DwtS 3 -- Performance Show Week 8

It was a creepy Halloween edition of Dancing with the Stars tonight. The judges wore fangs, the dance floor was shrouded in fog, and Samantha Harris wore the scariest costume ever: dressing up as herself, the morning after a drunken escapade. Eek!

Ballroom Round

Joey Lawrence & Edyta Sliwinska - Tango
Joey's brothers, Matt and Andy, stopped by dance practice to check on Joey's progress. Edyta taught Andy a few dance moves, momentarily paralyzing him when he realized he would get to touch Edyta. "I know it's hard work," Andy said, "but you're with Edyta eight hours a day. How hard could that be?"

Just when you think the musical choices can't get any weirder, Joey & Edyta danced to the theme song from the TV show, The Addams Family. Edyta even wore a Morticia Addams-style wig. And we now know why Joey shaved his head; he was getting in character to play Uncle Fester. In keeping with the theme of their song -- and the evening -- Joey & Edyta danced mechanically, as if they'd recently been raised from the dead. It was a clever choice, artistically, as the movements somehow suited the Tango.

Len started his comments by saying, "All four couples have the potential to get into the Finals." He said Joey & Edyta's performance was "fantastic." Bruno called it "a fandango of a Tango. It picked up the nuances in the music." Carrie Ann said, "That was an amazing Tango. The best I've seen you perform. The most fun I've seen you have."
Judges' Scores: Carrie Ann...10, Len...9, Bruno...9 = 28/30

Mario Lopez & Karina Smirnoff - Waltz
During practice, Mario couldn't hold his frame, and Karina was pissed. "Is there any reason why your head looks like a pigeon?" she asked. He said that he understood the concept, but just couldn't execute it.

The story behind the routine was that a man was dancing a final dance with the spirit of his deceased love; Karina dressed in ghostly white. The performance was lovely and emotional, and it was Karina's best choreography to date.

Bruno called the routine "the true fairy tale waltz. Tonight, you were a romantic leading man." Carrie Ann said, "There was something very different about that performance. You felt very connected to your emotions." Len said, "Poignant and beautiful. It was a great job."
Judges' Scores: Carrie Ann...9, Len...9, Bruno...10 = 28/30

Monique Coleman & Louis van Amstel - Tango
Kenny Ortega, director/choreographer of High School Musical and Dirty Dancing, visited Monique & Louis during practice to offer his encouragement. Still miffed about their low scores, Louis said, "I would like to have the judges reward Monique for the difficulty level of the dances I have her do."

They danced to another hilarious song selection: "Somebody's Watching Me" by Rockwell. I agree with Louis; having to dance to that song without laughing is difficult. Monique wore black lipstick, and Louis had evil, pointy sideburns. The music demanded an unusually fast Tango, and Monique had a little trouble keeping up, at times. It was the most technically challenging routine of the night. The dance ended with Louis pretending to chomp Monique's neck.

Carrie Ann told Monique, "I respect your ambition, but the choreography was a bit beyond your capabilities." Len used his critique of their Tango to answer Louis' comment about level of difficulty: "It's not like diving. If you do one spin, that's great! If you do two spins and stumble, that's bad." Bruno said, "Sometimes, less is more. It allows you to express yourself." Carrie Ann chimed in, "We want to see more of you." Bruno agreed.
Judges' Scores: Carrie Ann...8, Len...8, Bruno...8 = 24/30

Emmitt Smith & Cheryl Burke - Fox Trot
Emmitt went home with Cheryl to San Francisco, where they rehearsed at a ballroom in Cheryl's parents' home. While in the Bay Area, they danced at a charity event. Jerry Rice was also in attendance, and he demanded "props" for talking Emmitt into doing DwtS.

Dancing to a classic song like "Witchcraft" allowed Emmitt & Cheryl to keep their shtick to a minimum. It was very nice, but Jerry needed to commit to his arm movements. The pair looked like they were having fun, and it certainly translated to the studio audience.

Len said, "You have got a charm about you. But, for me, there were only about four bars of the whole routine in a ballroom hold." Bruno disagreed, and Len sniped, "You can't disagree with the facts." Bruno said, "It was a very creative interpretation of the Fox Trot." Carrie Ann told Emmitt, "I'm gonna get nitpicky with you. Watch your arms. And you've gotta pop your moves, too. You're almost too smooth."
Judges' Scores: Carrie Ann...8, Len...8, Bruno...9 = 25/30

Intermission

Before the start of the Latin Round, viewers were treated to a package of clips about the many commitments in the celebrities' lives -- and it's not all dancing. There are after-show interviews, charity events, jobs, and hours spent with families. Almost every waking moment in between is dedicated to practicing the dances.

But there are certain benefits to committing so much time to the show. Emmitt said, "My recognition has been off the charts... for dancing! Who'd've thunk it?"

Mario said, "The most difficult thing for me is to juggle everything I have going on. But at the end, it's all worth it."

Latin Round

Joey Lawrence & Edyta Sliwinska - Paso Doble
I could watch this dance again and again just for the outfits. With a song like "Sympathy for the Devil" by the Rolling Stones, the natural wardrobe choice is...buccaneers? Edyta's ribald pirate queen outfit is the best in three seasons. Oh, and the dancing was all right, too.

Bruno said, "The devil wears Paso, and he's hot as hell tonight. And I'm not just talking about Edyta! You two were playing with each other tonight. It's finally happening!" Carrie Ann said, "This week you've really come into your stride. But watch it; you're leading with your chest instead of your hips." Len said, "There was passion, but I thought your arms were a little weak." Pointing at Edyta, Len said, "You should wear that every week."
Judges' Scores: Carrie Ann...9, Len...8, Bruno...9 = 26/30

Mario Lopez & Karina Smirnoff - Samba
Karina wore a mask and a pixie wig for this performance to "Superstitious," by Stevie Wonder. Karina's moves were out of sight, and Mario suited her well. It was a fun routine.

Carrie Ann yelled, "Woooo! That was the best. You completely changed it up for this one." Len said, "You came out an really sold it. Lovely choreography. Each individual step is lovely... But when you combine them all together, it's not spontaneous. I didn't feel transported to Mardi Gras." Bruno yelled, "You've never been to Mardi Gras," to which Len responded, "Oh yes I have!" Of the performance, Bruno said, "Supersonic. Supercharged. Super Mario is at it again!"
Judges' Scores: Carrie Ann...10, Len...9, Bruno...10 = 29/30

Monique Coleman & Louis van Amstel - Cha Cha Cha
Monique & Louis arrived onstage in grey jumpsuits, which could mean only one thing: they were dancing to "Ghostbusters." Louis ripped off his jumpsuit to reveal a grey shirt and pants, and then ripped off Monique's to reveal a Slimer-green outfit. It's hard not to make a corny routine with this music, and Louis included couple of cheesy moves. But Monique painlessly executed some maneuvers that looked downright whiplash-inducing.

Len said, "It had flair, speed, great rhythm. It was fantastic." Bruno quipped, "That was cha cha charming. Cheeky, happy, and bright." Carrie Ann told Monique, "Way to come back and show it to us. You're usually kind of stomping, but there was something gentle in your footwork." When they received their scores, Louis pointed out that these were the first 10s he's earned in three seasons of DwtS.
Judges' Scores: Carrie Ann...9, Len...10, Bruno...10 = 29/30

Emmitt Smith & Cheryl Burke - Rumba
Dressed all in white, Emmitt & Cheryl danced to the song "Spooky." Emmitt's arms were still a little weak, but he more than made up for it with his hip action. It was another high quality performance. During their finishing move, Cheryl lost both of her earrings, simultaneously.

Bruno told Emmitt, "Man, you know how to play a woman. Nobody can teach you anything. The hip action!" In a compliment to Emmitt, Carrie Ann told Cheryl, "Maybe we should switch positions." Len said, "The whole routine had class written all over it. Fantastic." As he raised his paddle, Len said, "I wish I could give an 11."
Judges' Scores: Carrie Ann...9, Len...10, Bruno...10 = 29/30

Leaderboard:
1 - Mario & Karina (57/60)
2 - Joey & Edyta, Emmitt & Cheryl (54/60)
4 - Monique & Louis (53/60)

My vote almost went to Joey & Edyta just for Edyta's pirate outfit. But I had to throw it to Mario & Karina. They really gave the best performances of the night.

Tomorrow night, "operatic pop" (whatever that is) artists Il Divo perform. And Willa Ford makes a return appearance. Maybe she's become the bad girl of operatic pop.

DwtS 3 In-Season Update: 10-30-06

The four couples left on Dancing with the Stars are pretty evenly matched. Who's got the edge?

4. Monique Coleman & Louis van Amstel
Initially, I thought that there was no way Monique could go home this week. As the only female celebrity left, she's bound to get votes from fans who don't want the final two weeks of competition to be a total sausage fest.

But then I looked at the number of views for each of the videos of last week's dances at YouTube. Monique & Louis trail the other remaining couples by a significant margin. That's a good indication that a) their dances weren't memorable enough for viewers to want to watch a second time or share with others, or b) they're not very popular.

The judges haven't helped them either. Of the remaining couples, Monique & Louis were the only pair not to earn a single 10 last week.

Monique & Louis spent last week in the Bottom Two. Heading into this week's competition, they're the most vulnerable team left.

