cheryl Burke - Samba

Posted to Chad Ochocinco Videos on May 18, 2010

Click to Play | View Details

So it's Nicole, Evan and Erin in the finals.  They will dance four times next week, including the freestyle round.

It's going to be a great finale!

Dancing with the Stars Semifinal Judges' Scores

Week 9 of Dancing with the Stars had the final four couples perform twice - a Ballroom round and a Latin round.

I have to say the quality and passion of the dances contributed to one of the best DWTS shows I have seen (and Tom agreed with me!).

Here are the scores:

Erin Andrews & Maksim Chmerkovskiy (Viennese Waltz/Paso Doble) - 27 & 29 = 56
Nicole Scherzinger & Derek Hough (Argentine Tango/Cha-Cha) - 30 & 29 = 59
Chad Ochocinco & Cheryl Burke (Waltz/Samba) - 27 & 25 = 52
Evan Lysacek & Anna Trebunskaya (Foxtrot/Paso Doble) - 29 & 30 = 59

• Erin danced beautifully in the Waltz, and was almost perfect in the Paso.  She and Maks definitely have chemistry.
• Nicole and Derek should have got 60, but Len is a grump.
• Chad is definitely the most improved, and I thought the judges were harsh on his Samba.  He jumped on the "take off your shirt" bandwagon.  Hey - if it works, jump on it!
• Evan was showing his personality a little more this week and it helped.  I felt the Paso was a little stilted, but I'm not a dancing judge, I prefered their foxtrot.

Chad was in the bottom two last week, and has the lowest score this week.  However, Tom shared that all four contestants had received the most viewer votes at some time this season.  Erin was in the bottom two a couple of weeks ago - it's so complicated!

I would like to see Chad stay, but I suspect he is most likely to go.

Dancing with the Stars Results Show Week 9: Miley Cyrus and Sarah McLachlan

The remaining four couples will each perform a new Latin and a new Ballroom dance meaning the performance show on Monday will only be 90 minutes long.

Given there are only four couples left the producers have stuffed more into the results show in week 9 to make up for fewer gloomy celebrities under a red light.

Miley Cyrus is to perform the live television debut of her new single off her upcoming album "Can't Be Tamed".  They were thinking of letting her dance but thought it was too risky given her recent predilection for lap dancing.

The Design-a-Dance will feature Melissa Rycroft and Joey Fatone tangoing to a KISS song.  The celebrities, song and costumes were all chosen via vote on ABC.com.

It's the second round of the college competition, between Rutgers and Utah Valley University.

And finally, Sarah McLachlan will perform two songs - a new single "Loving You is Easy" and her classic, "Angel".  Accompanying her on the dance floor will be Jonathan, Anna, Kym, Dmitry, Damian and Lacey.

I'm looking forward to Sarah McLachlan, and it will be nice to see Melissa and Joey.

Who Left DWTS This Week?

Five couples left, four will go on to the semi-final next week, and 58 minutes of my life were wasted today.

The acts, dancers and others that perform on the results show are excellent - it's just that I don't want to watch 58 minutes of TV to find out who's gong home.  I could do 30 minutes, not 60.

Anyway, after about ten minutes of the show we found out Nicole and Derek were safe.

We also found out that Chad and Cheryl were in the bottom 2.  They then had to stand under a red light for 48 minutes* to find out their fate.  They could have got skin cancer!

Then 50 minutes into the show we discovered Evan and Anna were safe.

After the commercial break, Erin and Maks were told they were safe.

And Niecy and Louis have been voted off season 10 of DWTS in week 8.  Niecy gave a lovely little speech.  Louis managed to get the dancer out of her, without stifling her personality.

Chad is going to have to perform next week to avoid being kicked off.



* well maybe not 48 minutes - just when the camera was on them

The Judges' Scores in Week 8 of DWTS

Five couples each danced twice tonight - a Ballroom round and a Latin round. In the Latin Round each couple was given a "decade".

Here are the scores:

Chad Ochocinco & Cheryl Burke - 21 & 24 = 45
Niecy Nash & Louis van Amstel - 23 & 20 = 43
Erin Andrews & Maksim Chmerkovskiy - 28 & 25 = 53
Evan Lysacek & Anna Trebunskaya - 27 & 26 = 53
Nicole Scherzinger & Derek Hough - 29 & 30 = 59

Some observations:

• Chad was more relaxed this week, but I thought the judges were scoring quite hard. 
• Niecy and Louis enjoy themselves, but I thought Louis' choreography was a little off tonight.  Some of the moves just didn't suit them as a couple
• Erin established herself as a contender
• Evan is very good, but certain dances don't seem to suit him - great waltzer though.
• Nicole continues to dominate - and she got her first 30 - Len was in a relatively good mood!

