After 10 weeks of rather intense competition, we finally learn who the Dancing with the Stars: All-Stars champion is. Shawn Johnson, Melissa Rycroft and Kelly Monaco all have a shot at that big, shiny Mirror Ball trophy. But only one celebrity gets to take it home. Who is the DWTS winner? Keep reading to find out!
Not that we get to learn the name of the actual champion until the very end of the show, expected at 11pm. So get comfortable, because there’s a whole lot of dance to get through before that time arrives.
In the meantime, we do have things to distract us. Like predictions, for example. Who did the BuddyTV readers pick as the likely Dancing with the Stars: All-Stars winner? According to our poll, it’s close. 49 percent of readers picked Melissa and Tony to win. 44 percent went with Shawn and Derek. This left only 7 percent for Kelly and Val.
What are these opinions based on? Other than personal bias — always a thing in such choices — we have but the scores from Monday night’s performances to guide the way:
1. Melissa Rycroft and Tony Dovolani — 60 points (aka, a perfect score)
2. Kelly Monaco and Val Chmerkovskiy — 59 points
3. Shawn Johnson and Derek Hough — 57 points
So it’s close. The Instant Dances coming in this final episode of the season will factor into all of this as well.
Now, let’s find out who wins!
Before that, it’s time to welcome back all of those All-Star types to the stage. Everyone is all dressed the same, which makes it rather hard to figure out who are the finalists and who are the also-rans.
But forget all that — tonight we get DanceCenter!!!
Not that they will give us much of DanceCenter so quickly. First, we get the finale encore dance. The judges decided that they want to see Shawn Johnson and Derek Hough do their crazy freestyle with all those Olympic gymnasts.
That’s fair. This was an incredible — if weird — dance. Plus, you know, star power!
Following that, Tom Bergeron and Brooke Burke-Charvet get completely lost while talking. Nice.
And it’s DanceCenter time!!! Woo!!!
Joey Fatone and Drew Lachey were supposed to be finalists and big freestyle contenders. Whoops.
“Maks can’t keep his hands off of Maks.” — Kenny Mayne
“Bristol took Mark to the gun range this year. Unfortunately, he missed.” — Kenny
Sabrina’s shocking elimination was indeed more shocking than the week 1 elimination of Kenny Mayne in his season.
Back to the dancers, it’s time for all three finalists to pick their Instant Dances.
First up, Kelly Monaco and Val Chmerkovskiy get a “Cat & Mouse” Jive. (Is the Jive a Latin dance?)
Next, Melissa Rycroft and Tony Dovolani get a “Life Is a Highway” Samba. (Yes, they got another samba.)
Finally, Shawn Johnson and Derek Hough get a “Respect” Cha-Cha.
Welcome-Back Dance #1: Bristol Palin and Mark Ballas
It involves a lot of shimmying.
Welcome-Back Dance #2: Pamela Anderson and Tristan MacManus
Scantily clad men throw Pamela around for awhile.
Welcome-Back Dance #3: Helio Castroneves and Chelsie Hightower
They had trouble communicating. They dance better. Helio reminds me of Roberto Benigni.
Welcome-Back Dance #4: Drew Lachey and Anna Trebunskaya and Isabella Lachey
Awwwwwwww… Drew brought his daughter to dance with him! SO CUTE!!!
The confession-room outtakes are way funnier than the serious ones.
Welcome-Back Dance #5: Team “Gangnam Style”
Yes, they’re redoing these too. Kirstie still has trouble getting her clothes off. Gilles and Peta are still in towels. And the dance is still ridiculous. They’ve enlisted Joey and Kym to fill-in on this one.
Welcome-Back Dance #6: Joey Fatone and Kym Johnson
Complete with a Back to the Future-themed sketch and a Delorean on the stage… Wait, wasn’t Joey Fatone a little older than that in 1987?
Oh never mind. Little Joey Fatone is a dancer incorporated into the dance. I’m OK with them dropping historical accuracy for that.
Welcome-Back Dance #7: Sabrina Bryan and Louis Van Amstel
Sorry guys, they’re repeating a dance. At least it’s a pretty one.
Welcome-Back Dance #8: Team “Call Me Maybe”
I mean, more or less. After all, half the team is backstage learning new dances. They substituted Helio & Chelsie and Drew & Anna for the finalists.
More DanceCenter now!!!
