If Brooke join any season except season 1, she will not win or even get into the final 3.

HOpe season 8 , the celeb can dance better than season 7 or I will not watch it anymore.

Look at the lackluster free style. Compare to Season 2, season 4 when Apollo-Julianne and Joey-Kym awesome freestyle. Helio-Julianne was good too. And of course last season Kristi-Mark.

Like lots of people said here free style really can make you or break you. From Stacy season 2, Leila season 4, Mel B and Marie season 5, etc etc.

So we really had to give our hat to Cheryl, Julianne and Mark who can coreograph a good free style round. I am not so sure that Derek free style deserve a 30.

The most famous seasons of DWTS have been the seasons where there has been a true rivalry between two celebs who usually trade off the lead on the scoreboard week in and week out. S2- Drew Lachey vs. Stacey Kiebler, S4- Apolo vs. Joey Fatone and even S3 which saw the show down of Mario Lopez vs. Emmitt Smith.

This is true, as Brooke was the top scorer almost every week. Last night’s conversation here was so compelling; I am sorry I wasn’t here at the time. (Just celebrating my birthday.)

One point, there was too much praise for Brooke. It was unnecessary as the judges’ scores were so high. At times, I felt they were too hard on Lance and Lacey. Len’s score of 10 on Warren’s dance was undeserved.

I wish Lancey had not done the Hip Hop dance for the Finale. It was not what I expected or wanted.

Overall, it was a good season!

Pure cheese, just what the audience watches for.

Congtrats to all the dancers!

Poor Alec, they finally get a model who can dance, and they pair her with Derek.

I would really love to see Edyta or maybe even Kim (such a good sport) win next season.

KrazeeK120
Nov 25th, 2008 at 11:11 pm

There is no way Lance or Warren had a shot at overcoming the judge-given gap between themselves and stiff-legged, unfinished arm mover Brooke. Please note, I am in no way saying that Warren or Lance were great technically,

Brooke – stiff, and unfinished arms???? Not what I saw. Her arm movements were so elegant. As you say, Warren, and to a lesser extent. Lance were not great technically, so they didn’t win. I am glad the bias against the “models” was overcome this time. Brooke is a great winner.

Having said that, I have to say that the show has never been about picking the winner for me. It’s about the totality of the season – watching the struggles and the growth and the joy in watching the “stars” challenge themselves to do something outside of their comfort zone. I also love watching a “live” show when absolutely anything can happen and usually does. Another thing I love is the mix of celebs and pros who get thrown together and become instant family. The stories are great.

I can’t wait for the next season.

My other guess is as much as Lance touted himself as the worst dancer in NSync and I certainly agree that he was, for some he was probably still seen as a boybander “ringer”. Usually there are some every season who refuse to vote for people who they think have prior dance training, even if it is as far from ballroom as possible. It reared it’s ugly head with Mario Lopez, Joey Fatone, Mel B. and several others. So I wouldn’t be surprised if some didn’t vote for him for that reason ether.

Honestly, the idea of TCO is kinda suspect for me on this show. Is it too hard to believe that the judges honestly thought Brooke did the best throughout the season? It isnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t for me.

–amen PJ. As another one of the minority (in this blog) who has favored Brooke (and Warren) since week 2, it isn’t hard for me to believe either.

Just my two cents — A TON of people I know who love the show and watch constantly all rooted for Brooke all season long, with the sentimental favorite being Warren. It’s a small sample, but I do believe people voted for her because she has been consistent and is a REALLY good dancer.

Oh, I can think of plenty of reasons, first and foremost, not wanting to sacrifice their pride by having their Golden Child lose after 2344343 weeks of OTT praise.

From a business standpoint, it makes more sense for them to make it a closer contest with the judges to build suspense.

If it’s all about ego, then I’m assuming they wouldn’t have praised Brooke in the first place if they didn’t deem her worthy. I’m not sure everyone would agree that it was OTT.

Now I’m really off.

If theyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢re going to give them all 30s, then why waste our time?

That’s the question people have been asking for season after season. There IS no need for a scored dance on the finale. The only reason I see the need is to boost scores.

Night!

Weà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ll never truly know I guess, but my suspicion tonight was that Brooke possibly needed a little extra help. Of course, I could be 100% wrong, but when they break tradition like that (even Kristià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s competition last year, Jason Taylor, got a 30), it makes me question why.

Anyway, really going to bed now. Rant over.

I’m just not convinced they needed Brooke to win to pull strings for her. I can’t think of a reason to do that, especially if she’s NOT a fan fave.

If they’re going to give them all 30s, then why waste our time?

Night Sarah!

Yes, the judges loved Brooke. How many people think it was fake? Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m curious.

I never said I thought it was fake. I just think the pimping and praise was waaaaaaaaaaaay OTT, especially when some dances she did had just as many mistakes as some of the ones that others did, but excepting ONE occasion, she was never called out on it. That is what makes me call her TCO.

Also, I never said that the manipulation was secret. To me, it’s more than blatant.

