STEP OFF: DANCING WITH THE STARS Bedazzles its ALL STAR Champ

One of reality television's most notable competitions concludes tonight. A winner will be crowned. Someone will cry. Well, multiple someones might cry.

DANCING WITH THE STARS: ALL STARS has named their three finalists, they have performed, and one will finish out the week with some toned biceps - from hauling around the mirrorball trophy on the daytime talk show circuit.

These three women, who have out-stepped, out-performed, and out-charmed their way into America's jivey hearts this season, are up on the DANCING stage for the final time this ALL STAR season. It may be their last, but it certainly wasn't their first. Kelly Monaco was here during the show's inaugural season, taking the mirrorball trophy. Shawn Johnson won the eighth season in 2009, while fellow finalist Melissa Rycroft took third. The point is: whether or not DANCING WITH THE STARS is reality television's lowest point to date, these three women, who got their start elsewhere, are undoubtedly also dancers. They are contestants cabable of becoming professionals. They can samba, they can quickstep, they can look the other way when Bruno Tonioli begins to leer.

After last night's final round of performances, here's the leader board:
Melissa Rycroft & Tony Dovolani: 30/30 + 29/30 = 60/60
Kelly Monaco & Val Chmerkovskiy: 29.5/30 + 29.5/30 = 59/60
Shawn Johnson & Derek Hough: 27/30 + 30/30 = 57/60

Shawn Johnson has reportedly been the majority's favorite to win. People have bet money on her. People have bet their voices cheering her on each week. And she sits tonight at the bottom of the board. Fortunately, as we have all learned, the scores on DANCING WITH THE STARS basically mean nothing. The audience votes for their favorite just because. Competitors win or lose or because of that. The bottom line: going into this massive finale, no one knows who's taking this title.

Rycroft, Monaco, and Johnson performed one final dance, picking a theme and a song from a mirrorball (that was basically just a bedazzled fishbowl). Monaco got the jive, set to "Cat and Mouse," Rycroft the samba to "Life is a Highway" and Johnson demanding a little "Respect" around here with the cha cha.

Monaco and partner Val Chmerkovskiy earned 28.5/30 for their routine, Rycroft and Tony Dovolani earned 28.5, and Johnson and Derek Hough finished with a perfect 30.

The finalists' fellow ALL STARS - those they sent home, tap shoes in hand - came back to help fill the drawn-out finale. Each performed. Some reminded us why they lost the competition - others made us wonder just how much longer DANCING producers will trust the audience with the deciding vote.

Finally, this hot air competition balloon had to pop.

In third place: TV personality Kelly Monaco.

In second place: Olympian Shawn Johnson.

The winner of DANCING WITH THE STARS: ALL STARS was a contestant who had never claimed the title before: former BACHELOR contestant, season 8 finalist, injury-prone, and underdog Melissa Rycroft, won.

She is the all star.

CANNONBALL CONFETTI, SMILES, SMILES, IT'S OVER.

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