'Skating with the Stars' Season Finale: And the Winner Is...

Tuesday night on the finale of ABC's "Skating With the Stars" it was down to the final two couples- Rebecca Budig, Fred Palascak and Bethenny Frankel, Ethan Burgess - as they competed for the "SWTS" trophy.

After Monday night's stunning elimination of Olympic skier Jonny Moseley, it was clear that America's vote was coming into play in a major way- and the judges scores were truly only half the story.

So while soap star Rebecca Budig looked like a shoe-in going into the finals, it was still a tossup as to who would actually win this thing. So who was the winner of "Skating With the Stars?"

First up, judge Laurieann Gibson was the choreographer for a skating program that featured fellow judge Johnny Weir and world class skaters Denis Petukhov, Keauna McLaughlin and Jennifer Wester. The foursome skated to Alicia Keys ' "Try Sleeping With a Broken Heart".

Next, all of the "SWTS" competitors were back: Sean Young, Vince Neil, Jonny Moseley- even a still-ailing Brandon Mychal Smith, who sat it out in the audience.

Then it was time for the final two to show us their last skate.

Bethenny Frankel and Ethan Burgess

The "Real Housewives" star gave it her all, prompting Johnny Weir to say, "You skated up tonight." Laurieanne Gibson agreed, saying, "What a transformation!" The judges must have been really impressed, because Frankel actually received a '10' For artistic impression.

TECHNICAL MERIT: 23/30
ARTISTIC IMPRESSION: 28/30
TOTAL: 51/60

Rebecca Budig and Fred Palascak

The "All My Children" star pulled out all the stops with her program. Laurieann described the performance as"electrifying" while Johnny said, "You rocked it from beginning to end." All three judges rewarded the couple handsomely, giving them perfect 10's for technical merit and artistic ability. It doesn't get any better than that.

TECHNICAL MERIT: 30/30
ARTISTIC IMPRESSION: 30/30
TOTAL: 60/60

With the judges' scores locked in, it was time to combine with the audience vote. So who won "SWTS?"

It was a no brainer: Rebecca Budig and her partner Fred Palascak were the winners of "SWTS." . Hey, don't underestimate that "All My Children" audience!

Meanwhile, Bethenny Frankel conceded, saying Budig totally deserved the win. Frankel said of Budig, "She should be a real ice skater."

Kind of like how Bethenny is a real housewife?

*****

Sources:

Skating With the Stars, December 21, 2010 ABC TV