3. Joey Lawrence & Edyta Sliwinska
Joey's been on an upswing since that body language interpreter told him to stop compulsively licking his lips. Last week, he & Edyta tied with Emmitt & Cheryl for the highest combined scores for their two dances. Also, videos of Joey & Edyta's dances have been viewed virtually the same number of times as Mario & Karina's.

Joey's closing in on Mario's role as the viewers' favorite child-star-turned-hunk. He's not there yet, but he should survive this week.

2. Mario Lopez & Karina Smirnoff
The king of the mountain has been supplanted, and this may just be the beginning of the fall. Last week, Mario & Karina's two dances scored a total of one point less than those of Joey & Edyta and Emmitt & Cheryl. That's not a statistically significant margin, but it is evidence that Mario is beatable, even on a good night.

During their last few routines, Mario has seemed to fade into the background, as Karina has assumed the spotlight. Their dancing is still great, and they won't go home this week. But they'd better put the focus back on Mario's dancing skills, if they want to secure a spot in the finale.

1. Emmitt Smith & Cheryl Burke
They're scoring 10s from the judges, and their videos are by far the most popular at YouTube. Unless the wheels fall off, Emmitt & Cheryl are a lock for the finale. It's too soon to say if they'll win, but that outcome is looking more likely with each performance.

Other DwtS News:
Information on the Dancing with the Stars Tour is available at ABC's website. Tickets for most tour dates go on sale Saturday, November 4.

As we get closer to the November 15 finale, the oddsmakers still have Mario Lopez as the favorite to win. He was the preseason favorite, as well.

Emmitt Smith has vowed to take over duties as the show's resident jester, now that Jerry Springer's gone. "It's been a blessing to be around the man and have the chance to get to know him on a personal basis," Emmitt said.

The Amazing Race 10: Episode 7

Kentuckians David & Mary survived for another week on The Amazing Race by lucking into this season's second non-elimination leg. Just what do these two have to do to get kicked off?

Teams left Kuwait City for Mauritius, with a stopover at Heathrow. Some couples had a hard time believing that the fastest way to go from the Middle East to an island off the east coast of Africa was via London. Kandice actually asked the ticketing agent, "What country is that in? India?"

She and Dustin waited in line, with Lyn & Karlyn and Tyler & James behind them, in that order. The Beauty Queens asked the agents to print tickets for the Male Models before the Alabama moms.

Karlyn was enraged, arguing first with Dustin & Kandice, and then with Tyler. Lyn and James stayed mum. Tyler & James got their tickets first, and Karlyn reminded the agent that he was going to have to live with the knowledge that he'd let the boys cut in line.

Upon arriving in Mauritius, teams found a model ship in each of their cars, with a placard that read, "Swim to me." Couples drove across the island to a marina, where, to receive their next clue, they had to swim out to the actual boat on which their model was based.

As has been a pattern for them, Tyler & James got lost. They'd left the airport first, yet arrived at the marina just as the slowest teams (Lyn & Karlyn and David & Mary) were swimming back from the boat. The Models made up a good chunk of their deficit in the water, nearly catching up with the others.

Holding fast to the their alliance, the Cho brothers waited onshore for Lyn, Karlyn, Mary, and David. And all three teams drove toward their next destination in a convoy, just ahead of Tyler & James.

The teams drove 49 miles to the post office at Case Noyale, on the island's west coast. Along, the way, Rob, who'd been following the Beauty Queens, missed a turn, and then stalled his car at a stoplight. As traffic built up behind him on the one-lane road, he did what anyone would do in his position -- got out of the car and walked away.

Some fellow drivers helped push the car off to the side of the road, and Rob & Kimberly were forced to wait for a new vehicle. They watched the "Six-Pack" -- as the Chos, the 'Bama Girls, and David & Mary called themselves -- drive by.

But Rob & Kimberly weren't the only team with car troubles. A distracted Dustin rear-ended a stopped bus. She lost time, as she filled out police reports about the accident.

Thought the front of their car was a little (okay, a lot) worse for wear, Dustin & Kandice were still first to the post office. The next clue was the episode's Detour: Salt or Sea.

In Salt, teams drove two miles to a salt pan. There, they searched three enormous piles of salt for a salt shaker with a clue hidden inside. Decoy shakers hidden in the pile were filled with pepper.

In Sea, teams walked to a nearby dock and chose a captain to ferry them to an island, just under a mile away. Using a treasure map, teams searched the island for a sail, walked it back to their boat, attached it to their boat's mast, and sailed back to shore.

Dustin & Kandice chose Sea, using the boat ride as an opportunity to lay out and tan. Their treasure map wasn't very specific, so it took them longer than they'd expected to find the sails.

Meanwhile, all of the other teams had elected to search the piles of salt, including the last team to arrive, Rob & Kimberly. Once they saw how large the piles of salt were, they reasoned that, even if they switched tasks, they'd still beat at least one of the salt-searching teams. They immediately headed back to their car and drove to the Sea Detour.

"There's no way all the other teams are going to find [their clues] at the same time," Rob said.

One by one, the other teams followed Rob & Kimberly's lead, giving up on Salt. David resisted switching tasks, even though the other teams in his alliance had left. He insisted, "I don't quit in the middle of something."

Eventually, Mary persuaded him to go with the group, but by the time they set out in their boat, Dustin & Kandice were already returning to shore with their clue.

The Beauty Queens drove to the Pit Stop at Chateau Bel Ombre, where they were awarded motorscooters for finishing in first place. Noting that the scooters can accommodate a passenger, Phil said, "You guys can take a date out if you want." Dustin asked if Phil would be her date. Wrong show, Dustin. Jeff Probst is the host who dates show contestants.

Rob & Kimberly found their sail next, but a wrong turn on the way to the Pit Stop allowed Tyler & James to pass them and finish in second place. Rob & Kimberly finished in third.

The three teams of the Six-Pack met up on the island and found their sails together. While driving to the Pit Stop, Lyn & Karlyn got sick of waiting for the Chos to explain the directions to David & Mary, and they sped on ahead.

The Chos followed them, and David & Mary were supposed to follow the brothers. But, without constant handholding, the Kentuckians took a wrong turn.

Lyn & Karlyn and Erwin & Godwin reached the Pit Stop at the same time, and the brothers easily beat the single moms in a footrace. When David & Mary arrived at the Pit Stop, they wandered around confused, before finally finding Phil.

Instead of eliminating them, Phil told David & Mary that this was the second non-elimination leg, and that they were still in the race.

As on the previous non-elimination leg, when they also finished last, David & Mary were "marked for elimination." They need to finish in first place on the next leg, or they'll incur a 30-minute penalty.

Next week, a new challenge is added to the Race: the Intersection, in which two teams must work together to complete a task. That means someone will have to team up with the scheming Beauty Queens.

Survivor: Cook Islands -- Episode 7

This week's Survivor: Cook Islands was a recap of the first six episodes, with a few new scenes mixed in. Here's a brief listing of the new scenes, and where they fit into the season's prior episodes.

Episode One

New Scene: At Hiki on Day 1, the tribe repeatedly tried to launch their boat to go fishing. They couldn't get it five feet offshore before Sekou tipped it over -- every single time.

The entire tribe laughed at their own ineptitude. Sundra said, "We have an excuse. Our people had a really bad experience with boats."

New Scene: During Day 2 at Raro, Candice and Adam rowed out to catch some fish. The skies soon darkened, and the currents got rough.

Adam and Candice got out of the boat and stood on a sandbar for hours, shivering and holding each other for warmth. Finally, they swam back to the tribe's island, leaving their boat behind on the sandbar.

Parvati said that, when Adam and Candice returned -- "shivering and purple" -- that she was worried about them. But once she knew they were all right, she found herself more concerned about the boat.

New Scene: At Aitu, Billy tried playing the social game immediately. He walked alone with J.P. and promised him, "Me and you to the end."

Soon afterward, Billy approached the women and told them he wanted to align with them, and that getting rid of J.P. was a priority.

New Scene: At Hiki, the tribe talked about losing the first challenge. Rebecca, Nate, and Sundra wondered if losing meant they would be viewed as having let down their race.

Voted Out: Sekou.
Select Final Words: "Nate warned me."

Episode Two

New Scene: At Puka on Day 3. Cao Boi and Yul discussed their heritage. Cao Boi said that most people -- even other Asians -- assume he's Japanese.

Cao Boi told Yul that, once the tribes merged, he was confident that the Asians would stick together until the end. "That's going to be the difference between our culture and others."

Voted Out: Billy.
Select Final Words: "It was never about the money."

Episode Three

New Scene: Day 6, Exile Island. Yul found the Hidden Immunity Idol and wanted to cover his tracks. He tore up the clue that helped him find the Idol, and then he got rid of the box in which the Idol had been buried, sending it out to sea. "I don't want the box lying around on the island."

New Scenes (from various episodes): In his second trip to Exile Island, Jonathan looked for the Idol in all the right places -- though Yul already had it. Jonathan finally gave up, and started thinking about other issues. "I could use a toothbrush real bad."

During her stay at Exile Island, Candice dug a large grid of straight lines, to no avail.

When Adam went to Exile Island, he had no plan at all. He said, "Right now I'm just, kind of, digging wherever."

New Scene: Once the tribes combined, Parvati mingled and flirted with the all the men. Rebecca said, "The guys love her... She's entertainment for them."

