'Dancing With the Stars' results: We have a winner!

After 10 weeks, 17 dances and more sparkle and shine than the Main Street Electrical Parade, Season 10 of “Dancing With the Stars” has finally come to an end. And loosen up your buttons, ballroom fans, because the winner of the coveted Mirrorball trophy -- announced in a blazing fireball and a shower of pyrotechnics -- was pop star Nicole Scherzinger!

Though the crowning of this Lady of the Dance (competition) wasn’t really a surprise, was it? The Pussycat Doll and partner Derek Hough were dominant for most of the season. They managed to maintain that lead and even build upon it against fellow finalists Evan Lysacek and Anna Trebunskaya in their final knockout dance. They received a perfect 30 for their jive, Len’s proclamation that Nicole deserved to be the winner of the competition and Nicole got a hug from Gladys Knight (yes, that one with the Pips). The Mirrorball was theirs to lose.

The odds were most definitely stacked in Nicole and Derek’s favor. But there have been seasons when the higher-scoring star hasn’t taken the top prize, and a part of me wondered if the always excellent and highly-praised Nicole would end up like runner-up Gilles Marini a couple of seasons back. But the judges’ scoring of four dances in this final seemed to have a greater influence over the ultimate outcome this season. Nicole had such a commanding point lead that Evan would have needed a landslide of popular votes to come out on top.

Really, though, it was the viewers who won in the end, as both Evan and Nicole proved worthy finalists and opponents in this Season 10 competition. As the judges had repeatedly proclaimed, this was the best season yet. The level of competition was sky high, and it was as if the producers were trying to match that level with the production value of this two-hour extravaganza. Some new tricks worked (the dazzling Mirrorball planet that descended on the ballroom floor and hatched Evan and Nicole). Some didn’t (Kate Gosselin’s lift to the sky).

But don’t cry for me, Argentina. I am at peace with the program’s results. Sure, I personally would have liked to have seen gold medalist Evan continue the Olympic “DWTS” tradition set by Apolo Anton Ohno, Kristi Yamaguchi and Shawn Johnson (all of whom were in attendance) and take home the big bulbous prize (Evgeni Plushenko, on the other hand, no doubt would have deemed this outcome just right). As Larry King said, “Olympic people win.” But no one can deny that Nicole was clearly the most accomplished dancer this season. Though will she go down, as Carrie Ann said, as the greatest star dancer that “DWTS” has ever shuffled through its storied ranks? Discuss!

In the meantime, let’s get through two hours of filler. The program started out fun and fringy, with a flashy group number with big red feather fans set to the Pointer Sisters’ “I’m So Excited.” And I was so excited to see the eliminated contestants (Shannen Doherty! Aiden Turner!) keep their energy up and moving for the performance. That is, until Kate Gosselin nearly ground it all to a halt with her awkward and self-conscious meander.

The three remaining finalists danced the Argentine tango in the Favorite Dance category. And fittingly, it was Erin Andrews and Maksim Chmerkovskiy who ended up in third place — both in this dance, and in the competition itself. And methinks this was as it should be. As great as Erin was, the reporter was no match for Evan or Nicole in terms of technique or difficulty (feral leap onto Maks notwithstanding). And Erin seemed to know that it was her time to go as well: “I knew that these two were going to go head to head in this,” she told Tom and Brooke. “I just wanted to get my life back together. I just wanted to get my smile back.” At least she and Maks also got a chance to pinch Tom’s butt one last time, for posterity. All in all, a fitting end to the competition for this ESPN reporter.

In addition to the requisite recap of the last 10 weeks, the rest of the Season 10 contestants returned and performed new dances. Shannen Doherty showed off her legs and some pretty good moves with a recovered Mark Ballas, and satiny Aiden Turner jumped into high gear with Edyta Sliwinska, who again wore that wonder of a fringe dress. And then Buzz Aldrin was beamed in (from the moon, ostensibly) in a shower of green laser light and the theme to “Star Wars.” Sure, he and Ashly Del Grosso performed a dance that displayed some flailing cape action. But more mesmerizing was that sparklicious moon suit, which, as Tom said, was flown in “from the NASA Liberace collection.” Oh, to be a rhinestone on that bedazzled jumpsuit! It was so completely over-the-top and ridiculous, which just made it that much more “DWTS”-appropriate.

