____Are the ducks quacking extra loud tonight? Is a pretty little liar alive and well and a new-crowned champion? Or will there be a party in Bel-Air? You're about to find out because the winner of Dancing With the Stars season 19 is...
Alfonso Ribeiro and Witney Carson!
Runner-ups: Sadie Robertson and Mark Ballas
Third place: Janel and Val, which was clearly difficult for the younger Chmerkovskiy. You could see the pain on his face, but how sweet was Janel, fighting the emotion, saying that Val has been "my trophy the entire season"?
UPDATED: Before we get to all the behind-the-scenes gossip, let's start with the evening's big winners and what Alfonso and Witney had to say once the show ended.
Glamour: Congratulations! Rhinestones look good on you!
Alfonso Ribeiro: You know, it kinda works!
Witney Carson: He should sleep in them!
Glamour: So why did it take 10 years to get you on the show?
Witney: Ask the producers!
Alfonso: That's not a question I can answer, but at the end of the day, this was the right time. Maybe I wouldn't have been ready for this seasons [prior], and I wouldn't have gotten Witney. We talked about it a lot…we were so in sync with each other.
Glamour: What was your feeling going into tonight?
Witney: Honestly, we had no idea. I remember Alfonso leaning over to me and saying, "Prepare for Mark and Sadie to win." We really did think they had a chance. The competition was so tight, I really believe it could have been any one of us.
Alfonso: And everybody deserved it. This was one of those years where the four of us could have been the winner and nobody would have been pissed. Maybe it wouldn't have been your favorite [that won], but you could see it because everybody grew and became amazing dancers. It could have been anybody.
The press room literally erupted in cheers for the couple, and when I talked to Emma Slater after the show, she summed it up best: "I don't think I've seen anybody want it more. I really, truly don't. He's wanted to be on the show for 10 years now. He's finally on the show, he won the show, and I just get the feeling he's going to talk about it all of his life. To me, that makes me happy beyond belief. This is something that I think was on his bucket list, unlike some celebrities who were like, Yeah, OK, I'll do it.' He was like, No, I gotta do this!'"
I want to give a special shout-out to Sadie Robertson, who has been nothing but a class act. If you've read my column before, you know I've never watched Duck Dynasty, or agree with many of the Robertson views, but at the end of the day, all that matters is that you're a good person and kind to others. Sadie is all that and more. She is the most well-spoken, sweet young woman that I've gotten to know on DWTS, and I'm so excited to see what she does next. Need further proof what a gem she is? Check out what she had to say after the show:
Meanwhile, a somber Mark Ballas (who had already changed into his all-night-flight attire) explained why the evening was so emotional for him: "Sadie's goodbye package got to me, and it was just sad because it was the last one. We've been on this journey for three months, and I took someone who has never done this this far, and we did it together. To end up against two people that have done Broadway...that's pretty awesome. I got teared up at the end."
And get this one: Since Mark's mom, Shirley, is going back to England over Thanksgiving, Mark is going home to Louisiana with Sadie to join the Robertson clan for turkey and all the trimmings. Said Mark: "I'll be there for a couple days. I'm excited about the sweet potatoes they keep talking about!"
Speaking of the Robertson family, Sadie's parents, Willie and Korie, met legendary singer Gladys Knight after the show, and all three of them had a gushfest over one another. I wonder if they invited Gladys to Thanksgiving too?
Although both Sadie/Mark and Janel/Val were gracious in loss, it was a much tougher night for the third-place finishers. As Tom Bergeron said, they had the most perfect scores ever of any DWTS couple and were consistently on top of the leader board. As much as Alfonso wanted to win, so did Val. He and Janel graciously chatted after the show, but they were clearly trying to hold it together. Said Val: "I'm very happy for Witney and Alfonso. Witney did an incredible job this season. This was the most-watched finale in a long time, so I'm very proud of our production, our everything. It has been a great, great season. And I'm very excited for the upcoming tour, and Sway in New York next month. I love to perform for a live audience."
Speaking of the tour, Janel mentioned that she'll be making a cameo, but what exactly does that mean? "It means I'll make a couple appearances at certain locations," the Pretty Little Liars star told me. As for where those locations are, that's still TBD.
More Behind-the-Scenes Gossip:
*Immediately following the show, Bethany Mota,Maria Menounos, and__Candace Cameron Bure__ were all huddled together chatting about getting their hair and nails done. OK, I kid, I kid, but they were all having a fun conversation catching up.
*I also ran into Amy Purdy, who is one of my DWTS faves. I told Amy my idea to bring back former DWTS contestants for the 20th season as part of encore numbers, and she totally agreed that it would be something she'd love to do. "It's the 20th season! You gotta do something big!" explained last season's runner-up. Well, Amy, you do know Oprah, so if I may...
