Dancing With the Stars Finale Recap: Did the Right Couple Win Season 24?
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Just in case you were feeling anxious about who would win Dancing With the Stars‘ 24th season, the ABC series found a way to calm your nerves on Tuesday night: by stretching its finale across two-and-a-half hours.
Even though Dancing‘s three finalists brought their A-game during Monday’s performance finale — and our highly scientific TVLine poll showed a very tight race between Normani Kordei and Rashad Jennings — Tuesday’s season ender was less about naming a champion and more about reflecting on the highs and lows of the last two months. (And there’s nothing to get your mind off a stressful, neck-and-neck finale quite like 150 minutes of filler.)
Among the highlights of Tuesday’s nostalgia trip: Charo’s love-hate relationship with the judges’ panel (which we all joked about, but was actually vaguely terrifying). Bonner and Sharna’s off-the-charts chemistry that sparked a thousand relationship rumors. And, of course, the untimely eliminations of Simone Biles and Heather Morris.
But if you were among those who felt Heather got snubbed in Week 6, not to worry: She got her redemption during the finale, in which she was basically considered a professional DWTS troupe member for a number of group dances. (Weird? Warranted? Discuss in the comments.)
The finalists also performed their 24-hour fusion dances, which combine two styles in one routine and contribute to each contestant’s cumulative finale score:
* David and Lindsay: Salsa/Foxtrot — 36/40
* Normani and Val: Argentine Tango/Foxtrot — 40/40
* Rashad and Emma: Cha-Cha/Tango — 39/40
In the end, though, Tuesday’s finale was about crowning a Season 24 champion, after 10 weeks of high-stress rehearsals, emotional live shows and endless grumpiness from Len Goodman. So, which couple walked away with the Mirrorball?
Rashad and Emma!
Even though Normani and David gave Rashad a run for his money, it was the NFL pro who ultimately got to stand in that confetti shower. Normani and Val finished in third place, while David and Lindsay nabbed second.
That’s a wrap, Dancing fans! Did Rashad and Emma deserve the Mirrorball? Were you rooting for another couple? Drop a comment below with all of your thoughts on Tuesday’s season finale.
No way in heck David should’ve been 2nd. 1) the judge’s need to score people appropriately and 2) the way they weight the judge’s scores (if you aren’t aware it makes them moot basically under the current system) needs to change.
Absolutely agree! I’m sick of this show being a popularity contest instead of a dancing contest. Normani should have won, Simone should have been second, Rashad in third. Very frustrating!!
‘Sorry but I don’t agree they were overqualified they didn’t have to work at it they already had the know-how and volition to do their best. They didn’t have to work for it.
Simone is a gymnast not a dancer. She was starting from scratch like many others.
Simone is trained as a gymnast and performs floor routines to music very similar to dance.
Normani is a performer and has choreographed performances (dance training)!
Rashard if a pro ball player who has never been trained to dance. Rashad worked and made prominent improvements with each and every dance. I applaud his winning.
Any person who had dance training in their history really should NOT be allowed to appear on DWTS. Trained performers clearly have the advantage.
They were not over qualified. Just because you have a certain dancing background does not make you a ball room dancer. This type of dance is different from hip-hop or tap or any other dancing. If that was the issue those celebraties would not have been considered at all because of their background. They should not have been judge based off of that. That was wrong.
I think the ppl with the LEAST experience should win… If they deserve it & Dave did just that
Congrats Rashad & Emma! Yay for a new pro champ! I enjoyed your dances all season. David & Lindsay freestyle baseball dance was fun to watch. I loved Normani & Val throughout the season. They easily could have won. I’m so glad that stars with dancing ability/experience are invited on this show!
Producers should warn the contestants at sign up that they are not eligible to win if they have a dancing backround, if that is the case. Notice how one female after the other got eliminated.
Yes..no more,professional stage performers who have that type of advantage !!!
Absolutely
Not right good dancers went home. What’s up??
Then why did DWTS allow them to dance? If they were a part of the show then they should have been voted for appropriately! Best dancer!!!!!
If only the best dancer should have won, then the competition should only allow people who are similar in age and ability. It’s not fair to have a 50 – 60 year old with no dance background compete against a 25 year old with a dance background. If you want things fair and just, then it has to be that in every way.
This is ballroom. Just because you can dance, don’t mean you can ballroom dance. They did not choose the right person. This is just ridiculous!
YES THEY DID !!!!
