The show could have been abbreviated if it were recognized early on that Ruben's story about his partner's medical situation would clearly taint fair judging and foreshadow his win very early on. It has been inevitable that the setup would result in sympathy votes throughout the show. The other contestants' backgrounds could never compete against such a mind game. I am not saying he performed poorly and didn't deserve some of his scores. But at least half of his scores were inflated. The phone call episode strengthened the sympathy plan. In this last episode he went for the jugular by espousing the importance of his win to pay his partner's medical bills! Shame on him for such manipulation!! (Not to worry, Obama's free health insurance for all will cover the bills) Also, whenever Ruben didn't get the highest score or lose the most weight, his physical reaction was one of indignant disbelief rather than sadness and disappointment (yet graceful) acceptance displayed by the other contestants. He became the spoiled "Golden Child." One last thought: Will prohibiting contestants from "Ruben-esque" behavior be a new rule in future shows? I don't believe so since witnessing cheating in this fashion boosts ratings because incensed viewers return to witness the show's blatant lack of integrity and fairness on the playing field. I have full sympathy for all people with personal problems but dancing and healthy eating to win the competition was thought to be the spirit of the show.

Agreed, he seems to feel he is entitled to the win and is shocked if he doesn't get handed the high scores on a silver platter. He'd already turned me off episodes ago by making egotisitical remarks about his skill as a dancer and how he deserved to win but milking the judges' sympathy is too, too much. I hope he's sent home this week but, in my heart, I know the judges have already been conned and will continue to pamper him.

The ladies have it far harder than Ruben, having to look graceful on high heels and not just standing there while their partner does the real dancing. Ruben should give a big chunk of his winnings to his dance partner, she's doing the real work and making him look good.

I started reading your comment and got ticked off, then realized I had to agree with you on a lot of it. I noticed all the sympathy plays as well, but really like Ruben, so I kind of ignored it. I'm assuming that since the judges do the judging and not America, that most of the contestants are probably pretty fairly judged...at least I hope so. If they weren't fairly judged, I'm thinking annoying-a** A-Li-Ci-A would have been out at the beginning of the show. The LEAST amount of talent, not enough weight-loss for someone so large, and just NOT a person that is easy to like.

Since this is yet another "Reality" Show, I'm guessing that sympathy plays and drama boost viewing/ratings, so I'd bet there won't be any reigning-in of that type of activity in the future. I wouldn't mind seeing Ruben win, although I really think Shayla and Pinky are so very deserving. I was VERY disappointed last night and the last couple of weeks with Ruben's little "entitlement" faces as well. It kind of turned me off wanting him to win and made me focus on the two girls.

By the way...come to think of it, didn't Ruben start the show stating John was IN the hospital, but when the free call home was offered, didn't he then make a big deal that John was ABOUT to go to the hospital? And for someone "very sick" with cancer, how'd John make it out of the hospital and travel to see the show last week? Just thinking...

I agree. They should keep personal info. to a minimum or go into detail about everyone and give everyone a shot at winning sympathy. He has done fantastic at losing weight but his early dancing performances sucked and should have gotten him booted off the show. It wasn't fair to the others that worked hard on their dancing and losing weight.

Probably close to the same way that although outside communication supposedly wasn't allowed Alicia was in here posting. I'm sure there is lots that is made up or withheld , etc. by the producers. It's alwayyyyyss about the ratings baby.
As for the judges I think they have favored Pinky consistenly more than the other dancers and that's cool cuz that girl truly has nine lives like Danny said - I find her extremely talented. You must admit that Ruben is an very elegant dancer. Truly if based on versatility and great dances Shayla should win. I hope she looks for a career as a pro dancer when this is done.

Ruben is a wannabe dancer. If he had any skill or technique he wouldn't look as haphazard as he's been. His face alone says that he's trying too hard. Shayla, who I think is incredibly phoney, seems like she's had years of training above Ruben.

This post is funny to me now because he won the whole thing. Well I'm happy for him even thought I was pushing for Shayla and Pinky more. I don't know if I'll watch next season.


O yeah Mara looks great

I am in total agreement. I was almost in tears watching how unfairly they scored Shayla. Ruben and Pinky was the top picks from the beginning. On the episode where Pinky didn't perform well, they decided not to eliminate anyone. Piny should have went home then. I will not watch this rigged up program anymore, because it just bring the ugly out of me. I hope that Shayla get a really good contract in ihe future. The judges should be ashame of themselves. How can they sleep at night! Ruben is a nice guy , but not a fabulous dancer. I truly hope that the show ratings plunge.

I have really enjoyed the show since it motivated me to lose weight along with the contestants. All along, I saw that Ruben was all drama and no action. Yes, I was impressed by his weight loss. VERY impressed. But as far as his dancing. He did not wear heals and have to do any fancy foot work. Yes he did lifting but the girls had it tougher. I think guys should compete against guys and girls against girls. Women have more weight to lose from more curves that men simply do not have. I was disappointed by the finale.

So so so very true...

It sickened me to see his attitude when he got lower scores- he was so smug, and when others got better scores, the look on his face was that of disbelief- as if to say "Are you kidding me? Im so much better!" , and Hubby and I knew from day one that he would win, hands down- not because of his dancing, but because of his sob story.

