'Dancing With the Stars': Mel + Maks 4-Ever

In that it did not choose Marie Osmond as the "Dancing With the Stars" champion, America voted correctly.

However, after the tedious last dances and at least five recap/flashback montages, perhaps the most entertaining part of Tuesday's finale turned out not to be the winner, Helio Castroneves, but runner-up Melanie Brown and her partner, Maksim Chmerkovskiy.  Maybe it was because Helio's grin started getting a little Joker-ish after two hours, maybe it was Osmond's sharp edge hidden behind her manic laughter, or maybe it was Samantha Harris chortling at her own goofy deliveries, but the only sincere thing of the night seemed to be the partnership between the Spice Girl and the professional. 

The audience was provided with plenty of camera cuts to Mel's husband, Stephen Belafonte, to assure it that she and Maks are not together. Still, it was hard not to see the chemistry between the two of them during their own particular recaps, the kisses Maks gave Mel at the end of their performance, whatever it was he said in her ear after it was revealed that the pair didn't win.

Of course, fans of Maks will recall a similarly tender connection last season between him and Laila Ali.  He's already blessed with good looks and a cocky but not overbearing screen attitude, but now he's got a record for getting along well with aggressive, hard-working babes, so what's not to like?  Regardless of who the stars are next season (which should start in, what, about a week?), maybe it's just time to start voting for whomever is dancing with Maks. 

-- Claire Zulkey

(Photos courtesy ABC)

Comments

[Steve]

According to a brief interview on KABC-TV last night, Maks will not return for the show's next season. He said he wants to spend more time with his family.

[JozieLee]

You are correct, Mel Brown should have won this year's competition. And I'll go one step further, if Sabrina Bryan had stayed in the mix, Mel still should have won. Mel was, by far, the best dancer at the end of 10 weeks. The lifts, the splits, the symbiosis with her partner, who, as you pointed out, is not an easy man to tame, all worked in her favor, but did not win the day. Too bad. America still got it wrong: Mel Brown should be the recipient of season five's "coveted mirror ball trophy."

Weeks ago I began watching the polls. What a surprise that Helio always came out ahead. He looks like a nice guy. And he'll represent the brand well, but he owes his win to a very talented choreographer who knew how to cover his deficiencies. Mel suffered from the same suspicion that plagued Sabrina Bryan . . . the public thought she had too much previous dance experience.

Thank goodness for TiVo. I watched the last 10 minutes, and taped the rest. How many times must we see Marie Osmond faint and Jane Seymour on a stretcher being rushed to the hospital for food poisoning? Come on already, 30 minutes was enough for last night's extravaganza.

Unfortunately no one on Dancing With The Stars will have the opportunity to dance with Maks (he's a superstar now and only needs one name). Last night, after the competition, he announced to George Pennacchio that he won't be returning to DWTS next season. Their contracts may preclude their personal decisions, but both Maks and Julianne Hough announced they will be leaving the show. One wonders why both of the finalist's partners made the same decision in the same season.

New season begins in March. Will I be back? You betcha. DWTS is the best thing that's happened to television since I Love Lucy.

[jeremy A]

I'm so pizzed of mel and mak should of won they did the bestest dance the votes should recounted I called bout times and I never got in abc cheated mel and mak are the real winners this and absolute outrage

[Lori Rucker]

I think a great contestant for next season would be Jesus the poker player from Las Vegas! Thanks, Lori Rucker

[Ann]

I agree with you Claire!! M&M forever....too bad they didn't win, but the best dancers were Mel and Maks, and yes do they have chemistry, more than Laila and Maks did....M&M rock!!!!

[Mary]

Mel and Maks won the most points this season and they were clearly the best dancers. So why didn't they win? The whole premise of having the public decide is ridiculous. Why have judges at all since their scores don't mean who wins the competition?? I for one will no longer watch Dancing With the Stars. It was truly annoying to see the better dancers ousted and in the end the best dancers lose.