Niecy and Chad are the obvious ones in danger, and I'm going to assume Niecy will go.

Week 8 of Dancing with the Stars

With the departure of Pamela Anderson we are left with five couples.

This week each couple performs two individual dances.  In the Latin round they will each be assigned a theme from an era in time.  Last season this saw Derek and Joanna doing that rather strange 70s thing all dressed in silver.  The show will be two hours.

On the results show "Dance Center" returns with Len, Kenny Maine and Jerry Rice - always good for a laugh.  The Gipsy Kings will be performing the title song from Toy Story 3 accompanied on the dance floor by Tony, Cheryl, Dmitry and Kym in a Paso Doble.  Also, it's the first round of the college competition - Purdue against University of California San Diego.

The contestants have been tweeting how hard they have been practicing, so it should be a good show!

Dancing with the Stars Birthday party

It was Cheryl Burke's birthday on Monday and Erin Andrews' on Tuesday and to celebrate the cast of Dancing with the Stars went to a party at STK restaurant in LA.

Here are some pictures.

Dancing with the Stars: Anyone Could Go Home! (Seriously)

This week we had the team competition where each team of three got the same score.  Now, while I think it is a marvelous thing to do, it has the effect of minimizing any large difference in scores for the individual dances.

The winners (Team Gaga) got 27 points each and the losers 24 each.  Which meant, as an example, Pamela Anderson, who had the lowest individual score, gained 3 points on Evan who had a 30, and halved the difference between her and Nicole.

As a result, the couples' share of the judges' vote this week is very close:

Nicole Scherzinger & Derek Hough 17.4%
Evan Lysacek & Anna Trebunskaya 17.4%
Chad Ochocinco & Cheryl Burke 16.7%
Erin Andrews & Maksim Chmerkovskiy 16.4%
Pamela Anderson & Damian Whitewood 16.4%
Niecy Nash & Louis van Amstel 15.8%

Niecy needs 0.6 percentage points of the viewers' vote more than Pam or Erin to be safe.  But she also needs only 2.6 points more than Evan/Nicole to be top!

Pamela has been in the bottom two a couple of times already so she is looking as the one most at risk, but Ido think there is a chance of an upset, if not a favorite going home, then one being in the bottom two.

We shall see!

Judges' Scores in Week 7

Week 7 saw six couples left which meant they could do the three couples versus three couples thing.  It's always fun, but those scores can make a difference!

Each couple danced individually, and then it was Team Gaga (Pam/Damian, Nicole/Derek, Chad/Cheryl) versus Team Madonna (Niecy/Louis, Erin/Maks, Evan/Anna).  Here are the scores:

Erin Andrews & Maksim Chmerkovskiy - Quickstep - 27 & 24 = 51
Chad Ochocinco & Cheryl Burke - Viennese Waltz - 25 & 27 = 52
Nicole Scherzinger & Derek Hough - Waltz - 27 & 27 = 54
Pamela Anderson & Damian Whitewood - Waltz - 24 & 27 = 51
Niecy Nash & Louis van Amstel - Quickstep - 25 & 24 = 49
Evan Lysacek & Anna Trebunskaya - Argentine Tango - 30 & 24 = 54

Some notes:

• After the fake argument, Erin and Maks danced very well, with Len especially complimentary
• Chad bought Cheryl a necklace for her birthday.  And they danced very nicely, but Chad was still holding back.  If he can get over his shyness (sic) I think he could have a chance of winning
• Nicole and Derek were the best
• Pam did OK
• I thought Niecy got a higher score than deserved, but so what
• Even and Anna got a thirty, but I can't see that it was that much better than Derek and Nicole's
• Gaga were better than Madonna

The scores are pretty close, so it's all going to be on the fan vote!

Someone goes home tomorrow!

What's Happening in Week 7 of Dancing with the Stars?

This week the couples will dance twice again - an individual dance and then a team dance.

According to BuddyTV here are the individual dances:

Pamela Anderson and Damian Whitewood: Slow waltz
Chad Ochocinco and Cheryl Burke: Viennese waltz
Evan Lysacek and Anna Trebunskaya: Argentine tango
Erin Andrews and Maksim Chmerkovskiy: Quickstep
Niecy Nash and Louis van Amstel: Quickstep
Nicole Scherzinger and Derek Hough: Slow waltz

They will then form into two teams:

Team Gaga (dancing to "Telephone) - Pam & Damian, Cheryl & Chad and Nicole & Derek
Team Madonna (dancing with "Holiday") - Evan & Anna, Niecy & Louis and Erin & Maks

The team approach can make a big difference to the scores because it really does make a difference what team you're on!

