A Samba smackdown and a free-wheeling free style.

Tom Bergeron is sooo excited when “Dancing With the Stars” opens for the last night of performing.  And he should be. It’s almost over. The three finalists - Warren Sapp, Brooke Burke and Lance Bass - and their partners are dressed in yellow.  Warren is dapper in a back derby.

The show opens with a look back at the excellent twists and turns of actress and model Brooke Burke, who looks spectacular in a flashback to the night she wore a nearly backless gown for her best number: the two-step. Her best Latin: the Paso Doble.

She racked up a lot of perfect scores this season. Her partner Derek Hough thinks she should win because she’s consistently the best.

Former boy band member Lance Bass says his best night was when he did the Tango. Best Latin: the Mambo.  His partner, Lacey Schwimmer, thinks he should win because he is the most improved.

Warren says his best past performance was the Viennese Waltz. It gave him “a taste that there wasn’t any dance he couldn’t handle.” His best Latin: the Paso Doble (when he wore that black Matrix duster). It was freaky good.

He calls it “a turning point from totally vunerable position to a contender.” He never danced before “Stars.” “He started knowing nothing and now he can do anything; and he makes people happy when he dances,” says partner Kym Johnson.

In the Samba smackdown, Brooke deserves something for making it through in high heels. Warren cuts flips and struts his stuff. He is good. Lance scores, too. Not easy to declare a winner here.  Warren is a prancing fool. Brooke is still the one to beat. She scores nearly perfect.  “If you were a car, everyone would want to drive that model,” says judge Bruno Tonioli who is practically drooling.

Freestyle: Brooke and Derek are dressed like 1950s boppers for a “Grease” themed rock routine. She goes from poodle skirt to hot pink pants suit. They turn, flip and roll. Bergeron gives it two “Wows” and the crowd goes wild. Bruno says its one of the best freestyle he has seen. Ditto from the other judges. Perfect score.

The bar is set high.

Lance gets freaky with a Hip Hop number to Run DMC’s “It’s Tricky.” Cute but not as hot a Brooke’s number. Three 9s and no cigar.

Warren wants a 10. He’s ready for lifts. They dance to Ike and Tina Turner’s “Proud Mary.” Sapp gets a work out. He tosses Kym around like a rag doll. Judges say he lacks technique but as an entertainer he’s tops. Got a friend for life in Kym Johnson and 10 to 12 dances he can do.  He gets a 10 from Judge Len Goodman and two 9s nfrom the others. It’s good but not enough to top Brooke.