Networks pull out all the stops as season-finale fever wraps up this week
Jack Bauer has saved most of the country from being nuked, but his day isn’t quite over. Hiro saved the cheerleader but still must save the world. Joey Fatone has literally danced his butt off, but he has to strut his stuff one more time.
Beginning Monday, fans of “24,” “Heroes” and “Dancing With the Stars” will learn what happens to their favorite characters and contestants as these shows and many others end their seasons.
On “Heroes,” one of TV’s most buzzworthy shows this season, the gang of super-powered freaks tries to prevent the annihilation of New York City.
“The finale is going to be the bomb,” Masi Oka, who plays time-traveling samurai Hiro, told The Seattle Times. “Both in da bomb — as in awesome. And in kaboom — the bomb. It’s going to be amazing.”
In L.A. on “24,” Bauer squares off against his power-hungry father and a U.S. government that still hasn’t figured out Bauer knows best.
Later in the week, we’ll learn who will be the next “American Idol” and who will die on “Lost.” Plus, we’ll say goodbye to “Veronica Mars.” Here’s a look at the week, starting with three of Monday’s big finishes.
DANCING WITH THE STARS
— 7 p.m. Monday competition, ABC — 8 p.m. Tuesday results, ABC
“Dancing with the Stars” began its current danceoff in March with 11 stars. On Monday, the three finalists — boxer Laila Ali, former ‘N Syncer Joey Fatone and speed skater Apolo Anton Ohno — and their partners don tight-fitting, bejeweled ballroom costumes for the last dances. On Tuesday, only one team will tango to the trophy case. Here’s how I see it.
APOLO ANTON OHNO
Age: 24
Nickname: Dancing Tonic (judge Bruno Tonioli)
Partner: Julianne Hough
Best dance: Their Week 5 samba scored a perfect 30.
His chances: The Olympic gold medalist, this season’s heartthrob, and partner Hough earned fans by being sweet and cute — until they brought the sexy with last week’s down-and-dirty Cha Cha to Salt n’ Pepa’s “Push It.” Judge Len Goodman cried nasty, but we loved it.
JOEY FATONE
Age: 30
Nickname: Swashbuckler (judge Len Goodman)
Partner: Kym Johnson
Best dance: Their jive was perfect in Week 7.
His chances: The big (but not as big as he was), bouncy funnyman is a true all-around entertainer, although his showmanship has backfired at times. (Remember that “Star Wars” tango?) It’s been fun to mispronounce his name, but tonight we’ll call him “runner-up.”
LAILA ALI
Age: 29
Nickname: Magnificent Obsession (Tonioli)
Partner: Maksim Chmerkovskiy
Best dance: A sexy samba earned a perfect 30 in Week 7.
Her chances: Ali has been the surprise of the season. Who thought a tough, muscular boxer could be so sexy and elegant? Her off-stage spats with partner Chmerkovskiy have been as entertaining as their dancing. But she’s not as loose and animated on the floor as the other contestants, and that will play against her.
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CWWAGNER@TRIBUNE.COM
