It was "judge's choice" and "freestyle" on last night's Dancing With the Stars, and never was the glaring absence of bright and brighter stars Jennie Garth and Sabrina Bryan more noticeable as the top three finalists delivered lethargic and awkward performances riddled with missteps.The exception proved to be a brilliant freestyle number from Helio Castroneves and professional partner Julianne Hough. The pair's jumbled jive brought in a mere 25, but their near flawless freestyle was exactly what the judges were looking for -- high energy, fancy footwork and breathtaking lifts -- and earned the couple a 29. But Mel B and partner Maksim Chmerkovsky garnered the highest overall score of 55 despite a snooze of a cha-cha-cha and a completely disconnected freestyle dance.
Marie Osmond and pro Jonathan Roberts were asked to re-perform the famous faint-inducing samba, but this time it was the judges who nearly passed out from the sheer boredom after the couple's freestyle number. Playing to her legions of doll fans, Marie took the stage in Shirley Temple-esque dress and pigtails, while her partner dragged her through an uneventful routine to the Rolling Stones "Start Me Up." The ever-effervescent Marie remained on the high road though, pleased with their overall 46 and the accomplishments of a nearly 50-year-old woman.
Tonight one couple will be eliminated at the start of the show while the remaining two will perform once more for the judge's scores before a winner is announced. The evening also features a performance from Celine Dion and welcomes back the entire season's stars to the dance floor one last time. -- Tammy Ragusa
