Last night many people were shocked to find out that Shawn Johnson was the winner of Dancing with the Stars. I wasn’t. As I said in my web blog, I thought Shawn Johnson earned the Mirror Ball Trophy. She was always technically correct and as the weeks went on she turned up her performance and musicality. Here last night’s Cha Cha Cha was fun and she looked so cute dancing. At only 17 years old she has accomplished a lot of great things, keep it up because you will go far in your future. Congratulations Shawn!

Gilles was his typical sexy guy dancing. At least we could always count on that. He only lost by less than 1 percentage point. It was a close one but I really think the viewers picked the right winner.

Melissa Rycroft came in third and she was thrilled. She did a great job all season long and I’m sure doors will open for her as well.

The Pro-Dancer picked by the viewers was Anna. I knew that. As I said before, they needed a woman dancer because Julianne Hough was leaving. I must say that Anna is a very beautiful woman and a great dancer so I think she will do well next season.

Until later,

Linda

Last night’s final of Dancing with the Stars showed the true colors of the last three stars. It started out with all three of the stars performing the Paso Doble. Gilles Maririe’s Paso was perfection and so was Shawn Johnson’s. Melissa Rycroft’s Paso was not so perfect. I must say all were entertaining.

The Free Style dances started out really great with Shawn’s dance but then Gilles and Melissa’s were just okay. At the end both Shawn and Gilles were tied with 58 points with Melissa bringing up the rear with 56 points.

It seemed for awhile that the judges were talking down Shawn’s performances because she was young and not sophisticated. I didn’t like that at all. Shawn has grown into a fine dancer, she may not have the perfect lines but she can perform. Melissa is older but does not have that “star” quality about her. As for Gilles, what can I say? He is a performer and knows how to dance.

In my opinion, I really want Shawn Johnson to win. She has grown up before our very eyes and is performing superbly. Gilles is an actor and knows how to perform, but Shawn has worked very hard and I feel that she deserves to win the coveted Mirror Ball Trophy.

Tonight the stars dance one more dance and then the winner is picked. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for Shawn to take it all.

Until later,

Linda

Last night, Ty Murray was the next celebrity dancer to leave Dancing with the Stars. It was sad, but expected. He did his best and the fans loved him. But he certainly wasn’t the best dancer. For a cowboy he did great – I know that not too many cowboys would even attempt to do what Ty Murray did.

The three stars left are Gilles, Shawn and Melissa. Good luck to them and they better bring on their “A” game for next week. Who will win? The celeberity that the viewers relate to the most should win.

I did enjoy the dances from the up and coming professional pros. Anna was fantastic and looks like she may be next season’s professional to dance and train a star. Mayo was good too, but lacked some personal touch. The show does need a woman professional since Julia Ann Hough is leaving the show. Anna should fit the bill just right. Besides the judges were favoring her dances more than Mayo’s. It should be fun to watch next season.

Until later,

Linda

The semi-final show of Dancing with the Stars seemed a bit slow last night, especially the first half hour. The stars were reviewing their best dances to decide what they needed to improve on to do a better job. Boring! Just dance for heaven’s sake!

I really didn’t see any improvement from the stars. Maybe they decided to fine tune their dances, but their dances were just as I expected them to be. After ten weeks of performances this is how I see the stars’ performances.

Gilles Maririe is the sexy dancer and he kept up the same style with both his Waltz and Salsa. I really didn’t like his Salsa. Gilles danced the Salsa in Gilles fashion – sexy and that’s okay but for some reason his performance didn’t thrill me. Maybe I missed something, but the judges loved both his dances and he received the highest score of 60 last night. He will go on to the finals next week, that is for sure.

Shawn Johnson’s dances were fantastic. This young girl has bloomed into a well performing dancer. She shows passion in her performance and displays her characters well. I was disappointed that the judges gave her a 26 for her Jive. I believe she performed the dance very well – looked like a young girl having fun dancing the jive. Her total score was 56. She’s going on to the finals, for sure.

Melissa Rycroft’s performances last night was in the same style of performing as she has done consistently. Careful, smooth – more ballerina than a dancer. I didn’t care for her cha cha cha, I thought it wasn’t jazzy enough. Her quick step was good fun and Len gave her a 10 for the dance. Her final score was a 55. Not sure about her going to the finals.

Ty Murray’s dances showed me that even a cowboy can dance. Maybe not at the level of Gilles Maririe, but he doesn’t have two left feet. He had several missteps in his waltz but his samba was fun. He even shook his behind to make a point. I’m not sure about him going to the finals either.

So there you have it, Gilles and Shawn should be moving on to the finals. Melissa and Ty to me are on the cusp of not going. I really don’t think Ty has what it takes to compete in the finals. But if the voters keep him, I know he will give it his best cowboy effort.

Until later,

Linda

Was it really a shock or was it something that was meant to be? Last night Lil’ Kim had the lowest scores and was eliminated from Dancing with the Stars. Shocker? No, not really. As I said yesterday, I really wasn’t into her performance the last several weeks.

I’m glad Ty Murray made it through to the semi-finals. But is he really semi-final material? No, not really. But it was nice to see someone who has no dancing skills make it through. I don’t think he will make it to the finals.

Who’s left? Gilles Maririe, Shawn Johnson, Ty Murray and Melissa Rycroft. My prediction for the finals will be – Gilles, Shawn and Melissa. But they all need to step it up. Gilles has the flair, dance quality and musicality. The last few weeks he seems to be stuck in a rut and needs to expand his dancing to show his performing side. Shawn is predictable. She is technically sound but needs to bring forth more of her personality. Melissa shows us her ballet flair but that doesn’t mean she can perform any type of dance. It should be an interesting final four.

Loved the Dance Center segment with Jerry Rice, Kenny Mayne and Len Goodman. Not hilarious but cute.

As for the professional dancers, I think Anna should be chosen, she has the personality and the patients to be a great dance teacher. Heck she taught Maurice Green to Tango and he did very well.

Until later,

Linda 

Last night the five stars danced two dances – Ballroom and Latin. After all the dancing was done, Melissa Rycroft had the highest score of 57 followed by Gilles Maririe and Shawn Johnson with 56. Lil’ Kim had 52 and Ty Murray 46.

It seemed that the judges really want Ty Murray to leave. I know he’s not the most agile dancer, but he does have heart and is really trying. My opinion is that either Ty Murray or Lil’ Kim should be eliminated tonight.

Yes, that’s right, Lil’ Kim. I’m not into her dancing. Her Waltz was not her best dance and her Salsa was terrible. Her bionic booty does nothing for me and actually when her individual performance in the Salsa was just short of a pole dance. Time for her to go.

But I think Ty Murray will be eliminated tonight. That would leave Lil’ Kim, Melissa Rycroft, Gilles Maririe and Shawn Johnson in the final four. With Melissa’s injury she still isn’t dancing up to her potential. Hope she can continue to the final.

Until later,

Linda