Episode list

The "Dancing with the Stars" drama kicked off even before the season began, with everyone wondering and speculating which two female stars would replace Jewel and Nancy O'Dell, two stars who fell victim to injury while rehearsing for the show. The producers weren't so quick to reveal anything, either, as 11 of the 13 couples were introduced at the start of the show, with the promise from host Tom Bergeron that the "two brave stars" who would replace Jewel and Nancy, "having had the shortest training time in the history of 'Dancing with the Stars.'"

The season offered up several fun stories, including newly engaged pros, Maksim Chmerkovskiy and Karina Smirnoff, competing against each other; the youngest competitor in the history of the show (Shawn Johnson), and the first official "Jackass," Steve-O.

Lil Kim & Derek Hough: But the best line of the night came from Lil Kim, who said, "The first time I ever watched 'Dancing with the Stars' was when I was in prison." Derek Hough was happy to come into this season as the reigning champion. He wanted to work some of Lil Kim's hip-hop "swagger" into their routines. She dedicated her first dance "to all my girls in the federal detention center." The couple danced the cha cha cha to Janet Jackson's "Nasty Boys." Judge Len Goodman praised the first dance, calling it "first class." He said it needed some more refining, "but overall, good job, well done." Bruno Tonioli said Lil Kim could "work wonders with that tooshy," but noted that she stumbled a few times. Carrie Ann Inaba said Lil Kim had great potential, but advised her to just let it out rather than thinking of ballroom as another type of dance from what she's used to. Scores: 7, 7, and 7. Total: 21

Belinda & Jonathan: Former Go-Gos lead singer Belinda Carlile said she was "fanatical" about the show. Her partner Jonathan Roberts said he wanted to prove "that nice guys can finish first. Belinda was having trouble with the spinning in the waltz, which made her dizzy. Jonathan worried that would be a problem throughout the season if she couldn't get a handle on it. Bruno said Belinda went from looking like Julie Andrews at the start, to Cloris Leachman. He told her to work on his footwork. Carrie Ann said it "wasn't great, but it certainly wasn't Cloris Leachman," and told Belinda to trust her partner and let him lead. Len said there was some grace and elegance about it, but "overall I thought you did a good job on a very difficult dance." Scores: 6, 6, and 5. Total: 17

Lawrence & Edyta: NFL Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor was hoping he wouldn't break the dance floor. His partner Edyta Sliwinska reintroduced herself by reminded us, "I always bring seduction to the dance floor." Lawrence was nervous about looking uncoordinated on the dance floor. They danced the cha cha cha. It was a little clunky, but he more or less held his own. Carrie Ann told him to get "a little more on the offense." Len said he liked Lawrence's naturalness and said he enjoyed watching it. Bruno said "that was so laid back it was thrown away." He told Lawrence to attack the dance and go out and perform next time. Scores: 6, 5, and 5. Total: 16

Steve-O & Lacey: A more perfect match might not have been possible as "Jackass" star Steve-O met up with "Dancing's" new rebel Lacey Schwimmer. Lacey said she had the biggest job of transforming her star partner this season. They danced the waltz, during which Steve-O he hoped "this 'Jackass' can look like a gentleman." Len said he admired that Steve-O came out fully committed, "but technically there was a lot going on that wasn't quite the ticket. But, I've gotta say, I expected much, much worse." Bruno called it "a big pile of slapstick," but praised him for having fun with it. Carrie Ann said she had mixed emotions about the beauty and the weirdness and awkwardness. Scores: 6, 5, and 6. Total: 17

Gilles & Cheryl: Gilles Marini, the "naked guy" from the "Sex and the City" movie was teamed up with Cheryl Burke, who was hoping to become the first three-time champion on "Dancing with the Stars." Gilles and Cheryl were both worried about his lack of a fan base. They danced a steamy cha cha cha. Carrie Ann gave a "woo hoo!" and was nothing but complimentary about Gilles. Bruno said, "clothes on or clothes, you certainly know how to strut your stuff." Len praised Cheryl for her choreography and said it was "absolutely fabulous." Scores: 8, 8, and 8. Total: 24.

Chuck & Julianne: Real-life couple Chuck Wicks and Julianne Hough found that being a real-life couple might complicate the teaching the process. During rehearsals, Julianne told him he was the worst student she's had. They took on a romantic waltz. Bruno said it was looking good at times, "but at times it looked like you were chasing her," and said that he thought Chuck was going to strangle Julianne at the end. Len agreed that it was a bit hectic, but praised Chuck's footwork. Carrie Ann said Chuck might be one of the most graceful men that has been on the show, but she pointed out that Julianne's foot came off the ground. Scores: 6, 7, and 7. Total: 20.

Injury timeout: Tom took a moment to chat with Jewel an Nancy O'Dell about their injuries. They were both disappointed they wouldn't be ale to compete, due to their injuries. O'Dell said she was having surgery next week.

Holly & Dmitri: Playboy Playmate and former "Girl Next Door" Holly Madison stepped in for the injured Jewel and had just one week to prepare with brand new dancing pro Dmitry Chapman. Len said "it wasn't bad," and acknowledged they only had a short time to practice and said he was sure they would be fabulous next week. Carrie Ann agreed that she'd be better next week, saying she was "really like a newborn deer right now, a little wobbly on the legs." Bruno noted that Holly lost her timing quite a few times, but told her to keep hope. Scores: 6, 6, and 6. Total: 18.

Ty & Chelsie: Rodeo champion Ty Murray met up with new dancing pro Chelsie Hightower, a contestant on the last season of "So You Think You Can Dance?" Ty said Chelsie was going to have her work cut out for her trying to teach him how to dance. He missed a couple of steps on his cha cha cha. Bruno said "it looked more like an Army drill than a cha cha cha." Len said that part of the charm of the show is seeing people come out and try something outside their comfort level, and he praised Ty for doing that. Carrie said Ty was "one cute cowboy." "Your dancing, we're going to work on that," Carrie Ann said. Scores: 5, 4, and 5. Total: 14.

Shawn & Mark: Olympic gold medal gymnast Shawn Johnson warned us not to underestimate her, and her partner Mark Ballas said he wanted his trophy back. The 17-year-old Olympian was struggling to show emotion on the dance floor, but Mark encouraged her to embrace it. They danced a nice waltz. Carrie Ann said she was "truly moved," watching Shawn's dancing and praised her dynamism. Bruno called it "surprisingly refined for somebody so young." Len said he "found the whole thing very appealing." Scores: 8, 8, and 7. Total: 23.

Steve & Karina: Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak rode in on his segue to meet with partner Karina Smirnoff, who vowed that she could bring the sexy side out of anyone. Good luck with that, Karina! "The Woz" stumbled through their early rehearsals in black shorts with black dress socks and black shoes. He came out wearing a pink feather boa. It was a bit clunky, but Tom called out, "Take that, Bill Gates!" Len said it held his attention and called out some parts he liked, "but overall it was a disaster." Bruno said "it was like watching a Teletubby going mad at a gay pride parade." Carrie Ann said Steve was what the competition was all about and said he made viewers want to cheer for her. Scores: 5, 4, and 4. Total: 13.

David & Kym: Comedian David Alan Grier threw off his partner Kym Johnson at their first meeting, telling her he wanted to lose weight and wanted "a swimmer's body." They danced the waltz. Bruno said there were "some good lines at times," but said he was leaning too far into Kym on the holds. He also told David to stick to one character during the course of a dance. Carrie Ann agreed that David's face was a little distracting at times. Len said "there was far more good in that performance than there was bad," and he said that "overall, it was very commendable." Scores: 6, 7, and 6. Total: 19.

Denise & Maks: Actress Denise Richards met up with "Dancing's" bad boy Maksim Chmerkovskiy. There were some tense moments during rehearsals, but the couple got through their "differences" and went out to do their cha cha cha. Carrie Ann said Denise looked terrified, but that she showed potential. Len said it was "all a little bit loose" and told her to dance herself without Maks pulling her around. Bruno said "there were some moments" when he could see it the right way, but it collapsed in other parts. Scores: 6, 6, and 6. Total: 18.

Melissa & Tony: After just two days of practice, Melissa Rycroft of sudden "Bachelor" fame teamed up with partner Tony Dovolani, as a replacement for Nancy O'Dell. They held it together without any major flubs. Len said "'The Bachelor's' loss is 'Dancing with the Stars'' gain." Len said it was obvious she'd had ballet experience and said she had to get lower on her feet. Bruno called "the 'Bachelor' guy" and loser. He said she was a revelation and said "it was like watching a beautiful bird just about ready to take flight." Carrie Ann said she looked forward to seeing how it worked out, but said she didn't want Melissa to take it too lightly. Scores: 8, 7, and 8. Total: 23.

SCOREBOARD:

Gilles & Cheryl: 24

Shawn & Mark: 23

Melissa & Tony: 23

Lil Kim & Derek: 21

Chuck & Julianne: 20

David & Kym: 19

Holly & Dmitry: 18

Denise & Maks: 18

Belinda & Jonathan: 17

Steve-O & Lacey: 17

Larence & Edyta: 16

Ty & Chelsie: 14

Steve & Karina: 13

The second performance episode of "Dancing with the Stars" brought its own kind of suspense, with the question over whether or not Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak would perform. But it was "Jackass" star Steve-O who failed to turn up, forcing his partner Lacey Schwimmer to walk out to the intro music alone.

Host Tom Bergeron said there was some mystery around Steve-O's absence, but they wouldn't get to that until later. The scores from this week would be combined with last week's scores and votes before Tuesday night's elimination.

Holly & Dmitry: After a quick "getting to know you" session with her new partner Dimtry Chaplin, former "Girl Next Door" Holly Madison took to the quickstep. Judge Len Goodman said it was a difficult dance. He said her upper body should have had better posture. Bruno Tonioli said she "looked like you were running for a bus most of the time" and appeared to have trouble keeping up with her partner. Carrie Ann Inaba said she was "kind of like a doll" and bring dragged around. Scores: 6, 6, and 6. Total: 18 + 18 (from last week) = 36

David & Kym: Comedian David Alan Grier took some heat last week for his facial expressions. He said he wanted to show more "with my feet, what David G. is all about." David and his partner Kym Johnson danced the salsa. Bruno said David found an identifiable character, but told him to work on the feet and the timing. Carrie Ann said "I don't think harder is always better." She said salsa has to come from the music, but "it's just not quite coming together." Len said the problem was there was too much of Kym and not enough of David. Scores: 6, 5, and 6. Total: 17 + 19 = 36.

Denise & Maks: Denise Richards' partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy said he thought the judges' comments from the previous week were constructive. He struggled to get Denise to relax during rehearsals for the quickstep. Carrie Ann said it was "much better" and said Denise found her elegance and strength. Len agreed there was great improvement from last week, but said there was one moment where they lost synchronicity. Bruno said it was great to see Denise grabbing her tools and using them to her advantage. Scores: 7, 7, and 7:.21 + 18 = 39.

Belinda & Jonathan: Belinda Carlisle was still reeling from Bruno's criticism from the first week, which she took personally. Her partner Jonathan Roberts said he tried to incorporate some of Belinda's moves from the Go-Gos into her salsa. Would it work? Len said there was exuberance and fun, but that some of the hip action was missing. Bruno said there was progress in terms of Belinda letting herself go, but said that she had to hit the hard beats harder. Carrie Ann said it was "a bit lacking in grace." Scores: 6, 6, and 6. Total: 18 + 17 = 35.

Ty & Chelsie: Rodeo champ Ty Murray said his "cha cha" last week "was really just a 'cha' because I forgot half of it." He just wanted to not be horrible again. HIs quickstep was a big improvement from the previous. Carrie Ann gave a big "yee-haw!" She said it was smooth and he kept up. Bruno said Ty was in charge. Len called it "an absolute metamorphosis." Scores: 7, 6 and 7. Total: 20 + 14 = 34.

Shawn & Mark: Shawn Johnson struggled to shake her hips enough for the salsa, but her partner Mark Ballas tried to set as much of an example as he could. Was it enough? She shook and shimmied during the performance. Bruno said she was "one of the cutest little things we've ever seen," but said he wants her to be much more naughty and flirtatious. Len said it was "clean and precise," but said he wants her to throw caution to the wind a little more on the Latin dances. Carrie Ann said Shawn had the ability to focus and praised her for her "bam-bam" hips. Scores: 8, 8, and 8 = 24 + 23 = 47.

Steve & Karina: Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak was practicing hard at his quickstep and suffered a fracture in his left foot. His doctor warned him of the risks, but The Woz decided to dance on. Steve's ex, Kathy Griffin, was in the crowd cheering him along. Len said it was great fun and enjoyable watching him, but the dancing quality wasn't there. Carrie Ann called him a trooper and said she couldn't figure out what he was doing, but she was smiling. Bruno said Steve reminded him of "Wall-E," a bit rusty around the edges and in need of spare parts. Scores: 6, 5, and 6. Total: 17 + 13 = 30.