The show nearly fell into a state of sugar shock when “Bachelor” Jake Pavelka Viennese waltzed onto the ballroom floor. After starting his dance with his “DWTS” pro partner Chelsie Hightower, Jake then switched partners with Dmitry Chaplin and ended up paired with his real life fiancee, Vienna. And if this Disney storybook romance wasn’t cloying enough, the dance was set to Jeffrey Osbourne’s “On the Wings of Love” – which just so happened to be the theme of pilot Jake’s “Bachelor” season.

After insulin shots were administered and sugar levels returned to normal, the Utah Valley University Wolverines danced formation circles around the Purdue Boilermakers and ended up with the top prize in the college competition. And they were awarded an adorable mini-Mirrorball trophy as well (where can I get me one of those?)! “Make sure you water that,” advised Tom.

Kate Gosselin showed up to do a redux of her much-maligned “Paparazzi” paso doble and to shill her two new shows. But even though the reality star said that she learned a lot from her “DWTS” stint, much of the rehearsal footage showed that not much had changed since her last appearance, and there was just as much wah-wah Debbie Downer during rehearsals with partner Tony Dovolani as ever. Still, her “Paparazzi” do-over was an improvement over her last performance, if only for the fact that she didn’t wear as much make-up. But then in a twist, Kate’s long paso skirt gave way to a tiny shiny mini and Lady Gaga gave way to Gloria Gaynor. And then in one of the most bizarre “DWTS” moves maybe ever, Kate got on some kind of hydraulic lift with a fish-eye camera on it, and literally rose up above the audience to … somewhere, I don’t know. The rafters? Purgatory? A flash sideways? And just when it couldn’t get more awkward, it appeared she got stuck there. It was too much even for the usually-unflappable Tom Bergeron. “Welcome to Over-the-Top productions,” the host chuckled. “I’m going to run that back later tonight.”

Things bounced back to earth with “a celebration of all things jiggly,” as Pamela Anderson let her sex kitten loose, arrived onto the dance floor in a big hoop, and had her way with Damian Whitewood, Tony and Dmitry. Tony and Dmitry also added some manly support for ready-for-this-jelly Niecy Nash, who emerged as a shimmying vision in purple sparkles and fringe and shook her “Bootylicious” bon-bon with partner Louis Van Amstel. Leave it to Niecy to deliver some of the best lines of the night: “I barely escaped this competition with my jiggly parts intact,” the comedienne relayed. “I feel like a weave on a stick.”

And then it was time for the final two contestants’ knockout dance. And each pair chose a style catered to his or her strengths, and performed it winningly: Nicole elected a show-stopping, high-energy jive that channeled Tina Turner and “Proud Mary,” while Evan chose the more technical quick step (and Anna looked like a pretty party gift in her light blue tulle dress) for his routine, set to Cheap Trick’s “I Want You to Want Me.” And I thought both were great shows of each contestant’s abilities. Nicole jumped and flailed and had the energy cranked to 11. Evan was perfectly charming in his suspenders and delivered a very proficient routine. Yeah, Nicole's was better. But usually the judges generously throw out their 10 paddles with these last dances. Yet in another surprise twist, Len and Co. awarded Nicole a perfect score of 30, while Evan got a mere 28. And at that point, the competition was sealed.

What did you think? Did the right person win the competition? Is Nicole the best “DWTS” contestant ever? Why couldn’t Mark Ballas have brought Aiden Turner out with him so that Nicole didn’t have to stand there awkwardly while he lifted his boy Derek on his shoulders?

-- Allyssa Lee

RELATED:
‘Dancing With the Stars’: The final three
‘Dancing With the Stars’ results: Ocho and out
Complete ‘Dancing With the Stars’ coverage on Show Tracker

Photos: (from top) Winners Derek Hough and Nicole Scherzinger. Credit: Adam Larkey / ABC

Runners-up Anna Trebunskaya and Evan Lysacek. Credit: Adam Larkey / ABC

Third-place finishers Maksim Chmerkovskiy and Erin Andrews. Credit: Adam Larkey / ABC

 

 

Comments

[Tee]

I watched the Monday night show last night and was blown away by Derek and Nicole's dance to "lady in Red". Amazing. All 3 couples were truly entertaining to watch to watch as they performed the Argentine Tango!

