The ESPN reporter scored higher than Nicole Scherzinger and Evan Lysacek on final performance night. By Kelley L. Carter Derek Hough and Nicole Scherzinger on “Dancing with the Stars” Photo: ABC In the first part of the “Dancing With the Stars” finale on Monday night, the remaining three celebrities and their pro partners had to dance a judge-assigned “redemption” routine and a freestyle of their choosing to determine who will ultimately take home the top prize on Tuesday (May 25). But by the show’s end, there were no perfect scores, and not even the judges would venture a guess about who would win. First up were ESPN reporter Erin Andrews and partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy. In the rehearsal footage before their so-called redemption, judge Bruno Tonioli handed the pair the samba, a dance he said Andrews needed to work on. “The movements were sharper, crisper and the confidence was in your face. It was just fun,” judge Carrie Ann Inaba said. Score: 29/30 For their freestyle routine, the two opted for a lyrical freestyle and turned out a romantic routine, complete with a bed on stage. “Bruno promised me he’d teach me how to walk in heels; that didn’t happen Bruno,” Andrews joked. Score: 26/30, for a 55/60 total Olympian Evan Lysacek and Anna Trebunskaya were told to re-do the Viennese waltz because they had issues with their chemistry. “We want to bring everything from the last 10 weeks to the dance floor tonight,” Lysacek said. The judges liked the connection between the two of them. “Smiling, romantic, sweet,” Tonioli said. Goodman said the connection between them was much improved. “We were happy to do it again, but [we have] just mixed emotions tonight. We’re so sad that the competition is almost over and the show is almost over,” Lysacek said. Score: 28/30 For their next dance, Evan and Anna freestyled to “Footloose.” The judges didn’t seem too impressed, though, giving them 24/30 for a total of 52/60. Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger and her partner, Derek Hough, had to repeat the rumba, with judges citing how nervous the pop singer appeared to be the first go-round. “As far as your performance goes, the only way you can grow is to become vulnerable. This was the most mesmerizing. I could not take my eyes off any movement,” Inaba said. Goodman said he loved the subtlety of the dance, but noted there was a lack of confidence. Score: 28/30 Later in the show, Scherzinger and Hough picked a fast-paced, high-octane routine, but it wasn’t a hip-hop, as some might have predicted from the pop star. “That’s the freestyle we’ve all been waiting for. That was fantastic,” Inaba said. The judges loved it, giving them solid 9’s for a 27/30 and a total of 55/60. Who do you think will win “Dancing With the Stars”? Share your own reviews in the comments. Related Photos The 2010 Cast Of ‘Dancing With The Stars’ Related Artists Nicole Scherzinger
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‘Dancing With The Stars’ Recap: Erin Andrews Fights For Finale