“Emmitt’s favorite color is neon… Looks like a highway reflector.” — Kenny
“Gilles is a Frenchman, so he really knows how to surrender to the dance. That’s for you history buffs out there.” — Kenny (What can I say, I am a history buff.)
Welcome-Back Dance #9: Kirstie Alley and Maksim Chmerkovskiy
I think they did this one before. I don’t really remember it. Maks isn’t wearing anything weird, so how could I?
Welcome-Back Dance #10: Gilles Marini and Peta Murgatroyd
Yay! The Bollywood dance! One of my favorites of the season!!!
Welcome-Back Dance #11: Apolo Anton Ohno and Karina Smirnoff
They’re doing their emotional dance from Country Week.
Welcome-Back Dance #12: Emmitt Smith and Cheryl Burke
Emmitt and Cheryl, meanwhile, go the fun and Motown route.
Even more DANCECENTER!
“Such a competitive dancer, she’s blown through two dancers this season.” — Kenny, on Shawn
Impressive cheerleader bubble-head montage for Melissa!
“He apparently doesn’t have much of a clothing budget.” — Kenny, on Val
“I’m not really into the did-they-or-didn’t-they… They did.” — Kenny on the Kelly/Val relationship.
Instant Dances: Kelly Monaco and Val Chmerkovskiy
Dancing the jive
Sorry, my feed went out briefly during this, so I don’t really have any comments. Sounds like it was very nice though!
Len: “You’re clean, you’re crisp, you’re spins are fantastic…”
Bruno: “You have the energy of two young, randy rabbits!”
Carrie Ann: “You guys were absolutely in-sync the entire time.”
Scores: 9.5+9.5+9.5 = 28.5
“A journey that will, I hope, continue for a long, long time.” Kelly, being about as close to admitting anything as she ever will…
Instant Dances: Melissa Rycroft and Tony Dovolani
Dancing the samba
They’re not waiting for the music on this one. Understandably, this couple is awfully good at the samba now. Looks good!
And I suddenly realize that I really, really don’t know the lyrics to “Life Is a Highway.”
Judges’ Comments
Len: “The interpretation wasn’t quite as it was last night… You have been my greatest pleasure to watch.”
Bruno: “You’re turning into a South American siren!” “The music wasn’t quite as Brazilian as it should have been.”
Carrie Ann: “You rushed the music a hair… I felt like you wanted to go at the pace of last night.”
Scores: 9.5+9.5+9.5 = 28.5
Instant Dances: Shawn Johnson and Derek Hough
Dancing the cha-cha
They didn’t want to do this one. Although I can’t quite see why, since it looks smooth and pretty at the moment. Maybe the others were better? The non-moving bits are especially good in this. I’d be OK with them winning.
Judges’ Comments
Len: “You are the no-stress express.”
Bruno: “One thing is for sure, you’re going out with a bang! That is a grand finale! Perfection!”
Carrie Ann: “You started out the season as a star, and there’s no way to end the season except with that all-star performance.”
Scores: 10+10+10 = 30
Well that’s a good way to end the season of dancing.
RESULTS!!!
The third place couple gets announced first, of course. And…
Kelly Monaco and Val Chmerkovskiy are in 3rd place in the Dancing with the Stars: All-Stars season!!!
So it’s either Melissa & Tony or Shawn & Derek… Whoa. Two season-8 finalists up there again.
And…
Shawn Johnson and Derek Hough are in 2nd place in the Dancing with the Stars: All-Stars season!!!
So…
Melissa Rycroft and Tony Dovolani have won Dancing with the Stars: All-Stars and the Mirror-Ball trophy!!!
Wow. I think it’s safe to say that no two dancers have ever been as shocked and excited as Melissa and Tony are right now. Nice!
Did the right dancers win Dancing with the Stars: All-Stars? Are these the results you expected? Leave your comments below and see you next season!
(Images courtesy of ABC)
Senior Writer, BuddyTV
Laurel grew up in Mamaroneck, NY, Grosse Pointe, MI and Bellevue WA. She then went on to live in places like Boston, Tucson, Houston, Wales, Tanzania, Prince Edward Island and New York City before heading back to Seattle. Ever since early childhood, when she became addicted to The Muppet Show, Laurel has watched far too much TV. Current favorites include Chuck, Modern Family, Supernatural, Mad Men and Community. Laurel received a BA in Astrophysics (yes, that is possible) from Colgate University and a PhD in Middle Eastern Studies and History of Science from Columbia University before she realized that television is much better than studying.
