'Dancing with the Stars' co-host: Finale anyone's game, freestyle key

Dancing with the Stars co-host Brooke Burke feels the twelfth-season competition is stiffer than ever, and any one of the three final couples could walk away from this week's finale with the mirror ball trophy.


"I think it's an amazing season because it's so close. You ask 10 people and they're all going to pick a different winner, which is why this season is so exciting. I don't remember it ever being this close," Burke told People.

"I think it's one of those seasons where we've got three phenomenal couples in our finale. They all deserve to win, nobody knows what's going to happen, and it's going to be a very exciting show."

Burke then sized up the strengths of the remaining pairs and suggested it could be anyone's game. 

"I think [NFL football star Hines Ward] is just infectious. He's lovable, he's emotionally connected, he's got a rhythm, he's fun to watch, he has a huge fan-base -- he's doing a great job," Burke explained.


[Disney Channel star Chelsea Kane] is just adorable. She's a phenomenal dancer technically, and [her professional partner Mark Ballas] is known for his choreography, so I think they've got a great shot at the mirror ball."

"[Actress and former Kirstie Alley's Big Life star Kirstie Alley]? What's not to love. She is brave and brutally honest. She surprised everybody. She's got incredible rhythm -- nobody had any idea she was going to be such a great dancer. She gets better every show," she added.

While the final three celebrities and their partners are considerably on an equal playing field, Burke believes Dancing with the Stars' twelfth-season title will most likely depend on one particular performance routine.

"I think it will all boil down to that final freestyle. It's about laying it all on the line and giving it everything you've got. It's that moment in that freestyle for everyone to fall in love with that dance," Burke said, separating the freestyle dance's significance from the finale's featured repeat dance and judges' pick.






About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski