Brooke and Derek

This should be an anti-climatic night.

Brooke Burke and her partner Derek Hough have dominated most of the season. And after Monday night’s perfect scores, they are going to be awfully hard to beat.

The drama Tuesday is who comes in second.

The Grand Finale kicked off with Alicia Keys performing.

Then the show welcomed back all the cast members for encore performances. Even Cloris, who we thought would never leave, came back!

Jeffery Ross, the first celebrity elmininated this season had the chance to do a little roasting.

Ross, famous for his Roastmaster duties on Comedy Central, took some zingers at Cloris (“Welcome to your 15 decades of fame”) Lance Bass (“What can be said about Lance Bass that hasn’t already been said about Clay Aiken”) and Warren Sapp (“Hey Warren, how is it you dance for eight hours a day, for months, and you’re still so out of shape?”) 

Funny stuff.

Warren and Kym

After Cody Linley and Julianne returned for their encore, it was time to get down to business.

Warren and Kym started by dancing the Samba. And I didn’t think it was Warren’s best dance. He seemed off the beat and off his game. The judges only get to score this one…

Len said Warren may not be the judge’s champion but you are the people’s champion. Bruno said he was “irresistible.” Carrie Ann said Warren has inspired men all over the country to dance. 9-9-9 I thought the scores generous.

Lance and Lacey’s final dance was the Jitterbug.

Watchin this dance again and I’m thinking they may pull the second slot…but a couple fo missed lifts may hurt them.

Bruno said, no doubt…Lance has become a great showman. Len said they deserved to be in the finals!

The scores: 9-9-10 (Bruno gave them the extra push)

Brooke and Derek go to wrap up the season of dance with a Vienese Waltz. It was a beautiful way to finish

Lance and Lacey

the season. And appropriate it was their dance.

Carrie Ann, teary eyed, called Brooke a star. Len and Bruno poured on the compliments. A quick cut-a-way of Brooke’s significant other caught him emotionally caught up in the moment. 10-10-10

In a slight misstep for a show on until 11pm, Miley Cyrus was announced she would perform in the last 15 minutes of the program. Too bad as a lot of younger fans surely wouldn’t make it this late to see her. Usually they do everything right on this show. But this was surely a mistake.

But before Hanna Montana performs, it was time to get the three down to only two. The first couple eliminated…Lance and Lacey!

That leaves Warren versus Brooke.

Miley did perform her new hit “Fly on the Wall.”

Bergeron had some fun with the eliminated celebrities getting their take on who would win…(and give them a chance to plug whatever they are working on.)

FInally, the announcement:

The winner is…after ten weeks, the judge’s scores combined with the audience scores…

It’s no surprise, it’s Brooke and Derek. They couldn’t believe it. Derek was especially stunned. Bergeron handed off the prized mirror ball trophy to the couple!

A fun season.

See you again in March 09 for Season #8!

Lance and Lacey

The first half hour of the finale allowed the Stars a chance to show off their favorite dances from the season (and to fill the first 30 minutes!)

But the show finally kicked in with a group dance… a Samba Smackdown!

All dressed in yellow, Brooke and Derek got it started, looking smart and sharp.

Then it was Lance and Lacey, peaking at the right time. (They just may be the only couple that could beat Brooke.)

But then Warren and Kym hit the floor and I was just tickled by Warren’s moves. The man has got the moves. They wrapped it up with a fun group twirl ending sprawled on the floor. This is a pretty evenly matched group.

Len thought they all had danced the Samba better than previously on the show. Len noted Lance’s energy. But had issues with Warren’s footwork. Len said he thought Brooke is the one to beat. 

Bruno, in the special way only he can ramble on, agreed about Brooke.

Carrie Ann also loves Lance’s energy. But she thought Warren was most improved. Carrie Ann felt Brooke slightly off for the first dance of the night.

Brooke and Derek’s scores: 9-9-10

Lance and Lacey – 9-8-8

Warren and Kym – 9-7-9 (Ouch, Len REALLY had a problem with Warren’s footwork)

Brooke and Derek

It’s down to the freestyle and Brooke and Derek went first. The freestyle offers a chance to do some special lifts and moves. But Derek’s back was aching…would it be a problem in the dance?

In a salute to GREASE, the two did a great rocking routine to “The One That I Want.” It was fantastic and scary. Some of the moves, tosses, lifts were breathtaking.

And the judges LOVED IT!

Bruno shouted “You are the ones that we all want! One of the best freestyles I’ve ever seen!” Carrie Ann agreed saying “they brought it!” Len said he thought it was the best freestyle he’d ever seen! 10-10-10 A perfect score and well deserved.

Lance and Lacey channeled Lance’s N’Sync days with some fun, very unusual choreography….freaky, freaky, freaky. No lifts but plenty of fun moves. (Especially the final shoe coming off as part of the routine, an

Warren and Kym

homage to his own wardrobe malfunction a few weeks ago.)

Carrie Ann thought it fun, but she had an issue with part of the moves in the middle of the routine. Len liked it…he especially liked the Freaky, Freaky, Freaky song! Bruno said it showed wit and energy. He called it “very good!” 9-9-9

The final dance of the night belonged to Warren and Kym.

Warren has the strength and muscles to pull off amazing lifts and moves. And Kym is going to push it to the limit.

They danced to “Proud Mary.” Starting slow with some smooth moves…then transitioning to the

Len said Warren is the star this season…as an entertainer, no one comes close to him. Channeling the Borg, Bruno said “All resistance is futile” when it comes to Warren. Carrie Ann said it was her favorite routine (but noted Warren’s face gave away a mistake) 9-10-9. Len gave them a “10″ for entertainment! 

Brooke is on top of the leaderboard with Lance and Warren tied for second.

On Tuesday night, one more dance.

And musical guests Miley Cyrus and Alicia Keys.

I think Brooke has it sewed up. The big question mark is who comes in second. I would vote for Warren for the runner up slot just because he’s so much fun to watch.

You can watch the two hour Grand Finale TUESDAY NIGHT AT 9PM on ABC!