[Katherine]

I was so, so, so sad about Mel and Maks not winning the the trophy last night. I think Helio was good but not as good as Mel. It's Mario and Emmitt all over again. Mario had the edge all season but going into the finale, the momentum swung over to Emmitt's side and he ended up winning.

Last night, I think it was really more of a showdown between Mel and Julianne, rather than Mel and Helio. Let's face it, we have a tendency to watch the woman dancing and there's no way a female celeb will ever compare to a female pro. That's why the women haven't been winning.

If Maks comes back next year, I'll be sure to vote for him no matter who he's paired with but I heard him on Channel 7 say he's not planning to come back.

[ann mcculley]

You may have liked Mel B and Maks but there are other decent people out here in the world that did not like either of them. Helio and Marie are decent people and don't have to strip down to their altogether to get noticed. I have no objection to the dress of the professionals but the celebrities don't have to do the same thing. Mel's raucous laughter was irritating in the extreme and it wasn't decent either for she and Maks to get so chummy.

[MEMPHISBELLE]

MEL AND MAK WERE GREAT. IT WAS A HARD DECISION. I'M CURIOUS WHAT THE AUDIENCE VOTING SCORES WERE?

[joyce]

claire, i don't know what planet you are from ,but no one knows mel and no one wants to see max ever win, mel is the only one that could ever get along with him and he isn't someone i would ever want a friend or family member of mine to have to dance with. get over it.

[Jackie stang]

I feel Mel was totally rude and a poor loser, she always was a bit pushy and made it sound always that she was the best, but I guess the viewers saw the same thing I did.

[Jamie]

I'm just grateful that Marie Osmond didn't win.

[Nancy]

C'mon, Helio deserved to win. Both he and Mel were deserving, but he's a race car driver and she's a Spice Girl, for crying out loud. Singing and dancing is her profession; he had to start at the beginning and emerge as a dancer. I also think another reason the public voted for him is that he appears to be happy, vivacious and fun-loving, just like his gorgeous partner. Mel and Maks, on the other hand, both come across as arrogant and full of themselves. America made the right choice.

[Claire Zulkey]

Scattershot responses:

Hey Ann M., here's a bit of news on Helio re: his "decency."
http://www.tmz.com/2007/11/28/last-dance-for-helio-and-fiancee/

Oh and here's one on Marie.
http://community.livejournal.com/ohnotheydidnt/17872413.html

I think skimpy dance outfits (which everyone on the show wore at some point or another and are really something you can't get avoid if you watch dancing) aren't really any more objectionable.

Joyce, did you not feel then that Maks and Laila got along last season?

And Jackie, nothing was more poor losery to me than Marie screaming "I LIKED IT!' after she got poor remarks from the judges this week.

[fred a. staire]

mel b had previous dance and entertainment experience. helio had no previous dance or entertainment experience. so, the person who did the best going from nothing to outstanding was helio. in much the say way that emmit smith beat mario, it was based on which amateur improved the most not only in their dancing skills but their entertainment value as well.

[Michelle]

well...it is interesting isn't it. I think this happens each season...America votes for the nicest person not the best. Example: Emmit over Mario, Apollo over Joey and this season Hellio over Mel or really it should of been Sabrina! I voted for Hellio also because of charisma! But we all have our own opinions!!

[nreys]

Congratulations to Helio and Julianne! They deserve the trophy.

BUT so did Mel and Maks....and really they DID WIN too....professionally, DWTS is great for Mel---I really don't like Spice Girls but Mel was enjoyable. Maks...he is so unassuming. I think his fan base just GREW some more.

Winners all around....except for that frightning doll dance.

[R]

Listen, no way did Mel ever do half of the intricate choreography that Julianne taught Helio to do. Maksim is very smart and gave Mel big moves that were very flashy and everyone just went into a coma over how they were not that difficult. Helio and Julianne not only deserved to win, they were voted on to win! And if you really want a fair competition, there has to be a female winner and a male winner since the nature of the dance beast is just not the same based on sex.