On the results show the band "Train" will perform two of their songs.  I've never heard of them, but I'm sure they will do very well.  There will also be a medley of Elvis songs: "Viva ELVIS by Cirque du Soleil" - that's going to be interesting!

See you Monday!

Who went home in week 6 of Dancing with the Stars?

Ah, the results show.  Great musical talents, wonderful dancing, humor, drama.  I really don't like it.  But that's just me!

This week we had Melissa Etheridge (very good), Bernise and his Fiery Guitar (great performance, fantastic name) and we saw Tony Dovolani, which was nice.

Here's how the fate of the couples was announced:

The first to be announced safe were Erin, Maks and his bare chest:

After performing their Samba once again, Chad and Cheryl are pronounced safe.

Nicole and Derek are safe (no surprise there), but Jake and Chelsie are still in jeopardy!

Pam and Damian are safe so that leaves Jake, Niecy and Evan.

The bottom two are Niecy and Jake.

And Jake and Chelsie have been voted off in week 6 of season 10.

Jake was quite charming and enthusiastic, but he was never going to win.  I wish him luck.  Here is their performance from Monday night:

Who Will Be Voted Off in Week 6?

Now that "that person" has left (I'm trying not to mention her for a couple of weeks) it's harder to pick someone who is obviously going to go home.

This week Jake, Niecy and Evan (!) had the bottom three judges' scores.  Evan has never been near the bottom before, Niecy has managed to avoid the bottom two and Jake has been there once.

Here's the share of the judges' vote this week:

Nicole Scherzinger & Derek Hough 17.2%
Erin Andrews & Maksim Chmerkovskiy 16.3%
Chad Ochocinco & Cheryl Burke 14.8%
Pamela Anderson & Damian Whitewood 14.4%
Evan Lysacek & Anna Trebunskaya 12.9%
Niecy Nash & Louis van Amstel 12.4%
Jake Pavelka & Chelsie Hightower 12.0%

Pam was in the bottom two last week which meant that Niecy and Chad must have had at leat 1.7 percentage points more than her in the viewers vote.  This time Niecy would need to gain 2 points on her to be safe.

On the assumption Evan has a large following, I think it's between Jake and Niecy - with Jake my pick to leave.  Besides, Niecy wants more cookies...

Who do you think will leave?

Two Dances, One Elimination On Dancing with the Stars

The couples will dance twice this week on DWTS (I don't think I could have taken Kate dancing twice!). The individual dance will be a Samba or  Argentine Tango, and all of the couples will compete in a swing dance marathon.

The celebrities have also designed their partners' costumes this week.  I think this is a great idea, it's just fallen flat before - hope it will be better this time.

The results show will feature Melissa Etheridge and "Benise and His Fiery Spanish Guitar" (sounds like fun!)

Here's an extract from the press release:

Episode 1006/1006A - This week on "Dancing with the Stars," the competition heats up as the remaining couples will take on a new challenge with the Samba or Argentine Tango, and all seven teams will hit the dance floor together in a swing dance marathon. In another twist on this week's competition show, each celebrity will design the costumes for his/her team's number, MONDAY, APRIL 26 (8:00-9:32 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

On following night, the fifth couple to be eliminated this season will be sent home, on "Dancing with the Stars the Results Show," TUESDAY, APRIL 27 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET).

Performing on Tuesday will be Grammy and Academy Award-winning singer/songwriter Melissa Etheridge. Accompanied on the dance floor by Edyta Sliwinska and Alec Mazo, she will sing the massive hit "Come to my Window" from her six-time platinum album "Yes I Am," which spent two and a half years on the album chart and earned her a second Best Female Rock Vocal Performance Grammy. Etheridge will also perform the first single, "Fearless Love," from her triumphant new album of the same title, which arrives April 27 on Island Records. The single has already hit Top 25 on the Hot Adult Contemporary chart and has risen to #10 on the Triple A chart. Series dance pros Maksim Chmerkovskiy, Anna Trebunskaya, Chelsie Hightower and Tony Dovolani will accompany this performance.