Chuck & Julianne: Country singer Chuck Wicks reminded us he was a man by reinforcing that he was uncomfortable with the "feminine" moves in the salsa. Bruno said it was a wasted opportunity for Chuck because Julianne did all the work. Len said the dance should have been hot and sexy, but "it was all Julianne." Carrie Ann said it wasn't a salsa and said it was showy and she couldn't get into it. Scores: 6, 7, and 7: 20 + 20 = 40.

Lawrence & Edyta: NFL legend Lawrence Taylor was nervous because last week's dance was the better one he had to offer, and he scored just 16 points. He wanted to float on the quickstep, but felt like he was sinking in rehearsals. Carrie Ann sang, "That's the way - uh-huh, uh-huh, I like it." Bruno said Lawrence was a competitor and attacked the performance. Len said it was difficult choreography and said it was "well done." Scores: 7, 6, and 7. Total: 20 + 16 = 36.

Steve-O & Lacey: Tom explained that Steve-O hurt himself by landing on his microphone pack during rehearsal. He was suffering from some back pain and said he had a plan to make television history. According to the rules, the judges had to base their scores on his dress rehearsal, which was replayed. Lacey Schwimmer stood with Tom for the results. Len said that it was difficult to judge based on the dress rehearsal and there wasn't much salsa. Bruno agreed, saying he appreciated the creativity. Carrie Ann said she saw a lot of promise in Steve-O, but the performance wasn't right for the dance. Scores: 5, 4, and 5. Total: 14 + 17 = 31.

Lil Kim & Derek: Rapper Lil Kim was hoping to show her elegant and refined side with her quickstep. Bruno said Lil Kim had bling coming out from every pore of her body. He said the dancers were a little too far apart at time, but he loved it. Carrie Ann said she was "fantastic," but agreed that they were too far apart at time. Len said Lil Kim wasn't shy. He said there was a lot of quantity in the dance, but not enough quality. He gave Derek a hard time for not keeping them in close contact during the dance. Scores: 8, 7, and 8. Total: 23 + 21 = 44.

Melissa & Tony: After making a quick splash as a last-minute replacement, "Bachelor" dumpee Melissa Rycroft had to try to build on her waltz momentum with the salsa. The crowd loved it. Carrie Ann thanked Tony Dovolani for bring "a real salsa" and said it was "slammin'." Len said he was gyrating on his seat and called it "the salsa of the night." Bruno called it a juicy salsa. Scores: 9, 8, and 9. Total: 26 + 23 = 49.

Gilles & Cheryl: Actor Gilles Marini scored the highest points from the judges last week despite being presumably the least-known celebrity in the competition. He came out in Clark Kent glasses and a suit, but ripped it off at the end to reveal a "Superman"-like "G" on his shirt. Len said it was wonderful. Bruno said there were sparks. Carrie Ann said the couple was quickly becoming the fan favorites. Scores: 9, 9, and 9. Total: 27 + 24 = 51.

SCOREBOARD:

Gilles & Cheryl: 51

Melissa & Tony: 49

Shawn & Mark: 47

Lil Kim & Derek: 44

Chuck Julianne: 40

Denise & Maks: 39

Holly & Dmitry: 36

David & Kym: 36

Lawrence & Edyta: 36

Belinda & Jonathan: 35

Ty & Chelsie: 34

Steve-O & Lacey: 31

Steve & Karina: 30

"Dancing with the Stars" --Results Show, March 17, 2009

It was finally time for the first elimination in the eighth season of "Dancing with the Stars," and it would involve a little twist in which the bottom two couples would participate in a dance off to see who would go home.

First, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy opened the show with the "Calloway Boogie."

Asked for an explanation about what resulted in him missing Monday night's performance show, "Jackass" star Steve-O said he showed up Monday night with an "unbelievably bad idea" for the end of his routine, then decided to change it to an even worse idea. He ended up getting carted to the hospital. He wanted to make it up to his partner Lacey Schwimmer, who told him the dip was a bad idea.

A quick check of the scoreboard before the results began to get revealed...

SCOREBOARD:

Gilles & Cheryl: 51

Melissa & Tony: 49

Shawn & Mark: 47

Lil Kim & Derek: 44

Chuck & Julianne: 40

Denise & Maks: 39

Holly & Dmitry: 36

David & Kym: 36

Lawrence & Edyta: 36

Belinda & Jonathan: 35

Ty & Chelsie: 34

Steve-O & Lacey: 31

Steve & Karina: 30

To the results: The first four couples, in no particular order, who would survive to dance another day were: Lawrence Taylor & Edyta Sliwinska, Shawn Johnson & Mark Ballas, Chuck Wicks & Julianne Hough, and David Alan Grier & Kym Johnson.

The next four couples still in the game were Denise Richards & Maksim Chmerkovskiy, Melissa Rycroft & Tony Dovolani, Lil Kim & Derek Hough, and Gilles Marini & Cheryl Burke.

Jewel and the Newbies: Jewel performed "Over the Rainbow" and gave new dancing pros Chelsie Hightower and Dmitry Chaplin a chance to show their skills.

More results: With five couples left, it was time to send three more to safety and determine which two couples would participate in the danceoff.

In no particular order, Holly Madison & Dmitry Chaplin, Ty Murray & Chelsie Hightower, and Steve-O and Lacey Schwimmer were safe.

The danceoff: That left Belinda Carlisle & Jonathan Roberts and Steve Wozniak & Karina Smirnoff to compete in the danceoff.

Host Tom Bergeron explained that the couples would dance for the judges and the scores they receive for Tuesday night's performance would be combined with the scores from their previous dances and the votes.

Belinda and Jonathan went first and Len Goodman praised her hip action, but said there were some other mistakes. Bruno Tonioli agreed that she lost her footwork a little. Carrie Ann Inaba said she enjoyed watching it again, but that they messed up the middle section. Scores: 5, 6, and 6. Total: 17.

Steve & Karina came back with the quickstep and Bruno said Steve had to know he was not a good dancer, but said he admired him. Carrie Ann said it was better Tuesday night than Monday. Len said he admired Steve for working through his bad foot, but said there "wasn't a lot of improvement." He called Steve "the best for fun and entertainment." Steve said that if it was their last dance, "we were lucky enough to get to do it twice." Scores: 6, 5, and 6. Total: 17.

In the end, the first couple eliminated on "Dancing with the Stars" was Belinda & Jonathan.

For the first time all season, every couple had the same amount of rehearsal time to learn a new dance. They wasted no time getting down to business.

Denise & Maks: Actress Denise Richards and her partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy practiced their samba, but Maks thought Denise was being too serious in rehearsal. To make her lighten up, he came into the studio dressed in a hot pink dress and shook his thing with maracas. Denise said she'd be thinking about that when show time came. Judge Len Goodman said the samba is possibly the hardest of all the Latin dances. He said it needed more of a Latin kick to it, but said it was good. Bruno Tonioli said Denise was "going backwards" and said nothing really worked. He said it was a bad night. Carrie Ann Inaba agreed with Bruno, and said Denise showed all her fear in her face. Scores: 5, 6, and 5. Total: 16.

Chuck & Julianne: Country singer Chuck Wicks had to prove to the judges that his partner Julianne Hough wasn't doing all the work. Julianne stepped up the seriousness of her coaching and Chuck said he was ready to bust out of Julianne's shadow with the foxtrot. Bruno said he was glad to see Chuck in the driver's seat, "not chasing Julianne, but actually starting to dance with Julianne." Carrie Ann said Chuck "could possibly be a contender." Len said "it was good, but it's not great yet." Scores: 8, 7, 8. Total: 23

Holly & Dmitry: Playmate Holly Madison was coming off of criticism that her bust was too far forward, which made her bottom pop out. Her partner Dmitry Chaplin told her she'd have to shake everything for the samba. They went through some frustrating moments in rehearsal, where Holly said Dmitry was probably wishing he had Jewel back in the competition. Carrie Ann said it was "kind of rough to watch." She said Holly looked "totally disjointed" and said Holly was being dragged around by Dmitry. Len said she had to get her footwork better. "It was like a match, it was hot at the top, wooden on the bottom," Len said. Bruno said the feet were not in the right place. Scores: 5, 6, and 6. Total: 17.

Steve-O & Lacey: Steve-O wanted to make a big comeback after getting injured before his second dance last week, but the doctors advised him to take it easy for at least 48 hours. His partner Lacey Schwimmer was worried he was too stressed about letting his fans down. He wanted to prove to the judges and the fans that he deserved to stick around with his foxtrot. Steve-O slipped again at the end of their performance and hit his leg on the steps in front of the stage. Len said he was happy at the start and there were a couple of moments where he lost it, but he said "well done." Bruno said "what a shame" because it started well and it fell to pieces. "But," he said, "you're going the right way." Carrie Ann said she was really impressed and respected Steve-O for working his way back. Scores: 5, 5, and 5. Total: 15.

Lawrence & Edyta: NFL defensive legend Lawrence Taylor was ready to build on the momentum he generated the first week. He was worried he didn't have enough time to learn the dance. He had to give up his golf game to keep practicing his samba with his partner Edyta Sliwinska, "and I don't give up golf for nothing," he said. Bruno said Lawrence was pretty light on his feet for a guy his size. He told Lawrence not to doubt his ability and to have fun with it. Carrie Ann said there was a newfound comfort and confidence and urged him to try a little more difficulty. Len said he admired Lawrence's work ethic. Scores: 7, 6, and 7. Total: 20.

Shawn & Mark: Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson was coming off good comments from the judges, but was worried about the foxtrot's "smooth and elegant" movements, which were not her forte. She wanted to prove that she could be transformed into a lady. Carrie Ann said it was great and said Shawn looked like more than just a lady, she looked like a beautiful princess. Len agreed, "great movements, loved the arms, it was fluid," and called it her best dance, so far. Bruno said they were gliding around with "such weightless quality, it was like watching a graceful, bejeweled hummingbird." Scores: 9, 9, and 9. Total: 27

Gilles & Cheryl: Actor Gilles Marini was coming off of two weeks at the top of the leaderboard, and he was also feeling the pressure of not being as famous as the other celebrities in the competition. Gilles' mom came to rehearsal from France to watch him dance, and he dedicated his performance to her. Gilles and partner Cheryl Burke danced an intense samba. It earned a huge standing ovation from the crowd. Len called Gilles a really good dancer and said, "you just made a hard dance look easy." Bruno said Gilles "came out here like a throbbing, red-hot poker." Carrie Ann said it was excellent and noted that Gilles brought out "something in Cheryl that I haven't seen in a long time -- she was working it for you!" Scores: 9, 9, and 9. Total: 27

David & Kym: Comedian David Alan Grier and his partner Kym Johnson were bummed about their low scores the previous week. David said he needed to show how much fun he was having on the dance floor. David said he was ready to bust out. Bruno said David was taking the foxtrot to Broadway and said, "What a transformation." Carrie Ann gave him "two snaps up," calling on an "In Living Color" reference. Len said one dance doesn't win or lose the competition and said that even though he didn't like David's dance last week, this was his best one so far. Scores: 8, 8 and 8. Total: 24.

Steve & Karina: Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak again found himself in an ambulance after pulling his hamstring in rehearsal. He wasn't sure even 24 hours before show time if he'd be able to perform, but he took to the floor with partner Karina Smirnoff. The end of the dance included a little bit of a worm from Steve and a flip from Karina into Steve's waiting arms. Bruno actually looked a little bit annoyed. Carrie Ann said Steve was cute and adorable, "but at some point the novelty wears off." Len said he was afraid the dances were killing Steve. He said he hoped the viewers were enjoying the dance as entertainment, because "it was terrible from start to finish." Bruno told Steve to get on his knees and ask forgiveness. "This was the worst samba I've ever seen, I think." Scores: 4, 3, and 3. Total: 10. After getting his scores, Steve said, "I don't think they're right. I think we deserved less, but I'll take it."

Melissa & Tony:: "Bachelor" star Melissa Rycroft and partner Tony Dovolani had their first full week of practice, but not before Melissa to her old workplace in Dallas and officially quit and packed her up her cubicle. She was hoping to use the support from her friends back home to fuel her foxtrot. Len said she had great musicality and said overall it was fantastic. Bruno said it was "beautiful to look at, easy to love." Carrie Ann said she loved watching Melissa move, but there was something missing. She said she wanted to see Melissa challenge herself a little more. Scores: 9, 9 and 9. Total: 27.

Lil Kim & Derek: Rapper Lil Kim was lurking just below the leaders in the scores last week, and she was looking forward to putting her Lil Kim stamp on the samba. She promised it would be "one huge party on the dance floor." She did the samba with her partner Derek Hough. Bruno said Lil Kim was "a pocket-sized Venus with a super-sized sex appeal." He said it wasn't perfect, but she sold it. Carrie Ann said it was hot and drew her in. Len liked Lil Kim's booty, but told Derek to throw in some more fundamental steps in the dances. Scores: 8, 8 and 9. Total: 25

Ty & Chelsie: Rodeo champion Ty Murray showed big improvement from his first dance to the second one, but he knew he had a lot of room to get better. He and partner Chelsie Hightower danced the foxtrot, during which Ty tried to keep on his cool face. Chelsie slipped during one step early on, and it looked like there was another little slip toward the end. Carrie Ann called Ty "most improved" and she praised him for the way he handled Chelsie's slip. Len said it was stiff and lacked musicality, but said he thought it was fantastic and said he was "so pleased." Bruno said Chelsie was a miracle worker for taking Ty and turning him into a dancer. Scores: 8, 8, and 7. Total: 23.