Parvati agreed with Rebecca, saying, "What else are they going to think about?"

Voted Out: Cecilia.
Select Final Words: "Those people missed out."

Episode Four

New Scene: At Raro, Stephannie sang "Amazing Grace."

New Scene: After it seemed like Stephannie was the next to go, the women approached Nate with their plan to vote out J.P. Nate's response: "Oh! No. No. No. You guys are stupid."

New Scene: Before Tribal Council, J.P. hugged Stephannie and said goodbye, as he thought it was a foregone conclusion that she was going. To his tribemates, J.P. said, "I think this will be the hardest vote ever."

Voted Out: J.P.
Select Final Words: "Everyone that I trusted...ended up not working out for me."

Episode Five

New Scene: Raro won some spices and wine at the Reward Challenge. That night, Nate said, "We got some wine. We're gettin' our fade on."

The tribe sat around the fire and shared the booze. After only a few sips, Stephannie swayed drunkenly and tipped over. Parvati said, "She's talking nonsense and almost passing out. It's really cute." (Drunk Stephannie sounds a lot like my two-year-old niece, after eight p.m.)

New Scene: At Aitu, Ozzy couldn't get Jenny, Becky, or Sundra to come fishing with him. Candice said she wanted to sit on the beach, and not go back out into the cold water. "I only get one-eighth of the fish that I catch," Ozzy groused.

Cao Boi said the women's lazy ways would come back to haunt them. "Watch out. There's a knife poised at your back at all times."

Voted out: Stephannie.
Select Final Words:"What took me out of the game was the emotional aspect of missing my family."

Episode Six

New Scene: After a Tribal Council in which her tribemates called her out for being bossy, Cristina told Jenny and Adam, "I'm not a robot." Jenny played nice, but Adam vowed to keep calling people out on their bad behavior.

Voted Out: Cao Boi.
Select Final Words:"I thought [the other Asians'] parents had taught them...about not screwing someone over."

Voted Out: Cristina.
Select Final Words:"I would do it all over again." Well, you can't.

Next week: Nate's temporary tribe membership causes stress for Aitu. Ozzy catches more fish. And there's a storm at Exile Island.

DwtS 3 -- Results Show Week 7

Finally, Jerry Springer gets to relax. He was eliminated at the end of this week's Dancing with the Stars Results Show.

Recapping last night's performances, Kym was most impressed by Jerry's Mambo outfit. "I got myself an old hottie," she said proudly.

And Joey was moved when Bruno said that Gene Kelly would've been pleased with his "Singin' in the Rain" routine. Joey said, "It felt good in a real deep part of my body."

The judges had a tough decision regarding who would receive the encore. "We were absolutely spoiled for choice," Len said.They awarded the encore to the only dance to receive a perfect score from Len: Emmitt & Cheryl's Mambo. "Two of us gave him a ten, and one of us gave him a nine...Bruno." The routine was just as shimmy-riffic the second time around.

Then it was time for this evening's promotional, er, musical guest to perform. Martina McBride -- who, coincidentally, will perform at the Country Music Awards on ABC in a few weeks -- performed her 2003 hit, "This One's For the Girls." Some unspecified dancers performed a routine behind Martina.

As Martina and crew left the floor, Samantha spoke with some of the celebrities backstage about all of the 10s awarded last night. Emmitt said, "To get a 10 from Len is unexpected. It felt great." Monique was upbeat, despite not earning a 10 herself: "Everyone who got a 10 last night deserved it. I'll strive for one next week."

When asked if he was disappointed with his scores from the judges, Jerry said, "They can't give me a 10."

Last night's studio audience had opinions about the scoring as well. In regard to the 9 that Bruno gave Emmitt's Mambo, Food Network star Rachel Ray said, "He got so ripped off."

Another audience member fell hard for Joey: "Love that bald head. Wanna rub it." And some had plans for Jerry after he left DwtS: "Jerry should be the poster boy for AARP."

Then the first safe couples were announced, and, to nobody's surprise, they were Mario & Karina and Emmitt & Cheryl.

The highlight of the night was a performance by some of Maksim's students, including his younger brother, Valentin. The students did a Cha Cha to Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean," complete with some sweet moonwalking. Corey Feldman is so jealous.

After the performance, Samantha checked in with the two safe couples. She asked Mario if he was concerned that the other couples were gaining momentum. "We've been concerned since day one," he replied.

Samantha asked Emmitt if he and Cheryl had saved their strong routines to get higher scores later in the competition. Emmitt said, "We've come out every week trying to get a good score."

Then it was time for an update on Tysonia, the Slim-Fast lady. She visited the DwtS studios to meet the contestants. She got dancing tips from Kym, Karina, and Cheryl, and Max dipped her. The visit was inspiration for Tysonia's Paso Doble, which she performed in front of strangers at a pedestrian mall.

Martina McBride returned for her second performance of the evening, this time accompanied by Edyta and her fiance, Season 1 champ, Alec Mazo. Edyta looked about as country as a Polish-born ballroom queen possibly can -- wearing a cowboy hat, chaps-like leg warmers, and an outfit best described as a cowgirl bikini.

During the song, the cameras spent a bit too much time focused on Martina, and Edyta & Alec were nowhere to be seen. It was an unfortunate reminder that, sometimes, its more important for networks to cross-promote their other shows than it is for them to promote the show that's actually being aired.

The performance was followed by some behind-the-scenes video clips, featuring the men of DwtS. When he signed up for the show, Mario's biggest concern was that he wouldn't look masculine. Joey's brother's teased him initially, but now they ask him for dancing tips. "I'll teach you how to do a 'Cucaracha,' fellas," Joey promised.

The male celebs were happy to learn that the male pros were regular guys. They all sat together during lunch and watched ESPN.

Emmitt's developed a stock response to guys who suggest that real men don't dance. Emmitt said, "Real men try to do things that they think they cannot do."

In another clip package, some stars from the two previous DwtS seasons offered their thoughts on having to learn two dances in one week. Jerry Rice said, "I can really relate to Jerry Springer. I was like, you mean I have to learn two dances?"

Lisa Rinna admitted that two dances put stress on the pro/celeb relationship: "Louis and I hated each other!"

Jerry Rice said, "You can compare it to football. You get in the playoffs, and you have one bad game... It's over."

Before revealing which couples were in the Bottom Two, Samantha announced that the DwtS Tour information is now available online. The couples on the tour will be Willa & Max, Joey & Edyta, Harry & Ashly, Cheryl & Drew, Lisa & Louis, and Joey McIntyre dancing with Kym (Ashly was his original partner in Season One).

Then, the Bottom Two were announced: Jerry & Kym and Monique & Louis. The fans had heeded Jerry's request to vote for the competitors, so he was sent home.

As Jerry shook the hands of the judges, and the crowd cheered, Tom observed, "I would expect they're cheering a different Jerry Springer than they thought they knew seven weeks ago."

Jerry looked at the camera and said, "Thank you for letting me go home."

Then he got a little emotional. "I hope everyone has a moment in life where...," and Jerry turned away as he started to cry. He continued, "This show and this floor belong to people who really can dance."

Kym said of Jerry, "I've had so much fun. He's just the nicest man I've ever met. He's been able to do pretty much every dance."

Jerry told Kym that he and his wife "already have the greatest daughter in the world. But, if Katie would have a sister, Micki and I would adopt you."

Tom asked if Katie called Jerry after last night's performance. Jerry said, "She calls every week to say, 'I love you, but I'm coming to take you home.'"

Jerry hesitated as the band started to play "My Way," and Kym urged him to the dance floor. Jerry grabbed a mic, pointed to the other celebs, and said of Kym, "She came all the way from Australia. Let her dance at least one dance with one of these guys."

But Kym got her way, and she and Jerry danced for a few seconds, before the rest of the competitors came over to hug the departing couple.

DwtS 3 -- Performance Show Week 7

For this week's Dancing with the Stars Performance Show, the remaining contestants must have felt like they'd wandered into the land of a thousand dances. Each couple performed a pair of routines, before passing out from exhaustion.

The show was split into two rounds: a Ballroom round, followed by a Latin round. The scores from both of tonight's rounds were added to the judges' scores from last week, for a possible total score of 90 points.

Ballroom Round

Jerry Springer & Kym Johnson - Foxtrot
After last week's subpar Paso Doble, Jerry's daughter Katie called and said, "Dad, I love you, but you can do better." So he came back to practice with a serious demeanor, determined to "give the [Foxtrot] the dignity it deserves."

Jerry & Kym looked snazzy dancing to "My Way" by Frank Sinatra. It was a well-executed, tasteful performance. Dancing well was the best way for Jerry to show Kym how much he appreciates her own hard work, and they both looked pleased as they made their way to the judges' table.

Len asked Jerry, "Were you proud of yourself tonight? You should be proud. Tonight, you danced the correct way." Bruno said, "It's like watching Fred Flinstone turn into Fred Astaire." Carrie Ann said, "I want to see you come back and do your Latin with confidence and exuberance."
Judges' Scores: Carrie Ann...8, Len...8, Bruno...8 = 24/30

Monique Coleman & Louis van Amstel - Quickstep
Monique and her High School Musical co-star Ashley Tinsdale had a girls day out, and they dragged Louis with them. "Never go shopping with women," he grumbled.

