Good Seasons: Season 3 Mario Lopez & Karina Smirnoff

[@dianalee3059]

These two were IT!! My favorite couple

[@catseye1009]

I remember this season well. Head judge Len was extremely hard on Mario and Karina. They broke a few rules of the dance and Len slammed them every time. Others were not as harshly critiqued. Carrie Ann had a few idiotic things to day as well. It seemed like Mario knew he was the best dancer and perhaps the judges were trying to keep him in place. I don’t know, but for me this season reeked of favoritism. Smith was entertaining, and Cheryl worked toward his strengths; however, Mario should have won.

[@slcRN1971]

I remember how bummed out I was when Mario didn’t win first place. He had ‘electric hips’ as stated by judge, Bruno Tonioli (who was very enthusiastic about Mario’s moves). When they did the waltz, it was so powerful: between the music, their chemistry, and such a beautiful performance. By the time that he laid that rose back down, I actually had chills (that had not ever happened before nor since). He had a true natural talent, that can’t be faked nor learned.

[@franmartinez779]

Just goes to show nothing is fair in show business...that's how they control you...they know who's talented and who's not!

[@dianalee3059]

Theirs was the first season I watched DWTS and looked forward to their every step

[@dianalee3059]

I so looked forward to seeing these two every week! Flawless

[@billleach3396]

I agree with you. Mario may well be the best contestant every on DWTS.

[@marcoalcaraz6986]

At the very least top 3 male contestant ever, along with Jordan Fisher and Corbin Blue.

[@isabelisabel8443]

Mario Lopez was the winner to me! Mario and his partner got a perfect synchronization!

[@helenmartinez5294]

In my opinion Mario and Karina should have won the Mirror Ball Trophy that season, they were well deserving of it! Every dance was at its perfection, so very much blessed with such talent and their chemistry was great together.. He was totally robbed of being in 1st place!

[@isabelt.rodriguez3843]

I agree! From what I seen so up close. From day one he was on fire. I didn't and I still don't understand why he didn't win first place. I've seen so many thought out the years, I really think he's been the best one of all!

[@dianalee3059]

In one word: CHEMISTRY

[@tonyfan3]

I loved how Mario always kept up with Karina and she didn’t have to slow down or dumb down her artistry for him.

[@pointblankperiod8310]

Because of this happening to great dancers season after season, I had to stop watching altogether. It was so frustrating to watch the best dancers be eliminated earlier in the season just because they didn't have the popular vote, and not win for the same reason...

[@roxiecolors]

I completely agree! After he did not win I vowed to NEVER watch “Dancing With the Stars” again because it made no sense and it pissed me off!

[@metratone5]

Wow they were good. Really enjoyed watching. I can't believe they didn't win.

[@micknelson8991]

When Mario and Karina lost, I never watched the show again! They clearly had the winning stuff!

[@mochs62512]

That tango though🔥🔥🔥

[@therobinsonstwinkle9192]

Mario was the best dancer, it was obvious ‼️so, the fact that he didn’t win had me wondering of these judges were seeing the same show as me‼️🤷‍♀️

[@dahlilahsoto4496]

As someone that used to take Latin/ ballroom classes and competed aggressively for several years, I agree with you,Mario should have won. Emmett Smith didn't come close to quality with his hip movements, arm and leg positioning, smoothness...to be honest, he was stiff. I also found the judges went easy on Emmett with scores and comments. Len especially was badly critiquing on Mario and yet said stupid things such As twinkle toes comment to Emmett as if that's is something to judge 🙄. I am glad this season Derek replaced Len.

[@yvonnebotello3335]

But fans voted too. Their votes counted the most and emmit was chosen.

[@jaidenbell-goodwin7368]

Scores Cha Cha: 26/30 Quickstep: 21/30 Tango: 22/30 Paso Doble: 29/30 Rumba: 27/30 Mambo: 28/30 Foxtrot: 29/30 Jive: 27/30 Waltz: 28/30 Samba: 29/30 Tango: 30/30 Cha Cha: 29/30 Samba: 29/30 Paso Doble: 30/30 Freestyle: 30/30 Average: 27.6

[@SomethingProductions420]

Mario is amazing! He deserved to win

[@msboncat1959]

I would agree Mario & Karina should have won.

[@geenademarco]

They couldn't let Mario win because there was already so much controversy about his dancing experience. I remember fans and contestants were upset when he came out in his first dance blowing away the competition. At that point, ABC and DWTS could not allow Mario to win because of the optics. Judging by the dancing alone, Mario's actual scores would have squashed everyone so they had to fudge numbers in different directions to make it look fair. Emmitt Smith's dances were all stiff and very uncoordinated, he only won by default not by actual scores or votes.

[@carriejennings4165]

Joey danced way better than Emmitt did too. Len didn't like Mario or Joey and consistently scored them low.

[@margauxnodvin7478]

Emmitt may literally be the worst dancer I have seen so far on any of these DWTS videos! He looked like a robot plodding along on the dance floor, clearly counting his (very basic) steps. He had NO rhythm, horrible posture, no hip action whatsoever, terrible footwork, zero coordination, and no charisma at all. I was shocked each time I saw the judges award him such high scores for such awful, boring dances! Mario was light years better, but even if Mario hadn’t been so amazing, I feel ANY other contestant should have beat out Emmitt! I am actually disgusted by this show now…SO clearly rigged!

[@kacyhawkins9699]

Mario can dance his butt off. He is fun to watch, love his dimples 😊💕💕💕💕

[@jdnelson9114]

What a beautiful gift to give mom ... Every project on tv comes down to dollars and cents (sponsors and like shareholders) and we are becoming all too aware of the power that money/support means to the decision makers on any project. Now, let's wake up ... the truth lies in the details, hence, the politics of the powerful in the culture of that community.

