Tonight on ABC the glitz and the glimmer returns to the ballroom one last time as the finale of Dancing With The Stars season 25 airs! We have your all-new Tuesday, November 21, 2017, season 25 Week 11 “Finale Winner Announced” DWTS and we have your Dancing With The Stars recap below! In tonight’s DWTS Season 25 episode 11 as per the ABC synopsis, “A winner is announced in the 25th-season finale. Included: two final rounds of competition; and performances by Nick Lachey and Kelsea Ballerini. Also: Christmas songs from Lindsey Stirling and Becky G.; and Jordan Fisher and Debbie Gibson.”
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Tonight’s Dancing with the Stars (DWTS) Season 25 Finale begins with Len Goodman dressed as Santa Clause reading the stars and their pro partners a Christmas tale until the show starts. Outside Santa’s house, the professionals give fans a Christmas spectacular performance, actually dancing in The Grove; all the stars from this season come out and then the finalists are announced. Frankie Muniz and Witney Carson. Jordan Fisher and Lindsay Arnold. Lindsey Stirling and Mark Ballas.
Hosts Tom Bergeron and Erin Andrews join them on stage where they announce that the couples will face their final two rounds of competition where one of them will win the Mirrorball Trophy. DWTS fans are given a flashback of their favorite moments from last night’s performances; including all four perfect performances of Lindsay and Jordan and Lindsey and Mark, the competition is fierce!
Erin brings us into the ballroom, to start the first round with Lindsey Stirling and Mark Ballas and before they dance their favorite Jive from week 3. We are given a glimpse of her struggles on her journey to the ballroom. She lovingly talks about her dad and how she wanted to dance and violin lessons but her parents couldn’t afford both. She chose violin but once she was in college, she didn’t like to play anymore and it caused her to fall into a deep depression; she also struggled with anorexia.
She went back to her faith and went back to the violin, but people told her it was too different, even remembering Piers Morgan telling her on America’s Got Talent that she’s not good enough to get away with flying through the air and playing the violin at the same time. Sharon Osborne said she felt she wasn’t doing enough to fill a stadium. Lindsey said that was when she discovered Youtube.
Lindsey Stirling and Mark Ballas “Jitterbug” by Wham!
Judges’ comments – Len: You are such an accomplished dancer. You’ve come out “wham bam thank you ma’am, that was a Jive!! Bruno: a real sizzling, a sparkler of a Jive. It was crisp it crackled! Over the competition, you have almost become too hot to handle. Carrie Anne: You are so special. You have a star quality that draws us in so intimately. I loved it. Scores – Carrie Anne: 10 Len: 10 Bruno: 10 Total: 30/30
Frankie Muniz and Witney Carson are up next; as a kid, Frankie had to always be active and when he was 8-yrs-old, he got his lead child role in Tiny Tim. Within a month of coming to NYC, he booked Malcolm in the Middle. He was on top of the world, but he wanted to attempt something new, when Malcolm ended, he began racing cars but in 2009 he had a massive accident that left him with traumatic brain injuries and it ended his racing career; after that he felt lost and it was the darkest time of his life. He had nothing left from his past and felt like he had nowhere to go and DWTS happened at the perfect time; giving the energy from the ballroom all the credit for moving him forward. His mom loves that he is beaming and his friend feels this is his graduation and he loves being there. Bryan Cranston continues to call him “my boy” and is very proud of him.
Frankie Muniz and Witney Carson perform their Argentine Tango from Disney Night.