Dancing to the classic, "Luck Be a Lady," Monique executed her holds and kept her posture. It felt like a proper Quickstep, which was just what the judges were looking for. Louis lost hold of Monique's leg during their final pose.

Bruno paused for dramatic effect and said, "Well...the wild child has turned into a magic lady tonight. That was sheer elegance." Carrie Ann addressed the crowd first, "I don't know if you all saw that, but she danced half the routine with her foot stuck in her dress. If you hadn't stumbled, it would've been a 10." Len said, "There was no luck in that. It was bright, it was light, it was dynamite."
Judges' Scores: Carrie Ann...9, Len...9, Bruno...9 = 27/30

Emmitt Smith & Cheryl Burke - Waltz
Cheryl & Emmitt had a spa day, complete with pedicure. Emmitt bragged, "I've got the prettiest male toes in all of L.A." He wasn't as excited about practicing the Waltz, though: "It's boring!" But Cheryl enjoyed their rehearsals, saying "Emmitt looks like a ballerina."

They danced to "Hushabye Mountain" from the film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. It was a lovely, smooth performance. Emmitt's hand and arm movements looked pretty polished -- especially for an ex-football player.

Carrie Ann said, "Amazing. I was mesmerized by your footwork." Len called the performance, "Lovely jubbly. There was a harmony between you. But sometimes, when you're apart, your arms are a little bit wooden." Bruno called Emmitt "the lord of the manor."
Judges' Scores: Carrie Ann...10, Len...9, Bruno...9 = 28/30

Mario Lopez & Karina Smirnoff - Foxtrot
Learning two dances at the same time made Mario grumpy and difficult to work with. "We hope it's going to come together," Karina said.

Karina wore a blond wig as the couple danced to Marilyn Monroe's "I Wanna be Loved by You." Karina channeled Marilyn, blowing kisses to the judges during the routine. Mario might as well have been anybody, because Karina stole the show.

Bruno praised "the playboy and the sex kitten. That was delicious entertainment." Carrie Ann said, "You both were fantastic." Len said, "I can't believe we're seeing such a high standard of dancing tonight, considering that you're doing two dances. But I have to say, it's the first time I've seen a Foxtrot without one heel lead." Bruno voiced his disagreement with a loud, "Oooooh!"
Judges' Scores: Carrie Ann...10, Len...9, Bruno...10 = 29/30

Joey Lawrence & Edyta Sliwinska - Foxtrot
Joey was excited to be dancing to "Singin' in the Rain." He loves the movie, and Gene Kelly is one of his heroes. So, Edyta took Joey to practice on the lot where the movie was filmed, and then sprayed him with a garden hose for the proper effect.

Dancing with an umbrella as a prop, Joey & Edyta spent lots of time apart at beginning of the routine. It was a very lively dance, and they broke twice in the middle for more of Joey's tap moves -- reminiscent of his first week in the competition. Though Joey and Edyta danced apart for much of the routine, it looked like they were truly having fun.

Len told Joey, "You're a great ballroom dancer, but as with Mario, no heels, all balls." Bruno said, "That was a great tribute to a Hollywood legend." Carrie Ann added, "That was flawless."
Judges' Scores: Carrie Ann...10, Len...9, Bruno...10 = 29/30

Latin Round

Jerry Springer & Kym Johnson - Mambo
As expected, Jerry's 64-year-old hips were pretty stationary. But the routine was worth watching just for Kym and her killer dress. She's been a real asset to the cast, and I hope she returns for season four. At the end of the dance, Jerry challenged the judges, "How bout them hips?"

Carrie told Jerry, "You're a joy to watch, but you're not on the same level as everyone else." Len said, "I don't care if it's not up to the standards of the others. You've brought so much joy to the show." Bruno speculated, "I don't think the public will let you go on vacation. You make us laugh. It's great to have you."

When he received his scores, Jerry said, "It shows how professional they are. They say such nice things, and then give me the lowest scores. It shows they have integrity."
Judges' Scores: Carrie Ann...7, Len...8, Bruno...7 = 22/30

Monique Coleman & Louis van Amstel - Paso Doble
Monique & Louis had the misfortune of dancing to the only inappropriate song of the night: "The Reflex," by Duran Duran. The song really distracted from the dancing, but from what I remember, Monique was a good cape.

Len said, "I think you produced two great performances tonight. Apart from a few underarm turns, you did great." Bruno told Monique, "You're a tough cookie tonight." Carrie Ann said, "You have to represent the women, and you did tonight. But you overpowered yourself a bit at the end."
Judges' Scores: Carrie Ann...9, Len...9, Bruno...9 = 27/30

Emmitt Smith & Cheryl Burke - Mambo
Emmitt shimmied like no man has ever shimmied before. He and Cheryl were so comfortable on the dance floor, it almost didn't feel like a calculated routine; it just looked like two people dancing and having fun. At times, Emmitt and Cheryl looked like they were about to break out laughing, yet they missed hardly a step.

Bruno said, "The beast is unleashed. If you keep going like this, God knows what's going to happen." Carrie Ann upgraded Emmitt from "Twinkle Toes" to "Sir Shimmy." Len said, "Of every dance I've seen this whole season, that was the best." The crowd, hoping for a perfect score, booed Bruno when he raised his "9" paddle.
Judges' Scores: Carrie Ann...10, Len...10, Bruno...9 = 29/30

Mario Lopez & Karina Smirnoff - Jive
Mario & Karina danced to a slightly slow version of "Shake a Tail Feather." It looked like the music's pace forced them to hold back, and they could have danced much faster. Karina's legs still managed to look fabulous.

Carrie Ann complimented the couple on their "great synchronization. I felt you seemed a bit uncertain at the beginning." Len said,"It had vitality. The only little thing... Sometimes when you're holding your partners hand, [your other] hand is hanging like a bit of cotton from a knicker leg. But apart from that, I loved it." Bruno declared, "It was another crowd pleaser from the great teaser."
Judges' Scores: Carrie Ann...9, Len...9, Bruno...9 = 27/30

Joey Lawrence & Edyta Sliwinska - Mambo
Joey & Edyta danced to the song, "Mambo No. 5." The performance was very entertaining, even if it did end with Joey's face suggestively planted in Edyta's stomach. When compared to Emmitt's Mambo, Joey's arms looked a little stiff. But he still managed put those arms to good use, executing some tricky moves.

Carrie Ann told Joey, "That's the first time I saw you loosen up and have a good time." Bruno said, "You were the only one who did all the underarm passes." Len told Joey, "I was impressed with your hips. You gave it a bit of welly."
Judges' Scores: Carrie Ann...9, Len...9, Bruno...10 = 28/30

Leaderboard:
1 - Mario (84/90)
2 - Emmit - (82/90)
3 - Joey (81/90)
4 - Monique (77/90)
5 - Jerry (64/90)

My vote went to Emmitt & Cheryl. Of all of the men left in the competition, Emmitt's the only one who's not being outshined by his partner. That's a credit to him, for being able to keep up with Cheryl. And it's a credit to Cheryl, for tailoring the routine to her partner's strengths, rather than trying to cover up his deficiencies with her own flashy moves.

DwtS Extra: Scenes from a Show Taping (Part Two)

Imee DuBose, a friend of Cheryl Burke and webmaster of Cheryl's official website, StrictlyCheryl.com, was in the audience for a recent Performance Show. Imee graciously agreed to write a couple articles about the experience.

In Part One, Imee told us what happens before and during the show. In this article, she covers the after-show happenings.

The wild applause, which peaked during Tom and Samantha’s sign-off, starts to settle down. The celebrities and professional dancers disperse across the dance floor and suddenly look relaxed, as their adrenalin subsides to normal levels.

The cameras' work is done for the night, and their red on-the-air lights have switched off. Studio lights turn on to bring us back from Reality TV to reality.

Ushers direct most of the audience toward the studio exit doors. Some attendees stay behind to provide the commentary that is included in Wednesday’s Results Show. The families and friends of the dancers converge on the dance floor, expressing congratulations on a job well done.

Soon, an army of television news reporters (with their cameras) and print media reporters (with their notepads) enter the studio. Shanna Moakler is among them. She's gone from DwtS contestant to correspondent for Entertainment Tonight.

Like they do each week, the media take their assigned spaces on the dance floor behind a white, chain-linked rope. The dancing couples take their place on the opposite side and are interviewed by one reporter after another, moving down the line until they arrive back at the reporter with whom they started.

In all, there are about twenty reporters and cameras snapping away, and I can't imagine answering the same questions 20 times. “How do you think you did out there?” Take note: mono-syllabic answers are not allowed!

I can't help but feel for the female dancers, who must stand for all that time in their dancing heels. It reminds me of the old adage: "Beauty before pain." More power to them, as they smile and interview for what probably seems like forever.

As she waits to speak with the next reporter, I have a chance to tell Kym Johnson -- who is very nice and has a beautiful smile -- what great choreography she did for her Samba with Jerry Springer.

VIPs with green bracelets are allowed access to The Green Room (hence the color of the bracelet). Many start heading there while the interviews are going on. It's on the third floor of the studio, and even though it's called The Green Room, it’s not actually green.

Tonight, I call it the "Green Salad Room," because it is a toss up of who is in here. Typically, the celebs and professional dancers show up later, while their invited guests, the DwtS crew, and those lucky enough to sneak past the security without a green bracelet, get to eat and drink something. (Our audience participation started at 3 p.m. -- four hours ago. Feed us!)

