The best season ever?

Pussycat Doll shows it pays to be a pro on Dancing with the Stars

Dancing with the Stars tradition holds true — whoever performs the best freestyle, wins the competition. This year that couple was Nicole Scherzinger and Derek Hough, winners of the mirrorball trophy.

Scherzinger came into the competition with an edge on the other participants — she performs and dances for a living. Sometimes this can work against a contestant because there's not as much room to improve and let's face it, people are more likely to vote for an improved, amazing dancer than simply an amazing dancer.

I don't think the audience gave this much consideration in Scherzinger's case though because week after week the Pussycat Doll's determination and work ethic shone. If she were simply gifted or talented, she would have been out of this competition a while back. She proved to be a hard worker and we never doubted if she deserved it or she worked hard. Scherzinger earned every top score and she topped second-place Evan Lysacek and third-place finisher Erin Andrews on the final night.

Evan Lysacek and Erin Andrews were two fabulous dancers and I would have been happy for either to win before watching the finale. After watching it though, I think Nicole deserved to win (as Len Goodman prematurely said). She didn't miss a detail where Evan and Erin let little things slip. If Evan and Erin had both performed at their best (particularly Erin, Evan was more on his game), I think either one of them could have won.

Regardless of who deserved what, this Dancing with the Stars edition was a fabulously entertaining season. The judges said over and over that it was the most competitive season they've seen in a long time — if not ever. I'm inclined to agree and look forward to seeing who's on the list for next season.

See the dance that set Nicole apart from Erin and Evan, the finale freestyle:

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"Here come the grannies!"

Walk through the Magic Door to experience the world of Bluey in Houston

bluey and bingo's bedroom at camp in houston

Courtesy of CAMP

Houston will soon be the home of a new CAMP store, featuring interactive installations like the house from "Bluey."

Bluey is coming to the Galleria this February “for real life” through an immersive event that invites visitors to enter the world of the famous Australian Heeler family. This one-of-a-kind experience brings the Heeler home and backyard to life with intricate details that will delight fans of all ages.

Tickets are on sale now for Bluey x CAMP, the inaugural interactive experience of the combination toy store, party venue, and immersive theater space. This is The Family Experience Company’s first CAMP location in Houston, with the business securing a 7,500-square-foot permanent retail space in the Galleria.

Through “The Magic Door,” a pivoting wall, visitors step into seasonally rotating interactive spaces beginning with a 5,000-square-foot lifesize replica of Bluey’s house.

Visitors can play games made popular by the show, such as grannies and keepy uppy, and bust a move when “dance mode” is activated. The kitchen’s fridge is covered in drawings by the Heeler puppies, while the living room TV plays Bluey.

Families can explore both a pillow fort and a cardboard castle — two-story structures complete with slides — before venturing into a playroom stocked with toys and costumes from the show. In the backyard, a recreation of the Heeler’s large tree is surrounded by charming gnomes. A photo opportunity with Bluey and Bingo tops off the visit.

Beyond the world of Bluey, CAMP offers even more for visitors in its Canteen space, with a splatter room, The Schmutz Bar (a slime creation station), a party room, and a playable truck. Customers can also shop for toys, clothing, and accessories.

Houston joins a list of CAMP’s locations in Dallas, Atlanta, New York City, Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C. Installations change seasonally, with other current features including Paw Patrol, The Little Mermaid, and Encanto.

Courtesy of CAMP

Houston will soon be the home of a new CAMP store, featuring interactive installations like the house from "Bluey."

bluey galleria-houston camp bluey x camp