I agree . People with dancing experience no matter what kind. Backup dancers, singers. It’s suppose to be Stars who don’t have any background experience what so ever. Besides most fans scores are mostly count. . Not the dancing.
How true. Hope the show bigwigs see these comments.
The wrong person was 2nd place. Let’s vote for the best dancer not a fan favorite. Makes me sick too!
I agree with you on that!!
I agree with you all the way. I am done with this show. They do need to change their rules on how judging is done because so many people get sympathy votes and they know those people need to be gone. They are going to start losing viewers and ratings if they keep on down this road
Fine! Don’t Watch! It is fun, it is entertaining…it isn’t rocket science. You love someone and you watch them improve week after week, become more confident…isn’t that who should win the mirror ball trophy! Lighten up everyone!!!
I agree with you. The person who improves most during the weeks, should be chosen as winner. Those with any kind of dance experience have advantage over those with no dance
You are totally right I am also getting tried of this show too. What they need to do is get rid of Lin Goodman he ask as if these stars really know how to dance.
Any time the public votes on something it is a popularity contest. The votes aren’t from dance experts, just people looking at their tv’s. David was liked by so many that he got the votes. That’s just the way the show works.
It’s just an entertainment show. The prize is a tacky trophy. It’s not like there is a contact or anything of importance tied to this show. It truly doesn’t matter that it’s merely a popularity contest.
They get paid for each week they are on the show. Winner gets approximately 200,000
I agree Monica. David is a great personality but he is not a dancer.
So true
I agree
I SOO agree. I was SHOCKED when they called Normani and Val for 3rd place. They should of been the winners. Out of all three couples left. They had the highest scores through out the season out of all of them. I was so disappointed.
👎👎👎👎👎
Normani and val should have won. Rashad second simone third
Totally agree! America slipped up again, look who they elected for president.
Val was robbed!!
That was my judging from 2nd night
This show shouldn’t be a popularity contest. If you make it to the finale you should be able to dance. David and Lindsay’s dance on LIVE with Kelly and Ryan on Wednesday was an embarrassment for the show and proof that David should not have been in the finale!
I agree with you completely. To give Ross a 9 and the same score to Rashad means they danced equally well. Obviously was not the case. Ross deserved a7 at best and even that is being generous. He just clomped around the dance floor. The show is on its way toward the American Idol path of self-cancellation through irrelevancy.
that would be ‘irrelevancy!’ Am so angry I’m flailing!
Val was Robbed!!!
Yep. But since we Americans are all about popularity, the ratings reflect it. Nice people or fan favs get boasts even though their dancing is stiff or less polished than others.
It’s great to acknowledge the nice people, but is that what the show is about? And Len needs something to adjust his perpetual grumpiness. Maybe a good dose of Prozac.
Did you all hear Len say” I don’t care as long as I get paid!”??? Time for a new judge who does care!
Totally Agree
Agreed! Dave should have won!
No way !!! He should have left long time ago with his STIFF dancing self.
Know Val and his partners can not win mbt every year but he is superior IMO to any other pro…he has a kind even temper too…not a trouble maker and obviously wonderful dancer….there….wait for season 25ppl
It really doesn’t matter who comes in 2nd, even though he didn’t deserve it. And with everyone complaining about who gets eliminated….it’s the public that votes. I thought David should have been gone a few weeks ago, but you can’t blame the judges. They always said he wasn’t a good dancer…just fun to watch…and they were right. Blame the home viewers!
I agree.
No way Dave should have even been in the finale. Should have been eliminated in week 4 or 5. They need to implement a judges “save” similar to what American Idol had whereby if all judges are unanimous that contestant gets to stay in the competition at least another week. Project Runway has the Tim Gunn save (although he’s technically a mentor not a judge). Survivor had Redemption Island allowing an eliminated player a chance to return. Top Chef has Last Chance Kitchen which allows an eliminated player an opportunity to get back into the competition. DWTS needs something similar either a flat out judges save or a dance off- so that talented contestants like Heather or Simone could have a chance to get back to the final.
Absolutely
Judges favored Val from the start…. Ridiculous… Start the pouting Val
David should have gotten third place, this show needs to change the way the votes go, the judges score should be a bit more powerful then the voters vote. Norman I was a better dancer then David.
David should have gotten 10th place!!!