It's Mario’s birthday tonight, which influenced the food being served: taquitos, chips, guacamole, and other south-of-the-border finger foods. The victuals go quickly. By the time he gets back here, I’ll be surprised if there's any left for Mario.

The bar is well stocked with everything but hard liquor, and the servers are kind and attentive. There are barstools and tall, round tables, but all of them are occupied. There are some big, comfortable looking couches, but those are taken, too.

One of the great things about the Green Room is an opportunity to watch the "six degrees of separation" theory at play. Everyone is very friendly with one another -- because we all know someone (or know someone who knows someone) on the show, or we wouldn’t be in the room. We’re all part of the extended DwtS family.

Cheryl and Emmitt make their way into the room, alongside Carrie Ann Inaba. It's 8 o'clock: the beginning of prime time on the West Coast. The three television sets in the Green Salad Room switch on, and we turn their heads to watch the familiar DwtS opening. It’s the studio audience's turn to be the television audience!

The Amazing Race 10: Episode 6

In a reversal of last week's first and last place finishers, David & Mary finished in first, and Peter & Sarah came in last. But getting eliminated from The Amazing Race wasn't all bad -- Sarah's not stuck with Peter anymore.

Teams left Chennai, India for Kuwait City, Kuwait, arriving on the same connection from Mumbai. The couples drove to the Kuwait Towers where they found their first clue, which held instructions for both a Roadblock and this season's first Fast Forward.

The Fast Forward was especially important for David & Mary, who needed to reach the Pit Stop first to avoid a 30-minute penalty (the price for finishing in last in last week's non-elimination leg).

To dissuade other teams attempting the Fast Forward, Erwin & Godwin pretended that they were going for it, along with David & Mary. The other five teams could then feel secure that they were in no danger this episode, as whichever of the two Fast Forward-seeking teams failed to get it would likely be too far behind to catch up with the pack.

Erwin & Godwin walked to the parking lot with David & Mary. The Kentucky couple drove off, and the Cho brothers waited a few moments in order to give their alliance-mates a head start. The Chos then went back up the tower and rejoined the other teams, pretending that they'd decided, at the last minute, to attempt the Roadblock instead.

For the Roadblock, one team member climbed a service ladder on the Tower's exterior, 610 feet above the ground. At the top, the Roadblockers retrieved satchels full of puzzle pieces, which they brought back to the ground to assemble. As Sarah climbed the ladder, Peter cheered on his "Bionic Spider-Woman."

Once assembled, the puzzle revealed the location of their next clue -- written in Arabic. Tyler finished his puzzle first, and then asked a local man to read the location and give him directions. Other teams followed suit, although the quality of information varied depending on which local they asked.

Lyn & Karlyn were asking a couple of men for directions when they noticed the Beauty Queens approaching. "Don't help them," the Alabama mothers told the men, grabbing their arms and pulling them away.

One of the men did help Dustin & Kandice, but they were upset by Lyn & Karlyn's actions. "It's tough when you have The Sistahs being big pigs," Kandice said. In their car, Lyn and Karlyn felt that it wasn't fair that the Beauty Queens had gotten to use the same local help that they had.

Erwin & Godwin, who were in last place after the diversion they'd caused for David & Mary, made up ground by getting a police escort to the next clue's location: a bead shop in a local market. "I have a whole new respect for law enforcement," Godwin said.

Meanwhile, David & Mary reached their Fast Forward. They donned fire-retardant gear and, walking behind a fireproof shield, retrieved a clue from a box next to an oil fire.

As she inched toward the fire and its 1000 degree heat, Mary said, "Maybe Steven Seagal will see me and want me to be in one of his movies." They got their clue, which directed them to drive to the Pit Stop, near the Al-Sidiq Water Towers.

David & Mary drove to the Pit Stop, where Phil informed them that they were the first team to arrive and had won a trip to Jamaica. Their enthusiasm was somewhat muted, as they worried that Erwin & Godwin's generous act may have cost them the race.

Meanwhile, the other teams scoured a crowded street, looking for the Race flag signifying the shop in which they'd receive their next clue. Tyler & James found the bead shop first, and a man behind the counter gave them their next clue. It was a Detour: Manual or Automatic.

In Manual, teams drove to an outdoor facility that manufactured camel feed. Each team needed to fill ten 110-lb. bags of feed, carry them to a pallet, and stack them -- all to the foreman's satisfaction.

In Automatic, teams drove to a camel racing track. There, they needed to strap a voice-activated robot jockey to a camel's back. On commands sent via a walkie talkie, the robot jockey whipped the camel. Once the camel crossed the finish line, teams received their next clue.

Teams made their choice between Detour options, but the tasks themselves weren't what separated the pack. Nearly every team got lost driving around Kuwait City. Tyler & James watched their lead disappear as they failed to get clear directions to the site of the Manual task.

Rob & Kimberly arrived at Manual, first, with Dustin & Kandice right on their heels. The Beauty Queens filled and stacked their bags remarkably quickly, only to discover that their bags weren't full enough. They redid much of their work, as Rob & Kimberly finished and Erwin & Godwin arrived.

Dustin & Kandice out-navigated Rob & Kimberly to the Pit Stop, winning the race for second place.

Lyn & Karlyn were the first to the Automatic Detour. They strapped a robot jockey to their camel and yelled, "Go, camel, go!" to activate the robot's automatic whip. This was one of the rare occasions when the less physically demanding task was also the quickest.

Lyn & Karlyn arrived at the Pit Stop in fourth place. The Cho brothers, certain that their earlier good deed would go punished, were stunned to hear Phil tell them they were in fifth place, and not eliminated.

Peter & Sarah, the third team to reach the market, had the worst luck of any of the teams. After thinking they were irrevocably lost, Peter spotted a red-and-yellow Race arrow along the road. He laughed and congratulated himself repeatedly for spotting the arrow. Unfortunately, the arrow eventually led them to the long-completed Fast Forward -- not to a Detour location.

After receiving a string of bad directions, Tyler & James abandoned their plans to shovel camel feed and, instead, drove to the camel racing track. They ran alongside their camel, yelling, "Whoa, wait for us!" They reached the Pit Stop in sixth place.

Peter & Sarah were still lost. Eventually, they drove all the way back to the Kuwait Towers. There, a man offered to lead them to the Manual Detour. Somehow, they wound up in the parking lot of a grocery store.

When they finally found the camel feed facility, the sun had set. At the Pit Stop, Phil informed them they'd been eliminated.

Phil asked what they'd learned about each other on the race, and Peter announced that he and Sarah had broken up. "I think Sarah and I both realize we're good friends. We don't really balance each other very well."

Sarah was more blunt: "He's not a very nurturing individual." She vowed to find someone better.

Next week: Tensions escalate between Dustin & Kandice and Lyn & Karlyn. And Dustin crashes the Beauty Queens' vehicle into a bus. I guess an Indian driving test only improves your skills so much.

DwtS 3 In-Season Update: 10-21-06

Last week's non-elimination episode of Dancing with the Stars revealed who's most likely to be eliminated this week, and who are we at MOIB to disagree? At this point in the competition, there aren't too many surprises in the weekly Power Rankings.

5. Jerry Springer & Kym Johnson
Jerry's literally told his fans to stop voting for him. And, with last week's ridiculous Paso Doble, he's told them figuratively, as well. I've enjoyed watching Jerry on the show, but as he's said more than once, "It's time."

4. Joey Lawrence & Edyta Sliwinska
Spending time in the Bottom Two alongside Jerry was a real wake-up call for Joey & Edyta. But with the competition this tight, I'm not sure if there's much they can do to make it to the finals. They should squeak through this week, but they need to be absolutely perfect after that.

3. Monique Coleman & Louis van Amstel
Monique vented in the Week 6 Unaired Confessionals video that the judges have scored her more harshly than they have her male competitors. Looking back at her scores, compared to those of the men, she may be on to something. If only two couples will participate in the finals, Monique may have a tough time garnering the fan support she needs to overcome the judges' scores.

2. Emmitt Smith & Cheryl Burke
Emmitt has no fan support issues, which is why he has yet to face the red glare of the Bottom Two lights. He's popular and charming, and he's got the partner who best knows how to make magic from the producers' sometimes strange song selections. I'll be shocked if Emmitt and Cheryl aren't in the finals, and that's the only week they need to win.

1. Mario Lopez & Karina Smirnoff
Based solely on the number of people who've viewed the YouTube video of Mario & Karina's most recent dance, you may want to bet the house on them. As of today, their video had received over four times as many views as their closest competitors, Emmitt & Cheryl.

Mario just needs to keep things status quo until the finale (without making it seem like he's coasting, of course).

Once there, he and Karina have the talent and athleticism to perform a Freestyle routine that all but dares fans not to vote for them. It's obvious they have the highest skill level, so it will be all about the routine.

The Freestyle's choreography is what sunk Stacy & Tony last season -- and what helped lock up the victory for Drew & Cheryl. I have a feeling that, like Cheryl last season, Karina won't go conservative. So Mario's in a great position to win.

More DwtS News:
In an interview with AOL, Cheryl confirms that she and Drew Lachey will be a part of the upcoming Dancing with the Stars tour. Maksim's rep has published the tour schedule at Max's site.