Judges’ comments – Bruno: Smokey. Smoldering. Compelling, but totally in focus, it really was a blockbuster Argentine tango, much better second time around. Carrie Anne: This was a bigger and much better performance. Well done! Len: Frankie, there was a mood about it. I tell you that was a fantastic Argentine dance. Scores – Carrie Anne: 10 Len: 10 Bruno: 10 Total: 30/30
Erin is outside at The Grove where she introduces Kelsea Ballerini who performs her song “Legends” as the dancers dance in the ballroom in front of her, as there are beautiful moments from this past season playing on the big screen behind her. Tom, who is in the ballroom says Jordan Fisher and Lindsay Arnold are up with the Samba they performed in their second week of competition. Jordan reveals he was one of the only kids who was mixed in his town; his mom called him a “ham” but the theater director said he was resilient and could see the hunger in him, saying it was beautiful. Jordan recalls his first trip to LA, and how much it hurt always being #2 but he kept going. His first break was when he booked “The Secret Life of a Teenager” and then things evolved when he joined the biggest world phenomenon “Hamilton”.
Jordan Fisher and Lindsay Arnold perform their Samba from the second week.
Judges’ comments – Carrie Anne: You are so right on your feet, and take ownership and make it look easy and channel your emotions. Much, much improved. Len: Lindsay that was great choreography, great performance, and technique. It was great! Bruno: It was incredible. Almost hypnotic, when you dance you draw the audience to you like a magnet. you’re world class! Scores – Carrie Anne: 10 Len: 10 Bruno: 10 Total: 30/30
We are shown some of the intense and funny moments of the season, how horrible some were and how they improved through the season; including how Carrie Anne discovered that Frankie has swagger!! Or when John Cena told Len that it was okay that Nikki Bella was a bit aggressive because “that’s his girl!” Tom joked that Len’s guilty pleasure is being booed.
Derek Fisher and Sharna Burgess are back to perform their “Space Jam” dance from the first week with the son “Basketball” from Lil Bow Wow. Outside, Erin introduces all the guys from Dancing with the Stars, a moment she has been waiting for all season; they perform a very sexy diddy to “The Little Drummer Boy.” The women in the crowd are raising their 10 paddles up, as Len is out in his Santa suit cheering them on.
Tom lets us reminisce about the middle weeks and when we had the most memorable week and how emotional people were. Several tears were shed as Erin says the show should be sponsored by Kleenex. The next week was very different as we had Disney night, it was full of join and sparkle and we had the first perfect score of the season.
Vanessa Lachey and Maks Chmerkovskiy perform in the ballroom, as soon as they are gone. Lindsey Stirling performs “Christmas, Come On” from her new Holiday album “Warmer in the Winter”. She does a beautiful performance with Becky G.
To get us even more into the holiday mood, Tom Bergeron and Erin Andrews introduce Debbie Gibson who is in the Grove, singing Sleigh Ride. Jordan Fisher then takes the stage and sings “That’s What Christmas Means to Me”. Tom and Erin walk back on stage, with their mouths gaping at the high note he held, saying that was insane. Sharna reveals it is DWTS tradition to go to the Children’s Hospital in LA, where they were able to bring a little of the dance to them. And help them take the focus off of what they are dealing with, even if it was for a little while.
Last night we said goodbye to Drew Scott and Emma Slater but they are back tonight to perform their favorite dance, the Jive from the Most memorable year. The song is “Don’t Stop Me Now” by Queen; half-way through their performance his identical twin brother, Jonathan joined them. The moment has arrived, the finalists were given less than 24 hours to learn their fusions dances.
Len says Frankie Muniz is the underdog, but no one has worked harder to get to the finale than Frankie and he won’t go down without a fight. Lindsey Stirling, the artist, so fluid and wonderful musicality and a beautiful dancer. Jordan Fisher is just a natural, he is the one to beat and a force to be reckoned with, but each one of these stars deserves that Mirrorball. let’s get dancing!!