Meanwhile, Amy's book, On My Own Two Feet, is now available for pre-order, so make sure to put that on any early Christmas or Hanukkah wish list. (And, yes, she talks a lot about DWTS in it!)
*Unlike seasons past, a lot of this year's contestants didn't stay after to chat with the media. The press line was devoid of Tavis Smiley, Tommy Chong, Randy Couture, and Bethany Mota, while Antonio Sabato Jr., Betsey Johnson, Jonathan Bennett, and Lolo Jones didn't stay long. Normally I'd be upset because I like to talk to everyone, but this was just a different kind of season. Not to say that the cast didn't like one another (they did), but they weren't as tight knit of a group as some previous seasons.
*Someone that I did love was Michael Waltrip, who was so adorably excited to be back on the dance floor. "I loved it, and I enjoyed the whole experience with Emma and wearing my little [race-car] outfit tonight. I am so thankful I got Emma as my partner because she kept me around for a long time!"
*Lolo Jones was nursing an injured shoulder backstage and didn't seem to be too interested in chatting, but I did speak with her partner, Keo Motsepe, who revealed that he has weekly check-ins with his former partner. Keo is also excited to join the DWTS tour this winter, especially to visit the U.S. cities he's never been to. High on that list? "Las Vegas and San Diego!" Behave, Keo, behave! All kidding aside, he was one of my favorite pros, and I do hope we see him back for season 20.
*The DWTS wrap party was to be held at Eva Longoria's restaurant, Beso, in Hollywood last night (except for the final-four couples, who were headed straight to New York City and Good Morning America). Clearly, the show had a lot to celebrate. Things are looking strong going into season 20, and the consensus behind the scenes is that everyone is hoping for a return for the Tuesday-night elimination show. I've actually liked the one-night-a-week show, but for the 20th season, I think it would be in everyone's best interest. Go big, guys, go big.
*I found Bruno's half-eaten birthday cake backstage after the show. Not a bad way to celebrate a pretty entertaining season all in all.
*File this under things you don't normally see in a parking lot: Betsey Johnson's pink feather boa and other articles of clothing. (Hey, they gotta start dismantling the set at some point!)
Finale Superlatives:
The Opening Number: It's a zoo backstage to get ready for this night, and I still will never know how production manages to organize it all. Val was the first pro who came outside for rehearsal and used his time wisely—to take selfies with fans.
The Encore Dance: How funny was that? Bethany and Derek got eliminated last night but won the encore dance. That probably makes sense based on her social following, but then how come that didn't translate into votes? Some things will always remain a mystery.
Best Filler: The dress rehearsals with Erin, Tom, and Co. If DWTS expands to Tuesday nights for season 20 next spring, may I suggest a permanent dress-rehearsal package? And more audition videos. PLEASE.
Best Guest Performer: Give it up for Jennifer Hudson. The girl can do no wrong.
Best Use of a Judge: Whoever decided to put Len Goodman in a tracksuit in a car with Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong deserves a raise.
Best Trash Talking: Alfonso for the win, saying Janel was about to go from "pretty little liar" to "pretty little loser." All in good fun of course, but it elicited the biggest laughs in the press room.
Most Bizarre Moments: There was Lolo Jones' odd clap after Val and Janel's fusion dance; Betsey's not-as-smooth-as-usual cartwheel/split, and then the biggest question of the night: If Alfonso waited 10 years to get on DWTS, what took the producers so long to let him?
Best Fusion Dance: Gotta give it to Alfonso and Witney. It just had that extra spark. Only thing better would have been if Will Smith or Ricky Schroeder joined in.
Biggest Surprise: Alfonso Ribeiro going on the DWTS tour, which kicks off next month (click here for all the tour dates)! Good for him, and what a fun surprise for the fans that will get a chance to see their favorites in person.
Best Reason to Give Up My Monday Nights: Granted, I'm out covering events most nights, but DWTS is a huge commitment, and it's the only one that makes me sad when it's over. This is a great group of folks (everyone from publicity to production to security), and my life is more fun because of you all. Derek, Mark, Val, Sharna, Allison, Witney, Artem, Keo, Karina, Cheryl, Peta, Tony, and Emma: You guys are seriously the best. Len, thank you for teaching me to dance this season. Bruno, thank you for becoming the fifth model in an Access Hollywood Live! and Glamour fashion segment. Carrie Ann, thank you for letting me spend the day with you and seeing everything that goes on behind the scenes. Erin Andrews, thank you for talking fashion and football with me, even after flying all night. Tom Bergeron, thank you for being the best host in the biz. I'll see you all in the spring for an epic season 20!
What did you guys think of tonight's show, and are you happy that Alfonso and Witney took home the Mirrorball?
