Dancing with the Stars: Down to the Final Three

Buddy TV - May 14, 2009

Cowboy Ty Murray finally rode off into the sunset after 10 weeks and several close calls on Dancing with the Stars, still proving to some extent that skills (and not a solid fan base) will keep you in the game. And then there were three. Gilles Marini, Shawn Johnson and Melissa Rycroft. They all have proven themselves worthy of the judges' praises, and they're all winners in their own right. But in the end, only one can bring home the coveted mirror ball trophy.

Personally, I'm rooting for Gilles though he wasn't my first choice when ABC revealed the show's season 8 cast. I actually liked Lil' Kim and Shawn initially (and I still do) but somehow Gilles emerged as a low profile underdog among a cluster of celebrities with a bunch of accolades attached to their names and he blew everyone by surprise with his captivating stage presence and flawless execution. Heck, he might as well be a professional dancer!

But it's still anybody's game and if there's one thing I learned from Dancing with the Stars, it's don't assume. I was so sure that Ty Murray and Chelsie Hightower would be eliminated in week 9. But Lil' Kim and partner Derek Hough, whom I thought would be in the final three, got the boot instead. Perhaps no one is really safe in the game and even the front runners can go home if fans don't vote because they assume that their favorite players are already secure for the finals. 

This week's performance actually proved to be a close fight. While Gilles got a 60 (a perfect 30 in both the Latin and the Ballroom round), Melissa and Shawn respectively earned a total of 55 and 56. And based our polls, 22 percent of BuddyTV readers claimed they voted for Gilles, while 22 percent voted for Melissa as well. Shawn got 19 percent of the votes while the remaining percentage either voted for Ty or didn't vote at all.

Though Shawn is a great dancer, I'm inclined to believe that it's going to be a battle between Gilles and Melissa. If Melissa wins, it would serve as the sweetest revenge after being dumped by The Bachelor's Jason Mesnick, as well the perfect intro to the new season of The Bachelorette, featuring Jillian Harris, who was also rejected by Mesnick. How do you think will the finale play out?

Source: http://www.buddytv.com

Ty Murray eliminated from `Dancing With the Stars'

By SANDY COHEN - May 13, 2009

LOS ANGELES — The King of the Cowboys has left the ballroom.

After weeks of less-than-stellar scores, rodeo champ Ty Murray was eliminated from "Dancing With the Stars."

The 39-year-old bull rider came into Tuesday's semifinal results show in last place with 48 points out of 60.

"We might be at the bottom this week, but week one we were the 13th-worst couple," Murray joked of his unlikely success in the ABC dance-off.

The nine-time world champion rodeo cowboy joined the hit show with wife Jewel, who was sidelined by an injury before the competition began. Alongside professional partner Chelsie Hightower, Murray plodded ahead with stiff hips and a positive attitude that moved fans to bring him back week after week. Judges praised Murray for his hard work and can-do approach.

"If the others have climbed hills, you've climbed mountains," head judge Len Goodman said Tuesday. "With that dedication and work ethic, you've been a credit to everyone on the show."

On Monday, judge Carrie Ann Inaba named Murray "the most valuable player of season eight."

The lovable cowboy said he knew dancing would be "a giant stretch" but that he approached it with the same vigor he does bull riding. "There's not one ounce of quit in this entire body," he said Monday.

The ballroom audience rose to its feet to bid Murray farewell Tuesday. He smiled, saying he has "a whole new respect" for dancing. He also thanked his partner.

"Teaching me to dance is like trying to teach a blind guy to paint," Murray quipped.

Tuesday's results show also included a performance by Raphael Saadiq and the continuation of the new professional dance competition: Two pro dancers are vying for viewer votes and a spot on the next season of "Dancing With the Stars," slated to begin in September.

Actor Gilles Marini, Olympian Shawn Johnson and "The Bachelor" reject Melissa Rycroft will compete for the mirrorball trophy on Monday.

A new "Dancing" champ will be crowned May 19.

Source: http://www.google.com

Another Star Dismissed From `Dancing'

Small change: Another celeb dismissed from `Dancing With the Stars'

AP / LOS ANGELES, May 5, 2009

Lil Kim was booted from "Dancing With the Stars."

The curvaceous, pint-sized rapper — known for her flamboyant, hip-wiggling performance style — consistently earned high scores throughout the competition, twice topping the judges' leaderboard. But she was eliminated from the hit ABC show Tuesday.

Lil Kim faltered Monday during her waltz with professional partner Derek Hough.Judge Carrie Ann Inaba said she saw "a lot of missteps." But judges unanimously praised the rapper's salsa, with Bruno Tonioli proclaiming, "Your booty can do no wrong."

Lil Kim came into Tuesday's results show with the week's second-lowest score: 52 points out of 60. Rodeo champ Ty Murray was in last place with 46 points, but fans kept him afloat, sending him on to compete in next week's semifinal round.Viewer votes are combined with judges' scores to determine which couple is eliminated each week.

Show host Tom Bergeron told Lil Kim "there was a real shock in this room" when he announced she would be leaving the competition. Head judge Len Goodman said the rapper "has been one of the best dancers" ever to appear on the show.

Lil Kim kept a smile on her face as she learned her fate."This is one of the greatest experiences I've ever experienced in my life," she said, adding that she expanded the hit show's viewership, "because I brought people who never watched the show."

Hough said his partner has been one of his favorites."She's an amazing person, an amazing soul, and amazing spirit and an amazing dancer," he said.

Tuesday's results show also featured a performance by piano man Jamie Cullum and the continuation of the new professional dance-off: Three pro dancers are vying for viewer votes and a spot on the next season of the hit ABC show.Besides Murray, three other celebrities are set to face off during next week's semifinal round: Actor Gilles Marini, Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson and "The Bachelor" star Melissa Rycroft.

Source: http://abcnews.go.com