SYTYCD: After the Final Dance

Los Angeles (myFOXla.com) - Viewers said Jeanine Mason can dance best as they crowned her the winner of Fox network's "So You Think You Can Dance."

Jeanine beat out Evan, Kayla and Brandon on the dance competition's fifth-season finale, which aired live with the results Thursday.

The vivacious 18-year-old brunette from Pinecrest, Fla., won $250,000 and the title of "America's Favorite Dancer."

You can watch Jane Yamamoto's report... from recap and highlights to after-show interviews and a special guest... in the video player.

The runner-up was 19-year-old Brandon Bryant of Miami.

"Dance" handicappers had split their votes for favorite between the two contestants. As the two-hour broadcast neared the end, host Cat Deeley ended the suspense.

The hopped-up audience in Hollywood's Kodak Theatre erupted on hearing Jeanine's name.

"I've spent my whole life looking up to amazing dancers and amazing people, and I've always wanted to be a role model," Jeanine said. "And just to have 3,000 people in here ..." She choked up as the crowd roared again.

Earlier in the program, Kayla Radomski, a 19-year-old native of Aurora, Colo., was revealed as the least popular among the remaining four.

A few minutes later, 21-year-old Evan Kasprzak of West Bloomfield, Mich., got the news that he had placed third.

More than 21 million votes from viewers had been submitted following the broadcast of "Dance" the night before.

With the winner already decided, Thursday's edition was devoted to encore performances by the finalists and past contestants.

There was also lots of padding and plenty of chatter from the judges' table, with ample praise directed at Jeanine.

"I never saw Jeanine coming, I never saw you coming," judge Adam Shankman told her after she had performed a steamy number with Evan. "And you have dominated, week after week."

"You are feisty, you are strong, you are tomboyish!" marveled Nigel Lythgoe, who is also co-creator of the show and its executive producer.

Next month, the process starts again with a sixth season of "Dance," which will bridge the gap for Fox until next January, when "American Idol" returns.