DTWS S026, Athletes, Week Four: And the Winner Is...

Oh, we’ll get to that in a minute.  First, let’s recap the show.

It opens with a quicker cut of the first show, when all the athletes were bathed in gold. They started with ten athletes, now they are down to 3. Cut to the three remaining stars.

“Who will win?”

Tom Bergeron and Erin Andrews (who looks stunning) refer to how “it seems like it only started a few short weeks ago,” (cause it did). And they tell us how this finale, which is normally a two-day, much-dragged-out affair) is now down to only ONE HOUR. Wow.  

So instead of bringing everyone from the season back to dance, the supercut at the beginning will have to do, right? OK.

We jump right in, with the story of Tonya and Sasha. Sasha Farber is long overdue for a Mirror Ball win, and Tonya Harding is in the midst of the comeback of her life. And they sure have some kind of magic together. “This has been a journey that I will always treasure,” says Tonya.

I think tonight’s format is basically going to be each couple gets a dance, then they dance their freestyles, then winners. Done.

Tonya and Sasha’s first dance begins with the set bathed in purple. Tonya stands alone. Sasha joins her. They are dancing a Viennese waltz. Now let me say this about that. Some people on this show do great Viennese waltzes, others have no technique at all. Sasha infuses his choreography with pure poetry and beauty. Beautiful, intricate arm movements, and the constant turns that are an integral part of Viennese waltzes. They are dancing to “Time of My Life,” and Tonya is just beaming through this. It is glorious to see.

At the end, he gestures to her. She takes a bow. Beautiful. (Just like they do in skating.) This is what Dancing with the Stars is all about. So graceful and wonderful.

Tom mentions how one of the best parts of this season is seeing Tonya’s smile. He says it really doesn’t look fake. She says: “It’s definitely not fake. This truly has been the time of my life.” She laughs and puts her hand on his arm. Tom: “That’s wonderful.” Sasha smiles.

Len: “I’ve got to be honest. You haven’t had an easy journey to this final: you’ve had a foxtrot, a quickstep, a rumba. Now, the Viennese waltz. You danced it with an elegance and a sophistication. Plus, you had great control. I loved those spins, then into those couple of whisps. Right on time, beautifully danced. Great start to the finale.” Bruno: “Absolutely. And add to that, I’m watching a born-again Tonya. You danced as if a weight has been lifted from your heart.” She nods yes. “Rejuvenated,” he continues, “radiant, enjoying the moment, going for it. It’s lovely to see, my darling. It really is.” Carrie Ann: “What a truly incredible journey this has been for you. I’ve enjoyed watching every step of it. What I find truly attractive about your dancing, every movement has real meaning to it. When you do this (she raises her hand above her head), you are truly expressing joy and freedom, and I think that resonates with all of us.”

JUDGES’ SCORES:  26 (out of 30)



Josh and Sharna are up next with a foxtrot. Their package expresses shock that they made the finals. Sharna talks about how the person of Josh is so different than the “beast” on the football field.  They are both attired in pale blue, and it’s all very dreamy.

Bruno: “Oh yes, the Beast has been tamed by the Beauty. Like a real prince. Dashing, debonair, self-assured. You’ve come so far. It really is a shame this season is so short.” Carrie Ann: “I think that you really bring to life what this whole season is about: being competitive and bringing your excellence to a new form of art, and I see the art that you bring on the field here. There’s poetry now that wasn’t there when you first started. You really brought the ballroom spirit to life. You did an excellent job.” Len: “Throughout the competition, you’ve had an ease and an elegance about your dancing. And this was no exception. Great performance.”

Erin talks about what a fierce competitor Josh is “on the gridiron.” She asks him what it’s like in the ballroom tonight. Josh talks about how great Sharna is, and Erin says: “Love it. Love the teamwork.”

JUDGES’ SCORES:  27 (out of 30)

Josh says their Freestyle is “going to be epic.” Josh asks Sharna: “What’s the big word?” Sharna says, no joke: “Supercalifragilsticexpealidocious.” Erin: “Wow. All Mary Poppins up in here.” Tom deadpans: “All of us here at Disney appreciate that that is the word you chose.”

Adam and Jenna talk in their package about how in sync they are. Adam: “She has taught me what being a kind and dedicated teacher can be for somebody. She’s one of the coolest people I’ve ever met.” As he says this, they show them, butts up in the air, finishing a dance. They are in polka dots, head to head.

(Adam says: “Yes!”) After the package, they launch into a jazz version of “Anything You Can Do.” Simply awesome. They get a standing O from the audience.

