Last night the three remaining finalists on DWTS gave it their fierce finest in their quest to own the much coveted mirror ball trophy.

In the redemption round, I enjoyed both Jennifer’s and Kyle’s dances, both being vast improvements over their original attempts at the same dances. I thought Bristol acquitted herself nicely as well. For Bristol. Yes, she has improved. But so have Jennifer and, most dramatically, Kyle. Actually, I think Kyle is what this show is all about. Good natured, but definitely pushed way out of his comfort zone, also with no dance training, and he just goes for it. I think his improvement has been the most dramatic of the season, and the most enjoyable to watch. Bristol’s general stiffness and overall lack of any sparkle whatsoever (on or off the dance floor) is what keeps me from rooting for her as a true underdog. Everyone keeps talking about how she’s the “most like us.” Well, I don’t feel any identification with her at all. I feel uncomfortable for her awkwardness and very uncomfortable for the spotlight she’s been thrust into, but I don’t feel she should still be a contender on this show. However…for Bristol, she did okay. (Though giving her the same score as Kyle? On what scale?) Highlight for me and sort of the definition of Bristol…was the rehearsal footage of Mark and Bruno dancing like mad fools…and Bristol just stands there, watching, as if she can’t even comprehend doing anything like that. I think that sums her up completely.

On the freestyle dances, I thought Kyle and Lacey were all energy and flash, and a great way to kick off the round. I thought Bristol, again all things considered, did a good job. For Bristol. Bob Fosse, however, probably rolling over in his grave. Mark might have wanted to find a routine that was more suited to the comfort of his partner, as did the other two choreographers, but then how was he supposed to know that not only had Bristol never seen Chicago (musical or movie, apparently) but she’d never even heard of it. Or Bob Fosse. Honestly, Alaska isn’t that off the grid. Is it? Sorry, too, to Joel Grey in the audience. At least you got to see your daughter dance.

And, I’ll be honest, I wasn’t all that moved by Jennifer and Derek’s freestyle. She danced it very, very well, but it just seemed kind of generic to me. And, was it me, or did she stand around a bit while Derek danced like a mad whirling dervish around her? Then there was that odd length hip hugger skirt. It was just weird, and very distracting for this viewer. Still, it was obviously a more skillful routine and far better performed in every possible way than Bristol/Mark, but for creativity, I don’t know that I’d have given them 10’s. I enjoyed Lacey and Kyle’s freestyle the best in terms of overall engagement. So, that would have been a reversed score for me there. Or at the very least Jen/Derek should have gotten the same score as Kyle/Lacey. I definitely wouldn’t have scored Bristol the same as Kyle for the first dance, not by any yardstick measure, but was happy to see they ranked her down on the second one. Yes, she danced okay for her, but in comparison to her competition, there was no way either of those dances earned equal skill and performance marks. Not even close.

End of the night, the scores, though I might have done them differently, I thought were still pretty fair, comparatively speaking. Jen/Derek had a perfect 60, Kyle/Lacey had a 58, and Bristol/Mark a 52. And we all know how those rankings have turned out every week, after the viewer’s vote. So, while I’d like a Kyle win, I’d be very happy with a Jennifer win. Bristol did very well to get herself this far given her wooden performances. But to win the whole thing? No. And if you’re going to argue the underdog defense, then we need to get that mirror ball trophy back and give it to Kelly Osborne.

They get two more dances tonight, which allows the judges to more or less choose the winner. About which I’m sure the producer is very, very thankful. Because while it’s just a dancing show and who cares who wins, really…if Bristol does win, then good luck booking any actual celebrity talent on upcoming seasons. What actual celebrity would agree to go on a show and bust their ass, only to have some stunt casting make them look like fools? Bristol is a sweet girl (okay, so I saw the Facebook rant from her and her sister, and she’s really not so sweet….) but, sure, it still sucks that she’s the focus of so much grief and insult. However, she had no business being cast on the show in the first place. She isn’t a “star” in any possible connotation of the word…at best, her mom is. And turning the show into political commentary is silly. Well, the whole show is silly, but lets keep the silly directed where it belongs.

What did you think? Who are you rooting for? And did you actually vote? I did. (Go Kyle!) What I didn’t do was watch the skating show that premiered after DWTS. Fall down go boom on a ballroom floor, I can manage. Fall down crack head open on ice? Not so much. There is nothing about that show or the “celebs” (and I use that one very very loosely) they recruited to be on it that calls to me. In fact, it gives me that involuntary willies reflex just thinking about them trying to learn to dance on ice. So those of you who have asked if I’m going to do Morning After Commentary? Um. No. Sorry! I wince just thinking about it. On many levels.

What I will watch and comment on is tonight’s DWTS finale, and Survivor’s next tribal council. Things are starting to get interesting over on the island…

Don’t forget to enter this week’s Special Free Stuff Black Friday contest. Details in Monday’s blog post. Then come back on over here and DISH!!

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