Dancing With The Stars Finale

The "Dancing With The Stars" finalists share a group hug backstage on the first night of the season six finale on May 19, 2008 on ABC. Clockwise from left, Jason Taylor, Cristian de la Fuente, Cheryl Burke, Kristi Yamaguchi, Edyta Sliwinska and Mark Ballas.

Cristian de la Fuente leaps onto the dance floor at the opening of his cha cha number with partner Cheryl Burke on "Dancing With The Stars" May 19, 2008. He earned 26 out of 30 points for his efforts.

Actor Cristian de la Fuente and his professional partner Cheryl Burke shake their respective groove thangs during their cha cha on the first night of the "Dancing With The Stars" two-part finale. The judges complimented de la Fuente on the progress he's made during the season.

Professional dancer Edyta Sliwinska and her partner, Miami Dolphins defensive end Jason Taylor dance the cha cha on the "Dancing With The Stars" season finale on May 19, 2008.

Edyta Sliwinska and Jason Taylor dance the cha cha on the "Dancing With The Stars" season finale on May 19, 2008. The 6'6" Taylor is not at his best in the Latin dances. The judges gave him 24 out of 30 points.

Olympic champion Kristi Yamaguchi in all her fringed glory dances a spicy cha cha with professional partner Mark Ballas on "Dancing With The Stars" on May 19, 2008. The judges gave Yamaguchi a perfect score of 30.

Kristi Yamaguchi and Mark Ballas dance the cha cha on the May 19, 2008 episode of ABC's "Dancing With The Stars." The couple have been a favorite to win the competition since the beginning of the season.

Jason Taylor, far left, and Cristian de la Fuente, far right, hoist Kristi Yamaguchi into the air at the end of the cha cha "face off" on ABC's "Dancing With The Stars" finale May 19, 2008. Below Yamaguchi are, from left, Edyta Sliwinska, Mark Ballas and Cheryl Burke.

Jason Taylor, left, and Cristian de la Fuente mug for the cameras and conveniently upstage their tiny rival, Kristi Yamaguchi (if you look closely you can see her feet.) The two guys became close friends this season, but Taylor joked backstage that his dance partner, Edyta Sliwinska, had nixed the "bromance" for the duration of the finale.

Kristi Yamaguchi and Mark Ballas celebrate their perfect score of 60 backstage during ABC's "Dancing With The Stars" on May 19, 2008. The second part of the finale was scheduled to air the following day.

Cheryl Burke, left, and Cristian de la Fuente cool off backstage with the help of some fans during the first night of the two-part finale of ABC's "Dancing With The Stars" on May 19, 2008.

Cheryl Burke and Cristian de la Fuente perform a freestyle routine on ABC's "Dancing With The Stars" on May 19, 2008. De la Fuente had to do all the lifts without using his injured left arm.

Cheryl Burke and Cristian de la Fuente dance to Elvis Crespo's merengue hit "Suavemente" on "Dancing With The Stars" on May 19, 2008. The freestyle round allowed the couples to do any dance moves they wished including lifts.

Cheryl Burke and Cristian de la Fuente triumphantly complete their freestyle number on "Dancing With The Stars." Because he wasn't able to do the difficult lifts that his competitors performed, de la Fuente was given a score of 26. He ended the night in second place with 52 points.

Edyta Sliwinska and Jason Taylor perform their club-friendly freestyle to Will Smith's "Miami" on the May 19, 2008 episode of "Dancing With The Stars." The song choice is a reference to Taylor's "day job" as a defensive end for the Miami Dolphins professional football team.

Did they get FAA clearance for this? Jason Taylor lifts Edyta Sliwinska more than 7 feet in the air during their freestyle routine on ABC's "Dancing With The Stars." Sliwinska said that she choreographed difficult lifts for the routine to take advantage of Taylor's strength.

Jason Taylor rips off his shirt at the end of his freestyle routine on the season finale of "Dancing With The Stars" as his partner Edyta Sliwinska looks on. Taylor and fellow competitor Cristian de la Fuente both showed off their buffed bods on the show, but it didn't score them enough points to beat Kristi Yamaguchi. Taylor ended up in third place with a total of 51 points.

Mark Ballas lifts Kristi Yamaguchi into the air during their freestyle routine on "Dancing With The Stars" May 19, 2008. The mix of hip hop and mambo was choreographed to Michael Jackson's "Working Day And Night."

Mark Ballas does a backflip with a boost from Kristi Yamaguchi during their freestyle on the first night of the two-part "Dancing With The Stars" season finale on May 19, 2008. Yamaguchi and Ballas earned a perfect 30 for the routine, bringing their total score for the night to a perfect 60.

Kristi Yamaguchi and Mark Ballas dance their freestyle routine on ABC's "Dancing With The Stars" on May 19, 2008. The winner of the show's six season was scheduled to be crowned the following night.