Dancing with the Stars (American season 14)


Season fourteen of Dancing with the Stars premiered on March 19, 2012. Tom Bergeron and Brooke Burke Charvet returned as hosts, while Carrie Ann Inaba, Len Goodman, and Bruno Tonioli all returned as judges. The Harold Wheeler orchestra and singers provided the music throughout the season.
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Donald Driver won the competition over British classical crossover singer Katherine Jenkins and Cuban-American Telenovela star William Levy, who took 2nd and 3rd place respectively. Driver is also the third NFL player to win, after Emmitt Smith won season three and Hines Ward won season twelve.

Couples

The 12 celebrities and professional dancers who competed were:
CelebrityNotability Professional partnerStatus
Martina NavratilovaProfessional tennis playerTony DovolaniEliminated 1st
on March 27, 2012
Jack WagnerSoap opera actor & singerAnna TrebunskayaEliminated 2nd
on April 3, 2012
Sherri ShepherdThe View panelist & actressValentin ChmerkovskiyEliminated 3rd
on April 10, 2012
Gavin DeGrawSinger-songwriterKarina SmirnoffEliminated 4th
on April 17, 2012
Gladys KnightSoul singerTristan MacManusEliminated 5th
on April 24, 2012
Jaleel WhiteTelevision actorKym JohnsonEliminated 6th
on May 1, 2012
Roshon FeganDisney Channel actor & rapperChelsie HightowerEliminated 7th
on May 8, 2012
Melissa GilbertTelevision actressMaksim ChmerkovskiyEliminated 8th
on May 8, 2012
Maria MenounosTelevision hostDerek HoughEliminated 9th
on May 15, 2012
William LevyTelenovela actorCheryl BurkeThird place
on May 22, 2012
Katherine JenkinsClassical crossover singerMark BallasRunner-up
on May 22, 2012
Donald DriverNFL wide receiverPeta MurgatroydWinner
on May 22, 2012

Overview

All the professionals from season 13 returned—except for Lacey Schwimmer, who was replaced by Chelsie Hightower. Two new professionals were added into the Dance Troupe: Henry Byalikov and Emma Slater. They joined Sharna Burgess, Kiki Nyemchek, Oksana Dmyrtenko, and Sasha Farber.
There was one dance for each finalist that they did not perform: Donald Driver did not perform the salsa, William Levy did not perform the waltz, and Katherine Jenkins did not perform an individual tango.
Starting the week of April 16, 2012 and for the next two weeks after that, the bottom two couples, after a combination of judges scores and viewer votes, competed in a dance-duel. Both couples performed at the same time and then the judges decided who left the competition that week.
This season introduced "Ballroom Battles" where Cheryl Burke, Mark Ballas, Louis Van Amstel, Lacey Schwimmer, Karina Smirnoff and Tony Dovolani chose a pair of amateur dancers and trained them to compete against other amateur couples. The teams of Burke, Dovolani and van Amstel competed in the final stage by performing a Jive. Burke's team were named champions by the judges with Dovolani's and van Amstel's teams taking second and third places respectively.

Scoring charts

Average score chart

This table only counts for dances scored on a traditional 30-points scale.
Rank by
average		PlaceCoupleTotal
points		Number
of dances		Average
12Katherine & Mark4181527.9
23William & Cheryl4121527.5
31Donald & Peta4061527.1
44Maria & Derek3211226.8
56Roshon & Chelsie2571025.7
67Jaleel & Kym199824.9
75Melissa & Maks2291022.9
810Sherri & Val91422.8
911Jack & Anna68322.7
108Gladys & Tristan129621.5
119Gavin & Karina107521.4
1212Martina & Tony37218.5

Highest and lowest scoring performances

The best and worst performances in each dance according to the judges' 30-point scale are as follows:
DanceHighest scored dancerHighest scoreLowest scored dancerLowest score
Cha-cha-chaWilliam Levy
Donald Driver		30Melissa Gilbert20
FoxtrotWilliam Levy30Martina Navratilova
Gavin DeGraw		20
QuickstepKatherine Jenkins29Gladys Knight19
JiveKatherine Jenkins30Martina Navratilova17
SambaWilliam Levy30Gavin DeGraw19
RumbaMaria Menounos
William Levy
Katherine Jenkins		27Gladys Knight21
WaltzKatherine Jenkins29Donald Driver28
SalsaWilliam Levy30Melissa Gilbert21
TangoWilliam Levy28Gladys Knight20
Paso DobleKatherine Jenkins
Maria Menounos		30Melissa Gilbert22
Viennese WaltzMaria Menounos28Melissa Gilbert
Jaleel White		24
Argentine TangoMaria Menounos
30Melissa Gilbert21
FreestyleKatherine Jenkins
Donald Driver		30William Levy29