Fair enough, but if they give them all tens, why have the finale have judges? Why not just let the fans vote?

I’m not saying that it is or should be all 30’s for every dance in the finals. The final dance, performed on the finale night, is all I was originally referring to with that comment. And believe me, there have been plenty of times that I’ve seen people questioning the reason for that dance in the first place. We’ll never truly know I guess, but my suspicion tonight was that Brooke possibly needed a little extra help. Of course, I could be 100% wrong, but when they break tradition like that (even Kristi’s competition last year, Jason Taylor, got a 30), it makes me question why.

Youà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢re basically saying that it shouldnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t be 50/50. Why should fans have more say than judges?

No, I’m not. I’m saying I want more even-handed, less biased scoring. Yeah, I know that’s not going to happen. Doesn’t mean I won’t rant about it.

Anyway, really going to bed now. Rant over.

The last two seasons I think there has been less of a chosen one so much as one clear frontrunner who usually deserves better scores, and I say that as someone who has never once voted for Brooke. I think the issues the past few seasons has been lackluster celebs who aren’t all that consistent on the dance floor.

The most famous seasons of DWTS have been the seasons where there has been a true rivalry between two celebs who usually trade off the lead on the scoreboard week in and week out. S2- Drew Lachey vs. Stacey Kiebler, S4- Apolo vs. Joey Fatone and even S3 which saw the show down of Mario Lopez vs. Emmitt Smith. What’s been lacking with the show the past few seasons is mostly inconsistent celebs so we don’t get a showdown of solid dancing.

The point is, they at least allowed the fan vote have an affect on the outcome. When there is such a big difference in the scoring, it is virtually impossible to make it up with fan voting, no matter how many ardent fans there are for a contestant.

Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m sorry, but you will never change my mind on that.

Fair enough, but if they give them all tens, why have the finale have judges? Why not just let the fans vote? You’re basically saying that it shouldn’t be 50/50. Why should fans have more say than judges?

If anything, they are pretty upfront. There’s no super sekkrit manipulation like on AI. Yes, the judges loved Brooke. How many people think it was fake? I’m curious.

I also donà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t think the judges always get what they want, despite the scoring. If that were the case John Oà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢Hurley would have won S1. Stacey Kiebler S2. Mario Lopez S3. Mel B. S5 and etc. If anything rarely do the judges get what they want.

They’ve apparently learned from their mistakes. Score the one you want to win so high that it’s impossible for the other competitors to make up the difference and VOILA! The desired result!

Or they just didn’t want a win for those contestants bad enough to separate them from the other finalists.

ETA:

If thatà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s the way the judges used to do it, why have judges?

The point is, they at least allowed the fan vote have an affect on the outcome. When there is such a big difference in the scoring, it is virtually impossible to make it up with fan voting, no matter how many ardent fans there are for a contestant.

I’m sorry, but you will never change my mind on that.

ETA2:

But on the other hand if the judges show a bias and score one celeb higher as they have in S6 and S7, it leaves a bad taste in the mouth of those who are either fans of other celebs or want all viewer voting. It leaves the idea of there being a TCO.

No, I just want more even handed scoring. Period. The bias this season has been unreal. But I guess that’s what we get when watching a show that has judges’ scoring to begin with.

If thatà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s the way the judges do it, why have judges?

Agreed. Forgive me if I sound like a DWTS know it all because I’m not trying to at all, but I’ve been a regular watcher since S2. I’ve followed it way more than Idol (until this season). But no matter which way the judges go there will be a portion of viewers unhappy. From about S3 through S5 many viewers were upset because the judges would essentially score all the celebs the same in the semi-finals and finals and leave the voting completely up to those at home. They’d give their 10’s and then many fans would wonder as to what the purpose of even having judges were.

But on the other hand if the judges show a bias and score one celeb higher as they have in S6 and S7, it leaves a bad taste in the mouth of those who are either fans of other celebs or want all viewer voting. It leaves the idea of there being a TCO.

I just think it’s a no win situation. Either way someone isn’t going to be happy.

When the scores are separated by one or two points, a fan vote can make all the difference. But when ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s a 5, 7, 9 point differential, thatà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s almost impossible to make up, especially at this stage.?

Then as already asked by someone else, why have judges if they are just going to score everyone the same and leave it all to the home viewer?

I guess I’m one that likes that there are judges who score on this show. I’m not saying I always agree with them or the way they score my favorites. Often I don’t. But I don’t want this to be another Idol ripoff where it’s all based on viewer vote.

I’m happy for Derek because he finally won one!

I also looked at the judges score averages today on wiki. I was curious. And a few times fans did trump judges in the finals.

For the actual winner, only once with Mel B and Helio. And their judges’ point differential was 1 point. The other times it’s only been a 2nd placer.

However, the judges scores in the finale were closer than this season.