People suffer- I know that, its sad- but you need to shut your mouth and win the contest FAIRLY. and tugging at the judges heart strings was NOT fair. Ruben only won because of his boyfriend- somebody who had NOTHING to do with the show. They should NOT allow that crap on the next series. Its totally unfair to say "Hey, my boyfriend is dying, can i have some money for bills?" Come on now!! how stupid is that?? if he was secure in his dancing, he could have gotten buy without whining, nobody else whined about their lives back home- only he did, so of coarse he was the golden child.

I sometimes wonder if his boyfriend even had cancer, or if he just lied to get the money...hes manipulative - it wouldn't surprise me.

I am so happy that Ruben won the overall competition. He is the one who has lost the most weight. He won fair and square. As for everyone saying that the judges felt sorry for his partner, this isn't true. That is like saying he won unfairly? Jealousy is an ugly trait of an bad personality to have? I feel bad for whoever has this in their life. Strife is another bad quality to have in your life. Be happy for people unless you could do a better job, why weren't you on the show yourself? I am sure that he deserves the win, no matter what other outside circumstances in his life. I VOTED FOR HIM AND I TRULY AM HAPPY FOR HIM. YOU WERE JUST GREAT AND AN INSPIRATION TO ALL OBESE PEOPLE, RUBEN YOUR A STAR!

ruben lost the most weight and was great but i agree he played the feel sorry for me card too much.and alicia should of been gone her attitude needed big adjusting.the girls do have it tougher with the dance routines the heels and costumes alot more action for the women dancers and they should be given more credit.my first time watching was good incentive for me as i have weight to lose but thought the judging a bit lacking also.

Both my mom and I thought Ruben was by far the best dancer on the show.

Shayla was also very good.

What I don't get is the love-fest over Pinky. Ironically, my mom was a conspiracy theorist and thought she faked her injury to get sympathy the way some of you are suggesting Ruben played up his partner's cancer, but the fact is that we don't know these people or their intentions and feelings. Nonetheless, I don't get the love-fest because I don't think Pinky was that great of a dancer, and her lack of weight loss in additon to that made it surprising to me that she kept skating by week after week.

Also, I don't get the comment about women's weight loss being harder than men's. I am a woman myself, and I lost 25 pounds of weight gradually and yet easily this last year when I reduced my daily caloric intake to 1200-1500 a day (I am 5'2") and started working out more. Meanwhile, my dad has been struggling to lose weight.

Finally, I laugh at some of these people being able to fit into a size eight according to the show. Um, I am currently 5'2" and 115 pounds, and most of my pants are size eight - and they are hardly falling off my backside. I also have narrow hips, so I don't buy that 5'7" 170 pound women like Shayla (though I liked her on the show) are suddenly a size eight now. Their body mass index is still in the overweight range - they cannot possibly be a size eight comfortably.

Touche.....I'd like to see Ruben out there week after week dancing in heels. I can't believe he won. Good thing he had a great partner. The whole thing ticks me off. I feel like I wasted my time watching this whole series. Why don't we get to vote. I think the judges should be ashamed of themselves. Ruben got the win because his partner is a professional and she got a professional score for them. It was pretty obvious to me that every dance that was scored throughout this competition was because of how the WOMAN danced. Ruben got LUCKY! PERIOD! I for one will not be watching the next series of this show if they don't change something.

i'LL NEVER WATCH THIS SHOW AGAIN! THE JUDGES PLAYED US ALL BASED ON THE PERFECT SCORES THEY GAVE RUBEN, SHAYLA SHOULD HAVE HAD PERFECT SCORES THE WHOLE SHOW ESPECIALLY THE FINAL I CRYED AT HER PERFORMANCES THEY WERE AMAZING, I HATE THIS COMPETITION, THE WORST DANCERS WON OMG HOW DARE THEY, THE PRINCEPLE IS KEY FOR ME ON TOP OF THAT THE MONEY I'M HEART BROKEN FOR SHAYLA, SHAYLA YOU CAME SO FAR & ANYONE WATCHING THIS FARSE OF A SHOW KNOWS YOU WON DEAR. INSPIRED BY YOU, I'M SURE TV SHOWS WILL PAY YOU FOR INTERVIEWS GET THAT MONEY.

This show was so biased. Ruben was not that great of a dancer...his partner was just smoke and mirrors that made him look good....he did a little partner work...that's it. Shayla was robbed. The top 2 definitely was supposed to be Shayla and Pinky...Ruben's partner's illness played a huge part..and the judges did have favorites. A fair way to judge would be the scheme that they have on So You Think You Can Dance. America votes based on popularity and the judges eliminate the dancers based on talent or the lack thereof (as in Alicia...heeeello). I'm disgusted...deleting it from my DVR immediately!!! :-(

I completely agree about Ruben, he should be ashamed of himself, he didn't win the contest fair and square!! No hero here!!!

I've said it before and I'll say it again -- simply judging by his face, he was horrible. He looked confused most of the time, and when he was supposed to be "sexy" or whatever, he looked twisted!

He DIDN'T lose the highest percentage of body weight which is what they went on, he DID play the sympathy card, he, in my opinion (which I am entitled to, no jealously intended) was NOT the best dancer. The girls had him beat hands down, if it wasn't the sympathy card, I don't know why he won, it certainly was NOT his superior dancing... this is the TRUTH!

Great idea..... we should of gotten a chance to vote..... sure for sure..... Ruben wouldn't have won then.... he would not have made it past the first few weeks.

I have to agree with you!