The finale of "The Apprentice 2" turned Kelly Perdew into the U.S. show's winner in an ending that featured an unexpected audience participation segment.

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Donald Trump, the NBC show's host, appeared ready to pick a winner when the Lincoln Center set quickly turned into a live audience theater with Regis Philbin interviewing audience members, starting with last year's winner Bill Rancic, about their opinions about which finalist should become Trump's apprentice, MSNBC reported Friday.

As it turned out the audience loved -- and the winner Thursday night was -- Perdew, a 37-year-old software executive from West Point, N.Y. He beat Jennifer Massey, an Ivy League lawyer who was cleared not liked by the audience.

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After polling the live audience, Regis reunited the 16 fired "Apprentice 2" candidates and asked their opinions. With near unanimity they favored Perdew.