It's Kirstie, Chelsea or Hines on DWTS

THE SHOW "Dancing With the Stars"

WHEN|WHERE Monday night at 8 on ABC/7, finale Tuesday at 9.

WHAT IT'S ABOUT Down to the final three -- Kirstie Alley, Chelsea Kane and Hines Ward -- but there can be only one rightful owner of the Mirror Ball by Tuesday night. As usual, exact finale details are a bit shrouded but there will be two dances Monday with Kirstie/Maks and Chelsea/Mark doing a samba, and Hines/Kym a quickstep. All three will do a freestyle, and they'll perform their favorite dance of the season Tuesday night.

MY SAY What would a season of "Dancing" be without a bone to chew on, and the 12th's bone of contention appears to have been the "winner-take-all" cha-cha element last week. This tactic effectively gave the three judges carte blanche over who goes to the final, irrespective of how the viewers voted.

Speculation is that the winner-take-all -- which gave Kane 15 points, for a one-night total of 75, the most in "DWTS" history -- was introduced so the show could avert another "Bristol situation." You know, when fans who were possibly motivated by politics got Bristol Palin all the way to the final three last season. Judges were aghast when Palin beat out the more talented Brandy, and they wanted -- and got -- a safety valve.

Again, this is speculation. But it does dredge up questions: Were the judges purposefully harsh on Ralph Macchio because they wanted someone they considered a better dancer -- Kane -- in the finals, even though Macchio might have been getting more viewer support? Only "DWTS" knows the answer, and producers continue to insist that the playing field is level, and always has been. Nevertheless, this franchise needs more transparency when it comes to fan votes.

BOTTOM LINE Lack of transparency aside, "DWTS" wraps a good-to-superior season. Now, let's talk winners. My prediction: Hines Ward, and richly deserved, too.