Couples' highest and lowest scoring dances

Scores are based upon a potential 30-point maximum
CouplesHighest scoring danceLowest scoring dance
Donald & PetaFreestyle & Cha-cha-cha Cha-cha-cha
Katherine & MarkPaso Doble, Freestyle & Jive Paso Doble
William & CherylFoxtrot, Samba, Cha-cha-cha & Salsa Jive
Maria & DerekPaso Doble & Argentine Tango Cha-cha-cha
Melissa & MaksSamba Cha-cha-cha & Quickstep
Roshon & ChelsieFoxtrot Cha-cha-cha & Rumba
Jaleel & KymCha-cha-cha Jive & Tango
Gladys & TristanFoxtrot Quickstep
Gavin & KarinaRumba Samba
Sherri & ValRumba Tango
Jack & AnnaSamba Jive
Martina & TonyFoxtrot Jive

Weekly scores and songs

Individual judges' scores in the charts below are listed in this order from left to right: Carrie Ann Inaba, Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli.

Week 1: First Dances

;Running order
CoupleScoresDanceMusic
Maria & Derek21 Cha-cha-cha"Stronger "—Kelly Clarkson
Jack & Anna23 Foxtrot"Sugar Town"—Nancy Sinatra
Donald & Peta21 Cha-cha-cha"Dedication to My Ex "—Lloyd feat. Lil Wayne
Gavin & Karina20 Foxtrot"I Run to You"—Lady Antebellum
Roshon & Chelsie23 Cha-cha-cha"Glad You Came"—The Wanted
Sherri & Val23 Foxtrot"Sherry"— Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons
Melissa & Maks20 Cha-cha-cha"Ain't No Mountain High Enough"—Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
William & Cheryl24 Cha-cha-cha"International Love"—Pitbull feat. Chris Brown
Martina & Tony20 Foxtrot"Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby"—Louis Jordan
Katherine & Mark26 Foxtrot"The Show"—Lenka
Gladys & Tristan23 Cha-cha-cha"Best of My Love"—The Emotions
Jaleel & Kym26 Foxtrot"The Way You Look Tonight"—Frank Sinatra

Week 2

;Running order
CoupleScoresDanceMusicResult
Roshon & Chelsie26 Quickstep"Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous"—Good CharlotteSafe
Sherri & Val23 Jive"Proud Mary"—Ike & Tina TurnerSafe
Melissa & Maks20 Quickstep"Dancing with Myself"—Billy IdolSafe
Jack & Anna21 Jive"Gimme Some Lovin"—The Spencer Davis GroupSafe
Gladys & Tristan19 Quickstep"Sir Duke"—Stevie WonderSafe
Katherine & Mark26 Jive"Ain't Nothing Wrong With That"—Robert Randolph and the Family BandSafe
Jaleel & Kym22 Jive"Marry You"—Bruno MarsSafe
Maria & Derek25 Quickstep"Sexy, Sexy!"—The Brian Setzer OrchestraSafe
Martina & Tony17 Jive"Tell Her About It"—Billy JoelEliminated
Donald & Peta24 Quickstep"Stay the Night"— James BluntSafe
Gavin & Karina21 Jive"Real Wild Child"—Johnny O'KeefeBottom two
William & Cheryl25 Quickstep"Nice Work If You Can Get It"—George GershwinSafe

Week 3: Most Memorable Year Week

;Running order
CoupleScoresDanceMusicResult
Jack & Anna24 Samba"Lighting Up the Night"—Jack WagnerEliminated
Maria & Derek27 Rumba"Material Girl"—MadonnaSafe
Gladys & Tristan24 Foxtrot"Cupid"—Sam CookeSafe
Roshon & Chelsie25 Samba"I Want You Back"—The Jackson 5Safe
Gavin & Karina24 Rumba"New York State of Mind"—Billy JoelBottom two
Katherine & Mark29 Waltz"To Where You Are"—Josh GrobanSafe
Sherri & Val24 Rumba"If I Could"—Regina BelleSafe
Melissa & Maks24 Jive"Dog Days Are Over"—Florence + the MachineSafe
Jaleel & Kym25 Rumba"For the Cool in You"—BabyfaceSafe
William & Cheryl28 Salsa"La Vida es un Carnaval"—Celia CruzSafe
Donald & Peta26 Rumba"One Sweet Day"—Mariah Carey & Boyz II MenSafe

Week 4: Rock Week

;Running order
CoupleScoresDanceMusicResult
Sherri & Val21 Tango"Cum On Feel the Noize"—Quiet RiotEliminated
Katherine & Mark24 Paso Doble"Time Is Running Out"—MuseSafe
Jaleel & Kym22 Tango" Satisfaction"—The Rolling StonesSafe
Melissa & Maks22 Paso Doble"Conquest"—The White StripesSafe
Donald & Peta27 Paso Doble"Purple Haze"— Jimi HendrixSafe
Gladys & Tristan20 Tango"Bohemian Rhapsody"—QueenSafe
William & Cheryl22 Jive"We're Not Gonna Take It"—Twisted SisterSafe
Roshon & Chelsie26 Viennese Waltz"The Time of My Life"—David CookBottom two
Maria & Derek26 Tango"School's Out"—Alice CooperSafe
Gavin & Karina23 Tango"Paint It, Black"—The Rolling StonesSafe

