'Dancing with the Stars' Finale: The Mirror Ball Trophy Goes to Jennifer Grey and Derek Hough

We've come to the last show of the season for "Dancing with the Stars" a couple of days before Thanksgiving. Much anticipation has been made on who would win. Finally the results are in, but we'll have to wait till the end. In the meantime a lot of activity was in store for the viewers.

Only two celebrity dancers were no-shows due to a concert commitment and the other an illness. I can empathize with the latter as I currently have been fighting off the flu. There was one musical guest during the first and second half of the night. We did see other celebrities from season 11 come out and dance on their own or with another celebrity. This was actually a very entertaining finale for a change.

Opening with all the Stars from season 11 and their pro dancers

Just like with the old award and variety shows of the past there was a big production number featuring the pros and their celebrities. Each couple got a brief solo was they went ascending order. It was great seeing the other celebrities who had been voted off earlier.

News Alerts

The reason for the no shows Michael Bolton was performing in London and Audrina Patridge was out due to an illness. Jennifer Grey also had news to share with us. She had injured herself by rupturing her disc during the Monday night performance show. Like the trooper that she's been all season long Grey decided to continue on with the competition.

Christina Aguilera from "Burlesque"

Her movie "Burlesque" will be out on Wednesday, November 24 and the film's soundtrack album was out on Tuesday. What perfect timing to promote one of the songs from the film "Get It Up." This was a much better production number than what most saw on the American Music Awards tiny stage. Is it me or has Aguilera gained some weight?

Favorite Dance Round with the Top 3

Kyle and Lacey (Tango) - After some debate of going through a few of their favorite dances they chose the tango. It was the dance they felt made them contenders. They did an equally good job on the dance once again. 26/30

Bristol and Mark (Tango) - This was immediately decided between them to do the popular tango. They chose it because it turned everything around for them during the season. It's the dance they did during Rock Week, complete with breaking the hold and doing the air guitar bit during the finale. 25/30

Jennifer and Derek (Viennese Waltz) - It was the very first dance they did of season 11. Jennifer broke down crying during rehearsal, because of getting a strong déjà vu of Patrick Swayze. Despite Jennifer's injury on Monday night they pulled off the Viennese waltz beautifully. 30/30

Instant Cha-Cha-Cha with Music Selected and Call Out Order

Brooke Burke was backstage in the celebquarium with all the finalists to find out the song they'll be dancing to for the Instant Dance. The music selected was Pink's "Raise Your Glass." Each of them selected a number they were not to reveal yet that would determine their call-out order. Kyle and Lacey got #1, Jennifer and Derek #2 and Bristol and Mark #3.

The Other Finalists of Season 11 Dance Away

David Hasselhoff - The beginning was a spoof of The Hoff on the beach sulking he was voted off first. Then a beautifully buffed lifeguard inspires him to go for it. The Hoff runs with his life buoy and gets ready to perform one of his European hits on the dance floor. He's accompanied by Baywatch-like dancers who looked like Pamela Anderson.

Rick Fox and Kurt Warner - They were facing off each other with music by Survivor's "Eye of the Tiger." Each came out with their solo with the pros and then dancing slightly with each other, Rick and Kurt. It was all in good fun.

Margaret Cho and Florence Henderson - Appropriately the song was "Copacabana" by Barry Manilow. Margaret Cho came out wearing her rainbow costume. Florence Henderson had quite a hideous costume she never wore on the show.

The Situation - This was by far my personal favorite, though I was not a fan of The Situation during the season. Their spoof skit had him as Governor of New Jersey. He had done it all. Now he was on "Dancing with the Stars" dancing to "I'm Too Sexy" by Right Said Fred. I've always liked that song and it was aptly appropriate for The Situation.

Brandy and Maks One Last Time - Straight from TV Theme Week they did their quickstep to the "Theme of Friends." It was good to see Brandy smiling again.

Christina Aguilera Returns to sing "Beautiful"

One more time she sang one of her biggest hits "Beautiful." Christina was accompanied by some other professional contemporary dancers.

Instant Cha-Cha Round

Each of the couples came out to perform their Instant Dance - The Cha-Cha. First it was Kyle, then immediately after it was Jennifer's and then Bristol's. Their scores were Kyle and Lacey - 28, Jennifer and Derek - 28, and Bristol and Mark - 27.

Third Place

This was truly inevitable it would be none other than Bristol Palin. I vividly remember hearing a few people booing over this result in the audience. That left Jennifer and Derek and Kyle and Lacey as the last two couples remaining.

And the Mirror Ball Trophy goes to......

It was absolutely a no-brainer it would go to Jennifer Grey and Derek Hough. They had received perfect scores in the semi-finals and the finals. Congratulations Jennifer Grey. Till next season in March 2011.

SOURCES:

Dawn C. Chmielewski, "'Dancing with the Stars': And the winner is...not Bristol Palin", Los Angeles Times

Dancing with the Stars, ABC