Noah and Sharna. Riker and Allison. Rumer and Val.
One of these couples will be named the latest winners of the coveted GOLDEN Mirror Ball Trophy on tonight’s Dancing With the Stars! After a very strong final night of performances and a season that’s been unpredictable all along, it’s anyone’s to win.
The opening number is a spectacle reminding us of all the couples we loved, lost and…well, quite frankly, sort of forgot about. The 10th Anniversary Finale promises to be bigger than the ballroom – this performance is actually outside the studio!
After a recap of last night’s action, Riker Lynch and Allison Holker take the floor for an encore performance of their freestyle. Since this one was determined by Twitter votes, will it be an indication of how the viewers voted for the night as well? Riker’s busy this evening, as he and Allison also dance us back from a break to “What I Like About You.” Riker tells Erin he hopes they’ve done enough to win, and Allison says the energy outside is amazing. Remember when Red Foo was on the show, partnered with Emma Slater? He’s back, performing “Juicy Wiggle.” It’s every bit as insane and fun as you’d expect it to be, but I don’t think we’ll see the Juicy Wiggle added to the ballroom style list any time soon.
Charlotte McKinney and Keo Motsepe give Katy Perry’s Left Shark another chance to dance in a “California Girls” number that looks pretty on the screen, as long as you’re not paying too much attention to the actual dancing. Dance in peace, Red Foo and Charlotte.
We don’t always get to see previous champions, but Season 19’s Alfonso Ribeiro can’t stay out of the spotlight. He joins Sadie Robertson for a fun dance and a surprise announcement – Alfonso is taking over as host of America’s Funniest Home Videos!
Suzanne Somers and Tony Dovolani take us back to the Copa Cabana in the ballroom before a special segment of Bad Lip Reading. Either the bad lip readers employed by Dancing With The Stars are kind of preoccupied with poop and bodily functions or our Season 20 Cast always knows just what NOT to say! From the Copa to the Shark Tank – Robert Herjavec and Kym Johnson get their chance to dance next, and boy is he making it rain. Of course, the Finale isn’t only about Dancing stars – it’s about special guest singers too. Jason Derulo turns the ballroom into his own neighborhood performing his latest hit “Want to Want Me”.
In a really cool number, Amy Purdy reunites with partner Derek Hough to perform with Noah Galloway and Sharna Burgess. It actually took me a second to realize it was her – both Amy and Noah have proven that they can hold their own in the ballroom. Chris Soules is the next star to return, performing to “Footloose” with Witney Carson, which draws a standing ovation from Len.
Nastia Liukin – along with both Derek Hough AND Sasha Farber – encores “Honey I’m Good” with yet another “partner” – Andy Grammer, performing live! I really enjoyed this routine the first time we saw it, and I’m glad they chose a number that allowed her to dance with both Derek and Sasha one last time.
When Rumer Willis was cast this season, you knew there’d be a Bruce Willis joke or two. Tonight’s the big one, except it’s starring Tony Dovolani (instead of her dad) in a trailer for the never-to-be-released film “Dance Hard”. Too bad – I’d probably see it.
Rumer Willis and Val Chmerkovskiy are so hot, they’ve got to take their encore outside to “Turn The Beat Around”! They’re good, guys. Also good? Willow Shields and Mark Ballas, who reprise their trip to Wonderland with their Disney night routine. If nothing else, at least her elimination will join the ranks of the most shocking in the show’s history. There’s a collection of rehearsal bloopers next, and beyond the crashes and cusses, the best part about it is Charlotte being completely confused during elimination rehearsal. “Wait – is this real life?” I’m asking myself the same question, Charlotte. Super girl group Fifth Harmony is on the show to perform their hit “Worth It”, accompanied by the pro ladies of Dancing With The Stars.
Ooh! And Left Shark is still in the house, and he is LOVING 5H! Not to be outdone, the guys of the cast are shirtless coming back from the break…and dancing too, but really the important part is the shirtless body rolls.
Sia is performing “Elastic Heart” in the ballroom, accompanied by both Hough champions – Julianne AND Derek! It starts with miniature versions of the two dancing in a parallel set. Of course the Hough siblings are terrific, but young Emma York and Joey German match them step for step.
Patti LaBelle and Artem Chigvintsev take us all to the club for just a glimpse of what VIP life is like when you’re with Patti LaBelle. Here’s a hint – it’s pretty awesome. After nearly an hour and a half of celebration, it’s finally time for the final round of competition – the Fusion Round. Noah Galloway and Sharna Burgess – Cha Cha/Argentine Tango How Noah manages to suspend Sharna above his body is a marvel and has become his signature move, so it’s no surprise to see it used in this Fusion as well. With only 24 hours to prepare these dances, this is really just a final chance for the couple to showcase who they are – Noah and Sharna are raw emotion. Len believes Noah has been America’s favorite, and Julianne calls him the heart of the competition. Bruno says he exceeded expectations week after week, and Carrie Ann credits Noah for changing people’s lives. Carrie Ann-9, Len-9, Julianne-9, Bruno-9 = 36/40
Riker Lynch and Allison Holker – Salsa/Quick Step
Some couples are emotional over their journey, some have to work harder than others to make it to the finale. Riker and Allison, though the effort is just as high as the other couples, make their routines look like effortless fun. Julianne can’t believe they only had 24 hours to prepare their incredible dance. Bruno calls Riker a “unique and outstanding talent” and Carrie Ann adds superstar to the list. Len dubs him “the boy that brings joy.”
Carrie Ann-10, Len-10, Julianne-10, Bruno-10 = 40/40
Rumer Willis and Val Chmerkovsiy – Foxtrot/Paso Doble Val says he’ll miss Rumer and says he was blessed with the best partner ever, while she says she’s never worked harder for anything in her life. She wears the relief and bittersweet joy of the final dance of Season 20 with her biggest smile of the season. Bruno says she has become “an utterly, irresistible, shining big star!” Carrie Ann calls her the real deal, and Len says she’s as good as anyone who has ever been on the show. He believes they should win. Julianne admits they’ve probably been the toughest on Rumer to push her because of her talent, and she can’t wait to see what Rumer does next. Carrie Ann-10, Len-10, Julianne-10, Bruno-10 = 40/40
Before results begin, Patti LaBelle serenades the final three couples with “Two Steps Away,” which takes a special meaning for the pairs as clips from their season are shown. Unfortunately, that’s just where the 3rd Place finisher will be.
The 3rd Place couple is….Noah Galloway and Sharna Burgess. The audience is chanting Noah’s name, and he says he’s so happy to have made it so far. He once again credits the support of everyone – fans, competitors, and everyone he’s met – as the most inspiring part of his time on the show. “I’ve loved every minute of that,” he says. As we wait through one final commercial before the confetti falls, it occurs to me that Michael Sam did not dance – unless I missed him? Social media tells me he was at the show, but did he dance when I wasn’t paying attention? It’s down to Rumer and Val and Riker and Allison. Both couples are deserving, and they matched each other in perfection in the final rounds of competition.
The winners are…. RUMER WILLIS AND VAL CHMERKOVSKIY!
Riker and Allison are gracious runners up, with Riker saying that the whole experience and his friendship with Allison “has been such a fun experience that I’ll never forget.”
Congratulations to Rumer and Val. They earned it with consistently strong routines and an emotional connection to each other. As Val caressed the mirror ball in a shower of confetti, you know this was a long time coming. It’s been a great season – can’t wait to see who’s back for Season 21!
