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Backstage at DWTS: Surprising Perfection, Sexy Confidence and Pure Joy Collide for Finals Trio

Rob Kardashian talks about being atop the leader board and achieving a perfect 30. J.R. Martinez & Kirstie Alley also weigh in.

By Tierney Bricker Nov 22, 2011 6:21 AMTags
DANCING WITH THE STARS, ROB KARDASHIAN, CHERYL BURKEABC/ADAM TAYLOR

And that's all, folks!

OK, not really. Dancing With the Stars' final three contestants, Rob Kardashian, Ricki Lake and J.R. Martinez, live to dance one more day, but tonight was the night that truly counted.

We caught up with the trio after the show and, like the good sports they are, they all said they were just so happy to have made it this far. Then again, some of them weren't shy about really wanting that mirror ball trophy.

So what did Rob think of receiving a perfect score? How does J.R. feel about his shocking 7? And who does Kirstie Alley predict will win it all? 

I can't believe it. We've never been in first once and we've never got a perfect score," Rob tells us. "We did it in the finals with the freestyle. It's so surreal. I can't even believe it. I'm proud of myself, thankful for Cheryl [Burke], obviously." Cheryl was equally proud of her partner and says, "This is my fifth final, but for me, this is the most special." Aw!

Rob's DWTS journey had a slightly rough start, with not many people predicting he'd make it all the way to the end. Rob credits his growing confidence for his recent dancefloor dominance. "I definitely gained confidence as the weeks went on and took it a little more seriously. I still have fun with it," he explains. "Something clicked and I really want that trophy. I really realized it's possible."

Also helping Rob? His good luck charms: the entire Kardashian Klan, including big sister Kim! Rob says it felt, "Very good to have them all there. Felt super comfortable.They always make me comfortable when they're all there supporting and rooting, so very good!"

While Rob strictly has his eyes on the mirror ball trophy, Ricki and Derek Hough, who has won DWTS three times, have a little secret: They already have a trophy! "There's a store down the street that makes mirror ball trophies for fifteen bucks, so I've already got that made just in case," Derek jokes. 

Though Ricki was hoping to get a perfect score tonight, she tells us she's content with their scores because "I really feel like we did our best." Derek adds, "For me, the scores are important, but nobody remembers the scores. You only remember the dance and if the dance was good, that's what matters." Well said!

A dance judge Len Goodman didn't think was very good? J.R. and Karina Smirnoff's cha-cha, which he only gave a 7. J.R. tells us, "A 7 definitely surprised me," and Karina agrees, "Especially since Len came to our rehearsal to help us out." J.R. admits he's "human" and made a mistake during the dance, saying, "I panicked a little bit at the beginning of the dance, so I rushed it and went too fast."

Thankfully, J.R. didn't let the low score get him down and came back with a bang, which J.R. credits to his confidence...a confidence that helped land him on People magazine's Sexiest Men Alive list!

"I think I've been able to add a different dimension to it," he says of the honor. "It's not just about what you see on the outside. it's about someone's soul, their heart, their personality. I think tonight, after our first dance, I didn't do so well, but I was confident and I think having confidence is a sexy thing. Be confident in who you are."

Finally, we caught up with former DWTS hoofer Kirstie Alley who definitely had a favorite to win it all. 

"I think they all did a really good job, but my favorite is Ricki because I love Ricki's spirit," Kirstie enthuses. "She always seems joyous when she's dancing. She works really hard at it, which I admire, and she's been consistent. I just love her so I want her to win."

Kirstie says "it was better" being a spectator than a participant in the finale and says, "They seem so very calm and collected. They didn't seem like a bunch of lunatics! Oh my holy, if they weren't calm and collected they were good actors."

What did you think of tonight's show? Do you agree with Kirstie that Ricki should win? Who do you think will win?