SCOREBOARD:

Shawn & Mark: 27

Gilles & Cheryl: 27

Melissa & Tony: 27

Lil Kim & Derek: 25

David & Kym: 24

Chuck & Julianne: 23

Ty & Chelsie: 23

Lawrence & Edyta: 20

Holly & Dmitry: 17

Denise & Maksim: 16

Steve-O & Lacey: 15

Steve & Karina: 10

Has one bad Apple (co-founder) spoiled the whole darn bunch on "Dancing with the Stars"? The judges sure seemed to think so on Monday night when they put Steve Wozniak at the bottom -- way at the bottom -- of their leaderboard. With 10 points (not from any one judge, but total!), "The Woz" had a lot of ground to make up at the hands of the voters if he hoped to dig his way out of that one. His 10 (again, total) was the lowest score received by any dancer in six seasons.

Here's a quick look at the leaderboard after Monday night's performances:

Shawn & Mark: 27

Gilles & Cheryl: 27

Melissa & Tony: 27

Lil Kim & Derek: 25

David & Kym: 24

Chuck & Julianne: 23

Ty & Chelsie: 23

Lawrence & Edyta: 20

Holly & Dmitry: 17

Denise & Maksim: 16

Steve-O & Lacey: 15

Steve & Karina: 10

To the results: In no particular order, host Tom Bergeron and Samantha Harris let four couples off the hook with a pass to next week: Melissa Rycroft & Tony Dovolani; Gilles Marini & Cheryl Burke; Shawn Johnson & Mark Ballas; and ... Steve Wozniak & Karina Smirnoff!

A huge upset just nine minutes into the show as "The Woz" overcame the biggest deficit imaginable. Karina jumped and squealed and hugged Steve, who looked completely stunned.

"I'm more shocked than any time in my life other than when I got served with divorce papers," Steve said backstage.

Then there were four more: Another four couples were sent to safety: Lawrence Taylor & Edyta Sliwinska; David Alan Grier & Kym Johnson; Chuck Wicks & Julianne Hough; and Lil Kim & Derek Hough.

Cloris is back!: Relax, judges. Comedian Cloris Leachman and her partner from last season Corky Ballas paired up for a recorded segment introducing next week's dances, the Lindy Hop and the Argentine Tango.

Karina's a 'Maneater': In one of the most fun pro dances of the season, Hall & Oates played "Maneater" as Karina and three of the guys, including her real-life beau Maksim Chmerkovskiy, all vied for her affection. In the end, she pushed aside the others in favor of Maks, which Bergeron called "good casting."

'Chasing Pavement': Recent Grammy winner Adele came on to perform her popular single, "Chasing Pavement," as Alec Mazo paid a visit to dance with Edyta.

The Dance-Off: After a taped bit about how the thought of the Dance-Off is stressful, but gives the dancers a second chance to impress the judges. It's do or die.

With four couples left, it was time to determine which two remaining couples were safe and which two would be in the Dance-Off.

Tom told Steve-O & Lacey they were safe.

Holly Madison & Dmitry Chaplin were in the bottom two.

Ty Murray & Chelsie Hightower were safe, which meant Denise Richards & Maks were in the Dance-Off.

Denise & Maks and Holly & Dmitry stood in the middle of the dance floor awaiting their chance to make up their bad performances with the judges.

Holly & Dmitry: They practiced their samba knowing that there was a chance they'd be in the bottom two. Did it work? Len Goodman said Holly "came out really hot tonight" and she "came out in partied." He pointed out one little slip. Bruno Tonioli said the timing left a little bit to be desired and told her to listen to the music and attack it. Carrie Ann Inaba praised Holly's party atmosphere and for keeping her foot on the ground. Score: 6, 6, and 6. Total: 18 -- one point higher than Monday's score.

Denise & Maks: Bruno called Denise and Maks' performance on Monday a step in the wrong direction. They, too, practiced Tuesday morning because Denise was virtually positive they'd be in the bottom two. Bruno said he could not believe how much she improved from Monday night. He did say she tended to disconnect in the middle of the performance. Carrie Ann told Denise "you're good under pressure." She appreciated that Denise worked on her performance. Len said the Dance-Off gives an opportunity to prove you deserve to stay, "and in my opinion, tonight, you do." Scores: 6, 7, and 7. Total: 20 -- four points higher than Monday.

The judges' new scores would be combined with the voters' results to determine who was going home.

After the commercial break, Tom announced that the couple with the lowest combined total was ... Denise & Maks.

Host Tom Bergeron amped up the drama by reminded viewers that in eight seasons, "Dancing with the Stars" has never seen anything like this. Coming on the heels of wild injuries, bizarre moves and the most shocking elimination escape, perhaps, in the show's history comes a double elimination as two couples would go home Tuesday.

On Monday, it was time to perform a pair of new dances, The Lindy Hop and the Argentine Tango.

Judge Len Goodman explained that the Argentine Tango is less strict than the ballroom tango normally seen on the show, which is a ballroom tango in which the dancers stay cheek to cheek. He said The Lindy Hop is fun with lifts and throws, similar to the Jitterbug.

David & Kym: A week after impressing the judges with his Fox Trot, David Alan Grier and his partner Kym Johnson were the first to take on The Lindy Hope. They went to a local club where people were doing the dance so that David could see how it was done. He was excited about the possibilities. They gave a high-energy performance complete with all the tosses and throws you could imagine, including a cartwheel by both dancers. Len said "not your best, but by no means, not your worst." Bruno Tonioli said that they lost the timing and footwork at times. Carrie Ann Inaba praised David for hanging in there even though he wasn't the youngest cookie in the competition. Scores: 8, 7, and 7. Total: 22.

Lil Kim & Derek: Lil Kim was set to bring her "bionic booty," in Len's words, to the Argentine Tango. In rehearsal, Lil Kim's partner Derek Hough tried, with varying results, to keep the serious intensity that the dance required. Derek also struggled teach the dance because he didn't really know it. The couple received a standing ovation for a captivating performance. Bruno stood up to give his comments with enthusiasm, calling it "a terrific tango with terrific choreography. Wow." Carrie Ann called Lil Kim "the real deal" and said they did a great job. Len said he was "knocked out" with the choreography, but wasn't so impressed with the sensuality of the dance. Scores: 9, 8, and 10 -- the first "10" of the season. Total: 27.

Chuck & Julianne: Country singer Chuck Wicks was trying to prove that Carrien Ann was right last week when she called him a contender. His partner Julianne Hough tried to get him to do a backflip over her during their Lindy Hop, but she scrapped it from the routine because he had a fear of landing on his head. Carrie Ann said it was good, but she wanted to see Chuck "go for it" just a little more. Len said it was "competent," but that would only get him so far in the competition. Bruno said it had to be more crisp. Scores: 8, 7, and 7. Total: 22.

Lawrence & Edyta: NFL legend Lawrence Taylor was wondering what he had to do to get an 8 after what he thought was his best performance and still falling short of higher marks from the judges. His partner Edyta Sliwinska stressed the seductive nature of the Argentine Tango. "I'll still be married after this dance, right?" Lawrence asked her. "We'll see," she said. Edyta's husband, Alex Mazo, came in to show him how it was done. Lawrence said it was a big help. Len said they did a good job but said it was heavy, lacked passion and Lawrence looked uncomfortable. Bruno totally disagreed, saying Lawrence was menacing, intense and portrayed danger. He did agree that Lawrence was walking more than gliding at times. Carrie Ann said Lawrence exuded power but said they were lacking a bit of chemistry. Scores: 7, 5, and 7. Total: 19.

Ty & Chelsie: Rodeo champ Ty Murray saved his partner Chelsie Hightower last week when she slipped on her dress. She apologized to him in rehearsal and he said she should get a shorter dress. She had him practice by himself because there would be times when they wouldn't be together on the dance floor. They tried some big lifts and throws, one of which landed Chelsie flat on her back and she asked Ty why he was trying to get her out of the competition. Bruno said Ty was jumping and kicking with the mentality of a young stallion. He said Ty was still a bit rough around the edges, but was coming up by leaps and bounds. Carrie Ann said, "Ty Murray is a dancer!" She praised Chelsie for being a special teacher. Len was ecstatic and remembered he gave Ty a "4" in the first week and said it was a "great wonder" overall. Scores: 9, 8, and 8. Total: 25.

Steve & Karina: Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak realized he had to work harder after coming dangerously close to elimination last week. His partner Karina Smirnoff promised to show the viewers something they wouldn't expect. After Steve promised that "the geeks shall inherit the Earth," he and Karina did their Argentine Tango. Carrie Ann said she loved what Steve represented, calling him the ultimate underdog. She said there wasn't much going on with the routine. "I'm trying to find something to say, and I'm still searching," Carrie Ann said. Len congratulated Steve for coming out and trying a proper tango and said there was an improvement from last week, although "almost anything that happened would be an improvement." Bruno said, "We all know that the tango originated in the ghettos of Buenos Aires, but the only right thing you picked up from that is the stench, because that really stunk." Steve replied with three words, "I'm still standing." Scores: 4, 4, and 4. Total: 12.

Melissa & Tony: A week after landing in a three-way tie for first place, "Bachelor" star Melissa Rycroft said there was a new kind of pressure. She and partner Tony Dovolani had a good time practicing the Lindy Hop, even though one of their moves ended up with Melissa's face in Tony's crotch. Would it translate to as much fun on the dance floor? It was packed with wild flips and throws and they nailed every one. Len said Melissa had the potential to go all the way. Bruno said it was "truly, truly eye-popping and bursting with excitement." Carrie Ann gave them both high-fives and said, "Now I'm in impressed," and said it was the best choreography she'd ever seen from Tony. Scores: 10, 9, and 10. Total: 29.

Holly & Dmitry: A week after surviving a brush with elimination, former "Girl Next Door" Holly Madison had to pull out all the stops for the Argentine Tango. She injured her ribs during last week's performance and it threatened to stop her in practice. She visited the doctor, who told her she'd strained the muscles around her ribs. He said she wouldn't do further damage by continuing to dance, but would be sore. She pushed through and did the Argentine Tango with partner Dmitry Chaplin. Bruno said it was a bad start and kept getting worse. Carrie Ann said Holly hung in there, but said Holly needed to build some strength. Len said the routine was fantastic and he could tell the early slip-up at the start threw her off for the whole thing. Scores: 5, 6, and 5. Total: 16.

Steve-O & Lacey: "Jackass" star Steve-O forgot his steps last week, after getting hurt the week before, but thought he could redeem himself with the Lindy Hop. He was stressed in practice, so his partner Lacey Schwimmer brought him a clown suit to help him lighten up. Steve-O explained that he got his start in entertainment as a clown act and it helped him tap into that sense of free-wheeling fun needed for the Lindy Hop. Carrie Ann was thankful Steve-O got through his routine but said he was still following Lacey and she wanted him to be a leader. Len agreed that timing was the big issue. Bruno said Steve-O was overthinking his routines, which puts a barrier between him and the audience. Scores: 5, 5, and 5. Total: 15.

Gilles & Cheryl: Actor Gilles Marini was coming off a huge week, and hoped to keep it going with an Argentine Tango. His partner Cheryl Burke said he was putting too much pressure on himself, which was making him mess up the steps. Cheryl tried to get him to take advantage of his acting skills during the dance, which requires lots of drama. He tapped into something that brought the crowd to its feet for an extended standing ovation. Carrie Ann fanned herself with a notepad. Len said "it was another fantastic performance," and said Gilles showed every element of a dance that has several. Bruno said "what you have here is the quintessential Latin lover." Carrie Ann said she couldn't feel her face and said, "the honest truth is in that number, I could not tell who was the professional and who wasn't." Scores: 10, 10, and 10. Total: 30 -- the first of the season.

Shawn & Mark: Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson got a chance to work her gymnastics skills into the routine. She took her partner Mark Ballas to the gym to show him where she gets to have fun. She said the Lindy Hop was her dance. Was she right? Bruno said it was a spectacular feast of tricks and gymnastics, but told her to remember she's also a good dancer so she should do more dancing. Carrie Ann said the tricks and flips were great, but the footwork was a bit heavy. Len said there were too many tricks and said there was a little bit more dancing needed. Scores: 8, 8, and 9. Total: 25.

LEADERBOARD:

Gilles & Cheryl: 30

Melissa & Tony: 29

Lil Kim & Derek: 27

Ty & Chelsie: 25

Shawn & Mark: 25

David & Kym: 22

Chuck & Julianne: 22

Lawrence & Edyta: 19

Holly & Dmitry: 16

Steve-O & Lacey: 15

Steve & Karina: 12

With a double elimination on the horizon, some of the stars shined on Monday night while others faltered. Who would go home? It was time to find out on Tuesday.