That is EXACTLY my point. Their scores in the finale were closer than this season (for every season except last season). When the scores are separated by one or two points, a fan vote can make all the difference. But when it’s a 5, 7, 9 point differential, that’s almost impossible to make up, especially at this stage. So basically, they said – Brooke is going to win, we don’t care how you vote.

This show is about ratings. So, for that alone, it does make sense to have a chosen one. If they have a Cloris win the show, it becomes more of a joke than it already is. Did you read the article of the guy withdrawing from the British version because fans kept voting him through to the point that he was actually becoming a threat to win, no matter how the judges scored him? If only to have a horse to back from beginning to end, there is a benefit to having a chosen one. Otherwise, you risk your fodder, who may have a bigger fanbase, outlasting some of the lesser popular or known but more technically talented dancers. Marie Osmond, anyone?

Anyway, I’m done with the rant and heading to bed.

As pundits have been pointing out for the past few days, the judges typically score all of the contestants or at least their à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“top twoà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  pretty much the same and then let the votes decide the outcome – including giving pretty much every 3rd finale dance a 30. Not so this year, and that just reeks of desperation and manipulation to me. YMMV, of course.

If that’s the way the judges used to do it, why have judges?

As pundits have been pointing out for the past few days, the judges typically score all of the contestants or at least their à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“top twoà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  pretty much the same and then let the votes decide the outcome – including giving pretty much every 3rd finale dance a 30. Not so this year, and that just reeks of desperation and manipulation to me. YMMV, of course.

I think the lower scores are in part because the dancers this season just weren’t that good. There have been a few people in the finale of past seasons that weren’t that great (Helio, Jerry Rice, Marie Osmond), but IMO the majority of finalists we have had were better than the finalists we got this season, or the playing field was at least more even.

Kristi wasn’t my favorite dancer last season, but technically nobody could touch her. Scores would have been closer IMO if any of the other celebs could remotely keep up with her.

I also don’t think the judges always get what they want, despite the scoring. If that were the case John O’Hurley would have won S1. Stacey Kiebler S2. Mario Lopez S3. Mel B. S5 and etc. If anything rarely do the judges get what they want.

I also looked at the judges score averages today on wiki. I was curious. And a few times fans did trump judges in the finals. However, the judges scores in the finale were closer than this season.

I would argue that this show has had plenty of fans voting for people over judges scores (cloris?), but just not late in the season.

Bottom line… the show has nothing to gain by having a chosen one. They have always had the same scoring system.

If the viewers want it to be based on popularity like AI, then I guess a letter writing campaign is in order.

Miley sucks – she’d be nothing, if she hadn’t been Hannah first.

I looked at finale scores for every other season today, and the ONLY other season that there was such a huge point differential in one top person and the other two competitors was last season, when they were gunning for another female winner OR ELSE. As pundits have been pointing out for the past few days, the judges typically score all of the contestants or at least their “top two” pretty much the same and then let the votes decide the outcome – including giving pretty much every 3rd finale dance a 30. Not so this year, and that just reeks of desperation and manipulation to me. YMMV, of course.

The popular vote making up 50% of the score does not matter when the judges score one contestant so far ahead that viewer votes, no matter how many there are, can’t make a difference. What I understand is that the scoring process works like this: all of the points handed out by the judges during the night are added up and the percentage of that total that the contestants’ score is makes up the first part of their score. Then, whatever percentage of the votes that a contestant gets is added to that for their final score and the contestant with the lowest combined score is voted off.

Last night (not counting tonight’s scores for the 3rd dance), Brooke got 35% and some change of the judges’ points. Lance and Warren got a little over 32% each. So, even if they were all on equal footing with the fans and split the fan vote between the 3 of them, Brooke would have won because her judges scores were higher. And some would argue that they were justified, some would argue that they were not. Mileage, and all that.

But basically, as KK said, the judges put it out of the fans hands last night because they seem to be so desperate for Brooke to win. Why? Yeah, they’ve been enamored of her all season, but as KK said, she’s been called out once for mistakes in a dance when there have been plenty of dances that have been not so technically perfect or spectacular or blahblahblah. Yes, she was the most naturally gifted dancer of the season, so if her dancing and ability can really speak for itself, why all the OTT praise? IMO, it’s because they were scared it wouldn’t.

IMO, if the point of the show is who the judges prefer, why even give the public the ability to vote? They basically took that away from us last night, and again tonight, anyway with their scores putting Brooke as basically a lock to win unless people just somehow forgot to vote for her. So, why should we vote, and even watch, if the judges are just going to decide for us who the winner should be? At least in AI, the judges don’t have an actual vote once the viewers get involved in the voting process.

This season of DWTS has left a REALLY bad taste in my mouth. I think I’ll be focusing on AI in the spring and give DWTS a break, unless like, Mark Paul Gossalear is on it or something.

I also expected them to give Brooke all 10’s tonight and not the other couples, but also, I didn’t think either Warren or Lance performed their dance any better than the first time. I thought both of them were off base choosing to redo dances that required lifts and etc. because it gave them more to screw up. Both Lance and Warren had better dances than the ones they chose.