Carrie Ann: “You need to take that to Broadway. I see Broadway in your future, my friend. You two are like the Wonder Twins of dance. Together, you save the world. End of story.” Len: “Fantastic.” Bruno: “It was so exquisitely theatrical. It had wit, humor, but technically, it was brilliant. Your timing and partner work is flawless. Excellent.”



Tom asks Adam if the show met his expectations. Adam: “Even above and beyond everything that I thought it would be. And I think I owe that a lot to Jenna. I owe that to everything that she’s brought into my life in this crazy time.” He hugs her, as they are both emotional.

JUDGES’ SCORES:  30 (out of 30)

They do have the other contestants from this season up in the Balcony, suited up in their original gold suits from the first episode. They appear to be cheering on the other contestants who are now the three finalists.

At the half, our leaderboard shows Adam and Jenna leading, with a perfect 30. Josh and Sharna follow with 27, and Tony and Sasha are in third with 26.

Sasha says that he wants their Freestyle “to feel like a celebration, a celebration of Tonya.” Tonya, in talking with Sasha, says that what got them through the negativity and the hate (that was there at the start) “is America.” She says: “The amazing change in people’s hearts is what’s keeping me going. I never thought that I would feel this alive again. America pulling for me has definitely changed my heart one more time.”

Then, Tonya drops down, out of the ceiling, in a purple outfit, surrounded by a purple curtain, dancing (fittingly) to “I Will Survive.” Lots of flips and spins and gymnastic/skating moves in this Freestyle. So great.



Tom talks about the (possibly scary) idea of bringing her down “from the Jumbotron.” She says she “wanted to go for it.”

Len: “If you can survive that routine, you can survive anything. It was full of fun, full of energy. You chucked everything you could think of into one and a half minutes of joy. It was terrific.”

Bruno: “She was dancing as if her life depended on it.” Carrie Ann jumps out from behind the judges’ stand to give Tonya a big hug. “I love you,” she keeps saying to Tonya. “I love all the Freestyles I’ve seen in 26 seasons, but that was so much fun. Cartwheels, way to go! Freestyle is all about impact. You made an impact.”

Tom asks Tonya how she felt, “cause obviously it worked for the room.” “Absolutely amazing,” says she. “This was my last dance, and I’m here to prove I belong here.”

JUDGES’ FREESTYLE SCORES:  30 (out of 30)

Tonya and Sasha are thrilled to get their first perfect score for their last dance together.

Sharna says: “Josh sees it as a positive that he’s an underdog in this final.”

Their Freestyle is football-themed. Lots of great work by the troupe, but I’m already liking it less than Tonya and Sasha’s. There’s a line in the song to “walking on water,” so of course there is water in the dance. *eyeroll*

Bruno, coyly: “You're wet. (pause) That was such a strong performance. Heroic. He was the leader of the pack. You know who was the boss in that dance? You were.” Carrie Ann: “First of all, I have to say, Sharna, that was maybe the most incredible piece of choreography you have ever done. It was so powerful and so fitting. I saw a champion out there.” Len: “There’s no way you’re the underdog in this final. I had so much fun tonight. This was just great. I loved the drama of it.”

JUDGES’ FREESTYLE SCORES:  30 (out of 30)

Then, they show Josh running into Artem in rehearsal.

So, there was this, which I really hated... In some ways, it did build on where they started in this season. The song, I think, was “Scooby Doo Pa Pa.” It’s obviously way advanced dance for me.

Carrie Ann: “Your style was incredible. It was brave. It was definitely a choice. You have led this competition with incredible dancing. You have been such an incredible performer.” Len: “What it lacked in convention, it made up for in invention. But I’m an old ballroom guy.” Bruno: “It was a high-style freestyle.” (They all hated it too.)

JUDGES’ FREESTYLE SCORES:  28 (out of 30)

Seriously, I didn’t think it was one of their best dances this season.

They bring out all the season’s dancers, for a big finale dance, choreographed by the wondrous Mandy Moore. (Thankfully, it’s not too complicated.)

Then, they bring out the final three.

Results? They are only naming the winner.

Proving that once again, America’s votes count for a lot... It’s Adam and Jenna.

Miche’s Favorites Single Dances
1. Adam and Jenna (jazz)
2. Tonya and Sasha (Viennese waltz)
3. Josh and Sharna (foxtrot)

Miche’s Favorite Freestyles
1. Tonya and Sasha
2. Josh and Sharna

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