Speaking of Max, he and Willa Ford aren't doing much to put rumors about their alleged romance to rest.

In the Sara Evans divorce case, her husband, Craig Schelske, denies many of the charges made against him. He claims that Sara was the one guilty of cheating. According to Schelske, he learned of her affair on October 11 -- the same night the couple was seen arguing in a restaurant, after Sara's last Results Show. The woman Sara has accused of having an affair with Schelske, Alison Clinton, denies any kind of inappropriate relationship.

Survivor: Cook Islands -- Episode 6

Neither tribe had immunity this week on Survivor: Cook Islands. Cao Boi and Cristina were the least popular on their respective teams, so they got axed.

The day after a Tribal Council in which Cristina learned her tribemates all considered her "annoying," both the Aitu and Raro tribes were summoned to a Reward Challenge.

For the challenge, each team selected three members whose job was to hold on to a post for dear life. In teams of two, the remaining tribe members tried to pull one opposing tribe member off a post, through about fifty feet of sand, and across a goal line. First, women would go against women, then men against men, and then the women were up again.

The first tribe to drag all three opposing post-holders to their goal line won.

Jeff told the tribes he had some good news and bad news. The winning team would enjoy a feast of roast lamb. However, they'd be gorging at Tribal Council, where both tribes would be voting someone out.

Because the challenge was physical, and Aitu had an extra man, Cao Boi sat it out. As it turned out, the challenge was more than just physical. It may have been the most brutal in show history.

Aitu's Jessica and Becky manhandled Raro's Jenny, yanking her from her post and hauling her to the goal line, Jenny kicking and squirming the entire way. Her body took a beating, and so did her swimsuit, which had to be blurred out at one point.

At the same time, Raro's Parvati and Rebecca had little luck wrestling Aitu's Candice away from her post. Each time they were able to move her, Candice used her lanky frame to reach back and grab on to the post.

Once Jenny had been dragged across Aitu's goal line, Yul and Jonathan took a crack at Nate. He put up a good fight, but they were still able to pull him to their goal before Parvati and Jenny bested Candice.

Perhaps the best fight of the challenge was Raro's Cristina versus Jessica and Becky. Early on, Jessica put Cristina in an illegal choke hold. Cristina's police training kicked in, and she pulled Jessica's hair and shoved her face into the sand. At times, Jessica's only recourse was to pin Cristina down and hope that Becky could pull them both, a few inches at a time.

As the fight raged, Raro's Adam and Brad were able to haul Aitu's Ozzy to their goal. Ozzy didn't make things easy, and the three lay in the sand trying to catch their breath as Parvati & Rebecca went to grab Sundra, Aitu's final woman.

Sundra gripped the post with her legs in a scissor lock, buying her teammates enough time to get Cristina near the goal. With a final pull, Becky was able to touch Cristina's toe to the goal line, earning the win for Aitu.

Both tribes had time to recover from the challenge and discuss voting strategy before Tribal Council. Cristina begged the Raro tribe for a second chance. Nate and Rebecca discussed saving Cristina, and eliminating Jenny instead.

At Aitu's camp, Cao Boi awoke from a weird dream about a shaman woman who told him he needed to apply for an American Express card. Obviously, it could mean only one thing: Cao Boi had to come up with a plan to flush out the Hidden Immunity Idol. Rarely are dreams so literal.

Assuming that Jonathan had the Idol -- because he'd been to Exile Island twice -- Cao Boi suggested to Yul that three people vote for Jonathan and three people vote for Candice. The tie would force Jonathan or Candice to use the Idol for self-preservation, and the other would be sent home.

Yul called the plan "ingenious," but he didn't comment on its lone flaw: Jonathan didn't have the Idol. Yul did.

Jonathan's constant shifty glances and secretive ways made the plan, named "Plan Voodoo" by Cao Boi, appealing to many tribe members. But its source, the dream, also reinforced the reigning opinion that Cao Boi was off his rocker.

Yul confirmed that opinion at Tribal Council. "I can't say I fully understand him," Yul said of Cao Boi.

When asked about his voting strategy, Cao Boi further confused his tribemates with a chess analogy that didn't make much sense, until Jeff Probst correctly interpreted Cao Boi's plan to "expose the queen" as an attempt to put the Hidden Immunity Idol into play.

Ultimately, only Jessica stuck with Cao Boi's Plan Voodoo. She voted for Jonathan, while the plan's mastermind voted for Candice. Everyone else voted for Cao Boi.

In his exit interview, Cao Boi said his only regret in the game was trusting in "the Asian Community."

Aitu moved over to the jury box as Raro took their seats for Tribal Council. Before deliberations began, Jeff handed Aitu a pot of greasy lamb shanks. The members of Raro could do little but watch and lick their lips.

When asked about the verbal beating she took at the last Tribal Council, Cristina admitted that it hurt. Brad stood up for her, saying, "Some things are better left unsaid."

But Adam refused to let things go, saying, "Her personality just clashes with ours. She can't change it."

Before Raro voted, Jeff gave Aitu the opportunity to kidnap someone from Raro. That person would be awarded Immunity, share in the lamb feast, and then become a part of Aitu through the next Reward Challenge. Aitu kidnapped Nate.

Nate chowed down as Raro cast their votes. Once they were finished voting, Aitu was sent back to camp, leaving Nate in the dark about who was voted out from his tribe.

Cristina and Brad voted for Jenny, but the rest of Raro sided with Adam and voted for Cristina. Brad looked nervous as the votes were read, a possible sign that he's not on the same page with his tribemates.

Of her experience on Survivor, Cristina said, "I met some really good people, and I met some awful people."

Next week: Jessica says too much about Plan Voodoo in front of Nate, and one survivor spends a stormy night on Exile Island.

DwtS 3 -- Results Show Week 6

As expected, the celebrity eliminated from tonight's Dancing with the Stars was... nobody.

The show started with recaps of the couples' post-dance confessionals. Louis fulfilled a promise he made to the judges, listing all of the Samba moves he'd included in his routine with Monique. Feeling that the judges were scoring the female celebrities more harshly than the men, Monique vowed to add more gimmicks next week, such as starting the routine seated in a chair while Louis dances around her.

She must have forgotten just how far Tucker & Elena got with that act.

When it came time to award the encore, the judges gave it to the couple with the highest score last night: Mario & Karina.

I must have drifted off to sleep during the encore, because I surely dreamt the next part of the show: Lionel Richie performing "All Night Long," as Tony, Elena, Max, and Karina danced a Samba.

But I wasn't dreaming -- it was real! The dancing was absolutely fabulous, and Nick Kosovich, who designs the male professionals' costumes, took the open-chest shirt to new extremes for Max and Tony.

At the end of the routine, Max hugged Lionel Richie. Lucky Lionel.

After the performance by Iraq's favorite pop star, Samantha spoke with some of the celebrities backstage. She asked Mario if he was nervous about having to learn two new dances next week, and she seemed surprised when he said yes. Mario said, "I'm always nervous, and I hope the others are, too, so that it levels the playing field."

Then, Samantha, who must have a familiarity with the cast that doesn't translate to television, awkwardly danced her way to Jerry, calling him, "The Jer-meister."

Jerry pointed at Samantha as she moved and said, "That was how I danced last night." When asked if he hoped to move on in the competition, Jerry said, "If I make it through to next week, I'm gonna demand a recount. This has been great. Thanks for having me."

Then it was time for the Performance Show's studio audience to weigh in. Everyone who mentioned Monique's routine felt the need to demonstrate their own krump moves. Eva Longoria, who's becoming as ubiquitous as Lisa Rinna, said that she felt the judges were unfairly scoring Mario as if he were a pro. Apparently, a 28/30 is unfair.

The coolest celebrity in the audience last night was Dennis Haskins, better known as Mr. Belding from Saved by the Bell. He said, "As Mario's former principal, I give him an A."

After that clip package, the first two safe couples were announced: Mario & Karina and Monique & Louis.

Then it was back to the dance floor for a special performance by Nick and his wife, Lena Kosovich. Not only was she his professional partner, but she co-designs the dancers' outfits with Nick.

They danced to "The Show Must Go On" by Queen, and the singing quality reminded me that Freddie Mercury was one of a kind. Nick's shirt seemed fairly conservative until he bowed low at the end of the dance. Boom! Manly Chest Explosion.

As swooning women everywhere recovered, Samantha caught up with the two safe couples backstage. She told Monique, "You've got to be feeling pretty confident."

Monique said, "Not at all! I'm just so happy to be here."

And Mario attributed his success to having "the best dancer in the world for my teacher."

Then it was time for an update on the Slim-Fast Challenge contestant, Tysonia. Tysonia danced the Cha Cha at her daughter's high school. We'll need an update next week on the damage that her mom's dancing did to her daughter's social life.

Lionel Richie was back to sing his new song, "I Call It Love." Lionel's decided that the best way to update his sound for a new audience is to use electric drums. Those laser beam sound effects sound just as futuristic now as they did in 1975: "Pyew, Pyew, Pyew!"

Lionel's trip back in time was followed by a segment about the show's costumes. Costume designer Randall Christensen and his crew have only four days to get all of the costumes ready for each show. "On one lady's costume alone, we can easily put over 15,000 rhinestones," Randall said. "And those have to be individually placed, one at a time."