Lindsey Stirling and Mark Ballas will be doing the Cha-Cha/ Tango Fusion to Hot 2 Touch by Felix Jaehn feat. Hight & Alex Aiono. Lindsey is filled with so much gratitude and loved her time on the show. Mark explains what the fusion challenge is. Mark says he will miss her, and dancing with her but has a friend for life. She is damn proud of how far they have come. Judges’ comments – Len: This girl is amazing. I loved that there was no messing around in the routine, tango full of attack, full of aggression, straight into the cha-cha-cha with lots of hip action. You are a wonderful performer, not just with the fiddle but with your feet as well. Bruno: I love it because you could really see the contrast. It was seamlessly blended. You got the “wow” factor. Carrie Anne: You guys have gotten so good, I am emotional that this is the end. That was beyond fusion, you created alchemy. Such great expression! Scores – Carrie Anne: 10 Len: 10 Bruno: 10 Total: 30. 140 for both nights!
Frankie Muniz and Witney Carson will be performing a foxtrot/tango fusion to Avicii – Without You ft. Sandro Cavazza. They enter their dance room and look at the photo of when they got their first 10s. Frankie learns they need to combine these two dances together. He says it is bittersweet because it is the hardest thing he has done but the most enjoyable thing he has been a part of; he credits Witney for all of that. She thinks he is amazing. Judges’ comments – Bruno: In the excitement of it all you lost a bit of control, there are no bounces in tango but a very good performance. Carrie Anne: I watched you and you are so the heart and soul this show is based on and you are an OG DWTS contestant. I loved that you made this your own. So elegant and so cool. Len: 100% you are the people’s champion, you come out, your journey is up and down but you dust yourself off and get back up. (Before he can continue, Carrie Anne “boos” him). You know I love you, you are a wonderful charming guy and I love you. Scores – Carrie Anne: 10 Len: 9 Bruno: 9 Total: 28/30 Total 134 for both nights!
Jordan Fisher and Lindsay Arnold are the last finalists to perform before the winner of the 25th season of Dancing with the Stars is announced. They have chosen to do a salsa/paso doble fusion to “Kill the Lights” by Alex Newell & DJ Cassidy (with Nile Rodgers). Jordan and Lindsay hug as he enjoys that he finally has his own photos from their whole journey. He says Lindsay has become family and he is a better person because of her. She thinks it is so special to watch him grow as a dancer and a person and loves being a part of it. He is grateful that she taught him that he is enough and being on DWTS is a journey of self-discovery. Judges’ comments – Carrie Anne: Your skills are out of this world, what is amazing is you are an incredible dancer and performer, but what if a testament to you is that Lindsay has grown as a dancer, because of you. You are spectacular! Len: I think you are the most complete male celebrity ever on DWTS!! Bruno: I couldn’t agree more. You are right up there with the best we have ever seen on this show, Impeccable!! Scores – Carrie Anne: 10 Len: 10 Bruno: 10 Total: 30 Total for both nights 140!
Everyone has gathered in the Grove for the grand finale of this amazing season; last chance voting is now closed! Nick Lachey is performing his new song “Someone to Dance With”. The lyrics bring tears to the finalists’ eyes as we watch their performances and amazing moments on the large screen on the floor beneath their feet. Tom announces that Nick Lachey is back in the music studio with more new music out next year.
Erin announces that with combined scores, the couple who landed in third place is Frankie Muniz and Witney Carson.
Everyone has gathered in the Grove for the grand finale of this amazing season; last chance voting is now closed! Nick Lachey is performing his new song “Someone to Dance With”. The lyrics bring tears to the finalists’ eyes as we watch their performances and amazing moments on the large screen on the floor beneath their feet. Tom announces that Nick Lachey is back in the music studio with more new music out next year.
Erin announces that with combined scores, the couple who landed in third place is Frankie Muniz and Witney Carson.
Second place: Lindsey Stirling and Mark Ballas
When we return, Tom and Erin welcome us back to the 25th season finale, as it all comes down to this moment. He touches the Mirrorball Trophy as Tom announces the new winners of Dancing with the Stars are Jordan Fisher and Lindsay Arnold. Tom reminds fans that they will see us in the Spring for a special four week all Athlete edition DWTS.
END!