[Lawrence Guidry]

the public has voted, if you did not like what happened then maybe you should have voted instead of complaining. also, no one is to have had any dancing experience except the pro's. if you are a star then some where you did pick up some dance training either professionally or family member who was trained. youwould not be an entertainer with something to fall back on when the director say's action.

[Brenda]

Personally I think all you M&M fans are whiners. Helio was the most improved dancer in the competition. I think Sabrina and Mel had a lot more experience and they should either start with people with no experience or people with the same amount. Of course she might be better, but viewers always vote for the underdog, that is the american way.

[Rita]

I tried to vote for Mel, but a recording kept saying that I had maxed my votes. Not true. Had not voted before, ever! What's that about?!!

[Link]

FIrst of all, I agree with those that think Mel and Maks should have won! They were clearly in a league of their own and showed the world what real dancing looks like. Nothing against Helio, but America can't be serious in their thinking that he was the best the show had to offer. Mel and Maks' last dance was the icing on the cake and I personnaly was offended that America couldn't accept that. Regarding the comments about Mel being a "Spice Girl" and Helio driving Nascar...so what! If I do recall correctly, everyone there had to "LEARN" how to do the dances that we had the pleasure of enjoying week in and week out. If Mel or any other person who has dancing experience were considered to have an unfair advantage, I would like to think the good folk who produce the show would not have allowed them to be there! "We" need to learn how to accept that some people are just good at what they do and stop allowing our hidden prejudices to rear their ugly heads. Enjoy the fact that these celebs (including Wayne Newton LOL, whom I have had the pleasure of working and chillin with) put aside their normal careers to provide us with some real entertainment. Let's get it right next time, but for now...the real winners are Mel and Maks!!!!

[Rie]

I don't know why some people are saying dance experience this and that of Mel B. Not only was she complete stranger to ballroom dancing but I know people who can dance really well who have never been a performer. Helio or anyone else doesn't have to have been a performer to be able to dance pretty well. Helio obviously had at least a bit of confidence of his ability to dance, and pick up dance steps or he wouldn't have entered DWTS.

I've seen Mel B's dancing pre DWTS, and frankly I wasn't incredibly impressed. But seeing her getting better and better on DWTS was impressive to me, and doubted she could but now I see her as the best dancer who should have won. Truth be told, Helio is not the best dancer on there. And there's no need for people to act like Helio is so, so much more charming than Mel as a reason that he won. Obviously Mel is loved too, she actually beat out Marie whom was countlessly deemed America's sweetheart in this competition. Overcoming the Osmond supporters was no small feat. Additionally, we all should know by now that most females (majority viewership) will vote for a male over a female. History proves this time and again in other mediums and occupations as well.

[CC]

In the world of professional dance it's not about who improves over the course of time, it's about who is the best overall dancer, and how well they work as 'partners'. Experience, knowledge and showmanship play a part.

Sure Helio had charisma, but he screwed up the footwork more than he got it right. And Julianne, good of a dancer as she is, does not know how to pull back and allow her partner to look better. There were times when all Helio did was be a prop for Julianne.

Many of us knew there was something terribly flawed about the system when Sabrina was voted out. She was by far the best dancer, followed imo, by Mel. At the end, it should have been Sabrina and Mel facing off.

However, this isn't necessarily about who's the best dancer, it's about who has the largest fan base (I offer Marie Osmond as an example).

As for dance experience, having dance experience and having ballroom dance experience are two different animals. Just because someone does a little hip hop (or ballet, or whatever) does not mean they can do ballroom, or do it well.

I never found the moves that Julianne gave Helio extremely difficult. I was a dancer in college, as was dh, and we could have learned those moves in a couple of hours. Mel's moves, although flashy, also had substance and were harder. And Maks knows how to showcase the woman he's dancing with (as ballroom dancers do). He's tough on his partners, but he gets results.

As was stated above, this season was a flashback. The best dancers did not win in the end.

I personally don't think the public should be involved in voting myself. The competition should be judged by professional judges, and let the chips fall where they may.