And the stars really do have input into their costumes. "The colors, I leave up to Cheryl," Emmitt said. "But the style is up to me."

On performance day, necessary adjustments are made to ensure the outfits work: from gluing and taping dresses to the body, to sewing microphone packs into secret locations. Kym said, "I don't even want to begin to tell you where I've had microphones on my body."

Keeping with the body theme, body language expert Jo Ellen Dimitrius was brought in to analyze the stars' behavior. In front of the judges, she observed, Mario holds his head down in fear. Monique blinks rapidly because she's nervous, and Joey licks his lips -- a lot. Emmitt touches his belt in an attempt to ground himself, and Jerry tries to put his hand in his pocket and hide.

Dimitrius said that, come elimination time, we see "the real Mario" -- intense and focused on moving on to next week. Monique looks down at the ground, hiding, while Emmitt and Jerry hold their heads up, "looking for the answer." Joey stays calm and doesn't move, "because he realizes he has absolutely no control over what happens."

Next week, the couples will have to perform two individual dances. Lest the added stress lead to arguments, Len advised the cast, "Try to imagine you're two people in a rowboat, and you have to work together." To Jerry, he added, "Remember the KISS method -- Keep It Sweet and Simple."

Tom and Samantha then began delivering the fates of the remaining three couples. Emmitt & Cheryl were safe, leaving Joey & Edyta and Jerry & Kym in the Bottom Two. As the show went to commercial, Jerry waved and mouthed "good-bye" to the camera.

After the commercial, the elimination theme played, and Tom said, "The couple with the lowest score, and therefore leaving right now... Neither of you."

Joey looked around confusedly, and Jerry collapsed on the stage. Joey had to perform fake CPR and help him up.

Samantha explained that the judges' scores from this week will be added to next week's scores, and that the audience votes from this week will be added to next week's audience votes to determine who goes home next.

Tonight's result put Joey and Jerry on notice for next week. That was good news for Jerry, who seems to eager to get home, relax, and watch the show on TV.

Since Sara & Tony didn't get a proper send-off, Tom introduced a package of Sara & Tony clips. All of the couples then danced to a reprise of "The Show Must Go On," as the credits rolled.

DwtS 3 -- Performance Show Week 6

Sara Evans saved her first public interview regarding her divorce for tonight's episode of Dancing with the Stars. It closed the show on a somber note, after a night of high-energy dancing.

The show began with a pro demonstration of all of the dances scheduled for this episode, including the Tango, which Sara & Tony would've danced. Because Louis is the only male professional dancer left in the competition, Max and Tony lent their skills to the performance. With four female pros left to match up with the three guys, Cheryl sat out the demo -- presumably because she spent most of the week training with Emmitt in Texas.

Mario Lopez & Karina Smirnoff - Mambo
Mario warned viewers, "Just because I'm Latin doesn't mean that the Latin dances come naturally to me." To get in the spirit, Karina and Mario went to a dance club with Eva Longoria. Over drinks, Eva slurred, "I want to know why a Russian is teaching you Latin dances." She and Mario went off to dance, leaving Karina sitting at the table alone. Karina was polite about being ditched, so I fumed on her behalf.

Making use of all of their assets, Mario wore a sleeveless shirt and Karina wore a low-cut dress. Mario took Carrie Ann's advice and made his moves less staccato than last week. It was a fun routine, full of spins. Overall, it was more athletic than it was emotional.

Len told Mario, "Parts of that were as good as you can dance. When you're dancing together, you don't focus on each other." Bruno was unabashedly enthusiastic: "You're a devil on that dance floor. Sinfully good." Carrie Ann said, "I noticed a difference at the beginning, you didn't clip your arms as much. You're close to our professionals, that's why I nitpick you so much."
Judges' Scores: Carrie Ann...9, Len...9, Bruno...10 = 28/30

Monique Coleman & Louis van Amstel - Samba
Monique asked Louis if she could do a solo during their performance, assuming that Louis would choreograph it for her. But he refused, instead bringing in Tommy the Clown to help her. Tommy's the man who created krumping, a form of freestyle dancing.

Monique opened the routine by running out of the audience, sporting a short, curly hairstyle and a pink outfit with things that looked like tentacles hanging from the rear. Monique did her krump solo to the opening bars of "ABC," by the Jackson 5. The solo was so different from ballroom, it just didn't make sense. This was their most exciting performance, but it didn't scream Samba -- although if Louis is just hoping to win over the audience, it could work.

Carrie Ann said, "I've got to be careful what I ask for, 'cause that energy was fantastic. I think it was a little self-indulgent to do the solo at the beginning." Len directed his comments at Louis: "The first half had no Samba. The rest of it was an absolute hodgepodge of peculiar stuff." Bruno told Monique, "Krumping is great in the right place at the right time, but this is a Samba. You should've stuck to Louis's instructions." Louis promised to tell the judges where the Samba was in the routine later.
Judges' Scores: Carrie Ann...9, Len...7, Bruno...7 = 23/30

Joey Lawrence & Edyta Sliwinska - Rumba
"I don't want to make you uncomfortable," Edyta said to Joey as they practiced. "But we have to act like lovers. Now grab my head." Because that's what lovers do. Joey and Edyta attempted to be sexy, laughing the whole time. Joey ran the routine by his wife, Chandie, to make sure she approved of it. She chided the couple for not being sexy enough.

Edyta began the routine silhouetted on the stage, looking like she was covered in nothing but a small, very strategically placed bedsheet. Joey was at the foot of the stage with a microphone, lip-synching "Father Figure" by George Michael, as one of the house band singers performed the real vocals. The whole thing had an unsettling effect. Edyta got tangled in her bedsheet dress a few times, but apart from that, they moved very well across the floor. Finally, Joey looked relaxed as he danced. And if you're going for sexy, having Edyta half-naked pretty much takes care of that.

Bruno said, "I like a little bit of dirty dancing. You could've gone a little bit dirtier for my tastes." Carrie Ann said, "I hated the beginning with the microphone. But the dancing was a lot better this week." And Len said, "I thought that was right on the money."
Judges' Scores: Carrie Ann...8, Len...8, Bruno...8 = 24/30

Emmitt Smith & Cheryl Burke - Jive
To get in the mood for the fast kicking Jive, Cheryl brought in some Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders to inspire Emmitt. He did high kicks with them, and they cheered, "Go Emmitt!" as he and Cheryl practiced.

So that Emmitt didn't become overwhelmed by the speed of the Jive, Cheryl worked the fast parts into small chunks, with plenty of slower sections in between. It didn't interrupt the flow of the dance at all. I don't know that I've seen two more genuine in-dance smiles this season than the ones Emmitt and Cheryl wore during this performance. Emmitt ended the routine by sliding across the floor on his knees, and he came up laughing.

Len told Emmitt, "You went off-time once. It's not the end of the earth! You went off-time once. Well done." Bruno said, "You two create such joy, such energy." Carrie Ann told Emmitt, "You had a lot of mistakes. But every man who watches you says, 'I want to dance like that.'"
Judges' Scores: Carrie Ann...8, Len...8, Bruno...9 = 25/30

Jerry Springer & Kym Johnson - Paso Doble
Apparently having watched some other dancing show with some other Jerry last week, Kym said, "Jerry was like a sexy tiger in the Samba." Jerry was nervous about this week's Paso Doble, pointing out, "There are no 62-year-old matadors working." The couple went to a Bloodless Bullfight, where Jerry was easily defeated in the ring by a baby bull.

Jerry came out in full matador regalia, wearing a hat and holding a guitar, which he smashed on the steps. Putting a different spin on the Paso Doble, Jerry shambed about like a matador afraid of the bull -- and Kym was the bull. (I thought the woman was supposed to be the cape, but who's afraid of a cape?) It was a strange spectacle, which culminated in Jerry falling to the ground in defeat. After the music stopped, Kym and Tom dragged Jerry off of the floor.

The judges couldn't even look at Jerry without laughing. Gathering herself, Carrie Ann said, "Entertainer you are, but it went a little too far." Len said, "Everyone here should congratulate Kym, because she does such a great job. Jerry, I don't think the world's ready for your Paso Doble." Bruno said, "It's been a perverse pleasure watching you every week, butchering every dance. Tonight it was the Texas Chainsaw Massacre."

While waiting for his scores, Samantha asked Jerry if he was ready to learn two new dances next week. "These are all such better dancers," Jerry said. "We're having fun, but it's painful"
Judges' Scores: Carrie Ann...7, Len...6, Bruno...5 = 18/30

Group Disco
On her way to practice the Disco routine, 22-year-old Cheryl said, "Emmitt is gonna be great. This is his era." Jerry arrived wearing a white suit, just like John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever. Since the group danced to "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough," by Michael Jackson, Joey and Mario fought over who had the best Michael Jackson dance moves.

Tony came back to help the couples work on their lifts. When Cheryl described their lift -- similar to the famous lift at the end of Dirty Dancing -- as "scary," Emmitt said, "It's not that scary."

"It is for me!" Cheryl replied.

Emmitt & Cheryl and Monique & Louis opened the routine with some nice lifts. Then Jerry broke out some dance moves familiar to those of us with marginal dancing skills -- classics like the sprinkler and the lasso, and something that involved him rolling on the floor. There was a bit of miscommunication between Joey and Edyta, resulting in Edyta administering a Chuck Norris-style roundhouse kick to Joey's head. Mario lifted Karina much more smoothly.