Even the early eliminated ones have improved during their time off the show.

Congrats to all - especially the final 3!
Excellent season. Kudos to the producers and all who contributed.

[rigel]

Glad to see the best "dancer" win this year, instead of the best "personality", i.e. Donny Osmond over Maya in last season's competition. Congratulations Nicole!

[Boholana]

I personally wanted Evan and Anna to win. True, Nicole was a much better dancer, but she had an advantage in that she was a dancer. Many people say she shouldn't have been on the show because of her dancing experience, but that would just be discriminating against her ability. But still whatever kind of dance she did, she had an advantage of being a dancer (which is why they dubbed her as the best dancer on the show- I personally don't). I wanted Evan to win because his technique was so much better, and he improved throughout the whole show. And that's what the show is about.

[Emily]

THANK YOU for noticing how ridiculous it was that (once again) Hough and Ballas were busy congratulating each other (via a shoulder ride) and ignoring the "star" that had just won. I Derek did the same thing with Mark won with Shawn Johnson. (I may be thinking of a different year, but I do distinctly recall a 2-man Ballash/Hough Giant whilst the winner awkwardly reached toward the mirrorball trophy looming above her.)

[Jeff]

I'm positive there are those souls out there who believe Nicole Scherzinger is a professional dancer...true, she is part of the mildly eroticisized troupe known as the Pussycat Dolls, but that kind of dancing is nowhere near as demanding as ballroom dancing...it's fun, and sexy, but not the same. She should be proud to win the coveted glitter ball...and I have little doubt her professional colleagues are giddy with excitement in the wake of her win. If the producers decide, maybe, to even the score, Nicole can have a dance-off with Evan.

[Ronald Loui]

As good as Derek and Nicole were (and I am a Pussycat Dolls fan from Hawaii), I don't think Derek Hough is as good a dancer as his sister, and I don't think the dancing on DWTS rises to the levels seen last season on SYTYCD. Kathryn McCormick, who was 3rd place on "So You Think You Can Dance", was actually better eye candy for the fan of movement than even the impossibly well-formed Scherzinger doing a hot latin number.

[Doug]

DWTS finally got it right. Nicole and dance partner, wannabe miniature stud muffin and persistent mugger for the camera, Derek Hough were clearly the winners of Season 10. And Evan and Erin were correctly placed second and third.
After watching undeserving but popular Shawn Johnson and Donnie (I'm Cool Now) Osmond walk away with the coveted Mirrorball trophy in the two prior seasons, regular viewers were fleeing with disgust.
Here are a couple of suggestions for future seasons:
1) How about some new judges? Maybe younger ones. I have had my fill of Len the Curmudgeon and Scary Carrie Ann.
2) How about intermingling some more modern dance --e.g. hip hop --to liven up the show a little?
3)Limit the Tuesday night results show to a half hour.
4) Let Tom Bergeron run the show by himself.

Have a good summer,everyone.

[sally epley]

Nicole remarked after one performance, "I am an artist. I'm not one of those people," revealing she considers herself a dance artist. In my opinion, this show should be for non-dancer celebrities. She started dancing at a performing arts school as a teenager and has danced all her life. It was obvious from the first night that she was the best dancer--already before the competition even began. During one of the performances, a judge remarked that she was as good as the professional dancers. Well, duh, she IS a professional dancer. Great dancer? Yes. Fair competition? NO!

[Dee]

Who's she, and people who actually have a life don't care who's dancing with who?!

[Annie]

There appears to be two views of what this show is about. One group wants to see great dancing from the beginning and the other wants to see people go from nothing to something. I watch this show for the dancing and absolutely loved this season with Nicole and Derek, Evan and Anna. It really was an exciting competition to the very end. The best dancer won.

[jake chan]

i ready enjoyed the dance. that's y i recode it. and also i just upload it. like me if anyone want to see again and again. here is the link dancing with the stars winner 2010 every time i watch her dancing i readay enjoyed.