'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

[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.