Watch the stars of 'Private Practice' ask each other questions submitted by fans

Kristi Wins One for the 'Dancing' Ladies

By SANDY COHEN, AP
Posted: 2008-05-21 11:48:13
Filed Under: TV News, Reality TV
LOS ANGELES (May 21) - After four consecutive male winners on "Dancing With the Stars," it was finally ladies' night.

Kristi Yamaguchi was named the new "Dancing" champ on the show's season finale, becoming the first woman to win the ABC dance-off since its inaugural season. The figure skater came into the final contest Tuesday with a perfect score and bested fan favorites Jason Taylor and Cristian de la Fuente to claim the mirrorball trophy.


TV's Top 5

"This is definitely for all those women out there to continue to be strong," she said after the show, hoisting the prize above her head.

The Olympic gold medalist was clearly the most talented dancer on this season's competition, regularly landing atop the judges' scoreboard. But viewer votes count just as much, and with the audience 75 percent female, men have had the edge. Last season ended with a shocker when race-car driver Helio Castroneves upset Spice Girl Melanie Brown.

"Obviously the fans are the deciding factor here," Yamaguchi said, "and I can't say enough to thank them."

She also had plenty of fans among her fellow competitors, who said she deserved the title.

Taylor, the massive but graceful pro football star, called Yamaguchi "just perfect," adding that he "grew up watching her compete for our country." De la Fuente, who was eliminated early in the two-hour season finale, said "it was impossible to beat her."

'Dancing With the Stars': Biggest Career Boost

Thanks to millions of dedicated viewers, 'Dancing With the Stars' has reinvigorated the stalled careers of its B- and C-list contestants. See who gotten the biggest boost after strutting their stuff on the televised dance floor.

-- By Angel Cohn

'Dancing With the Stars': Biggest Career Boost

11. Ian Ziering

When 'Beverly Hills, 90210' came to an end, the actor better known as Steve Sanders was left with zip. But now the '90s star is back in action with a string of indie movies in the works and a guest gig on pal Jason Priestley's Lifetime series 'Side Order of Life.'

'Dancing With the Stars': Biggest Career Boost

10. Joey Lawrence

Whoa! This cutie made a splash at a young age with his work on 'Gimme a Break' and 'Blossom,' but growing up was a big let down that led to a less-successful music career. Thanks to 'Dancing,' he found his way back onto the small screen with a dark guest role on 'CSI: NY.'

'Dancing With the Stars': Biggest Career Boost

9. Tatum O'Neal

The troubled, Oscar-winning child star had a recurring role on 'Rescue Me' when she put on her 'Dancing' shoes. Despite her early elimination, her moment in the reality competition spotlight helped her land a leading role on the primetime soap 'Wicked, Wicked Games.'

'Dancing With the Stars': Biggest Career Boost

8. Tia Carrere

Everybody loved her when she ruled 'Wayne's World,' but the sexy actress was doing mostly voiceover work before the 'Stars' aligned. Now this hot mom is rockin' the guest star circuit with spicy roles on the hit cable series' 'Nip/Tuck' and 'Curb Your Enthusiasm.'

'Dancing With the Stars': Biggest Career Boost

7. Jerry Springer

For the last 16 years, legions of fans have been chanting his name in hopes of inciting a brawl on his self-titled talk show. But Springer broadened his audience by showing his fatherly side on 'Dancing.' Now he's the likeable host of the hit summer series 'America's Got Talent.'

'Dancing With the Stars': Biggest Career Boost

6. Mario Lopez

Best known as A.C. Slater on 'Saved by the Bell,' this teen heartthrob struggled to find a long-term gig pre-'Dancing.' Now he's working steadily as a go-to host for pageants like Miss America and Miss Universe, and he's making headlines as the rumored beau to his 'Dancing' partner Karina Smirnoff.

'Dancing With the Stars': Biggest Career Boost

5. John O'Hurley

Before losing the first 'Dancing' title to Kelly Monaco, O'Hurley was best known as J. Peterman, Elaine's boss on 'Seinfeld.' Now he's a household name, with gigs hosting the syndicated game show 'Family Feud' and hamming it up in the Vegas version of 'Spamalot.'