Week 5: Latin Night

;Running order
;Judges' votes to save
;Running order
;Judges' votes to save
;Running order
;Judges' votes to rescue
All six couples chose one professional that was either previously eliminated or participates in the dance troupe, to perform with them in their Latin routine in an event known as the "Trio Challenge".
;Running order
Couple
ScoresDanceMusicResult
Donald & Peta
27 Tango"Higher Ground"—Stevie WonderSafe
Donald & Peta
28 Jive"Rip It Up"—Little RichardSafe
Maria & Derek
28 Viennese Waltz"A Thousand Years"—Christina PerriSafe
Maria & Derek
25 Samba"Mama Do the Hump"—Rizzle KicksSafe
Melissa & Maks
24 Foxtrot"Maggie May"—Rod StewartEliminated
Melissa & Maks
27 Samba"Hard to Handle"—The Black CrowesEliminated
Katherine & Mark
26 Viennese Waltz"Kathleen"—David GrayLast to be called safe
Katherine & Mark
29 Cha-cha-cha"She's a Lady"—Tom JonesLast to be called safe
Roshon & Chelsie
29 Foxtrot"Sweet Pea"—Amos LeeEliminated
Roshon & Chelsie
27 Paso Doble"Turn Me On"—David Guetta feat. Nicki MinajEliminated
William & Cheryl
30 Foxtrot"Stray Cat Strut"—Stray CatsSafe
William & Cheryl
27 Paso Doble"Diablo Rojo"—Rodrigo y GabrielaSafe

Week 9: Semifinals

;Running order
CoupleScoresDanceMusicResult
William & Cheryl28 Tango"Sweet Dreams "—EurythmicsSafe
William & Cheryl30 Samba"Magalenha"—Sergio MendesSafe
Katherine & Mark29 Quickstep"The Dirty Boogie"—The Brian Setzer OrchestraSafe
Katherine & Mark27 Salsa"Bananza "—AkonSafe
Donald & Peta28 Waltz"Kissing You"—Des'reeLast to be called safe
Donald & Peta29 Samba"Mr. Big Stuff"—Jean KnightLast to be called safe
Maria & Derek30 Argentine Tango"La Yumba"—Osvaldo PuglieseEliminated
Maria & Derek29 Jive"Tightrope"—Janelle Monáe feat. Big BoiEliminated

Week 10: Finale

;Running order
CoupleScoresDanceMusic
William & Cheryl30 Cha-cha-cha"Raise Your Glass"—Pink
William & Cheryl29 Freestyle"Objection "—Shakira
Katherine & Mark30 Paso Doble"España cañí"—Erich Kunzel
Katherine & Mark30 Freestyle"Sing, Sing, Sing "—Benny Goodman
Donald & Peta29 Argentine Tango"They"—Jem
Donald & Peta30 Freestyle"I Play Chicken with the Train"—Cowboy Troy

;Running order
CoupleScoresDanceMusicResult
William & Cheryl30 Salsa"Juventud de Presente"—Tito PuenteThird place
Katherine & Mark30 Jive"Splish Splash"—Bobby DarinRunner-up
Donald & Peta30 Cha-cha-cha"Beggin'"—MadconWinner

Dance chart

The celebrities and professional partners danced one of these routines for each corresponding week:

U.S. Nielsen ratings

ShowEpisodeAir dateViewers
Rating/share
Adults 18–49		Weekly
Viewer
rank		Weekly
Adults 18–49
rank
1"Top 12 Perform "March 19, 201218.793.5/926
2"Top 12 Perform "March 26, 201217.963.2/829
3"Top 12 Results"March 27, 201215.743.1/8610
4"Top 11 Perform"April 2, 201216.872.9/8310
5"Top 11 Results"April 3, 201215.612.8/7414
6"Top 10 Perform"April 9, 201216.393.0/8312
7"Top 10 Results"April 10, 201213.392.3/6527
8"Top 9 Perform"April 16, 201216.652.9/8313
9"Top 9 Results"April 17, 201214.172.5/7519
10"Top 8 Perform"April 23, 201217.623.2/817
11"Top 8 Results"April 24, 201214.542.4/6415
12"Top 7 Perform"April 30, 201216.202.8/7315
13"Top 7 Results"May 1, 201213.872.4/6625
14"Top 6 Perform"May 7, 201216.372.7/7320
15"Top 6 Results"May 8, 201213.712.4/6725
16"Top 4 Perform"May 14, 201215.792.6/7414
17"Top 4 Results"May 15, 201213.232.2/6824
18"Top 3 Perform"May 21, 201216.842.9/837
19"Season Finale"May 22, 201217.753.3/924

Criticism

has criticized the way rock music was portrayed when Kiss performed on the show.