Dancing with the Stars 2, The Finale: There Can Be Only One

Previously on Dancing with the Stars, each of the remaining couples performed a dance of their choice from earlier in the competition and a freestyle routine. Tonight, these couples have one last chance to impress the judges before a winner is determined and the disco ball trophy is awarded. I can hardly stand the excitement, so let’s begin.

Tom and Samantha welcome us to the show as they have since the start of the season. The eliminated couples enter and then take to the dance floor for some impromptu (and awkward) dancing. After some housekeeping issues are addressed, Drew, Jerry, and Stacy, the finalists, are introduced.

Tom explains that tonight, the couples will perform a new routine. We are then shown clips of the performances from Thursday and the judges’ comments. Basically, if you missed the show, this would have been an opportunity to see it because all of the action was covered.

Next, Tom reviews the current standings:

At long last, it’s time for some dancing! First up are Anna and Jerry. Anna explains that their dance tonight has more elements and tricks. She also says that she is going to push Jerry. He tells us that he wants the winner’s trophy and that they are going to put on the performance of a lifetime.

The couple is dancing the cha cha cha to “Think.” The routine is fun and Jerry is dancing a lot more than he usually does. The dance is also fast paced and involves a lot of intricate footwork. Jerry also incorporates many facial expressions into his performance. Overall, I think this is one of the couple’s best routines this season. Jerry should be proud of the way he is ending the competition.

Len says that he admires Jerry and that he can tell his grandchildren he mastered ballroom and Latin dancing. Carrie Ann agrees that it was a wonderful performance. Bruno refers to Anna and Jerry as the lady and the champ. He continues by saying that Jerry’s footwork was superb. All three judges give the couple a nine for a total of 27 points. When added to their judges’ score from Thursday, it gives Anna and Jerry a final total of 80 points out of 90.

Stacy and Tony are up next. Tony says that he and Stacy didn’t want to fill their freestyle routine with tricks. Maybe he should have; it worked for the other two couples. Stacy explains that she hurt her ankle, but will fight through the pain. Like Jerry, she also says she has to give the performance of a lifetime.

They are dancing the samba to “Livin' La Vida Loca.” The routine is sexy and there’s no hint that Stacy’s ankle is bothering her. There are also a lot of sharp moves and shimmying throughout the performance.

Bruno says that Stacy is one of the most gifted dancers he has ever seen. Len says that if there are 50 series, nobody will ever do a samba like she does. Carrie Ann thanks the couple for setting such a high standard. The couple is given three 10s, or “goobers,” from the judges and I fall off of the couch in shock. Kidding. Stacy and Tony now have 86 total points from the judges. She says that this is a great way to end the competition.

Cheryl and Drew are ready for their final performance. She says there is a lot of pressure tonight to be flawless. She gives Drew a gift for his baby. These two are adorable. Apparently, there is a difficult jump in their routine and Cheryl says it will either make them or break them.

They are performing the jive to “Hound Dog.” As you might expect, Cheryl and Drew do a lot of fast footwork. Their moves are sharp and they appear to be smiling the entire time. I’m amazed at how well he keeps up with her. At the end of the routine, he performs the infamous jump. Basically, he goes right over her head. It definitely didn’t break them.

Carrie Ann says that Cheryl and Drew go beyond what the judges expect of them. Bruno states that Drew is reliable and the performance was a job well done. Len explains that Drew dances with enthusiasm. He then gives props to all of the professionals for what they have done in the competition. All three judges give the performance a nine and the crowd boos. I have to agree; if the judges feel that Stacy’s performance was perfect, then they can’t think any differently of Drew’s. The favoritism is shameless. In any case, Cheryl and Drew have 87 total points from the judges.

Mary J. Blige sings “Family Affair” for us while Yesenia Adame and Rodrigo Guzman dance. Their performance is smooth. They do an amazing move in which he lifts her from the floor onto one shoulder, flips her over onto the other one, and then drops her back to the floor. She also does a backbend of sorts onto his leg. Incredible.

It’s now time to eliminate a couple from the competition. After combining the judges’ and viewers’ scores, the couple with the lowest overall score is… Stacy and Tony. Holy cow! What an upset! Going out, Stacy is nothing but classy. We see clips of her with Tony, and are reminded of their good times and their more challenging times. Tony says that their friendship will never end. Back at the live show, Tom gives Stacy a chance to say something to Jerry and Drew. She chokes up as she talks about what an honor it was being with Jerry and how special Drew is.

Before going to commercial, Tom gives us a preview of things to come. For the second time this evening, we see Mary J. standing by herself backstage. Why do the producers keep doing that to her? Someone, spend some time with her.