[Basia]

The best dancer won! Helio was fun and entertaining and learned very difficult steps and moves. That, coupled with his good looks, great smile and charisma, was a winning combination. Get over it!

[Lise]

If Mel, Sabrina etc were voted off because of their experiences with dancing, why are they invited to join in the competition? Last night Mel and Maks should have won on their merit as dancers and not on their popularity. Sabrina would have won this competition she not had been voted out earlier on. This season of Dancing with the stars was full of disappointments.

[Sherry]

Horray for Helio and Julianne! AGAIN - Mel had previous dancing and entertainment experience !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thats it!!!!!!!!!!!!! Helio was the MOST improved who started from scratch.

[JozieLee]

Can I chime in here, Claire? The relationship between Laila Ali and Maks appeared to be strained throughout the season. In fact, he seemed to dislike her at first. In their first routine he taught her illegal moves and she was chastised by judge Len for the mistake. She didn't argue or protest, but from that point forward she was cautious about the choreography.

As an instructor he had a good understanding of what she could do physically and wanted to capitalize on her strengths. Sometimes getting to close or intimate. However, she held him at bay because her eagle-eyed fiance was watching AND her daddy, a staunch conservative Muslim, was at home praying she wouldn't disgrace herself or her family name. By the middle of the season they seemed to find their respective boundaries, which enabled them to make the finals.

[Janice Swan]

I totally enjoy looking at DWTS and have been a constant viewer since it started. This year, I believe was the best ever. Marie and her partner were not at the calibre of Mel and Max, nor Helio and Julianne. Both couples were fantastic and while I wanted Mel and Max to win, I have to say that the competition was extremely close. As there had to be only one winning couple, in my books there were two winning couples!! I look forward with anticipation to next year's competition to see if they could better this year's.

[Victoria]

I do like Mel and no doubt that she is one superb and talented dancer however Helio deserve to be the winner because Mel has vast dancing experiences that's why she can perform any dance routine given to her. Helio on the other hand doesn’t have any dance experience and eventually learn how to in 10 weeks. This contest is not about who dances well but who improved the most. DWTS should pick people who don’t have any dance background so it would be fair for everyone. There should be 2 winners last night because they both deserve it. They are both winners in my book.

[Janice]

I am glad Heliio won. Even though Mel did a lot of technical moves and got good marks from the judges, her final couple of dances were not as good as her previous Paso Doble. She didn't convince me during the dance that she really enjoyed it. It's like she lost energy, but retained the technical parts. Helio not only excelled in the technical parts, he brought energy and enthusiasm to his final performances.

[Martin]

I must live on the moon. Or maybe I just favor cable and On Demand programming. However, I watched Dancing With The Stars for the first time last night ... prompted by word of mouth and media coverage. I wouldn't have known Helio from helium before last night. But, after watching this man do his thing, I quickly realized this man possesses the sort of charisma and personality that spells s-t-a-r-d-o-m. During the tense final moments before the winners were announced, I was rooting for him. When he came out on top, I was truly happy for him. ...And I only "met" this man an hour or so before. Again, that's star quality.

And what's with all the Marie Osmond-bashing here? I don't get it. Have 30-years of celebrity worn out her welcome? I was a recent college graduate and junior executive with the PR firm that handled Donny & Marie during the peak of their fame. She was one of the best things to happen to the U.S. since Doris Day.

[Fritz M]

There should have been "co-champions". Each team had that "something".
ABC sure knows how to milk a program. Next season the finale will probably be 3 hours.

[Dance Fan]

Is it true that Maks and Julianne will not be returning next season? It is mentioned in one of the comments. I couldn't find any other mention of this except here.

I'm happy with the results although compared to past seasons, the finale did not seem as exciting. I thought the freestyles were a little lackluster compared to last season or the season before. My two cents for next season, be sure that none of the stars have any dance experience what so ever, so it can be a true competition.