Also this week, world class Nuevo Flamenco/Spanish guitarist Benise will perform "Salsa Salsa" from his Emmy winning multi-cultural stage show. Benise's new special, "The Spanish Guitar," will be airing on PBS in June with a nationwide tour this Fall. "The Spanish Guitar" was filmed over three years and across 10 countries. Benise, armed with his Spanish guitar, takes us on a spectacular journey of music and dance through Spanish Flamenco, Cuban Salsa, African Rhythms, Argentinean Tango and Brazilian Samba. Backed by a stage full of musicians, an orchestra and 12 elaborately choreographed dancers, the show captures world music at its best. Special guests include Dave Koz, Kimberly Locke, Giorgia Fumanti and "Dancing with The Stars" pro couple Nick and Lena Kosovich. Benise has produced, arranged and released eight albums on his own independent record label, Rosanegra Music, plus three DVDs on Rosanegra Films.

Among the seven couples remaining in the competition, one of the following teams will be sent home on Tuesday:

PAMELA ANDERSON (actress and model) and partner DAMIAN WHITEWOOD.

ERIN ANDREWS (ESPN host) and partner MAKSIM CHMERKOVSKIY.

EVAN LYSACEK (Olympic figure skating champion) and partner ANNA TREBUNSKAYA.

NIECY NASH (comedienne and host) and partner LOUIS VAN AMSTEL.

CHAD OCHOCINCO (NFL star) and partner CHERYL BURKE.

JAKE PAVELKA ("The Bachelor" star) and partner CHELSIE HIGHTOWER.
 
NICOLE SCHERZINGER (pop star) and partner DEREK HOUGH.

What will it take for Kate Gosselin to be voted off?

We have the people who want her to stay (#keepkate), and the people who have had enough of her (#hatekate) - who will win out this week?

She was particularly kate-ish this week, complaining she didn't have time to practice because her kids were visiting LA, she hadn't seen "The Breakfast Club" and the book wouldn't publicize itself...

I've decided I want her to stay actually.  I'd never vote for her, but here are the benefits of her staying on the show:

• it brings Tony Dovolani one step closer to beatification
• I like George Lopez
• it's fun to listen to the squeals of anguish from the #katehate-ers every week

I have to admit I avert my eyes when she actually dances now -- it's sort of like watching someone having a tooth extracted.  But, give her her due, she's still there and trying.

So, can she stay this week?  Here are the shares of the judges votes:

Nicole Scherzinger & Derek Hough 16.8%
Evan Lysacek & Anna Trebunskaya 15.6%
Jake Pavelka & Chelsie Hightower 13.3%
Erin Andrews & Maksim Chmerkovskiy 12.7%
Pamela Anderson & Damian Whitewood 12.1%
Chad Ochocinco & Cheryl Burke 10.4%
Niecy Nash & Louis van Amstel 10.4%
Kate Gosselin & Tony Dovolani 8.7%

In order to be safe Kate needs to get more than 1.7 percentage points of the viewer vote more than Niecy or Chad, or 3.4% more than Pam.

In the first elimination she actually made up more than 2.8 points over Pam so it's not impossible. 

My feeling is that she probably has enough votes over Niecy, and Niecy is most likely to go home.

What do you think?

The Judges' Scores in Week 5 of Dancing with the Stars

Week 5 was movie night.  Each couple had "iconic" music from the movies to dance to.  Except they all seemed to be 80s movies.  I wonder if the music was cheaper then?

Here are the judges' scores:

Pamela Anderson & Damian Whitewood - 21
Chad Ochocinco & Cheryl Burke - 18
Erin Andrews & Maksim Chmerkovskiy - 22
Niecy Nash & Louis van Amstel - 18
Nicole Scherzinger & Derek Hough - 29
Evan Lysacek & Anna Trebunskaya - 27
Kate Gosselin & Tony Dovolani - 15
Jake Pavelka & Chelsie Hightower - 23

• The judges loved Nicole and Evan
• They were impressed with Jake
• Erin and Pam performed to their normal standard
• Chad was stiff and Niecy was jiggly
• Kate had regressed and got worse again

I love this show!

It's Movie Night on Week 5 of Dancing with the Stars

It's movie night on Monday, with the eight remaining couples doing the Jive, Quickstep, Cha Cha Cha, Tango, Foxtrot and Rumba to songs from movies like "Pulp Fiction," "Breakfast Club" and "Risky Business".

On the Results Show on Tuesday, Maxwell will perform his single, "Fistful of Tears"; Debi Nova performs her newest single; Macy's "Stars of Dance" pays a tribute to memorable movie dances and Adam Carolla will be back "Between the Mirror Balls".