Highlights from the highlight reel: Lawrence Taylor, after getting a "5" from judge Len Goodman, wondered what he's have to do to get a decent score from the judges. Gymnast Shawn Johnson wasn't fazed by Len's criticism that her routine had too many tricks and not enough dancing. She was just thrilled they got another standing ovation. And pro Cheryl Burke, celebrating the perfect "30" she and partner GillesMarini nailed, said she'd never had this kind of chemistry with a dancing partner before. He said, "Thank you, babe," and planted a big kiss on her cheek.

Play it again: Len asked for the first encore of the season from Gilles and Cheryl, who gave another rendition of their steamy Argentine Tango.

A quick check of the leaderboard:

Gilles & Cheryl: 30

Melissa & Tony: 29

Lil Kim & Derek: 27

Ty & Chelsie: 25

Shawn & Mark: 25

David & Kym: 22

Chuck & Julianne: 22

Lawrence & Edyta: 19

Holly & Dmitry: 16

Steve-O & Lacey: 15

Steve & Karina: 12

To the results: With a double elimination in the works, there would be no dance-off. Host Tom Bergeron let two couples off the hook: Gilles & Cheryl and Lawrence Taylor & Edyta Sliwinska. Then he put one couple into the bottom three: Holly Madison & Dmitry Chaplin.

'Let It Rock': Pros Julianne Hough, Chelsie Hightower and Lacey Schwimmer led an edgy and sensual group performance while Kevin Rudolph performed his hit single "Let It Rock." Later, some international champions showed how the Viennese Waltz should be done with a routine choreographed by "Dancing" pro Louis VanAmstel. Finally, Boyz II Men came out to perform a medley of classic Motown hits.

More results: The next couple set free were Shawn Johnson & Mark Ballas. Later, Tom revealed that Chuck Wicks & Julianne Hough were safe. But the second couple dropped into the bottom three was Steve-O & Lacey Schwimmer. Backstage, Steve-O told Samantha Harris, "I'm not used to dealing with high-pressure situations without the help of drugs and alcohol, and this is a lot of pressure. I've been under an incredible amount of stress and pressure and I've made it through, so far, without getting loaded, so I feel a complete champion." Tom said, "That may be the finest tribute to this show in eight seasons."

Judges' insight: The judges took an opportunity to fill some time -- er, give their insight on the dancers, so far. Some of the highlights: Carrie Ann and Len agreed that David Alan Grier needs to relax. Len summed it all up by saying, "Show me great dancing, I'll show you great marks."

More results: Tom revealed two more safe couples: Lil Kim & Derek Hough and Melissa Rycroft & Tony Dovolani. Later, Tom announced that Ty Murray & Chelsie Hightower were safe, and put Steve Wozniak & Karina Smirnoff into the bottom three. That meant David Alan Grier & Kym Johnson were safe.

The bottom three: Holly & Dmitry, Steve-O & Lacey and Steve & Karina waited to find out which one of them would stick around and which two were going home.

The first couple out was ... Holly & Dmitry.

The next couple going home was ... Steve & Karina. That meant Steve-O & Lacey were safe and would be back next week.

Chuck & Julianne: Chuck Wicks was trying to get out of the middle of the pack with his Viennese waltz after weeks of playing it safe. His partner Julianne Hough tried to get him to loosen up in rehearsals. Did it work? Judge Len Goodman said Chuck finally came out of hibernation. Bruno Tonioli said Chuck was "emerging from the shadows" of Julianne. He said Chuck "still got a little bit shaky" at times. Carrie Ann Inaba disagreed with both judges and said Chuck was still holding back and lost his focus at times. She said "it's a little irritating" to her that Chuck hadn't pulled it all together yet, prompting a mini-scuffle between the judges. Scores: 7, 8, and 8. Total: 23

Lawrence & Edyta: NFL Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor was still trying to squeeze an 8 out of the judges. He had trouble nailing the rhythm of the paso doble, saying it felt like watching TV with no sound on. Edyta tried to get Lawrence to tap into the intensity he had playing football. Bruno called Lawrence "the prince of darkness," and said that he got his feet moving after a rough start. Carrie Ann said Lawrence had a limited range of music, but commended him for working with a difficult type of music. Len liked the intensity that Lawrence showed, but said it was "much better" overall. Scores: 6, 7, and 7. Total: 20

Shawn & Mark: Shawn Johnson's overly acrobatic Lindy Hop was too full of tricks last week, so she wanted to get back to the dancing with a Viennese waltz. She was ready to make a comeback after getting stuck in the middle of the pack and her partner Mark Ballas was ready to make it happen. Carrie Ann said they proved that simplicity is the best route to success. Len said they showed the romantic side of the dance but criticized her footwork. Bruno said it had great flow and musicality and advised Shawn not to press her shoulders up when she dances. Scores: 9, 8, and 9. Total: 26

Melissa & Tony: After scoring two 10s last week, "Bachelor" star Melissa Rycroft had to get serious for the paso doble. She had trouble not smiling through the serious dance in rehearsal. She managed to avoid smiling during the performance, but was that enough? Len said Melissa coped with the dance very well, but pointed out a couple of blunders. He also said it lacked a bit of the aggression she was trying to capture. Bruno said most of it was very beautiful, but she did make mistakes. Carrie Ann said she felt Melissa was off balance. Scores: 8, 8, and 9. Total: 25.

David & Kym: Comedian David Alan Grier was stuck in the middle of the pack last week and planned on bribing the judges to fix it. In reality, he worked hard during rehearsal. Bruno said it started well and that when David kept it classic, it worked. Carrie Ann thought she figured out what's disconnected, and she said it was a lack of connection between David and Kym. Len said it was a "very, very good performance" of a very difficult dance. Scores: 7, 8, and 7. Total: 22

Gilles & Cheryl: Actor Gilles Marini was overwhelmed by his perfect score last week and said the pressure was enormous. His partner Cheryl Burke took him to a martial arts studio to tap into some of the aggression needed for his paso doble. They gave an intense performance Carrie Ann said she felt like she was watching someone taking things back to the heart and the core of the dance. Len said it was a little hectic at times. Bruno said Gilles was going in for the kill and "nailed it." Scores. 10, 9, and 10. Total: 29

Steve-O & Lacey: Steve-O and his partner Lacey Schwimmer got a visit during rehearsals, which helped lift Steve-O's spirit. They did a Parisien-inspired Viennese waltz. Len told Steve-O not to get over-excited but it was his best dance. Bruno said Steve-O's timing was on tonight. Carrie Ann liked it and just told Steve-O to watch his posture. Scores: 6, 6, and 6. Total: 18

Ty & Chelsie: Rodeo champion Ty Murray was coming off his best week, so far, and looking forward to using his rodeo skills on the paso doble. He took his partner Chelsie Hightower to hang out with some bulls to give her a sense of his world, then went off to do his dance. He left us with one final thought: "Chelsie says in this dance, she's the bull. If all bulls were like that, there'd be a lot more bull riders in this world." Bruno said it was so robotic and metallic he thought he was watching a Transformer. Carrie Ann wondered, "Where did my little dancer go?" Len said that after two great dances, this one was not quite to that standard. Scores: 7, 7, and 7. Total: 21

Lil Kim & Derek: After scoring the first 10 of the season, Lil Kim was all business. She had a music video to film and a magazine photo shoot in addition to learning the Viennese waltz. On a short time schedule, Lil Kim and Derek took to the dance floor. Carrie Ann said Lil Kim "brought every moment to life." Len praised the musicality but noted the footwork errors from Lil Kim. Bruno said Lil Kim managed to make the Viennese waltz look sassy. He said, "It takes two people to win, and what you do is the right way of doing it." Scores: 9, 8, and 9. Total: 26

LEADERBOARD:

Gilles & Cheryl: 29

Shawn & Mark: 26

Lil Kim & Derek: 26

Melissa & Tony: 25

Chuck &Julianne: 23

David & Kym: 22

Ty & Chelsie: 21

Lawrence & Edyta: 20

Steve-O & Lacey: 18

After a double elimination last week, the dance-off was back Tuesday night on "Dancing with the Stars" as the bottom two vote-getters would face off for a chance to stay alive in the competition. Who would be there?

The night began with a quick encore performance by LIl Kim & Derek Hough, who performed their Viennese waltz for the second time. After a quick rundown of the highlights from Monday night, we got to some results.

First, a look at the leaderboard from Monday night:

Gilles & Cheryl: 29

Lil Kim & Derek: 26

Melissa & Tony: 25

Chuck &Julianne: 23

Shawn & Mark: 23

David & Kym: 22

Ty & Chelsie: 21

Lawrence & Edyta: 20

Steve-O & Lacey: 18

To the results: In no particular order, the first two couples sent to safety were Shawn Johnson & Mark Ballas and Lil Kim & Derek Hough.

'At Last...' Etta James got a chance to show she's still got that voice by performing her classic, "At Last." Later, there was a special performance by the cast of the Las Vegas show "La Reve," and Disney star Demi Lovato sang her song, "La La Land."

More results: The next two couples sent to safety were Gilles Marini & Cheryl Burke and Steve-O & Lacey Schwimmer -- meaning the judges' bottom finisher was in the clear.

After a commercial break, another two couples were let off the hook: Chuck Wicks & Julianne Hough and Melissa Rycroft & Tony Dovolani.

That left three couples waiting to see if they would be in the bottom two: Ty Murray & Chelsie Hightower, David Alan Grier & Kym Johnson, and Lawrence Taylor & Edyta Sliwinska.

Finally, host Tom Bergeron told Ty & Chelsie they were safe, leaving David & Kym and Lawrence & Edyta in the dance-off.

The Dance-Off: David & Kym first performed their Viennese waltz. Judge Len Goodman said he enjoyed it Monday night and again Tuesday night. Bruno Tonioli said David worked well under pressure and should maybe be in the dance-off every week. Carrie Ann Inaba said this time she felt the connection. Scores: 8, 8, and 8. Total: 24

Lawrence & Edyta did their paso doble next. Bruno said he thought he'd only seen the tip of the iceberg from Lawrence and encouraged him to trust himself from the start of each dance. Carrie Ann reiterated it was one of the most difficult piece of music to perform to and said she loved watching Lawrence's power. Len said he'd seen real improvement from Lawrence and was looking forward to seeing what he could do next week if he stuck around. Scores: 6, 7, and 7. Total: 20

With the new scores, David & Kym improved a couple of points while Lawrence & Edyta broke even. Would it make a difference?

Finally, the couple going home was ... David & Kym.

Dancing with the Stars - April 13, 2009

With eight out of the original 13 dancers left in the competition on "Dancing with the Stars," the real front-runners started to emerge. Rapper Lil Kim picked the right time to get hot, taking home the high score for the evening and knocking Gilles Marini off the top of the leaderboard.

Ty & Chelsie: Rodeo champ Ty Murray agreed with the judges' harsh assessment of him last week and explained that his performance looks mechanical because he's trying too hard to remember things. His partner Chelsie Hightower tried to loosen him up by bringing a trampoline into their practice session. Judge Len Goodman said Ty looked bewildered, "like, 'what's going on?'" Bruno Tonioli said "the line dancing was good, then the jive started." He said Ty did 20,000 kicks and flicks, "but none of them were right." Carrie Ann Inaba called it exciting and said it "rocked the house," but said Ty was better suited to the foxtrot and Lindy hop. Scores: 6, 6, and 6. Total: 18

Shawn & Mark: Olympic champion Shawn Johnson was acting all shy around partner Mark Ballas as they tried to get into character for their romantic rumba. Mark pulled out all the stops in rehearsal, creating a faux-prom for Shawn, who might miss her big dance if she makes it far enough on the show. Bruno called the performance the innocent side of romance "with a hint of the devil." Carrie Ann wasn't totally buying it, saying she could see the discomfort in Shawn's eye. But she said it came together in the second half of the performance. Len said some rumbas can sometimes get too hot, but that Shawn and Mark just nailed it. Scores: 8, 9, and 9. Total: 26

Lawrence & Edyta: Lawrence Taylor had trouble getting into the fun side of the jive in rehearsal, so his football-playing buddy Warren Sapp, last year's "Dancing" runner-up, stopped by to give him some encouragement. Carrie Ann said Lawrence got his groove back. Len said he liked the style of the dance and the basic movements. Bruno said Lawrence was "alive and kicking," and said he could tell Lawrence was having a good time and called it Lawrence's best performance, to date. Scores: 7, 7, and 8. Total: 22

Melissa & Tony: "Bachelor" star Melissa Rycroft slipped and stumbled and tore her skirt last week, but she came back focused and it showed. Despite some goofiness in rehearsal, Melissa and her partner Tony Dovolani pulled off a serious and seductive rumba. Len said it was clean and precise and had interesting choreography, but said it could be a bit more earthy. He encouraged Melissa to find the character of each individual dance. Bruno praised Melissa for her graceful moves, but said he wanted to see "Melissa the maneater." Carrie Ann loved the the emotional quality of the dance, and told Melissa to work on her hip motion. Scores: 9, 9, and 9. Total: 27

