Then,
Bristol took to Facebook to apologize for her earlier rant against a teen who had voiced his disapproval for Sarah Palin’s reality show,
Alaska.
Finally, Bristol and Mark Ballas apparently received death threats over the weekend, including delivery of a suspicious white powder-filled envelope to the DWTS studio, addressed to Bristol. After the studio was evacuated, it was thankfully determined that the powder was just talcum powder and nothing lethal.
But come this Monday night, it was business as usual despite tightened security as the remaining three dancers, Bristol, Kyle Massey and Jennifer Grey took to the dance floor and performed two final dances each to determine the winner of the mirror-ball trophy.
The first dance of the night was a “Redemption Dance” for each contestant: A dance style which each contestant had previously danced on the show but which the judges felt the contestants could have each danced better. The second dance was the popular freestyle dance.
Here is what happened tonight:
Kyle Massey & Lacey Schwimmer
Kyle kicked off the night with a re-do of his fox-trot. The retry left Carrie Ann Inaba saying Kyle had not been his usual “outward” self and needed to focus on his footwork. Len Goodman on the other hand loved the dance and said: “Overall, you have gone from messy Massey to marvelous.” Bruno Tonioli declared: “Your technique has improved tremendously.” No matter the divergent opinions, all three judges gave Kyle a 9 each for a total of 27 points.
While rehearsing for the freestyle earlier in the week, Lacey put some extra pressure on Kyle by telling him, “Whoever wins the freestyle usually wins the competition.” But Kyle rose to the occasion. Dressed like Will Smith from the opening credits of Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, he was his usual charismatic, bouncy, expressive, adorable self. He even performed the worm during his routine which had Carrie Ann oozing, “This old fly girl is very proud of you! You killed it!” Len said he didn’t get the “bugaloo dance” but still called it “great fun” and “great entertainment.” Bruno chimed in and said Kyle provided “truly explosive entertainment and amazing charisma.” No matter the great remarks, poor Kyle still narrowly missed getting his first and only 30 of the season despite scores of 10 each from Carrie Ann and Bruno. But Len who admitted earlier that he doesn’t quite get the “bugaloo dance” when referring to hip-hop, gave Kyle a 9. BOOHOO!
Bristol Palin & Mark Ballas
Bristol started her pre-dance film montage by complaining, “It sucks that people still don’t think I deserve to be here. People freaked out once we got saved and Brandy was eliminated.” Bristol is right. I was in the audience for last Tuesday’s results show and you could cut the tension with a knife once the audience, judges and the other dancers found out Brandy and not Bristol was going home. Bristol went on, “I continue to improve week after week and people don’t acknowledge that.” Well, Bristol, obviously some people do acknowledge that and vote for you since you are still left in the competition despite getting the lowest scores from the judges week after week.
For her Redemption Dance, Bristol re-danced her jive, this time around sending the infamous gorilla suit she wore the first time packing, literally. During rehearsals for the jive, Bruno visited Bristol to help get the “wild child” out of her and said her last jive was, “a little a bit of a disaster because she couldn’t quite get the performance level and she went to pieces.”
After Bristol and Mark danced, Bruno said: “I told you you don’t need to go in a suit.” He continued, “You revealed yourself. You came out here and you had a good time and you didn’t care and we all enjoyed it.” Carrie Ann said, “You were brighter and more vibrant than ever!” Len said: “Last time, You were a gorilla, and now a thrilla”. The dance got Bristol three 9’s from the judges for a total of 27.
For the freestyle, Bristol danced to the iconic and sultry “Cell Block Tango” from the Broadway hit, Chicago. The dance was entertaining if for no other reason than to see Bristol dance in a cage. But was this dance of sufficient caliber for the finale? Bruno said: “You have improved but not quite at the level this song requires.” Carrie Ann lessened the blow and asked, “Did I just see Bristol Palin dancing in a cage? I give you a lot of credit for that.” Len finished by saying, “I know you were concerned it was gonna be a disaster. And let me tell you young lady. That was no disaster, I thought it was fantastic!” When it came time for the judges’ scores to be revealed, the crowd booed at the night’s lowest combined score of 25.
Jennifer Grey & Derek Hough
It’s really hard for me to remember a time when Jennifer Grey had a bad dance this season. But according to Carrie Ann, Jennifer was “all over the place” during her first attempt at the paso doble earlier this season; an attempt which landed Jennifer her lowest judges’ score of the season.
How well did Jennifer do on her retry? So well that Len gave her a standing ovation after saying, “I rarely do this!” Bruno dizzily spun into one romantic hyperbole after another using such words as “sultry”, “igniting the flames of passion” and “relentless pleasure” and “I don’t want this night to ever to end!” He even said later, “I wish I had an 11” as he held up the “10” score paddle. Carrie Ann squealed: “THIS is the meaning of redemption. I am so proud of you!” Jennifer received a perfect 30 from the judges.
And did anyone in the world doubt that returning champion Derek Hough and Jennifer “Baby” Grey would not kill it during freestyle? Hasn’t Jennifer and Derek’s freestyle dance been what we all have been waiting to see all season long? Jennifer herself even said before the dance, “I’m a bad ass, what can I say?” So, of course the DWTS producers saved this dance as the last dance of the season.
The dance started with Jennifer holding a watermelon, an homage to her classic, “I carried a watermelon” intro in Dirty Dancing to “Do You Love Me (Now That I Can Dance).”
But I admit that I for one was a bit disappointed in Jennifer’s dance as I felt Derek did a lot of the heavy lifting by doing the jaw-dropping jumps and somersaults. But I give credit where credit is due and admit Jennifer was the hottest 50-year old ever to have danced a top the judge’s table. I don’t know if it was emotion taking over or Jennifer exuding confidence that she will end up with the mirror-ball trophy, but Jennifer ended her dance and the night by kissing each member of the judge’s panel as if she were accepting her predestined victory. About her freestyle, Carrie Ann said: “I thought it was amazing. I thought it was perfect.” Bruno said both of Jennifer’s dances were “equally brilliant!” Len basically crowned Jennifer the winner by saying: “You’re like a juggernaut..You’re heading down that freeway, heading for the mirror-ball trophy.” And with all that gushing adulation, of course came another perfect score of 30 from the judges.
Here’s how the leaderboard stacked up:
Jennifer & Derek: 60 (30, 30)
Kyle & Lacey: 56 (27, 29)
Bristol & Mark: 52 (27, 25)
On Tuesday’s two-hour finale, the three remaining contestants will dance twice more for judges’ points only and a new winner will claim the mirror-ball trophy.
Who do you all think will win it all? Who do you think should win it all?
