'Dancing With the Stars' Heads Into Season Finale
Feb. 24, 2006 — -- It's odd to imagine what sort of contest could pit a female wrestler, an NFL legend and a former boy-band singer against each other. Odder still, when that competition takes place on a dance floor.
But each week, 18 million television viewers tune in to "Dancing With the Stars" to watch celebrities spin, dip and sometimes trip their way through sambas, rumbas and tangos with the help of professional dance partners.
Ten pairs of dancers kicked off the show's second season. Each couple's standing hinges not only on the scores they receive from the show's three judges, but also on viewers who call in to vote for their favorite couple. At the end of each show, a couple is voted off the dance floor in classic reality-TV style.
After Thursday night's semifinal, three pairs were left standing. The winning couple will be revealed in the season finale Sunday night.
This season's "it girl" is Stacy Keibler, a wrestler for World Wrestling Entertainment who stands 5 feet 11 inches and has dazzled viewers and judges with her legs.
"They are 41-and-a-half-inches long! I guess I have my parents to thank for that," she said.
At 26, Keibler's also got youth and years of dance lessons on her side. She was also a cheerleader for the NFL's Baltimore Ravens. But her leggy talent lagged a bit in the judges' eyes in Thursday night's final. She and her partner, Tony Dovolani, ranked second in the panel's scoring.
Football legend Jerry Rice, honored at this year's Super Bowl, has proved himself the unflappable underdog who has shocked many by making it to the finals with his partner, Anna Trebunskaya.
"If you have a chance, that's all you want. And I feel we have a chance," Rice said.
Rice's best chance to add a dance trophy to his cabinet of football trophies may rest with the viewers. Despite his low scores from the judges, he's been a fan favorite through the season. He and Trebunskaya will need strong support from their fans to overcome their last-place finish in the judges' scoring.
Drew Lachey, brother of Nick and former member of 98 Degrees, has also been a fierce competitor this season.
"I want to win hands-down. It's all I'm focused on right now," he said.
And Lachey's focus clearly paid off. He and partner Cheryl Burke received a perfect score of 30 for their paso doble dance and another 30 for their freestyle dance to the tune of "Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy."
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