So, I’ll say it. After Simone, Nancy and Heather were all out, I threw all my votes to David. He may not be the best dancer, but he’s easily the most likeable. I did NOT want Normani to win. Not after the hissy fit people had about Heather’s dance experience. Normani has almost as much experience and training as Heather. So yeah, I threw all my votes to David.
Agree 100% the complaining about Heather never translated to Normani that was clearly a trained dancer as well…that made no sense. I found myself not watching a lot of the season because of the biases all around.
Rashad and Emma definitely deserved to win! It was interesting to hear he had spent over 350 hours rehearsing, 100 more hours than the other two finalists.
I totally agree. Rashad put everything he had into winning and giving his best.
He was my favorite from the very beginning and I don’t follow football at all. I always love discovering new ‘dancers’ like Hinchcliff last season.
I was thrilled when Emma and Rashad won. This season has shown a shift in popularity of the person and not their dancing. Their growth thru the show. I totally agree in the winners. And I love the way the show changed this season. But the unfair picking on our you g gymnist made me sick for her.
Happy for Rashad, but Normani at 3rd? WTF?! My face matched the rest of Fifth Harmony. Like I’m speechless.
My thoughts exactly. I thought for sure she’d be among the top two.
.
Congrats to Normani, David, and Rashad for making it to the final three, though.
I think David agreed that he should have been last. He never got a big head over his popularity. Maybe that was part of why people liked him so much.
This show has become Dancing with the Most Popularity. It isn’t about who dances better than who anymore it is simply who can get the most votes. I have remained loyal through every season and every season it gets worse and worse. Unless DWTS finds a better way of voting I am done. Seriously, with Disney and ABC can’t they develop a more productive way of determining winners? If not, then it isn’t truly DWTS anymore.
Agreed! They judges votes should at least count for 60% & viewers at 40%. This 50/50 crap does NOT result in the best dancers winning. :-(
Congratulations to the winners and losers who were in some aspects more deserving of the top 3 spots
It was pretty apparent, when the elegant Nancy Kerrigan was eliminated, whose also from the Boston area, that hinges of the contest were coming undone. Then when the petite Olympian powerhouse, Simone Biles was voted out it was air apparent that this was a population contest, instead of a more fair talent dance contest. Only God knows how this all unfolded. Although God might even agree, that heaven can wait, until next season, for the long & winding road to recovery into summer that’s ahead!
I have to agree with so many of the previous comments. I am saddened and frustrated by the devolvement of DWTS into a popularity contest rather than a serious dance competition. The results this year are glaringly illustrative of this issue. Any time 3 gifted dancers such as Heather, Nancy and Simone can be eliminated in favor of David, there is something seriously wrong. Clearly it’s the athletes who are in the most prominent sports and who are current players, or at least VERY recent, who have a serious advantage. Competitors who have lesser name recognition or whose careers are less well known, start off with an immediate disadvantage.
However, there is one remaining objection which no one else seems to have picked up on, and that is that there was a definite double standard at least on Carrie Ann’s part when it came to scoring Normani. Countless times over this season I heard both her and Julianne say they were being tougher on Normani than the others because she’s was so talented, capable, blah, blah blah… Since when is it right to judge by a double standard simply because someone is good? Isn’t this just a glaring example of the issues pervasive in our society now where everyone’s going to be forced to be “equal” even if it means denying someone score or credit they deserve for being undeniably more competent?
This season was a sickening homage to the philosophy of awarding losers just to make everyone feel good about themselves – including the audience. I agree with a previous comment of giving more weight to the judges scores, but NOT when they feel like they can measure using different standards for each competitor. Might be time to change out a judge or two…
Very well said. Change the judging formula or fade into irrelevance.
Newsflash: It has always been a popularity contest. How long has this show been on by now? A hundred years? And it’s been a popularity contest where people with big, organized fanbases coming in (Osmonds, NASCAR, NFL, Olympics) do better than others. Kelly Monaco won the FIRST season because she had a soap opera fanbase bigger than the guy from Seinfeld. And it’s also had “ringers” almost from the beginning. This season, there were so many ringers plus Olympians coming in they kind of balanced each other out and the two pro athletes were left standing. I thought from the very beginning that those guys would end up 1-2. The Cubs World Series win was about as popular as it gets and David Ross was known as a nice, personable guy. NFL stars have done way better than they should’ve since Emmit Smith. Not shocking. Not a surprise.
Maybe the show needs to approach it the way SYTYCD does and say they are finding America’s favorite dancer, not necessarily the best dancer. That’s what happens after all when the public votes.