[Susan]

I thought it was a contest to find the best dancer. It was SO OBVIOUS that Mel and Maks should have won!!! Helio smiled a lot but if his dancing was as great as his smile then I could believe the outcome. It was such a disappointment AGAIN to see the best dancer not picked again. Mario Lopez was clearly better than Emmett Smith and Apollo Anton Ono may be a great skater but he clearly was not the best AGAIN. Its getting hard to watch to the end when the best dancer NEVER WINS anymore. Thank God America had enough brains to pick Drew Lachey at least!! Mel was the best and we all know it.

[Cliare Zulkey]

Martin, my mom said of Marie, "She seems like the kind of person who would say something really mean to your face but have a smile on the entire time." I thought that was pretty genius. And maybe it's just my knee-jerk snotty youngsterism but I guess I resented the way that so many of her fans seemed to believe that she was somehow more morally correct than the other contestants. I don't know where that came from or how that was even germane to the show.

But in terms of the competition, really again she just wasn't as good as the other teams--nothing personal to her.

Jozielee, I see your point (and thank you by the way for your comments thus far, I appreciate that they've been well-written and not flame-y.) I think I chose to see Maks/Laila as the sort of odd couple of the competition. Cutting Edge, anyone?

[JozieLee]

As a staunch Marie Osmond fan I can honestly say I don't think she's morally superior to any of the other participants. They all seemed like hardworking, fun-loving individuals who genuinely cared about one another. Donny and Marie make no bones about being Mormons. Julianne and Derek Hough, and Ashley DelGrosso-Costas are also Mormons. None of them appear to wear their religion on their sleeve. It's just part of their personal makeup. Marie does come from a large family. Being the only girl, and one of the youngest of the siblings, she obviously developed a quick wit to ensure that her voice was heard. Is that a negative personality trait? Mmm, don't think so.

Maks/Laila team. There's been a lot of speculation on the DWTS message boards about an attraction between them, but I never felt that vibe. Laila had a leg or hip injury that limited her movements. It seemed to frustrate him. At times he pushed and she pushed back. He often acted like a bull in a china shop, too confined when he longed to bust loose and show the world how good he is. Maks had his chance this season with Mel, and she delivered. It must frustrate him to a maddenlng pitch to be so good and lose to a less talented competitor.

[JozieLee]

Couldn't resist posting the Neilsen rating for DWTS's Finale - 24.9million viewer tuned in. That's 2.9million more than predicted.

Here's a link to the breakdown at Reuters:
http://www.reuters.com/article/televisionNews/idUSN2864928820071129

[Terry]

People obviously voted for their "favorite" dancer. That's the only reason Marie stuck around so long. And it's why Helio and Julianne won.

[Ericka Usher]

Obviously, I am reading all these posting a bit late, however, I wanted to add one thing about Mel and Maks. To my understanding Maks is a proud and talented man, and I was impressed week after week with his ability to be gentle, to be supportive of Mel while they climbed to the top of the leaderboard. There were nights when she didn't perform as well and I never saw him disappointed in her. It takes unique people to build a partnership of hard work and genuine, gentle affection that does not turn sexual and that respects the other relationships in their lives. In this, and also the quality and beauty of their dancing, Mel and Maks demonstrated their superiority.

[blinera avdullahu]

i thought mel and maks should have won come on people! mel was the best dancer helio got all the votes. maybe america thought he should win because he got less experience on dancing then mel i don't care i really think they should have won.

[N. Trail]

The true winners were Mel and Max, they were better dancers, funny and the only worthwhile reason for watching DWTS. There routine were classic and absolutely beautiful. Her laughter and playful attitude was delightful. I could not belief the nasty, ugly and rudely biased opinion of Ann McCulley was insulting. Mel's outfits were exceptional beautiful, unlike Julianne's pink bra and panty outfit. Julianne and Helio wide open mouth laughter was truly disgusting, you
could see their tonsils and drive a car in it. This was suppose to be a dance
contest, not a popularity contest! Even the Judges looked disgusted at the
results.