'Dancing With the Stars': Biggest Career Boost

4. Lisa Rinna

Rinna was busy prior to 'Dancing,' hosting the Emmy-nominated 'SoapTalk' chat-fest and guesting on shows like 'Veronica Mars,' but her time on 'DWTS' rocketed her status as a TV vixen. She starred in Broadway's 'Chicago' with hubby Harry Hamlin and she's replaced Joan Rivers on the red carpet for the TV Guide Channel.

'Dancing With the Stars': Biggest Career Boost

3. Joey Fatone

When Justin Timberlake said 'Bye, Bye, Bye' to N'Sync, Fatone's career screeched to a halt. But his goofball antics on 'Dancing' have won the charismatic singer gigs hosting NBC's 'The Singing Bee' and doing red carpet duty for the TV Guide Channel.

'Dancing With the Stars': Biggest Career Boost

2. Stacy Keibler

This leggy blonde was barely known outside of the wrestling world when she battled bigger 'Stars' on the dance floor. Now she's a full-fledged actress with roles on 'What About Brian' and 'October Road.' She's also done correspondent work for 'Good Morning America.'

'Dancing With the Stars': Biggest Career Boost

1. Drew Lachey

This former 98 Degrees singer was overshadowed by his more famous older brother Nick, but since his season two 'Dancing' win he's become king of all things ballroom by hosting the upcoming 'Dance War' series, traveling on the 'Dancing' tour and acting as a temporary co-host for this season's 'Dancing' competition.

His professional partner, Cheryl Burke, agreed. "Kristi deserved it more than any other woman in any other season," she said. "It's about time that a woman wins."

Yamaguchi's athletic background helped make her a winner, said judge Carrie Ann Inaba, because athletes know how to channel criticism into competition.

"She was technically great and she was doing incredible choreography," Inaba said, adding that Yamaguchi's performance personality emerged throughout the season. "She was able to really develop her crowd-pleasing skills and that's what set her over the top."

The judge acknowledged on Monday's show that men often fare better in the ballroom, saying "they have a natural tendency to be more crowd-pleasers."

"When men get on the floor and you're watching the male power, it's unbeatable," Inaba said after Tuesday's show. "It generates this sort of excitement on the dance floor that's really hard to touch."

Winning the "Dancing" crown doesn't quite compare to winning an Olympic gold medal, Yamaguchi said, but it's still "a fun, amazing experience."

"It's not just this (trophy) but what it represents," she said. "It's all the hard work and the time spent together and the friendships made, challenging yourself and learning something new."

Though Taylor and de la Fuente didn't win, each was victorious in his own way. Besides forming a close friendship with each other, Taylor, an aspiring actor, has taken meetings with Hollywood heavyweights, and de la Fuente learned an important life lesson.

The actor ruptured a tendon in his biceps while dancing on April 28, but delayed the surgery necessary to repair it so he could continue in the contest.

"It's about wanting something in life and going for it," he said. "In this case it was a dance show, but it can be anything that you're afraid of. Go for it. Do it. The reward that you get when you put your heart, your soul, everything you've got in something, it's priceless."

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
2008-05-20 07:12:24
Bookmark

Recent Comments

Post Your Own  
1 - 15 of 866
866 comments

Sstevenson10 07:47:14 PM May 27 2008

Report This!

In world we protest everything, we fight a war against a ghost of terrorist but in MY counry more innocent woman and children are killed by drugs, drunks and gang wars, Yet we stand to pay gas fees that should be protested. Truckers show, from the group that briought you the tribute to bill clintons college prostitution we bring you our tribute to truckers across the world " Truckers Move Americans future one trailer at a time" (c)2000 sjstevenson
If trucker pay more at the pump you pay more at the register, After all whose going to deliver the Darn Gas?
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/collegeradio

GOES LIVE IN 20 MINUTES 8 PM EST 5-27-08
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/collegeradio

Angelface13148 07:32:50 PM May 27 2008

Report This!

I DON.T THINK SO THAT SHE SHOULD

ASuiGeneris1 07:54:24 PM May 25 2008

Report This!

