Dancing With the Stars – Season 14 – The Finals

This is it. After nine weeks of competition, we have arrived at the finals for season fourteen of DWTS. Thankfully, tonight is only a one hour show, so expect the dancing to be quick and the judges to be succinct. As usual, the finalists have to prepare three dances with two being performed tonight and the last on tomorrow’s season finale.

The first dance tonight will be one the judges have picked, hoping to see the celebrity improve on the last time they performed the routine. The second is the popular freestyle round which we all know is a big showy dance in which the choreographer throws in everything including the kitchen sink to impress the judges and wow the audience. More about the third dance tomorrow night but as of now, let’s see what our three final couples have in store for us as the viewers have one last chance to vote for their favorites. On a personal note, I love the final three and wish them all the luck in the world tonight and tomorrow. They are all winners.

William Levy & Cheryl Burke – Cha-Cha-Cha
To vote for William & Cheryl, call 1-800-868-3408. You can send the word “Vote” to 3408 to text a vote. Finally, head over to ABC.COM with a registered email and vote online. 5 votes allowed per phone/text/email in this final week.

This is really strong. William’s week one routine was good but had those little first week issues that we come to expect. But all those issues are corrected here. Great hip action, awesome arms, and all the foot placement of a Cha-Cha-Cha is there. Lots of fun emotion and good continued chemistry between William and Cheryl. Great job!

Len says that was as good as he has seen in 14 seasons of DWTS Cha-Cha-Cha’s. Bruno compliments everything and especially William’s hip action. Carrie Ann remembers William’s first time doing this dance but says he has grown miles since the show began.
Carrie Ann- 10, Len- 10, Bruno- 10 for a total of 30/30.

Katherine Jenkins & Mark Ballas – Paso Doble
To vote for Katherine & Mark, call 1-800-868-3410. You can send the word “Vote” to 3410 to text a vote. Finally, head over to ABC.COM with a registered email and vote online. 5 votes allowed per phone/text/email in this final week.

A stellar Paso Doble on display here. Katherine is doing everything you want from a female partner in this type of dance. Lots of passion and emotion and extremely crisp steps. Without a doubt, one of Katherine’s stronger routines of the season for me because the emotion played a major part. Solid Paso Doble choreography from Mark as well adds a whole lot to this number.

Bruno compliments everything and calls it technical brilliance. Carrie Ann says it is like watching a prima ballerina. Len called it satisfying and fabulous and compares it a Spanish buffet.
Carrie Ann- 10, Len- 10, Bruno- 10 for a total of 30/30.

Donald Driver & Peta Murgatroyd – Argentine Tango
To vote for Donald & Peta, call 1-800-868-3403. You can send the word “Vote” to 3403 to text a vote. Finally, head over to ABC.COM with a registered email and vote online. 5 votes allowed per phone/text/email in this final week.

I do hope Len is paying close attention because the content this time around is there as compared to Donald’s previous Argentine Tango. Some really nice staccato steps and great passion. I also enjoyed the lifts here and especially the fact that less time was spent on them and more time spent on the standard and classic Argentine Tango steps.

Carrie Ann loved it the first time and loves it again. She is very pleased considering she worked with Donald on it. Len saw more content but did feel it was a bit careful. He calls it a vast improvement over the last time. Bruno calls it clever. He says Donald went for subtle and intimate and that played to Donald’s advantage.
Carrie Ann- 10, Len- 9, Bruno- 10 for a total of 29/30.

William Levy & Cheryl Burke – Freestyle
To vote for William & Cheryl, call 1-800-868-3408. You can send the word “Vote” to 3408 to text a vote. Finally, head over to ABC.COM with a registered email and vote online. 5 votes allowed per phone/text/email in this final week.

Cheryl has thrown all of William’s stronger dances into this routine. It has elements of the salsa, samba, tango, etc… All of the dances that William did well are on display here. The lifts are good. The hip action and foot placement are both on point. A great Latin freestyle. For anyone who is a fan of William, this is just what they would want to see. Kudos to Cheryl on her choreography.

Len liked the lifts and changes of rhythm. He thought though that it was too predictable. He doesn’t appreciate the booty shaking and women screaming. Bruno called William and Cheryl two devils unleashed upon the earth. Carrie Ann thought it was exactly what a freestyle should be.
Carrie Ann- 10, Len- 9, Bruno- 10 for a total of 29/30.

Katherine Jenkins & Mark Ballas – Freestyle
To vote for Katherine & Mark, call 1-800-868-3410. You can send the word “Vote” to 3410 to text a vote. Finally, head over to ABC.COM with a registered email and vote online. 5 votes allowed per phone/text/email in this final week.

Katherine began the dance…by singing. For real! A little opera to start us off. Of course, it sounded great. This freestyle is very swing/jive heavy. Mark put many lifts in here and the entire dance is very fast paced and full of energy. Lots of smiling and joy emulating from Katherine here as well. Some more great choreography here from Mark and it focused more on Katherine, which is good for Mark seeing as how he usually takes the spotlight.

Bruno says Katherine was on the money all the way through. He called it a tour de force. Carrie Ann thinks that was the dance of a champion. Len says if he is sleeping, do not wake him up. He says that this was a freestyle.
Carrie Ann- 10, Len- 10, Bruno- 10 for a total of 30/30.

Donald Driver & Peta Murgatroyd – Freestyle
To vote for Donald & Peta, call 1-800-868-3403. You can send the word “Vote” to 3403 to text a vote. Finally, head over to ABC.COM with a registered email and vote online. 5 votes allowed per phone/text/email in this final week.

The ballroom looks like a football field. Cowboy Troy is singing during this. I kid you not. Peta and Donald are going after the freestyle that Drew and Cheryl did a few seasons back. It is “countrified” to the max. Donald has loads of energy during this. Tons of lifts and so much fun. This is definitely the strongest freestyle of the night in terms of content and execution.

Carrie Ann is actually on TOP of the table. This was by far her favorite dance of the night. Len calls it fantastic and is all compliments. Bruno called it a country inspired triumph and adds that he likes a ride. Yes, he went there. Of course he went there.
Carrie Ann- 10, Len- 10, Bruno- 10 for a total of 30/30.

Final Judges Leaderboard For Night 1 (more points to be awarded tomorrow night):
Katherine & Mark- 60/60
Donald & Peta- 59/60
William & Cheryl- 59/60

*Note- Following the show tonight (I assume, as I type this), the three couples are being given music and a dance style that they must create a routine for. They only have 24 or so hours to perfect it and that will be the final dance that is scored on tomorrow’s season finale.