DWTS5: The Checkered Flag

Whew!   All is fine and just in the world this morning... and the integrity of the Dancing With The Stars competition is alive and strong!   (If you didn't read that with your tongue in your cheek, go back and re-read it again.  I'll wait.)

Hurray for Helio and Julianne!   

Though once Marie and Jonathan were announced as the 3rd place team... and mercifully in the first half-hour of the two-hour marathon finale... all was fine with me.  I would have been just as happy if Mel and Maks took the title.  As suspected the mirror ball trophy was more about Miss Congeniality (which Helio and Julianne have in spades) than the "best" dancer... plus Helio likely benefited as the "fish" more "out of water" than the Spice Girl.

I did maintain my 2 out of 3 correct record of predicting who would make the finals after just watching just one dance.  What was I ever thinking that Marie & Jonathan would be in the finale instead of Sabrina and Mark?!   Ok, it's not that difficult... the impressive thing would be to predict which couple will make that final that shouldn't!

Helio is one happy guy, that's for sure.  In that memorable line from When Harry Met Sally, "I'll have what he's having"... though I am not sure I would want to be that happy... it seems exhausting. The guy has charisma (how could you not smile when he was on the screen!?!) and with this new-found fame, let's hope he does something good with it.

Speaking of which... if they already haven't... ABC needs to get Julianne to sign a talent contract beyond DwtS.  Beautiful, wholesome, charming, funny... we know she can dance and sing, so it's not stretching it that she can probably act... get that girl a sitcom!

Rumor has it the next season will be amping up in the spring... though I wouldn't be surprised if it gets rushed in sooner if they writers' strike continues on.  Our local ABC late-night news had a story about four  rumored participants for next season.  Two of them are absolute bunk!   Celine Dion - ummm, an already announced 2008-09 world tour and c'mon do you think Celine would do a show that attracts ex-boy banders and Spice and Cheetah Girls?   Florence Henderson - often seen in the DwtS audience, but Jane Seymour was pushing the age bar in her late 50s, so I doubt a mid 70s Mrs. Brady would be up for it.   More likely... Donny Osmond (though I think we need an Osmond break) and ice skater Kristi Yamaguchi.   Stay tuned... when official announcements are made, you can be sure you'll see it here!

UPDATES!

Even after the finale, the season can't stop making news... these will be on the sidebar, but figured I'll include them here as well.

'Dancing With the Stars' Champ Calls Off Engagement - Helio Castroneves and fiancee split

These next two items via Reality Blurred:

'Dancing' Professional Injured at Finale - Mark Ballas rushed to the hospital after the finale with a "severe shoulder injury"

Is Maksim Quitting 'Dancing?' - The poutiness continues with Maks...

Comments

[Jeff]

Thank you, sir, for saving me from having to slog through (even with TiVo skipping) the two-hour finale. LOL. I love the show, but was just suffering from a bit of DWTS fatigue. Yay, Helio. He's a great dancer, and a yummy dish to boot! ;-)