...if they can have performers who have been choreographed in the past, like The Cheetah Girl and Marie Osmond.

...then an ice skater has just as much right to the title as anyone.

...she was an athlete, albiet a graceful one.

...but an athlete just the same, not a dancer.

Mikealysjaysmom 09:54:44 PM May 23 2008

Report This!

you guys are all losers get a life

coffeerox963 05:37:22 PM May 23 2008

Report This!

i knew she was gunna win its ovious she is a ice skater!

baronbrandonxii 09:14:48 PM May 22 2008

Report This!

Ileia8 06:11:28 PM May 22 2008
i agree w/ you. as i said before, they are 2 diffent things.

Ileia8 06:11:28 PM May 22 2008

Report This!

I always get a kick out of reading the comments that people post on these AOL news. People are so bitter and so easily set off...*sigh*

But anyway, I don't watch TV anymore. Stopped watching several years ago (mostly because I moved to a small village-town in the middle of the southern Japanese Alps where I was even lucky to get internet set up :P). But if Kristi Yamaguchi won a dancing reality TV show, good for her. I know for a fact that figure skating and professional dancing are two different things. True, in order to succeed at figure skating, you need to get good marks both technically AND artistically...and there are so many figure skaters out there that can do triple jumps like they're nothing...but artistically, can't pull their weight on the rink. I remember watching Kristi skate as a child and I thought she was an amazing skater. The fact that she was able to take that discipline that she used to learn skaing to dance is commendable. Congrats, Kristi.

baronbrandonxii 05:52:13 PM May 22 2008

Report This!

no*

baronbrandonxii 05:50:35 PM May 22 2008

Report This!

ok, everyone who said Kristi should not win, your all wrong. im a figure skater like her, and dancing and skating are 2 different things. Dancing is hard, ill admit, but skating is jumps, spins, and very few other things, NONE dancing. if she ice danced, that would be a totally different thing, but she doesn't. Look up ice dancing, and figure skating, there 2 separate things.

Delilama48 02:38:19 PM May 22 2008

Report This!

I so totally agree with everyone who said she should not win. With her discipline in skating, dancing and performing for her was a breeze. The only thing she had to add according to the judges was her acting (dramatics). A committed viewer, I will not longer be watching "Dancing with the Stars. After these results I feel the show is bogus.

Dani121506 12:08:46 PM May 22 2008

Report This!

I dont think it is fair that she won the trophy in fact I dont think that she should of competed at all she knows how to dance she dances on skates it may not be the same kind of dance but it is still dancing I say boo to your vote for Kristi

PaulRW1 11:10:26 AM May 22 2008

Report This!

I figured she would win because of her precise, accurate, moves. To me, it was a given about a month ago.

cherrcoh 02:26:44 AM May 22 2008

Report This!

Kristi deserved to win but yum Is he great to look at or what?

icethief 10:10:35 PM May 21 2008

Report This!

Lordy the name-calling on this list. It's enough to make one **********'s amusing watching the fans of Jason and Christian slump to such a low.

All of these cries for a woman to win and when one finally does all you can say is "She's a ringer."

LOL!!!!!!

See everyone in September when it all starts again.

mitcheastmeck122 06:54:00 PM May 21 2008

Report This!

SHE was the best on there , i like her

1 - 15 of 866
866 comments

Add your own Comments

Clear
Add

Photos: Out and About

Fame Pictures

Suri on the Set: TomKat took their little cub to Katie's new TV gig. What show is Mrs. Cruise guesting on?

TV Squad

Photos: Pop Culture Flashback

Carmen Electra
Stephen Lovekin, FilmMagic.com

July 18, 2006: A Pussycat ditches a Pepper and is soon rumored to have taken up with a Heartbreaker.

New AOL TV Features

FeedFeed

    More Movies and TV News

    TMZ
    More TMZ.com
    PEOPLE.com
    More PEOPLE.com
    cnn news
    More Stories
    the new york times
    More Stories
    EW.com
    More From EW.com
    Los Angeles Times
    More From L.A. Times