I am guessing that nobody was really surprised when War Hero J.R. Martinez won the coveted mirror ball on this Season’s Finale of Dancing with the Stars (DWTS) .
I mean if you miss all the love and all the hints that he was going to win all throughout the ten weeks of dancing, you probably weren’t paying much attention. In fact he was even being featured in many TV shows right before the finale — yes, as if they already know that he was going to win (hmmm).
And this is not withstanding that he was dancing with dance-pro Karina Smirnoff who really doesn’t have much following much less have any success with winning the trophy before. And to think that she was up against 3-time champ Derek Hough who has not lost in any of his previous finals appearances and Cheryl Burke who despite not having any success in recent years have won the trophy twice a few years back. And both Derek and Cheryl have built fans who vote for them.
But if you really think about it, there is no way that the show will give the trophy to anyone else.
Let’s see:
Metta World Peace (aka Ron Artest ) wouldn’t have done any better than any other previous NBA player who danced or tried to dance on the show.
Model Elisabetta Canalis is not really a star or have star-following to get the big votes that she needs week after week. Well, maybe if she was still with George Clooney (or maybe not).
Reality show star Kristin Cavallari is in pretty much in the same boat as Elisabetta. Most DWTS fans probably were thinking how they were included to be a “star” anyway.
Chynna Philips is indeed a singing star in her own right and she could dance. But that one blunder that she did, probably the worse of any contestant in the history of the dance (reality show) contest, was just too much, too over the top and she was voted off because of it.
Fashion guru Carson Kressley didn’t had a chance or a prayer or any rhythm of movement. But he was among the most entertaining stars (if not the most entertaining) this season. Again, that is not enough to get him far into the competitions.
Cher’s daughter, now son Chaz Bono was a heavy favorite. But with the hype and everything else that was working for him, he stayed as far into the competition as he could possibly get.
David Arquette is a star and has become quite a dancer. But perhaps with his history and the mystery that was named “Nancy Grace” he was let go. And his (elimination) was probably among the most controversial.
Speaking of Nancy Grace , up to now I still have no idea how she made it almost to the finals. But then again 50% of the votes do come from the fans. And I guess she did have a ton fans. That or many people who are turned-off by her hurtful and often offending jabs (especially towards her dance partner) weren’t that turned-off not to vote for her. And I wonder why? That or I guess very many people really wanted to see her dance week after week after week. I do know that Len Goodman wasn’t among them.
Premier and tough soccer goalie Hope Solo (who recently posed provocatively for a magazine cover) could have gone all the way, with her athleticism, her discipline, her attitude, her good looks, her chemistry with her partner Maks and her good dancing. But she didn’t. And I am guessing no one else was surprised by this. Did I really say, her good dancing?
This year’s finalist and third placer Ricki Lake , much like the others who got the ax before her, does not deserve to go all the way. Why? Because she didn’t really believe in herself. She didn’t really believe in her partner (who has yet to lose in the finals or that fact was just too much for her). She was so full of insecurities. She was really very vocal about her willingness to quit. And yes, that was really the main reason–quitters shouldn’t win.
This year’s surprise finalist and second placer is a real cinderella story. He was the perfect DWTS contestant — did not know how to dance but he got better (and better) every passing week. He wasn’t really in the radar of contenders and his demeanor was not really like that of J.R. or Ricki who were really on track to be finalists and to slug it out in the finals.
But I guess with the last name of Kardashian and with a sister named Kim (and a mom named Kris), there was really nothing he could do to win the most sought after mirror ball trophy. And it was really unfortunate that Kim’s divorce (rumors) came out with just two weeks left on the competition. Maybe, just maybe if she postponed and waited announcing that after the finale or better yet if she didn’t really get married for the publicity, or the pomp, or the money and everything else then maybe, just maybe Rob (the long-shot USC grad) would have had a fighting chance.
I said maybe, because really who could beat a person like J.R.? He was someone who you cannot really fault, somebody who could light up the room just by his presence, his attitude, his smile and someone who could really dance! And we are not even considering that he wasn’t really all that great in the semifinal round (he got injured), and he didn’t get high scores in the final two days of competitions. But then again, has anyone really considered Rob (or anybody else) beating J.R.?
Really?
Even if he had higher scores or even if he deserved it?