A Focus On the Finalists – Calvin & Lindsay (S23)

A Well-Deserved Focus On

Season 23’s Fabulous Finalists

– Calvin & Lindsay

Truly a Season that will be marked within the Ballroom’s history as one that was practically overflowing with incredible Talent, stunning Choreography, and fine Dancing, Season 23’s unique Finals was a rarely see phenomenon where any one of the Show’s 4 Finalists could have Won its highly sought after, glittering Mirror Ball Trophy and remained MORE than duly justified!

One of the Season's - and, indeed, the Show's as a whole! - greatest surprises and most terrifically improved Competitors, this beloved Detroit’s Lions Receiver may have not quite roared the loudest when it came to the start of his trek across this Fall’s Dance Floor; but, it also didn’t take very long for Calvin to prove that, with a lot of hard work, a good attitude (some KILLER Choreography by your Pro, Lindsay Arnold!), and, of course, that winning smile, he too could become a king of the Ballroom!

Here’s a look back at TeamLindsatron’s spectacular Season:

Calvin & Lindsay
DWTS Season 23, Week 01

Calvin & Lindsay

DWTS Season 23, Week 02

Calvin & Lindsay

DWTS Season 23, Week 03

Calvin & Lindsay

DWTS Season 23, Week 04

Calvin & Lindsay 

DWTS Season 23, Week 05

Calvin & Lindsay

DWTS Season 23, Week 06

Calvin & Lindsay

DWTS Season 23, Week 07

Calvin & Lindsay

DWTS Season 23, Week 08

Calvin & Lindsay

DWTS Season 23, Week 09

Calvin & Lindsay

AND James & Sharna and Jenna

DWTS Season 23, Week 09

Calvin & Lindsay

DWTS Season 23, Week 10

Calvin & Lindsay with Witney

DWTS Season 23, Week 10

Calvin & Lindsay 

DWTS Season 23, Week 11

- The Finals

Calvin & Lindsay's Freestyle

DWTS Season 23, Week 11

- The Finals

Calvin & Lindsay 24hr Fusion

DWTS Season 23, Week 11
- The Finals

Perfectly expressing what has truly been an enormous pleasure in watching Calvin improve and perform, DWTS' Head Judge, Len Goodman, said, following Calvin & Lindsay’s fantastic Fusion wrap up of their Season,

“… Watching you just makes you feel good!  It’s like, Chicken Soup to the Eyes! … It’s a joyful experience … I just love watching you –You’re great!”

24-hour Fusion Round – Review of DWTS Season 23, Week 11

DWTS Season 23, Week 11 REVIEW: 

24-hour Fusion Round

Leaving it ALL on the Ballroom’s Dance Floor, Season 23’s remaining, FANTASTIC Finalist Couples each wrapped up their amazing time on the show together!

James & Sharna

Foxtrot / Viennese Waltz Fusion:

Well, really, what amazing Things can be said or succinct Commentary made that hasn’t already been said or made about what has – CONSISTENTLY! – been a truly incredible Partnership?!

James & Sharna 24hr Fusion

DWTS Season 23, Week 11
- The Finals

… Except that this, their last Dance on the Show together, just completely encapsulated all that is wonderful and so dearly beloved about this particular Season 23 Couple, James & Sharna!!

James & Sharna 24hr Fusion

DWTS Season 23, Week 11
- The Finals

Beautiful, emotional, and – Again! – pure Poetry in Motion, this Performance presented the PERFECT Wrap-Up to a most memorable DWTS Pairing!!

A-MA-ZING!

(… And, I need a tissue!  …)

Calvin & Lindsay

Jive / Quickstep Fusion:

Ah, me!

A thrilling Wrap-Up to a SPECTACULAR Season for this Larger-than-Life Duo!

Calvin & Lindsay 24hr Fusion

DWTS Season 23, Week 11
- The Finals

Fast, Fun, and so wonderfully light on his Feet, “Every Man's Man, Dancing!”, Calvin (PERFECTLY phrased, Carrie Ann Inaba!!) was – Once again!! – smilin’, flyin' and downright slayin' the Dancing of what has quickly become the stereotypically FANTASTIC Choreography by his Pro Partner, Lindsay!

Calvin & Lindsay 24hr Fusion

DWTS Season 23, Week 11
- The Finals

So VERY well done!!

Laurie & Val

Foxtrot / Paso Doble:

… Well, yeah!  And THIS last Dance by TeamValur was 100% PERFECT, too!!

Laurie & Val 24hr Fusion

DWTS Season 23, Week 11

- The Finals

… Just absolutely perfect.

… And Sharp.  And passionate.  And on point.  And Amazing!!

Laurie & Val 24hr Fusion

DWTS Season 23, Week 11

- The Finals

Just … INCREDIBLE!!

Incredible, and a no less than immaculate Wrap-Up for this never-fail Couple, and Season 23 as a WHOLE!!