Lil Kim & Derek: Lil Kim took it back to jail, but this time she was the warden as she and partner Derek Hough gave their take on Elvis Presley's "Jailhouse Rock." Bruno Tonioli loved it, throwing out his hands to be cuffed and shouting, "Warden Kim, I'm guilty! Take me! Arrest me!" Carrie Ann stood up, cheered and said, "That was amazing" and "mindblowing." Len was the old sourpuss, calling it fun and energetic, but that it got so carried away with the story that it lacked the jive he'd like to see. He said it was "a tad theatrical." Scores: 10, 8 and 10. Total: 28

Steve-O & Lacey: Steve-O had trouble even talking about getting romantic with his sister-like partner Lacey Schwimmer, so his chances of pulling off much chemistry on their rumba were slim. Carrie Ann was speechless at first and said there was something "oddly mesmerizing" about watching him. Then she said it was his commitment that made it enjoyable to watch. Len said "you can't confuse movement with dancing," and said there was no movement or hip action and it just wasn't good. Bruno said Steve-O had the charm of a confused puppy, but "the dancing is bad." Scores: 7, 4, and 5. Total: 16

Gilles & Cheryl: Actor Gilles Marini worried about the jive, saying it wasn't his dance. He still pulled it off and got high scores, but was bumped off the top for the first time this season. Len said Gilles showed a lot of the jive's qualities, but said there was a wrong step that went wrong right in front of the judges' table. He also called it a bit "frantic." Bruno compared Gilles to "Fast & Furious," and praised him for putting 110 percent effort in. Carrie Ann said there was something weird going on with Gilles' arms, but generally liked it. Scores: 9, 8, and 9. Total: 26

Chuck & Julianne: Country singer Chuck Wicks hoped he'd be able to show some chemistry with his real-life girlfriend, Julianne Hough. They went to relive their first date at the Santa Monica Pier to get in the mood. Bruno said he wanted to order "some more of that" after they performance, noting they "switched on the raunch factor." Technically, it wasn't perfect, Bruno said, but that it was a step in the right direction. Carrie Ann fanned herself and called it passionate and sexy. Len said parts of it "were more suitable for the bedroom than the ballroom." He said it was a little too in-your-face. Scores: 8, 7, and 8. Total: 23

LEADERBOARD:

Lil Kim & Derek: 28

Melissa & Tony: 27

Shawn & Mark: 26

Gilles & Cheryl: 26

Chuck & Julianne: 23

Lawrence & Edyta: 22

Ty & Chelsie: 18

Steve-O & Lacey: 16

The dance-off was gone on "Dancing with the Stars," but someone still had to go home, and it was "Jackass" star Steve-O's number that came up.

Play it again, Lil' Kim: For the second consecutive week, Lil' Kim and Derek Hough were asked to perform the encore. This time, they gave another rendition of their high-energy, Elvis Presley-inspired jive to "Jailhouse Rock."

Before getting to the results, here's a quick look at the leader board after the judges' scores were delivered Monday night:

Lil Kim & Derek: 28

Melissa & Tony: 27

Shawn & Mark: 26

Gilles & Cheryl: 26

Chuck & Julianne: 23

Lawrence & Edyta: 22

Ty & Chelsie: 18

Steve-O & Lacey: 16

Be our guests: Broadway's "West Side Story" cast performed "America," and later, Rascal Flatts performed and Tony Dovolani and Julianne Hough did an exhilarating accompanying dance that featured Tony lifting and tossing Julianne all over the dance floor. Later, and Carmen Electra led a cabaret performance.

To the results: The first two couples let off the hook this week were Lil' Kim & Derek and Lawrence & Taylor & Edyta Sliwinska.

Back to the results: Shawn Johnson & Mark Ballas were the next couple to receive a pass to dance again next week, followed by Melissa Rycroft & Tony Dovolani.

Body language: Dr. Lilian Glass, a body language expert, offered a bit of interesting insight into what the stars' facial and body movements say about their experience and how they feel about their standing in the competition.

In performance mode, Lil' Kim has her eyes and mouth open a lot, indicating she's trying to take it all in. Shawn's frequent shoulder shrugs show a bit of insecurity, which is different from her confident presentation at the Olympics. Ty holds on to his partner Chelsie Hightower, Dr. Glass said, for a sense of security. Melissa face expressed a lot of fear early on, and still shows discomfort by frequently putting her hand over her stomach, which means she's still feeling the butterflies.

Chuck shows a lot of facial tension, showing that he's not comfortable and doesn't like being judges. Gilles, on the other hand, shows a lot of humility while being judged, as he looks up a lot in a praying kind of position. That shows he knows the scores are out of his control. During judging, Lawrence holds his hands behind his back and exposes his chest, presenting himself as a strong man who can take whatever criticism the judges can dole out.

During eliminations, there is more to read on the stars' faces and in their posture. Steve-O puts his hand on his waist a lot, his head tilted and his ear is up awaiting bad news. Lil' Kim, Shawn and Gilles stare ahead, looking at the directly at the audience as if to convey that the audience's opinion is what matters most. Lawrence and Chuck both look up, then down a lot during the eliminations, showing that they aren't sure of themselves.

Back to the results: Gilles Marini & Cheryl Burke were the next couple set free. They were soon followed by Chuck Wicks & Julianne Hough.

That left Ty Murray & Chelsie Hightower and Steve-O & Lacey Schwimmer in the "not necessarily" bottom two. Since the results were announced in no particular order Tuesday night, the fact that Ty & Chelsie were there didn't mean they were definitely the second-to-lowest-scoring couple.

In the end, it was Steve-O who said goodbye. He thanked Lacey for her patience and dedication, awkwardly joking that he sometimes has a tendency to "man-struate."

You know "Project Runway" has made it when "Dancing with the Stars" decides to have the stars design their professional partners' outfits. That's what happened Monday night, which also featured the first group dance of the season.

Melissa & Tony: "Bachelor" star Melissa Rycroft was looking to tap into her "man eater," and get a little aggressive with her Argentine tango. In a clever bit of cross-promotion, Melissa and her partner Tony Dovolani paid a visit to Wisteria Lane, where Teri Hatcher gave them a tour and gave Melissa some tips. Melissa came up from the dance holding her left side a little after a series of dramatic lifts (Tony later called Melissa a trooper because she danced through bruised ribs). Len Goodman gave nothing but praise and loved the interaction between the dancers, but said there was a tiny blunder somewhere. Bruno Tonioli said Melissa's legs were like magic tools in the hands of a master, and called it "stunning." Carrie Ann Inaba said it was the best Argentine tango they'd seen this season. She called Tony and Melissa the "king and queen of legal lifts." Scores: 10, 9 and 10. Total: 29

Lawrence & Edyta: NFL legend Lawrence Taylor picked up his best score of the season last week with the jive. Lawrence had to go to Miami for a charity gold event, and he brought Edyta along so she could try her hand at swinging a golf club and see what it was like to be judged on something she'd never done before. In the middle of the dance, Lawrence removed the druid-like coat Edyta was wearing, revealing a sleeker dress. Bruno said it was a little clumsy but the romance was there. He said it was "not terrible, but it was not brilliant." Carrie Ann said she saw more freedom in Lawrence's movements, and complimented Lawrence's dress design. Len said there was a tenderness and elegance. He said there were some problems, but "overall, I was shocked at how well you did." Scores: 7, 7, and 7. Total: 21

Lil' Kim & Derek: Rapper Lil' Kim came off her best week ever, and rolled into this week as the judges' top choice a week earlier. Lil' Kim's partner Derek Hough found himself trying to tone down Lil' Kim's sensuality for the rumba, and struggled to come up with the right choreography to please the audience and the judges. Carrie Ann said it was understated and underwhelming. She said she didn't want to see Lil' Kim tempered. Len said, "Be still my beating heart." He also agreed with Carrie Ann, and said she must go with what she does best. Bruno said "taking the raunch out of Lil' Kim is like having a margarita without the tequila." Scores: 9, 8, and 9. Total: 26

Chuck & Julianne: Chuck Wicks and his real-life girlfriend Julianne Hough knew the fans would be the ones to keep them in the competition. They danced a samba that Chuck hoped would be perfect and yield a perfect score. It was a pretty impressive performance that got Carrie Ann clapping immediately and the crowd went nuts. Len shouted that he liked it a lot. He said it was "by far, your best dance, to date." Bruno said Chuck was working his butt and hips. Carrie Ann jumped out of her seat and gave Chuck a high-five. Scores: 9, 9, and 9. Total: 27

Ty & Chelsie: Rodeo champ Ty Murray, who was on the upswing in recent weeks, but realized he was sliding. Ty's partner Chelsie Hightower had Ty's wife Jewel come in to rehearsals and help them work on their chemistry. Ty was uncomfortable because he felt Chelsie was more like his adopted daughter than a romantic interest. They danced a waltz that Ty dedicated to Jewel. Bruno said it was a bigger comeback than Mickey Rourke and said Ty was back in the game. Carrie Ann praised Ty's posture, hold and connection with Chelsie. Len agreed and said he had "more rise and fall than a bride's nightie." Scores: 8, 8, and 8. Total: 24

Shawn & Mark: In the middle of a busy week, Olympian Shawn Johnson traveled across the country to accept a prestigious amateur athletics award in New York, and another award in Iowa, where she and partner Mark Ballas started practicing their cha cha cha. Shawn wasn't picking up the steps as quickly as usual, which concerned Mark. But they got through a Michael Jackson-inspired dance to the tune of "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)." Carrie Ann loved it and said Shawn nailed it. Len said the cha cha is difficult and gets confusing for some dancers, but she did it "exactly." Bruno called Shawn a "cheeky little devil." He said he felt like he was "looking at a young Debbie Reynolds or Mitzi Gaynor." Scores: 9, 9, and 10. Total: 28

Gilles & Cheryl: Actor Gilles Marini vowed to work as hard as possible to get back on top of the leaderboard after falling out of first place for the first time all season. To help him move more gracefully, Cheryl took Gilles to a synchronized swimming coach to get the feeling of moving underwater. They danced the Viennese waltz. Len said it had romance, and enjoyed the freedom of the dance. He said "overall, it was a superb job." Bruno made a bunch of French references, including something about Versailles. Carrie Ann called Gilles one of the most graceful male dancers she's seen. She told Gilles to watch his posture a little. Scores: 9, 9, and 9. Total: 27

Group dance, '60s style: It's that time of the season, when the final 20 minutes of the 90-minute episode could be dedicated to a group dance and footage of the rehearsal. Lawrence wasn't having much of the fun-filled experience, calling it "like 'Dancing with the Clowns.'" Shawn missed the group dance rehearsal because of her trips across the country, and each couple had to come up with their own signature move.

The group dance was purely for the audience's benefit as the judges would not be giving scores on it. There were no major mishaps, but Ty's signature move in which he appeared to ride Chelsie like a bucking bull took the cake for the most bizarre moment.

LEADERBOARD:

Melissa & Tony: 29

Shawn & Mark: 28

Chuck & Julianne: 27

Gilles & Cheryl: 27

Lil' Kim & Derek: 26

Ty & Chelsie: 24

Lawrence & Edyta: 21

The "Dancing with the Stars" results show kicked off with an encore performance of the season's first group dance. The '60s-inspired number went off about as well as it did Monday -- and that isn't necessarily praise.

After a fairly interesting look at the physical benefit and toll the competition puts on the stars, Natasha Bedingfield paid a visit to perform "Soulmate" while Lacey Schwimmer and Dmitry Chaplin hit the dance floor. Later, dancers from the upcoming Broadway show "Burn the Floor" showed off some moves. Much later in the evening, Celtic Woman performed.

Nearly halfway through the show, it was time to get to some results. First, a quick look back at the leaderboard:

Melissa & Tony: 29

Shawn & Mark: 28

Chuck & Julianne: 27

Gilles & Cheryl: 27

Lil' Kim & Derek: 26

Ty & Chelsie: 24

Lawrence & Edyta: 21

To the results: Host Tom Bergeron revealed, in no particular order, that Chuck Wicks & Julianne Hough, Melissa Rycroft & Tony Dovolani, and Shawn Johnson & Mark Ballas were safe for at least another week.

New competition:

Afton & Brent: Afton DelGrosso, the sister of Ashley DelGrosso from the first two seasons of "Dancing," was paired with Brent Borbon in the first round of a competition where viewers will determine which pro dancers will become part of the cast next season. The judges will give their opinions, but the decision rests in the hands of the voters. Len Goodman said Afton showed a little bit more flair than her competitor. Bruno Tonioli called Afton another rising star in the family. Carrie Ann Inaba said Brent has a great TV presence, but he should be careful not to let it outshine his technique. She then said Afton was beautiful to watch.

Anna & Mayo: Anna Demidova and Mayo Alanen were the next couple of pros to compete. Carrie Ann said it was beautiful and gorgeous and praised Mayos' distinguished character, and Anna's understated star quality. Len said they made the waltz look fantastic. Bruno said it was "a waltz at its classic best."

Snow & Genya: Snow Urbin and Genya Mazo, the brother of Season 1 winner Alec Mazo, were the final pro competitors of the night. Bruno said Genya was strong and brought out the best from his partner. He said Snow had the wrong name, "they should call you fire." Carrie Ann said Genya was supportive despite the fact that they were competing with each other. Len said Genya danced "like a real man," and said Snow had just the right balance of sexy and raunchy.

Back to the results: Tom announced the next safe couple was Lil' Kim & Derek Hough. Joining them in the land of safety were Gilles Marini & Cheryl Burke.

That left Lawrence Taylor & Edyta Sliwinska and Ty Murray & Chelsie Hightower -- not necessarily the bottom two, but, c'mon, who are they kidding?

In the end, the couple going home was ... Lawrence & Edyta.

With just six couples left, another wrinkle was thrown into the mix on "Dancing with the Stars." The team dance would put competitors on the same side for the first time this season.

"Bachelor" star Melissa Rycroft was not among the dancers included in the introduction and host Tom Bergeron explained -- or teased -- that she suffered an injury that made her unable to dance tonight. He promised an explanation later of what that would mean for her standing in the competition.

In the team competition, Team Mambo and Team Tango would compete to earn team points, which will be added to their individual scores.

Gilles & Cheryl: Actor Gilles Marini had yet to return to the top of the leader after spending the first several weeks of the season there. A separated shoulder was preventing Gilles from doing some of the tricks called for in their choreography on the Lindy Hop. It was energetic, and Gilles successfully completed a flip of partner Cheryl Burke that gave them trouble in rehearsal. Judge Len Goodman said Gilles could add the Lindy Hop to the things the French are famous for. Bruno Tonioli said "happy days are here again." Carrie Ann Inaba said it was good to see a new side of Gilles, beyond just the slow, romantic stuff. Scores: 9, 9, and 9. Total: 27

Lil' Kim & Derek: Lil' Kim was looking to bounce from slipping to fifth place after having owned the top spot. She and partner Derek Hough promised to bring her personality back into the dance for her paso doble. It was fierce, and earned a deserved standing ovation from the crowd. Bruno stood and shouted, "The bitch is back, and she means business!" Carrie Ann said the paso was a great showcase for Lil' Kim and it showed how much she'd grown. Len said the competition isn't about mastering about the dances that you're good at, it's coping with the dances you're not so good at it. He said he wasn't expecting it to be as good as it was. Scores: 9, 9, and 10. Total: 28

Chuck & Julianne: Country singer Chuck Wicks put himself among the leaders last week, so it was time to see whether it was a fluke. His partner Julianne Hough hoped to bring the same flirtatious vibe they had in the samba to their cha cha cha. They earned a standing ovation. Carrie Ann said Chuck was "definitely in the game." She told him to watch his chin. Len said "this is turning into a fantastic competition" because Chuck was getting stronger and stronger. Bruno felt Chuck's arms were thrown away for the cha cha. Scores: Scores: 9, 9, and 8. Total: 26

Shawn & Mark: A week after getting her first 10 of the season, Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson was hungry for another one with the samba. Her partner Mark Ballas brought in his mom, Shirley Ballas, a three-time Latin dance world champion, to come in and give Shawn some tips. Len said Shawn wouldn't ever dance bad, but "good isn't good enough." He said it lacked hip action and said "it was OK but it wasn't your best job." Bruno seemed to agree, but said it was a good samba. Carrie Ann said Shawn nailed every step and got everything technically right, which is what she was looking for. Scores: 10, 8, and 9. Total: 27

Melissa's situation: Tom explained that Melissa suffered aggravated the painful rib injury she hinted at last week. Tom said she was seeing a doctor as the show was being taped, and would be able to continue in the competition, then rolled into Melissa's rehearsal footage with partner Tony Dovolani. They showed the moment when she hurt the rib again and it seemed like she was having difficulty breathing. The doctor said it was likely a hairline fracture of the rib. Tom said Melissa was able to rehearse earlier in the morning, in keeping with the precedent that was set earlier in the season set by Steve-O. Tony stood alone to take the judges' comments. Bruno said it was unfortunate they had to judge on a rehearsal tape, which lacks the performance power. Bruno and Carrie Ann said it was unfortunate that Tony and Melissa were "marking," which means they were essentially going through the motions for camera positions and not going 100 percent because there was no audience. Len said it was like judging a race-car driver on a warm-up lap. Scores: 7, 7, and 7. Total: 21

Ty & Chelsie: Rodeo champ Ty Murray was coming off one of his best weeks, but knew he had to prove he could handle a Latin dance with the salsa. His partner Chelsie Hightower brought in Dmitry Martin to help Ty get the Latin grooves down. Then Ty got a spray tan, saying, "We'd better get at least a 7." Carrie Ann gave whoops of approval. She loved it. Len said that Ty, more than the others, had the biggest ups and downs. He said Ty improved a lot, but said, depending on what happened with the group dance, it was probably time he "hit the trail." Bruno said it was wild, but he enjoyed watching. Scores: 9, 7, and 8. Total: 24

Team Mambo: Pro Lacey Schwimmer filled in for the injured Melissa Rycroft. The team included Lacey & Tony, Shawn & Mark, and Chuck & Julianne. The judges would give their scores solely based on the performances of Chuck & Julianne and Shawn & Mark, and Melissa & Tony would receive the same score as their team. The routine included a funny moment where, after the guys ripped off the skirts of the ladies to reveal short-cut body suits, they went and stood on the judges' table and stripped down to leotards. Len said it was fun and said they did a good job. Bruno pointed out how the guys were brave enough to shop in the women's department and wear it with pride. Carrie Ann said it was all fun, but the ending was a little distracting. She also said the music overpowered the group. Scores: 8, 8 and 9. Total: 25

Team Tango: Lil' Kim & Derek, Ty & Chelsie, and Gilles & Cheryl set out to beat Team Mambo, and kicked it off with a shirtless Ty and Gilles catching Lil' Kim, who let herself fall backward off the judges' table into their arms. Bruno said it was a powerful attack and said the end sequence gave him goose bumps. Carrie Ann said "Team Tango takes it!" She said their unison work at the end was great. Len noted a slip on Lil' Kim's part and said Gilles' footwork was atrocious. Len reminded Ty about what he said earlier, about Ty needing to nail it in the group dance. Then he said Ty nailed it. Scores: 9, 9, and 10. Total: 28

LEADERBOARD (individual + team score = total):

Lil' Kim & Derek: 28 + 28 = 56

Gilles & Cheryl: 27 + 28 = 55

Shawn & Mark: 27 + 25 = 52

Ty & Chelsie: 24 + 28 = 52

Chuck & Julianne: 26 + 25 = 51

Melissa & Tony: 21 + 25 = 46

The top six on "Dancing with the Stars" was set on Tuesday to become a top five after one of the most competitive nights of the season. Only five judges' points separated the top five couples, while Melissa Rycroft and her partner Tony Dovolani suffered an inordinately low score due to the fact that Melissa's rib injury forced the judges to use a taped rehearsal performance.

The encore performance was the team tango, which featured Lil' Kim & Derek Hough, Gilles Marini & Cheryl Burke, and Ty Murray & Chelsie Hightower.

Here's a look at the leader board after the judges gave their scores on Monday, showing the individual score plus the team score to make a total for each couple:

Lil' Kim & Derek: 28 + 28 = 56

Gilles & Cheryl: 27 + 28 = 55

Shawn & Mark: 27 + 25 = 52

Ty & Chelsie: 24 + 28 = 52

Chuck & Julianne: 26 + 25 = 51

Melissa & Tony: 21 + 25 = 46

Be our guest: Robin Thicke stopped by to perform his hit single, "When I Get You Alone." He returned later to perform a newer song, "Sidestep."

Melissa speaks: Melissa was backstage and said it broke her heart that she couldn't compete Monday night.

To the results: In no particular order, host Tom Bergeron announced that the first couple safe to dance another week was Lil' Kim & Derek.

Another couple was sent to safety after a little featurette about each of the stars' strengths. It was Ty & Chelsie.

The third couple safe for at least another week was ... Gilles & Cheryl. That's all of Team Tango, leaving the three couples that made up Team Mambo to wait and see which of them would be gone.

Pro competition: The mini-competition where viewers will choose a new "Dancing" pro to take part in the show next season returned. This time, Genya Mazo (Alec's brother) was paired with Afton DelGrosso (Ashley's sister), while Anna Demidova and Mayo Alanen were again paired together. Brent Borbon and Snow Urbin were eliminated after last week's voting.

Genya & Afton: The couple was newly partnered for the quickstep. Afton was nervous with her new partner, and Genya admitted he hadn't danced ballroom "for ages." Afton said she liked to incorporate different techniques she knows to create an original style. Len said said they did a great job. Bruno said they had the characterization of the dance down. Carrie Ann said she couldn't tell that Genya hadn't danced ballroom in a while.

Mayo & Anna: Anna and Mayo were a little worried about trying a Latin dance, because they were both more adept at classic ballroom. They took on the jive. Carrie Ann said she expected Anna to be good at it, but was surprised at how good Mayo was at it. Len recalled that he wanted to see them do a Latin dance, and said he'd been wrong twice (because he's also said Ty should hit the trail). Bruno praised Mayo and wondered if there was anything Anna couldn't do.

Back to the results: Tom announced that the next couple returning next week was Shawn Johnson & Mark Ballas.

That left Chuck Wicks & Julianne Hough and Melissa Rycroft & Tony Dovolani waiting to see who'd go home. Chuck had a five-point lead over Melissa in the judges' scores, but could the voters have closed the gap?

Carrie Ann said she didn't want to lose anybody, but would hate to see Chuck & Julianne leave because they'd just found their stride and become contenders. Bruno said it would be "nuts" if Melissa went home because she was one of the best dancers the show has ever had. Len said based on last night, Melissa should go and Chuck stay. But based on seven weeks of competition, Melissa should stay and Chuck should go. Julianne grudgingly nodded in agreement.

The couple going home with the lowest combined total was ... Chuck & Julianne.

For the first time, Monday night's "Dancing with the Stars" required each of the remaining five couples take on two individual dances -- one Latin and one ballroom. The Latin dances would each reflect a style of a different decade.

The judges' take: The judges provided some insight into each of the couples and what they were looking for out of them. Up first was Donny Osmond, who Len Goodman and Carrie Ann Inaba agreed had to focus on posture in the Viennese Waltz.

Carrie Ann noted that Joanna Krupa had lost her balance in ballroom before, so she needed to put her best foot forward in the quickstep. Bruno Tonioli also noted that Joanna had to watch her tempo.

Len said he was looking for grace and elegance from Kelly Osbourne in the foxtrot. Carrie Ann said the ballroom was Kelly's strength, so it was a crucial round for her. Len said Kelly had to "grow or go."

Mya would have to be sharp and precise in her quickstep, Len said. Carrie Ann noted that Mya tries to avoid being as technical as possible and opts for the showy moves.

Carrie Ann said the foxtrot is about "rise and fall and light and shade," and that Aaron Carter has a tendency to be "over-exuberant." Bruno said he'd have to stay under control to succeed.

Mya & Dmitry: Mya's foxtrot last week was again too showy for Len, but Mya didn't want to risk losing "the wow factor" just to please Len. They went to ride horses to relax a bit. It might have worked. Len said there was again some disappointment for him -- pausing for effect as the crowd groaned -- because he "couldn't find anything to criticize." Bruno said, "This is quality." He said "after you taste it, nothing else will do." Carrie Ann said Mya made something very difficult look like it flowed right out of her body. Scores: 9, 10, and 10. Total: 29

Aaron & Karina: Aaron earned his highest score of the season, but still had to dance for his life. He called it an emotional coaster and said he didn't think he had shown the world what they could do. He confessed to Karina that he'd never won anything in his life. Karina was sick much of the week, but powered through for their foxtrot. Bruno said he could see how much work went into it, but said it "was a little bit tense" and didn't have the smoothness of a foxtrot. Carrie Ann agreed, saying every detail was important at this stage. She said Karina's foot came off the ground. Len said watching Aaron was like watching his son in a toy shop because of all the emotions Aaron tends to show. He said that regardless of what happened, he was proud of Aaron. Scores: 7, 8, and 8. Total: 23

Joanna & Derek: Joanna was at the top of the pack last week, but the quickstep presented a whole new challenge. Derek showed Joanna some footage of Mya's previous performances to see her competitor's strengths and give Joanna some ideas of how to hold her own. Carrie Ann noted the routines were longer than normal and spotted a couple of out of sync moments. She said Joanna's bottom half was "a little bit of an eyesore." Len said the performance was "not the standard for the quarterfinal." Bruno said it looked like Joanna was "running away from the scene of a crime." He said it was "not one of your best performances." Scores: 8, 7, and 8. Total: 23

Kelly & Louis: After an emotional week, Kelly Osbourne had Bruno dancing on the judges' table and said she was no longer afraid, but excited. She and Louis were taking on a ballroom dance for the first time since the first part of the season. Kelly was distracted during rehearsal so Louis took all of her things away and locked them in a box. She was focused on doing a foxtrot that would prove she belongs in the competition. Len said he'd forgotten how much grace and elegance Kelly brings to the dance floor and said that despite some distracting footwork, it was "fantastic." Bruno said Kelly was weightless and said she stayed in the performance. Carrie Ann said Kelly's secret weapon was that the moment she has a breakthrough, the audience goes wild. She noted Kelly needed to work on her extension. Scores: 8, 8, and 9. Total: 25

Donny & Kym: Donny succeeded at covering up mistakes in his quickstep last week. He confided in Kym that he was burned out last week and wasn't having any fun. He said he had to "reset everything" and start over in enjoying the competition more. He and Kym put on an elegant Viennese waltz that earned a standing ovation from the crowd. Bruno said it was like "watching a Lifetime movie." He wondered how could Donny help but be an entertainer. Carrie Ann called it "mesmerizing." She said Donny didn't over-perform it and looked at ease with his posture. Len said it was nice, but a little "arty-farty" for him. Scores: 9, 8, and 9. Total: 26

The judges' take, Part 2: Len said Donny's paso doble had to show "an action hero." He said Donny has what it takes, "but he makes mistakes" and "he's gotta get it right."

Len said Mya had to be groovy with a '70s samba. Carrie Ann said Mya likes to play it safe. Bruno agreed and said Mya needed to let her hair down. Carrie Ann she still didn't believe that Mya wanted to win it.

Bruno wondered whether Joanna would be aggressive enough to nail a futuristic paso doble. Carrie Ann said if Joanna nailed it the way she knew Joanna could, she saw 10s in her future.

Bruno said Kelly is always better in hold than she is on her own, "and that won't cut it for the jive."

Len wanted to see bounce, fun and bongos from Aaron's samba. Carrie Ann said the dance is "totally Aaron." Len encouraged him to "shake what your momma gives you."

Mya & Dmitry: Mya was excited to have pulled the '70s samba. Dmitry said they would incorporate some disco moves into a traditional samba to match the decade. Dmitry was having a difficult time coming up with choreography. The crowd stood in appreciation. Carrie Ann said, "I believe it!" She suddenly believed Mya wanted to win. Len said Mya was "absolutely on fire" and her hips were "hypnotic." He was glad she produced two dances Monday of the highest standard with no gimmicks. Bruno got all hysterical and sang a couple of lines from Diana Ross' "Ain't No Mountain High Enough." Scores: 10, 10, and 10. Total: 30

Aaron & Karina: Aaron said the '90s samba was perfect for him because it was what he grew up with. He showed Karina a move he called "The Rodeo," which he said was popular in the '90s. Len said it was tough for Aaron to follow a samba that earned a perfect 30, but said Aaron sold and nearly nailed it. Bruno said it was good to see the mix of the '90s and the samba. Carrie Ann said Aaron had grown into "truly a great performer" and said he was "hitting it." Scores: 9, 9, and 9. Total: 27

Joanna & Derek: Derek wanted to create a paso doble that people had never seen before as their decade was "the future." He said it was one of the most unique dances he'd ever done on the show. Bruno called it a masterful reinvention of a classic and called Derek a "genius." Carrie Ann called it outstanding execution of the theme and praised Joanna for not missing a step. She pointed out one little misstep. Len said Bruno had taken his word -- "genius." He said not only was the theme great, but the content of paso doble was great. He called it fantastic. Scores: 9, 10, and 10. Total: 29

Kelly & Louis: Louis wanted to design something really fun for a '60s jive. Kelly's first music video was set in the '60s, so she was glad to be able to bring something to the table for the choreography. Len said Kelly had been "an absolutely revelation" to him by coming in week after week, "stronger and stronger." Bruno called it "groovy, baby." Carrie Ann said it was definitely one of Kelly's best performances, but there were some hiccups but it was really good. Scores: 8, 9, and 9. Total: 26

Donny & Kym: Kym wanted to do an '80s, rock n roll glam paso doble. Donny channeled Adam Ant (and maybe a bit of Pat Benatar) and recalled the mullet that he wore back in the day. Len called it the most scary, bizarre paso doble he'd ever seen, but he liked it. Bruno said it was like watching "Donny doing Marie doing Donny doing Marie." Carrie Ann said it was fun, but it went kind of over the line for her. Scores: 8, 8, and 8. Total: 24

LEADER BOARD:

Mya & Dmitry, 29 + 30 = 59

Joanna & Derek, 23 + 29 = 52

Kelly & Louis, 25 + 26 = 51

Aaron & Karina, 23 + 27 = 50

Donny & Kym, 26 + 24 = 50

It was time on Tuesday to eliminate one more couple on "Dancing with the Stars," but the night started with the couple least likely to go: Melissa Rycroft & Tony Dovolani, who performed an encore of the samba that earned them a perfect 30.

Be our guest: Contemporary crooner Jamie Cullum stopped by to perform Frank Sinatra's standard, "I Get a Kick Out of You."

Dance Center! Kenny Mayne and Jerry Rice were back for another edition of "Dance Center."

First round highlights:

"Lil' Kim's height: Lil'. Weight: Lil'. Shoe size: Lil'."

"Back in college they used to call me Lil' Jerry," Jerry Rice said. "Which part of your anatomy were they referring to?" Len asked.

Shawn Johnson's size: "Liller than Lil' Kim."

To the results: Before getting to the first results of the night, a quick check of the leader board based on the judges' scores on Monday (combining ballroom dance and Latin dance for the total):

Melissa & Tony: 27 + 30 = 57

Gilles & Cheryl: 29 + 27 = 56

Shawn & Mark: 27 + 29 = 56

Lil' Kim & Derek: 25 + 27 = 52

Ty & Chelsie: 25 + 21 = 46

In no particular order, the first couple who secured a spot in next week's semifinals was Gilles Marini & Cheryl Burke.

Back to 'Dance Center': Second-round highlights:

Video footage of Tony Dovolani laughing while Melissa hurt her ribs.

"What have the French ever done for us, anyway?" Kenny Mayne said, talking about Gilles. "He is prostituting himself with his good looks." (Cut to Kenny, Jerry and Len, shirtless).

Pro Dancer Competition: Each of the three remaining pro dancer hopefuls were assigned a former "star" to teach, to see how they'd handle the real assignment of the show.

First up was Afton DelGrosso, who was assigned Cody Linley. They danced a samba. Len said Afton did a very good job teaching Cody, who is a little bit wooden and stiff. Bruno said Afton made Cody sell himself. Carrie Ann said Afton's skills really came to life and that she'd bring a "nice, beautiful energy" if she made the show.

Back to the results: In no particular order, the next couple to move into the semifinals was Melissa & Tony.

Pro Dancer Competition, Part 2: Mayo Alanen was paired with Lisa Rinna, and they danced a quickstep. Bruno thanked Mayo for taking advantage of Lisa's assets. Carrie Ann said it got a little out of control at times. Len said it was about pushing boundaries and Mayo did a good job.

Anna Demidova was paired with Maurice Greene, who picked the tango, which he'd never done before. He wanted to see how she taught him something he'd never done. Carrie Ann said "with a performance like that, you two could be heading to the semifinals." Len said without a doubt, Anna pulled the most out of her celebrity. Bruno said she was more than a dancer, she was "a miracle worker." He said Maurice never looked better.

Back to the results: The next couple safe for another week was Shawn Johnson & Mark Ballas. That left Lil' Kim & Derek Hough and Ty Murray & Chelsie Hightower in the bottom two.

Len said Ty could possibly go on, but Lil' Kim has been one of the best dancers and we'd miss the bionic booty.

Tom finally announced that the couple leaving the show was ... Lil' Kim & Derek.

A week after Lil' Kim's abrupt ouster, it was down to just four couples Monday night for the semifinals on the eighth season of "Dancing with the Stars."

The dancers would take on a ballroom and a Latin dance.

Melissa & Tony: "Bachelor" star Melissa Rycroft and her partner Tony Dovolani were up first and said they turned the corner in Week 3 when they did the foxtrot. Melissa said the scariest moment for her was the solo during the Latin dance in Week 9. After nearly 30 minutes of fluff -- er, recalling the season's greatest moments -- Melissa and Tony finally offered up their cha cha. Melissa said she wanted to see more 10s, but she knew she had to work on her feet to achieve them, as judge Len Goodman has been calling her out on them all season. Len thought it had great musicality and Melissa's feet were much improved. Bruno Tonioli said it was "very, very good," but for the semifinals, it wasn't as exhilarating as it could be. Carrie Ann Inaba agreed with Bruno and said it didn't look like it was connecting to Melissa's soul. Scores: 9, 10, and 9. Total: 28

After checking out some scenes from Melissa's hometown, and hearing her parents, former cheerleading coach and best friend talk about her perseverance through a rib injury and her "Bachelor" break-up, it was time for her Latin dance. Melissa and Tony took on the cha cha cha. Bruno said he likes his cha cha "full thrust and full on," and said she didn't always follow through with her movements and keep her energy up. Carrie Ann agreed that Melissa struggled a bit with her footwork. Len said he liked it, "but not as much as I was hoping to." Scores: 9, 9, and 9. Total: 27

Gilles & Cheryl: Actor Gilles Marini went through his favorite moments of the season, and said he most loved the foxtrot in Week 9. His favorite Latin dance was the paso doble that earned him a perfect score and treated the ladies to a shirtless opening. Gilles' partner Cheryl Burke wanted to get back to basics in an attempt to get the couple's first perfect score since Week 4. Pro Jonathan Roberts came in to give Gilles some advice on staying classy during the waltz. That was their first dance. Bruno stood and said, "That is how you start the race for the final." Carrie Ann said their dance took viewers away to a land of fantasy, as ballroom dancing should. Len gave Gilles "a sitting down standing ovation." Scores: 10, 10 and 10. Total: 30

We took a trip to the south of France, to Gilles' home of Cannes, and his best friend talked about how Gilles loved to do Michael Jackson's moonwalk. We also got to see Gilles as the family man after his wife talked about how he works hard to provide for his family. Gilles then offered up a sizzling samba. Carrie Ann got up, danced and shouted and said it was "the dance that we know you can bring to the finals. I want to see you here next week." Len said he was "almost speechless." He then said, "I'll just say this, I wish an '11' paddle." Bruno said "Lil' Kim is alive and well and she's hanging in your pants," in reference to Gilles' booty-shaking performance. Scores: 10, 10 and 10. Total: 30

Shawn & Mark: Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson's partner Mark Ballas said her breakthrough ballroom dance was the quickstep in Week 9, and she agreed it was a turning point because she got to show her personality. She thought her paso doble the same week was her best Latin dance because she showed she could be serious. As week after losing a point for breaking their hold during the quickstep, Shawn wanted to stick to the rules. She struggled with the lifts in the Argentine tango, which was their first dance. In the end, they did an alternate version of the lift she was practicing, but did it pay off? Carrie Ann said she sometimes worried whether Shawn could deliver on the emotion, and she did. Len said it had maturity and intensity and said it was "honestly, without a doubt, for me, your best performance." Bruno called her "Catherine Zeta-Shawn," and said it was like watching the tango in "Chicago." Scores: 10, 10, and 10. Total: 30

Shawn Johnson's hometown of Des Moines, Iowa, got some time in the spotlight. Shawn said she was a daredevil and loved a challenge. Her best friend said Shawn got the flu the day before she was to compete in the Olympics, yet she came through with a gold-medal performance. Shawn said she wanted to bring home a "big, round, glittery" trophy to add to her collection. Their upbeat jive ended with Mark and Shawn heading to the judges' table and holding up their own "10" paddles. Len complimented the band and singers and said he liked the speed of the dance, but there was "too much messing about." He wanted to see more traditional jive and less slapstick. Bruno said he liked it when Shawn went wild. Carrie Ann said it was wonderful, but lost a little steam toward the end. Scores: 9, 8, and 9. Total: 26

Ty & Chelsie: Rodeo champion Ty Murray said that his "comeback" on the quickstep in Week 2 was what kept him in the competition for weeks to come. Ty thought the Lindy hop was the first Latin dance where he showed confidence and did do his "wooden robot." Ty took his partner Chelsie Hightower to a mechanical bull, probably just so we could see her riding a mechanical bull. She wanted Ty to loosen up for their samba, and he said it was a "pain in the ass" because of all the steps he had to remember. He had to look dignified for his Viennese waltz. "My fans went out on a limb and kept me on the show over a better skilled dancer," Ty said. "Now I've got to justify their votes, and it starts with this Viennese waltz." Len said there's no one in the competition who has worked as hard as Ty to become a better dance and said, "overall, I thought it was fabulous." Bruno said he understands why America loves Ty, but said it was a mess and "he was like chasing flies." Carrie Ann loved that Ty could spark so much support, but it wasn't his best dance. the judges continued shouting at each other as Tom Bergeron ushered Ty and Chelsie backstage. Scores: 8, 9, and 8. Total: 25

We headed down to Stevensville, Texas, to see Ty's hometown. He said he didn't remember deciding to do rodeo, he just did it. Ty's wife, Jewel, said she was really proud that America was getting to see the tender, sweet side of her husband. Ty and Chelsie danced the samba. Bruno said Ty threw everything but the kitchen sink at it and said it was great. Carrie Ann said she'd vote Ty "most valuable player" of Season 8. Len said that in the Latin dances, Ty was like "Murray in a hurry," and he complimented Ty's partner Chelsie for doing a fantastic job. Scores: 8, 7, and 8. Total: 23

LEADER BOARD:

Gilles & Cheryl: 30 + 30 = 60

Shawn & Mark: 30 + 26 = 56

Melissa & Tony: 28 + 27 = 55

Ty & Chelsie: 25 + 23= 48

After a night of sizzling performances, it was time to -- well, it was time to wait an hour to find out which three couples would make it through to next week's final on "Dancing with the Stars."

The night kicked off with a performance form Grammy winner Raphael Saadiq, who gave a James Brown-like display with what appeared to be his own backup dancers.

Looking at last night: Ty Murray was pleased that in the first week he and Chelsie Hightower were the 13th-worst team, and now they were up to fourth-worst.

Melissa Rycroft realized how stiff the competition was when she added up in her mind that her score of 55 out of 60 was only good enough for third place.

Shawn Johnson was bummed that the judges didn't like her Latin dance, and Gilles Marini had no complaints after being handed a total of six 10s with perfect scores on both of his dances.

Before going any further, here's a look at the leader board after the judges' scores were given on Monday. Scores include the ballroom dance, plus the Latin dance for the total score.

Gilles & Cheryl: 30 + 30 = 60

Shawn & Mark: 30 + 26 = 56

Melissa & Tony: 28 + 27 = 55

Ty & Chelsie: 25 + 23= 48

Play it again, Shawn: Despite Gilles' two perfect scores on Monday, the encore performances the judges wanted to see was Shawn and her partner Mark Ballas' Argentine tango.

Pro competition: Mayo Alanen and Anna Demidova were the two remaining aspiring pros left in the competition for a spot on the cast next season. Mayo was paired this week with pro Kym Johnson, and Anna was paired with Maksim Chmerkovskiy.

Up first were Mayo and Kym with the tango. Len Goodman said the next time he's asked what he loves about ballroom dancing, he'll say, "Just watch Mayo and Kym." Bruno Tonioli said Mayo provided a great frame for Kym, who, for once, was dancing with someone who had longer legs than her. Carrie Ann Inaba said the choreography was dynamic and traditional, which she liked, but she wanted to see more personality.

Maks warned Anna he was difficult to work with, and she had to choreograph him. She decided to be stronger than him in rehearsals. Bruno called it "magnificent, radiant, lightning fast," and said their technique was great. Carrie Ann agreed, saying any celebrity would be lucky to have Anna. Len said last week Anna brought the best out of Maurice Greene, "and this week you brought the best out of Maks."

Mayo and Kym returned later to perform a cha cha cha. Carrie Ann said the show takes more than just being a great dancer, and she wondered if he was showing enough. Len said there's no question Mayo was a great choreographer, but the cha cha lacked a bit of "wow." Bruno said it was fine, but warned Mayo to be careful when taking risks. He told Mayo that instead of going with his Disco theme, he would have recommended a proper cha cha cha.

Anna and Maks came back with a samba. Len said from the first week through Tuesday night, Anna has proven she deserves the spot. He said if Anna wasn't back next season, "I'll show my bum in the supermarket." Bruno said Anna showed versatility and did a fantastic job. Carrie Ann said she wanted to see more of Anna, so she hoped to see her back next season.

To the results: Finally, it was time to find out -- in no particular order -- the first two couples that scored a spot in the finals.

The first couple definitely moving on was Gilles & Cheryl. The next couple set to dance for the mirror ball trophy was Shawn & Mark.

That left Ty & Chelsie and Melissa & Tony to vie for the final spot. Len told Ty, "If the others have climbed hills, you've climbed mountains." He then told Melissa that she made a great run every week, barring the week she couldn't dance due to injury, and was a threat to win every time.

The couple going home one week before the finals was ... Ty & Chelsie.

After weeks of competition, it was down to the finals on "Dancing with the Stars" as the remaining three couples got some tips from the judges and offered their best for the big finish.

We saw way too much of Bruno Tonioli, who was sunning poolside in a Speedo when head judge Len Goodman called and gave him his assignment -- to advise Shawn Johnson and Mark Ballas on their paso doble. Bruno told Shawn she had to show something she hadn't shown before.

Carrie Ann Inaba set out on a visit to Melissa Rycroft and Tony Dovolani, where she gave Melissa some tips on how to move with intention. Len stopped by to see Gilles Marini and Cheryl Burke and worked with Gilles on his arms and tried to get the dance to be a little less hectic than last time.

It was all in preparation for a paso doble face-off, a group dance that put all three couples together, but in competition. All three couples took part in a flashy intro before coming out in order: Shawn & Mark, Melissa & Tony, and Gilles & Cheryl.

Len said Shawn's performance was full of excitement. He said Melissa's previous paso was "riddled with problems," and despite a slight mistake this one was more convincing. He told Gilles his performance was also much better than last time. Bruno congratulated all three couples for competing as a team. He said Shawn was strong and a great technician. Bruno said Melissa's confidence has grown leaps and bounds, and called Gilles "a leading man." Carrie Ann said this has been her favorite season and said all three dancers are incredible. She said watching them side by side pointed out weaknesses and strengths. She said Shawn lacked the emotional commitment that the others possess. Carrie Ann told Melissa she nailed her moves, and said she always expects perfection from Gilles in the Latin dances, "and, once again, there it was."

Scores:

Shawn & Mark: 9, 9 and 10. Total: 28

Melissa & Tony: 10, 9 and 10. Total: 29

Gilles & Cheryl: 10 10, and 10. Total: 30

To the freestyle: All three couples got a little taste of freedom with the freestyle dance. What would they do?

Shawn & Mark: Shawn didn't want her freestyle to be infused with too many gymnastics moves, and she got a visit from fellow Olympian and former "Dancing" winner Apolo Anton Ohno, who tried to get some of that Olympic fire out of her. The performance was a little sloppy. It started with Shawn and Mark in some odd masks, but they soon got rid of those. Tony said Shawn was "going for gold" and called it an explosive performance. Carrie Ann said it was "exactly what I wanted to see." Len said he loved the jive elements, the speed, the precision, "I loved it." Scores: 10, 10, and 10. Total: 30.

Melissa & Tony: Melissa said she was going for the audience vote this week and that she and Tony would be "going all out." Tony said he was holding nothing back because "with no risk, there's no reward." With risk came a pretty nice shiner for Tony, who took an elbow to the eye while tossing Melissa in the air. Carrie Ann loved Melissa's new attitude, but "something about the choreography just felt a little bit disjointed." Len said he didn't get it, and would've like to have seen more of Melissa's elegance. Bruno agreed with Carrie Ann on the disjointed aspect, and said "it wasn't as perfect as we would like to see" at this point in the competition. Scores: 9, 9, and 9. Total: 27

Gilles & Cheryl: Gilles tried to play the part of the underdog when it came to the freestyle. He also called in his doctor because his shoulder injury flared up during rehearsals. They did a frenetic freestyle to Irene Cara's "What a Feeling" from the movie, "Flashdance." Len said it was high-energy and slick, and it proved to him that Gilles is a real dancer. Bruno called it a great performance, but he wanted "more actual dancing" from Gilles. Carrie Ann agreed and said it was an odd choice because "Flashdance" is about the female dancer. Scores: 9, 10 and 9. Total: 28.

LEADER BOARD:

Gilles & Cheryl: 58

Shawn & Mark: 58

Melissa & Tony: 56

Down to three couples, Tuesday night was about finding out who would take home the coveted mirror ball trophy on "Dancing with the Stars."

Lady Gaga kicked off the night with her song, "Just Dance," which was apropos for the evening.

Looking back...: Then began the dances of stars past. In order of their elimination, Season 8's "Dancing" finalists and their partners took to the dance floor, starting with Belinda Carlisle & Jonathan Roberts and Denise Richards & Maksim Chmerkovskiy. Holly Madison & Dmitry Chaplin rounded out the first group of dancers.

"The Woz" was back, but "The Worm" was not. After dancing his quickstep with partner Karina Smirnoff, Steve Wozniak was unfortunately goaded into doing "The Worm" again, and it looked more like a mild seizure.

David Alan Grier & Kym Johnson did their Viennese waltz, quickly followed by Steve-O & Lacey Schwimmer. Afterward, David Alan made a crack about how well he and the judges have gotten along since he left the show (and blasted them in subsequent interviews). "They will not stop texting me!" he said.

The new pro: After four weeks of competition, the race for the new pro spot next season was won by Anna Demidova. She thanked the voters and said it was her dream to be on the show. She and Maks then treated the crowd to their quickstep.

Back to the stars of 'Dancing' past: NFL legend Lawrence Taylor stepped away from the golf course long enough to return to the "Dancing" ballroom and offer up a jive with partner Edyta Sliwinska. "Just when they get you out, they pull you back in," Lawrence said before joking that he does lap dances on the 19th hole of his golf course in Florida.

Chuck Wicks & Julianne Hough took breaks from their country music careers to perform their samba. After their dance, Chuck says he has "a new respect for satin, silk, glitter ... and thongs." Ummm, what?

Ross' Roast: Jeffrey Ross didn't bring much to the show last season in the way of dancing, but he began a new tradition with a season-ending roast, which he continued tonight. The three finalists sat to listen to what he had to say.

Some highlights: "The word Bergeron is an old French word, it means Seacrest."

"It's always fun to see my three favorite judges (Carrie Ann, Len and Bruno): Smokin', Croakin' and Flamin'"

"This is the first season ever where no actual star has made it to the finale." "I didn't know the show was called 'Dancing with the Vaguely Familiar.'"

"(Lil' Kim) was just here for community service, anyway."

"Tonight it's all about the underage, the unwed and the unpronounceable." (Shawn Johnson, Melissa Rycroft and Gilles Marini)

On Gilles' "Sex and the City" performance: "You may not have had the biggest role, but you definitely had the largest part."

On Shawn Johnson: "If you win, ABC's going to send you to Disneyland, but you're too short to ride Space Mountain."

On Melissa Rycroft's "Bachelor" disappointment: "You're so beautiful. Can I marry you? Wouldn't it be ironic if she came in second on this show, too?"

Back to the stars of 'Dancing' past: Lil' Kim & Derek Hough stopped by to perform their jive to Elvis' "Jailhouse Rock." Tom said, with no disrespect to the three final couples, he expected to see her competing this week.

Ty Murray & Chelsie Hightower took to the floor to perform their Lindy hop. Ty warned his cowboy buddies out there thinking about dancing, "Don't do it!"

To the final three: After the faux-smack talk segment, the minutes ticked down until the final three couples performed for the judges one last time in hopes of helping their scores before the final results were announced. The judges' scores for the final dances Tuesday night would be added to the judges' scores from Monday night and still make up half of the total, combined with the audience vote making the other half.

The couples were introduced one at a time, but before they danced, a quick look at the leader board:

Gilles & Cheryl: 58

Shawn & Mark: 58

Melissa & Tony: 56

Shawn & Mark: Shawn Johnson said she'd grown up a lot during the course of the season and her partner Mark Ballas said she was like a cocoon growing into a beautiful butterfly. They danced their cha cha cha to "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)," which gave Mark a chance to don his super-high Michael Jackson pants and glittery socks. Len said Shawn came out and proved her case. Bruno called it great. Carrie Ann said everyone underestimated Shawn and she powered her way to the final and deserved her spot. Scores: 10, 10 and 10 for 30. Two-night Total: 88 out of 90.

Melissa & Tony: "Bachelor" star Melissa Rycroft recalled her journey and noted that 11 weeks ago, nobody knew who she was, and the audience pushed her through to the final -- particularly when her rib injury appeared to have spelled her doom. Melissa and her partner Tony Dovolani danced their samba. Bruno wanted thirds, fourths and fifths after getting a second helping of Melissa's samba seconds. Carrie Ann said Melissa has been Tony's muse and brought the best out of him. Len loved it and said it was fantastic. Scores: 10, 10 and 10 for 30. Two-night Total: 86 out of 90.

Gilles & Cheryl: Gilles Marini said he was happy to get Cheryl Burke as his partner and Cheryl says that even though Gilles is known as a sex symbol, he's a total family man. Nice. They danced an Argentine tango. Carrie Ann said Gilles is a very special performance brings artistry to his dances, which sets him completely apart. Len said Gilles took him back 50 years to the first time he ever saw the dance performed. Bruno called it "an Argentine triumph." Scores: 10, 10 and 10 for 30. Two-night Total: 88 out of 90.

To the results... It was time to reveal which of the dancing couples came in third place. Did Melissa make up the two-point gap?

The couple in third place was ... Melissa & Tony.

Tom announced that this was the closest vote/point total in history, with less than 1 percent separating the top two couples. It was down to Gilles & Cheryl and Shawn & Mark. Who would it be?

After 11 weeks of competition, the winners were ... Shawn & Mark!