This show does say to vote for your favorite dancer – its never been about only the best dancer winning. If that was the case, they should only have on the show people who could actually dance because then it is just not fair for a 70 year old to have to compete against a 25 year old with previous dance experience. I mean, they get a cheesy mirror ball trophy as a prize, not a contract to be a Beyonce back-up dancer. If they actually got a prize that should only be won by the best dancer, then yes I would agree that the best dancer should win and only those who are great dancers should be in the competition. But that is not what DWTS has ever been about.
Thank you. When the public is a factor it’s essentially a popularity contest.
It is Dancing with the Stars NOT Who is The Best at Dancing with the Stars!! If you have a favorite and you want that celeb to win then you gotta vote!
Dancing is not a natural movement. Tempo is not natural. I am ballroom dancer. I have always felt DWS was not fair cuz many people cannot master ballroom. Therefore., the fact that the winner and runner.up had awesome stories and worked so hard thrilled me. I applaud that people saw that and voted that way. To critique the Gymnist constantly the way they did made me sick.
America didn’t choose “talent “, they chose a celebrity!
i thought it would be a toss up between Normani and Rashard, but i’m glad he won
BULL SH%#@%. NO THE RIGHT COUPLE DIDN’T WIN. THEY ROBBED NOEMANI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’m with you..
Agreed. But I notice it always seems like the one that has signed on to their tour wins the trophy. Just a weird coincidence?
Her name is Normani! And no she was not robbed she was treated and judged fairly throughout the entire competition! It’s based on judge’s scores and America’s votes so obviously the right couple won
So disappointed in results on DWTS. David was a horrible dancer and should have been voted off about 4 weeks ago!!! It’s not a popularity show, or is it?? If it is, I’m done!!!!!
I agree 100%! Normani was such a better dancer. Although David was, at times, fun to watch, he was no match for Simone Niles, Rashad or Normani. Apparently dancing talent wasn’t the criteria this tome. Very disappointed in results. Watching The Voice from now on.
*I meant Simone Niles*
BILES! Lol
Simmone got herself kicked with her smug attitude
This is where of I speak, the gymnasts are not equal after all the training etc .
It’s not fair to call Simone smug. She was blunt but absolutely correct. Smiled don’t win gold. Her entire life was training as s gymnast and then an Olympian. Think about what that entails
Didn’t seem to stop Laurie Hernandez from smiling all the time and they were on the same Olympic team. I thought Simone would be my favorite but I found over the course of the competition that she just couldn’t seem to ‘connect’ with the audience, myself included. And whether you like it or not, that’s what gets the vote, no matter how good of a dancer you are.
I really didn’t ever think Simone had ‘ a smug attitude.’ I felt she was very focused on doing the dance properly. She was learning so much, so quickly. Once the judges harped on her facial expressions, she incorporated emotions into her dancing – which is not done in gymnastics.
I believe Simone said what she said cuz of constant nastiness from judges. I would have said allot more. She is young girl and they wanted her to act googly eyed and sexy. Simone had enough. I say good for her. But she know that did her in. And Carrie Ann went on National T.V. and bad mouths Simone. And nothing was said about that. That was disgusting. To me she was playing to the people to get Simone voted off. Then she acted so shocked when Simone got voted off. Sad to see a disgusgusting judge like her.
It’s always been a popularity contest. How are you only figuring this out now? As someone explained above, as soon as you have people voting, it’s a popularity contest. You’re specifically asked to vote for your favorite dancer. If it were purely on talent, there would be no viewer voting.
Yes, it most definitely IS a popularity show — and has been for 24 seasons. If it wasn’t, the viewers would not be voting and the winner would be chosen by the judges. Period.
I am with you ### It.
I Think Normani deserved it more, but I’m not mad about Rashaad
So proud that David got 2nd place! He improved so much and really represented what this show should be about for me. He had absolutely no dancing knowledge and tried so hard to listen to his feedback and improve. He clearly enjoyed the experience and deserved to go so far!
I agree, David had the least dancing experience, but improved every week and put his heart into training, as did Rasheed. That’s what the show is about. Improving on dance moves. Normandy and Nancy and Simone all were trained with dance moves in their professions. David and Rasheed were not. After with decision
I am not happy . Val and Normani should win. How to comparing Normani dance with Rashad . Something is going wrong with this show. For that reason I am out and will never watch it again.
