Trav's Thoughts

And cue music. Welcome to the finale of



Final Cat update...LEGSES! We luvs Catss' LEGSES...yess preciouss we doess...and we will missss them.

It's the picture frame dance to Can You Feel a Brand New Day, featuring the Top 20, to start the show and it looks terrific on that big stage. Wow! I got a chill. That was great!

There were 21.6 million votes cast, a record for the show. Well done gang!

It's an expanded panel of judges as Nigel Lythgoe and Mary Murphy are joined by Adam Shankman, Debbie Allen, Mia Michaels, Tyce Diorio, and Lil C. Everyone is wearing their fru fru finery and they'll each get a chance to select a favorite dance or several from the season, and the dancers will return to perform each routine.

Yup! We've got a jam packed show full of dance!

Of course, the real business at hand is to reveal America's Favorite Dancer from the Final Four - Brandon Bryant, Evan Kasprzak, Jeanine Mason, or Kayla Radomski. The votes are in, and we'll know the winner soon.



Don't worry kitty. We already chose...Evan or Jeanine. But we'll be happy with any of these four dancers. They have all touched us at some point during the season. Congratulations and good luck to them all!

Oh, to the producers...Thanks so much for putting a retrospective together that built a terrific picture of three of the final four dancers, and ran the fourth down like he didn't belong. My favorite is still EVAN. Neener neener neener.

Sorry. Just had to get that bit of childishness out of my system. On we go.

Adam Shankman selects as his favorite the Hip Hop from Jeanine and Phillip, choreographed by Tabitha and Napoleon D'Umo. This is when Jeanine started sneaking up on me. They danced that so well.

Nigel Lythgoe selects as his favorite the Argentine Tango from Janette and Brandon, choreographed by Miriam Larici and Leonardo Barrionuevo. This dance was stunning.

Debbie Allen selects as her favorite the Waltz from Asuka and Vitolio choreographed by Louis van Amstel. Beautiful.

Mary Murhpy selects as her favorite the Contemporary from Jeanine and Jason choreographed by Travis Wall. Jeanine had me by this number, and if not for Evan, she would have had all my votes. Brilliant.

Mia Michaels selects as her favorite the Samba from Kayla and Maks choreographed by Louis van Amstel. A surprising choice, but I love that Louis' choreography was so well received this season. Wow. I'd forgotten how good that Samba was, especially for their very first routine.

Hey! The Top 4 got to screen the new movie Fame! They actually get to see it before anybody else does. And did you know that season 4 contestant Kherrington Payne stars in the film? Debbie Allen is in it too. She starred in the original. And the movie premiers 25 September. Coolness!

Debbie Allen selects another favorite...the Top 16 group routine choreographed by Dmitry Chaplin and Tab & Nap. This is another number that looks fantastic on that big stage. Smokin' HAWT!

We have the winner of SYTYCD Australia. She is Talia Fowler, choreographed by Sonya Tayeh. Her style is presented as ballet. She is extraordinary.

Lil C selects as his favorite the Bollywood from Caitlin and Jason choreographed by Nakul. I really enjoyed them in this dance.

Oh...remember why we're here? It's the first elimination. Our fourth favorite dancer of 2009 is Kayla Radomski. You know what? I think there's a Tony nomination in this young lady's future. My favorite dance of hers was the Broadway she did with Jason, choreographed by Tyce Diorio.



Hey...notice how there's not a lot of fluff and nonsense in this finale? Isn't it nice to see the talent, the whole talent, and nothing but the talent?

Adam Shankman selects another favorite...the butt dance from Randi and Evan choreographed by Mia Michaels. HA! Love it!

Mary Murhpy selects another favorite...the Paso Doble from Jeanine and Brandon choreographed by Louis van Amstel. This dance was fierce.

Oh no...the next elimination. Our third favorite dancer of 2009 is Evan Kasprzak. Damn. Congratulations young man. You brought so much joy to me this season as I watched a revival of a style of dance that I love. You are my favorite dancer. I'll be looking for that billboard so I can buy my ticket.



OK...Jeanine or Brandon?

Nigel Lythgoe selects another favorite...Addiction from Kayla and Kupono choreographed by Mia Michaels. This dance was stunning and another likely Emmy nomination for Mia. Absolutely chilling. And I knew what this one was about without the back story. The acting from the two dancers...tremendously well done.

The Rage Boys Crew! These boys are so cool! Awesome! The little bittiest Rage Boy lost a front tooth. He's seven...he did a back handspring off the couch! HA!

Tyce Diorio selects as his favorite the Disco from Janette and Brandon choreographed by Doriana Sanchez. Whoa there's that overhead split again! Great stuff!

The final judges' favorite is the Contemporary from Melissa and Ade choreographed by Tyce Diorio. Pam and I send our best wishes out to Tyce's friend Michelle, who was pronounced cancer free today.

The Top 8 reprise the Chorus Line number choreographed by Mia Michaels. And the judges pop out of the mirrors at the end to close the dance. Cool!

The judges and choreographers need to dance more on this show! How about a routine from the choreographers on results night, instead of a musical guest?

OK gang...here we go. It's down to Brandon or Jeanine.

Our second favorite dancer of 2009 is...Brandon Bryant. Well done young man. He had some amazing moments during the season. Take away Evan or Jeanine, and Brandon easily could have been my favorite. His audition killed me.



That means America's Favorite Dancer of 2009 is Jeanine Mason! YES!



Jeanine becomes the second girl to win. She joins Nick Lazzarini, Benji Schwimmer, Sabra Johnson, and Josha Allen as America's Favorite Dancer.

Well, that's it for season 5. And we barely get a chance to rest and recuperate because season 6 premiers on 9 September with the first round of auditions. Yikes! I won't start reviews until Top 20 though.

What? I did NOT review the auditions this last time! That was just a series of random observations.

Stop laughing!

Dancing with the Stars Season 9 returns with a three night season premier, with the first round of dancing on 21 and 22 September, followed by the first eliminations on 23 September. I'm on the watch for the cast reveal!

Must get DVR.

Keep dancing y'all!