[@margauxnodvin7478]

I just watched the Emmitt Smith video and then watched this one, and it was the difference between day and night! Emmitt was a HORRIBLE dancer: stiff, no hip movement, no good footwork, no charisma, NOTHING! He basically clomped around the dance floor obviously counting his (very basic) steps. I almost couldn’t make it through the entire video bc he was so bad, and his performances were so boring! I was shocked each time the judges gave him such high scores! Mario TOTALLY blew Emmitt out of the water with his dancing ability. Mario had it all: the posture, the hip action, the intricate footwork, the exciting maneuvers, the charisma, etc. The fact that Emmitt beat Mario has made me completely lose what little respect I had for this show. It is CLEARLY unfair and rigged!

[@dianalee3059]

DEFINITELY he should have won! Mario was robbed

[@dianalee3059]

How in the world did he lose to Emmitt Smith! Travesty

[@nessialder5083]

Oh my shiiiiit!!! Mario all day!!! Anything else doesn't make sense!

[@franmartinez779]

He should of won! Hands down.

[@diegomontero679]

SICK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@MydogMaxmillian]

I watched this season I know he got robbed because he was better than that football player who was granted the trophy! ! That football player didn't come close to the moves Mario made. Everyone saw that Mario was the BEST dancer! Mario got robbed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@susanc8241]

Yes, they had chemistry and he was obviously a trained dancer. Should could woulda..... he should have gotten fans to vote for him.

[@kimdelgado651]

Wow watching this again I’m disappointing they didn’t win

[@LuvTadnDixie]

Mario Lopez was not a professional dancer at all, but his ability sort of matched that of a professional. Even the judges said so. And they were hard on him.

[@chinto1984]

He was a professional dancer as a kid on Kids Incorporated

[@kelseyk530]

@@chinto1984 So what? Like Normani, Mya (who absolutely should've won just like Lindsay Stirling, Milo, Corbin Bleu, Mya) Nicole, Jennifer Grey, boy band singers, Broadway performers (like Jordan who also was a successful competitive amateur gymnast) all had some dance training for music videos and stage performances. And let's not forget to mention Olympic male and female ice skaters and ice dancers, and female gymnasts, etc...the latter being Olympians whose gymnastic and solo or pairs regular ice skating sports head them take ballet and dance or literal dancing classes as with Meryl Davis and Charlie White on top of their graceful and powerful sports they had been competing at since they could walk and doing it at international and Olympic levels yet they blast Mario Lopez or Corbin Bleu and others yet award people...mainly football stars...who couldn't dance or that obese black singer Amber?. It's things like that irritate me to see.

[@Mickkie]

Mario appears to love dancing. Hmm, maybe he was born to DO that!

[@rg7122]

Aww man I remember I used to ship them and was thrilled when they started dating after the show

[@gingerp6631]

Mario was judged very harshly by Len during his season. I think Len had it out for bad boy Mario. Some on the fan message board did not like Mario because of his disastrous marriage and cheating on first wife Ali Landry. I would not be surprised to learn he probably had a bit of an ego on set as well. Nonetheless , I thought he was the best dancer on the show and he should have won.

[@JoseReyes-em5mp]

MARIO. LOPEZ. AND. CARINA. ARE. THE. GREATEST. DANCERS. AT. ALL. TIME. THEY. SHOULD. WON. THE. COMPETITION. WOW

[@rosajessica7405]

Ugh! Why didn't I see his season? And I wonder why didn't use the original MJ song Bad for the chachacha?

[@zachd6537]

Both of those tangos were his best performances, damn! He should have won. As well as Sabrina Bryan smh

[@GenF91]

Yeah Mario and Karina should’ve won. I haven’t seen the show since then.

[@reteach007]

Mario Should Have Won

[@carolej.6067]

Mario Lopez : NOBODY could even come close & lately (pre-Covid contestants dance 90 seconds.......NEWI. Not Even Worth It! MARIO PURE TALEN5 & DEDICATION....&KARINA🌹

[@kelseyk530]

Like Normani, Mya (who absolutely should've won just like Lindsay Stirling, Milo, Corbin Bleu, Mya) Nicole, Jennifer Grey, boy band singers, Broadway performers (like Jordan who also was a successful competitive amateur gymnast) all had some dance training for music videos and stage performances. And let's not forget to mention Olympic male and female ice skaters and ice dancers, and female gymnasts, etc...the latter being Olympians whose gymnastic and solo or pairs regular ice skating sports head them take ballet and dance or literal dancing classes as with Meryl Davis and Charlie White on top of their graceful and powerful sports they had been competing at since they could walk and doing it at international and Olympic levels yet they blast Mario Lopez or Corbin Bleu and others yet award people...mainly football stars...who couldn't dance or that obese black singer Amber?. It's things like that irritate me to see.

[@candiceklein6813]

Mario lopez got gipped . He should have won

[@zenaidaneduasa3831]

💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕

[@dwtsglee]

I thought Monique Coleman was the most deserving of winning this season

[@EricSharkeyTheDWTSSuperfan]

Well compared to their scores Mario was the best one

[@dwtsglee]

Eric Sharkey: The DWTS Superfan it’s hard for me to look strictly at scores since Monique even said herself that she thought she was regularly underscored. She performed some of the craziest moves of the season and was an incredibly consistent performer. Mario was very hot and cold, especially at the beginning.

[@enufots4621]

He was cheated out of that win!

[@patbrown2699]

Mario got robbed!

[@gervas4935]

Mario won. He was robbed.

[@teresayates6016]

I quit watching shows like this because so many times the obvious winner... doesn't.