Yep agree 100%
It amazes me how many people take the childish approach of saying that if the results aren’t what they wanted they will just never, ever watch again. Really? How does the result matter in your life after all? It’s a tv show.
Amen! LOL
Happy for Rashad and Emma! Thought it would have been him or Normani! Great season! Can’t wait till September!
Yuppers!
Congrats to Rashad and Emma! Very deserving! He truly was an example of what this show was designed to be about … someone with little dance experience and their journey to winning the crystal ball. Normani was great but I just didn’t think she should have been a contestant as I think she had prior dance experience. Should Ross have been in the finals … yes, based on the current system of selection. Should the method of determining the winner be changed? Maybe. Should the criteria for selecting contestants be changed to ensure that the “stars” are truly dance amateurs be changed? Definitely! I think that the public is tired of “ringers” being contestants and used their votes to say so this year.
I agree with you! Normani almost looked like a pro dancer the first week. It’s not fair for a celebrity with little or no dance experience to have to compete with Beyonce’s backup dancer (though she didn’t do to good!) or other experienced dancers. If dancers are allowed to compete against non dancers, just call the show The People’s Coice Celebrity Dance Party.
If you are excluding all the stars with dance experience, then you’re denying us the chance to get to know many stars. I enjoyed getting to know Heather, Simone, Nancy, and Normani which by your standards we would never see on the show.
I absolutely agree. When they had Heather Morris, a DANCER, as one of the stars I was aggravated. I enjoy seeing people who obviously have no dancing experience learning from scratch and competing on a somewhat even level. I don’t care if ballroom is different; a dancer has a much better chance.
Just because she has a dancing background that is nothing compared to ballroom dancing. That is completely different experience from what they are used and they want to learn something new and I see nothing wrong with that. What’s wrong with adding other dance styles to their resume? Nothing
Many stars go on the show knowing that the other stars will be better dancers than them and it isn’t a big deal to them. They don’t expect to get far despite their popularity. Mr T is a good example; he got some exposure that he hasn’t had in a long time and he had fun! And it was fun to see him! The producers have put a good mix of abilities on the show. The show wouldn’t survive if it were all non-dancers because in a dancing show one expects beautiful dancing!
YES!! The right couple won! I would have been very happy with any of the top three taking away that mirror ball! Because for the first time ever I loved all three finalists. It didn’t really matter though, because they kept all three worthy couples right in there until the very end, and that was a great idea! I’m so happy for Emma – her beauty inside and out shines through, and she and Rashad were great together. But David and Lindsay were the best couple of all and proved that this competition is not just about how great you can dance. I also love Normani and would have been happy if she had won – but two things there. 1. Val joined her all over the world as she performed – and she would have been dancing all those times; therefore she is a professional dancer, and 2. Val, along with his bro Maks, seem a bit phoney to me. The right couple won and the right couple came in a close second! I completely disagree that Heather and Simone’s eliminations were untimely. YAY for an incredibly GREAT FINALE!!
The best couple absolutely did not win! Val and Normani out danced all of them. Maks was voted off early after after a perfect score and his brother Val finished 2nd. Hmmmmm!
They need to make the voting percentages 75/25 with the judges having the predominate vote and stop it from being a popularity contest. Too many good dancers left before their time. It takes the fun out of the show
Agreed!
Bummer really wanted Val and normoni to win. Glad our cable was out cuz I’d be screaming words you wouldn’t want to hear. Congrats you two.
I’m done. WTF? Please. …..David in 2nd. place, really? Bye-Bye season 25. Better things to watch (I hope).
The whole season was a mess! The more talented people left way to early and the ones with less talent but a larger fan base stuck around way too long. Something needs to be done with the voting percentage!
Yes, it does!
Glad to hear Emma and Rashad won.
Lemon gentleman should of voted off & not Simone; one of the judges & Normani kissing each other as to kissing up shouldn’t help her land in the top 3; Simone had 2 work on 2 dances & one was judges challenge plus she wanted Simone to show expressions/feelings!!! Both dances had 40; she should of had immunity compared to being voted off!!!
Simone was great but she was hurt by her flippant remark the previous week. I had no problem with her comment since I knew she was frustrated but it appears other fans didn’t like it.
Boring
Simone vs Emma in the dance off for the dance mirror ball trophy!!!
Congratulations Rashad and Emma you worked hard and definitely most improved. You deserved to win. All the best to the runner up David and Lindsay you did a great job as well.