Boy-band star leaps to win in another "Stars" upset

NEW YORK — Drew Lachey leaped to victory on "Dancing with the Stars."

The former 98 Degrees pop singer out-hoofed pro wrestler Stacy Keibler, whom many saw as the favored finalist, along with NFL great Jerry Rice, when ABC's ballroom hit wrapped its second season Sunday night.

With his professional dancer-partner Cheryl Burke, Lachey wowed the audience with his number: a freestyle routine danced to "Hound Dog," whose big finish had him vaulting over his partner's shoulders.

But it was viewers — whose vote wielded half the weight — who clinched his win.

In somewhat of a bombshell midway through the two-hour finale, host Tom Bergeron had disclosed that viewer response eliminated the leggy, blond Keibler and her partner, Tony Dovolani, from the competition.

Then, in the program's final moments, Bergeron made the grand announcement: Lachey was the choice over Rice.

"Woooooooooooo!" yelped Lachey, who gratefully accepted the "Dancing with the Stars" mirror-ball trophy (which he had earlier laughingly described as "ugly").

"Gentleman Jerry" Rice was gracious in defeat.

Asked if he thought he would get this far, he replied, "No, to be honest with you." After congratulating the winners, he thanked his partner, Anna Trebunskaya, who "kept drilling me, week in and week out."

During the program, all seven of the previously rejected celebrities — ESPN sportscaster Kenny Mayne, actress Tatum O'Neal, news personality Giselle Fernandez, rap star Master P, actress Tia Carrere, tanned ladies' man George Hamilton and talk-show host Lisa Rinna — returned for a last dance with their partners.

It was only in January the new "Dancing with the Stars" season had begun with its 10 competitors of sometimes dubious celebrity, and clearly varying skill. Each was paired with a professional dancer for the show's grueling choreography and performance regimen. Then, as the weeks passed, one couple after another was kicked off by joint decision of the judges and viewers.

Receiving a warm welcome from viewers (it ranks seventh in prime time for the season to date), "Dancing" first stepped out as a surprise hit for ABC last summer.

On that season finale, which aired in July, "General Hospital" star Kelly Monaco and her professional partner upset odds-on favorite John O'Hurley, best known for playing J. Peterman on "Seinfeld," and his partner.

But audience complaints arose that the voting process was confusing and that Monaco, star of an ABC soap, got preferential treatment from the network. This prompted a rematch, which, airing in September, gave viewers full sway. The title went to O'Hurley.