Laurie & Val 24hr Fusion

DWTS Season 23, Week 11

- The Finals

Just … Bing, <BANG!>, and drop that mic, girl, ‘cuz you’ve earned it!

No doubt about it, the Ballroom will most DEFINITELY miss you -terrific job!!

Laurie & Val 24hr Fusion

DWTS Season 23, Week 11

- The Finals

See videos (3) below to watch all Three 24hr Fusion Dances on Week 11 of DWTS, courtesy of Dancing With The Stars' great YouTube channel!

Calvin & Lindsay, Freestyle Round – Review of DWTS Season 23, Week 11

DWTS Season 23, Week 11 REVIEW:  Calvin & Lindsay, Freestyle Round

Dancing to a delightful mash-up of “I Want You Back” by The Jackson 5 and “Please Mr. Postman” by The Marvelettes, Calvin Johson and his Professional Dance Partner, Lindsay Arnold, performed their Freestyle Routine.

Calvin & Lindsay's Freestyle

DWTS Season 23, Week 11

- The Finals

Now, “Wait a minute, wait a minute,” <Ahhhhh!!!> but I LOVED this Dance!!

(And, really, how could I – or ANYONE, for that matter – NOT??)

… Only one of the Best. Freestyles. EVER!!!

Calvin & Lindsay's Freestyle

DWTS Season 23, Week 11

- The Finals

Can I get a Hip, hip and HOORAY for this – SHOCKINGLY so! – totally original and 1,000% SPECTACULAR, adorable, fun, and creative array of unexpected pizazz, mixed in with an absolute PERFECT and delightful show of strength for Season 23’s <Ahem!> strongest Competitor!!

(With those INSANE Lifts, Are You kidding Me??  AMAZING, that’s what those were ... positively amazing!)

Calvin & Lindsay's Freestyle

DWTS Season 23, Week 11

- The Finals

Conveying all the right moves, Calvin’s Dancing within this no less than ELATIVE Performance was at an all time high, while Lindsay’s OUTTA SIGHT Choreography thrillingly succeeded to an all new – and rarely seen among almost ANY of the Show's Pros!!  – level of Incredible BRILLIANCE!!

Calvin & Lindsay's Freestyle

DWTS Season 23, Week 11

- The Finals

(Did I mention that I LOVED this Dance?)

<Whew!!>

I’m talking entertaining like crazy; and – as any Fan of the Show can tell you – when THAT particular Freestylin’ Element meets with some serious Dancin' like a Boss … a new Ballroom STAR is born!!

Calvin & Lindsay's Freestyle

DWTS Season 23, Week 11

- The Finals

Fan-TASTIC, you two; and now, if you don’t mind, I’m off to watch it again!  … And again!!

Calvin & Lindsay – Review of DWTS Season 23, Week 11

DWTS Season 23, Week 11 REVIEW:  Calvin & Lindsay

Calvin & Lindsay 

DWTS Season 23, Week 11

- The Finals

Opening up Season 23’s exciting Finals and Redemption Round with the Re-dancing of a Viennese Waltz to “I Am Your Man” by Ryan Shaw, Calvin Johnson and his Professional Dance Partner, Lindsay Arnold, presented their first Monday Night Routine.

(Arggghhh!) <Face Palming with Frustration>

Why-y-y-y?!

(Ugh!  Way to drop the ball (Mirror, that is!), you two, on one of your most important Dances of the Season!)

Beautiful; lovely; but, primarily boring, I’m afraid this first Finals Performance by the usually dead-on Target Duo of Calvin & Lindsay missed its mark by a mile, having failed to not only redeem itself from when it was first danced way back in Week 03 of the Show, but also from recommending itself at all as being ANY kind of note-worthy Performance for - what quickly shaped up to be on Monday Night - an evening for Incredible Dances.

Calvin & Lindsay 

DWTS Season 23, Week 11

- The Finals

(Forget “Redeeming” the Dance, this Ballroom Style, to me, was actually WORSE its second time around for TeamLindsatron!)

Well, there’s always the NEXT Round!!  … Here’s hoping TeamLindsatron comes out for Part Deux of Monday Evening and does what they generally always do BEST, absolutely kill it!!

As a closing note, just WHAT was that “8” about, Carrie Ann Inaba?!!  (It wasn’t THAT bad, just bad for the usually INCREDIBLE Standard held by Calvin & Lindsay, that’s all!)  … For an accidental Lift?!  For THIS, you gave a Finalist an 8 right smack dab on the Week where EVERY little point can make or break a Competitor’s chance of winning the Mirror Ball, ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!!  I mean, PUH-LEESE, that so-called Lift was CLEARLY unintentional (AKA not included within the Number’s pre-planned Choreography); and, anyway, Calvin’s like FOUR FEET higher than Lindsay, or something, so you’d HAVE to expect some accidental Lift-age during such a tightly structured and firmly Framed Dance as the Viennese Waltz, right?!! … No getting around it, you were wrong for that one, Carrie Ann!

Sheesh.

See video (below) to watch Calvin & Lindsay's Viennese Waltz on Week 11 of DWTS, courtesy of Dancing With The Stars' great YouTube channel!

Calvin & Lindsay – Review of DWTS Season 23, Week 10

DWTS Season 23, Week 10 REVIEW:  Calvin & Lindsay

Performing the Tango to “Seven Nation Army” by White Stripes, Calvin Johnson and his Pro, Lindsay Arnold, danced their Week 10 Routine.

Calvin & Lindsay

DWTS Season 23, Week 10

Ladies and Gentleman, bringing it home for the Receivers (as directed by fellow Grid Iron Great, Jerry Rice!) Calvin & Lindsay just KILLED another Performance!!

A no less than POWERFUL display of charisma and attack, this captivating piece that was FULL of splendidly dynamic Speed Ups and Slow Downs (BRILLIANT Choreography, Lindsay!!) may NOT have rated an exact “Perfect”per say – what, with Calvin’s regrettably not quite full Framing, and, of course, that one, really very small mess-up in the middle there! – was nonetheless and unarguably, down-right FANTASTIC to behold!!

Calvin & Lindsay

DWTS Season 23, Week 10

(An “8”?!!  Seriously, Carrie Ann??!!!  Don’t be ridiculous, this Dance was epic!!)

Nicely done, y’all!

See video (below) to watch Calvin & Lindsay's Tango on Week 10 of DWTS, courtesy of Dancing With The Stars' great YouTube channel!

Calvin & Lindsay – Review of DWTS Season 23, Week 09

DWTS Season 23, Week 09 REVIEW:  Calvin & Lindsay

♪ Waltzing! All alone in the Ballroom! … ♪

(Get it?)

Calvin & Lindsay

DWTS Season 23, Week 09

Ladies and Gentlemen, presenting Detroit’s own Lion-turned-Waltzing-Kitty-Cat, and his whirling Partner, “Holiday Barbie” - <SNORT!> Hilarious, Erin Andrews!! – I give you Calvin & Lindsay, the Glitter Dome’s ever-delighting, dynamite duo, performing one very pleasing and dazzling Waltz to “Memory” by Andrew Lloyd Webber from Cats.

Calvin & Lindsay

DWTS Season 23, Week 09

We-e-ell, not exactly Calvin’s BEST Performance, but also a far, far cry from his worst, as well!

Now, don’t get me wrong!  (Since, for Johnson, any Dance that rates less than “Remarkable!”  appears sub-par for this Season's normally hep-to-the-Ballroom-and-Latin-jive, <Ahem!> Dancing Cat!)

… Overall, Calvin’s Technical Execution was indeed very beautiful and graceful – ESPECIALLY considering his general impressive build and height! –but, in the end, alas and a-(painful)-lak, his usually light Footwork within this Routine appeared too heavy, and even – dare I say? -  a bit clunky at times.

Even still, this Waltz remained nonetheless enchanting throughout, if not completely pur-r-r-r-fect!!

Calvin & Lindsay

DWTS Season 23, Week 09

(Oh, yeah!  I so went there!)

See video below to watch Calvin & Lindsay's Waltz on Week 09 of DWTS, courtesy of Dancing With The Stars' great YouTube channel!

Calvin & Lindsay – Review of DWTS Season 23, Week 08

DWTS Season 23, Week 08 REVIEW:  Calvin & Lindsay

Calvin & Lindsay

DWTS Season 23, Week 08

Performing a Quickstep to “Dr. Bones” by Cherry Poppin' Daddies, Calvin Johnson and his Professional Dance Partner, Lindsay Arnold, danced their Week 08 Routine.

Calvin & Lindsay

DWTS Season 23, Week 08

Oh, now this latest Dance by Calvin was just bad  … To the BONE!!

(Get it?)

Calvin & Lindsay

DWTS Season 23, Week 08

Ladies and Gentlemen, once again taking the DWTS Ballroom by storm and merely EXPLODING on Monday Night’s Dance Floor, I give you that ever-elating Pairing of Calvin & Lindsay, kicking @$$, taking names, and just flat out NAILING yet another Dance Style – from the outward, Performance Pizzazz, al-l-l-l the way down to the bare bones of the Dance itself!!

(SPLENDID Choreography, Lindsay!!)

I mean to say, <WHOO!!> but I loved this Quickstep, having been so (almost!) eerily Fast, Furious, and FANTASTIC!!!

Calvin & Lindsay

DWTS Season 23, Week 08

… And on his toes!!  Seriously, now, did anyone else see Calvin’s <Ahem!>on the ball Footwork??  AMAZING!

Bottom Line?  (Well, there’s really no question, is there?!) They killed it!!!


See videos below to watch Calvin & Lindsay's Quickstep on Week 08 of DWTS, courtesy of Dancing With The Stars' great YouTube channel!