While the judges didn't score the routine, Len complimented Emmitt, Joey, and Mario on their lifts. He told Monique she had great rhythm, and said, "Jerry's impression of Free Willy was absolutely fabulous." At that precise moment, a killer whale flopped onto the floor and out-danced Jerry.

Sara Evans Interview
Tom didn't throw Sara any softballs, as he asked her if divorce proceedings were already in the works when the show started. Sara said that some things were already in motion, but that "it was always my intention to try [to work things out]. I'm completely against divorce."

Sara said that she received the report on the sexually explicit content found on her husband's computer last Tuesday, just before dress rehearsal. Her intent had been to finish the run of the show, but "something traumatic" happened on Wednesday night after the Results Show that made her fear for her children's emotional welfare -- specifically that of her seven-year-old son. Tom observed, "Somehow 'Mommy has to go disco dance' might not have been the thing that he needed to hear."

Sara said, "I just needed to be right there to look at my son at all times, to see the expression on his face, to see if he's crying. I just needed to take care of my children."

While she's worried about the effect that the proliferation of details about her divorce will have on her family, she appreciates the support she's been getting from fans and fellow entertainers. For right now, she's ready to go home "and just be a mom."

As for her DwtS experience, she said, "People were calling and voting for me and, for whatever reason, they could identify with me. It is so humbling, and I'll never forget it." She'll be back for the finale, along with partner Tony, with whom she's forged a friendship, "even though he's Albanian."

Tony was understanding about having to leave the show as a result of Sara's decision. "If I was in her position, I'd do the same thing," he said. Sara's also asked Tony to choreograph her tour next year.

Leaderboard
1 - Mario & Karina
2 - Emmitt & Cheryl
3 - Joey & Edyta
4 - Monique & Louis
5 - Jerry & Kym

I split my votes this week between Joey & Edyta and Emmitt & Cheryl. Their routines captured the spirit of their dances better than the others.

Tomorrow night, Lionel Ritchie performs, and we find out if tonight's votes actually count, since it's unlikely anyone will be eliminated.

DwtS In-Season Update: 10-16-06

With Sara Evans's withdrawal from Dancing with the Stars, there's a good chance that no one will be eliminated this week. But that doesn't mean it doesn't count. Some couples could get a boost from a strong performance, while for others, a bad routine could signal the beginning of the end. Here's where I'd guess the remaining teams stand, pre-performance.

5. Joey Lawrence & Edyta Sliwinska
Their first place finish during week two may have been a fluke. Since then, they've finished in the middle of the pack. Last week, four couples tied for first place -- and Joey & Edyta weren't among them.

The judges aren't going to give Joey high marks until he stops thinking so much when he's on the dance floor. His competitors all have enthusiastic fanbases, leaving Joey as vulnerable as anyone. He needs a string of great performances in order to stick around.

With so few teams left, one more sub-par performance could mean trouble for Joey & Edyta. On the other hand, they could still win the whole thing. That's how wide open this season is, which is one of the things to love about it.

4. Jerry Springer & Kym Johnson
Week after week, Jerry just keeps hanging around. What people (myself included) have overlooked is that there is actual dancing happening when he's on the floor. His routines with Kym aren't all gimmickry.

Voters may finally abandon Jerry if it looks like he might sneak into the final three ahead of the more talented performers. But after last week's Bottom Two scare, his fans might be motivated enough to keep him around through one more elimination, assuming he survives the Disco.

3. Emmitt Smith & Cheryl Burke
To a large degree, the judges' scores for this couple are as much a reflection of their opinion of Cheryl's choreography as for Emmitt's dancing ability. So long as he's good enough to pull off a fun, solid routine, that's all that really matters to the judges.

Emmitt's current fanbase is solid, so he and Cheryl need to keep crafting winning routines to add to that fanbase. All it might take is one routine as well-timed and compelling as Cheryl's "Thriller" Paso Doble from last season, and Emmitt could run away with the title.

2. Monique Coleman & Louis van Amstel
As the last woman standing, Monique's should gain a lot of votes from people who don't want to see the girl power disappear from the show completely.

Carrie Ann spelled out exactly what Monique's problem has been so far. Though she's as talented as anyone in the competition (except maybe Mario) she's not connecting with her audience emotionally.

I'm expecting this week to be Monique's defining moment. In her post-show comments last week, Monique was upbeat and said she understood what she has to do to reach out to people. If she's finally able to start doing that this week, she's on her way to the finals. If not, I've got her ranked three spots too high.

1. Mario Lopez & Karina Smirnoff
Even more than his impressive dancing skills, Mario's loyal fans seem most impressed with his looks. Or maybe it's his dancing that's made him so attractive. In any case, he's the clear frontrunner at this point. The bad thing about being the frontrunner is that there's nowhere else to go but backward.

Mario's attitude toward the judges, disregard for the rules in some instances, and even his past history have turned off potential voters. As other competitors are eliminated, there's a chance that fans of the eliminated couple will offer their allegiance to somebody perceived as more likable -- like Emmitt or Monique.

But Mario is so good, he seems the one lock to make it to the final show, and that's why I have him ranked at the top. However, at this point last season, Stacy Keibler looked unbeatable, too.

Other DwtS News:
Big news from Maksim Chmerkovskiy's website. There will be a Dancing with the Stars tour, tentatively slated for December through February, and Max and Willa will be participating. We're still waiting for confirmation from ABC... and looking forward to hearing which cities will be tour stops.

In Carrie Ann news, she's got a hunky young boyfriend: Artem from So You Think You Can Dance. And Carrie Ann also had some things to say about Willa's departure from the show.

The Amazing Race 10: Episode 5

The Amazing Race 10 finally had its first non-elimination episode. Kentucky couple David & Mary are the lucky ducks who got a second chance to stay in the race.

Teams left Ha Long Bay, Vietnam, and took a train to Hanoi, where they needed to purchase airline tickets to Chennai, India through one of the city's many travel agencies.

The long train ride gave teams the opportunity to form alliances. An agreement already existed between Erwin & Godwin, Lyn & Karlyn, and David & Mary. Rob & Kimberly informally teamed up with Tyler & James to share information and follow each other around.

Peter, eager not to be left out of the information swapping, offered his insight on travel agencies to anyone who would listen -- provided they agree to help his team at a later date. Dustin & Kandice were the only team to consent to work with him, even though they had no actual intentions of ever helping Peter & Sarah in return.

Flight jockeying ultimately got Dustin & Kandice and Peter & Sarah the earliest flight into Chennai -- even though the Beauty Queens did their best not to share any info with Peter when sussing out connecting flights. Both teams arrived in Chennai at 7:50 a.m.

Lyn & Karlyn, Erwin & Godwin, Rob & Kimberly, and Tyler & James all arrived in Chennai at 9:20 a.m. David & Mary, who were unable to get seats on an earlier flight, arrived at 10 a.m.

In Chennai, teams had to take a bus to Mamallapuram, or as Peter put it, "We go from one polluted city to another." (I think he was misquoting lyrics from "One Night in Bangkok.")

Mamallapuram was the site of this leg's Detour: "Wild Things or Wild Rice." In Wild Things, teams transported a crocodile from one pen to another, and in Wild Rice, teams completed a traditional rangoli design by filling in a chalk outline with various colors of dyed and powdered wild rice. The colors had to match those in a diagram given to each team.

Some of the teams went to Wild Rice first, simply because it was the closer of the two Detours. When they saw the level of detail work required, most decided to tempt their fate with the crocs -- a significantly faster task. Only Tyler & James and David & Mary saw Wild Rice through to completion.

Peter & Sarah were the first team to successfully move their croc from one pen to another. But, jogging to the bus stop, Peter had little sympathy for Sarah, who had to hop along on her damaged prosthetic leg. He yelled at her to keep up with him, even though it wasn't physically possible.

When they had time to sit, Peter tried to pin Sarah's frustration on her. "Get it together, Sarah," he said. "It's just a game. We're just having fun."

"I'm not really having fun with you, Peter," Sarah shot back.

Having completed the Detour, teams took the bus back to Chennai for one of my new favorite Roadblocks from any season of the race. One team member attended a class on Indian rules of the road, and then got into a car and took a driving test to earn an legitimate Indian license. And the racers thought the crocs were scary...

The classroom instruction portion of the road block wasn't especially helpful. Drivers were given a horn so that they could honk at any animals or children who wandered into their paths. When the instructor told Rob not to drink and drive, an honestly confused Rob asked, "Drink what?"

Miraculously, all of the drivers were able to avoid being run over by buses, and they similarly avoided hitting any motorbikers, pedestrians, or bicyclists. The driving wasn't pretty, but it wasn't deadly either, which is really all you can hope for on the crowded streets of India.

With drivers licenses in hand, teams had to drive themselves -- with an instructor in the car -- 10 miles to the Pit Stop, which was at the Chennai Chettinad House. Peter & Sarah arrived first, winning a pair of home gyms.

Dustin & Kandice arrived next, followed by Rob & Kimberly (who didn't argue this entire leg, as far as we saw), Erwin & Godwin, and Lyn & Karlyn. Tyler & James were stunned to find out they were in 6th place. They had no idea that the Wild Rice Detour had taken so much longer than the other task.

David & Mary, who'd been even slower at the Detour than Tyler & James, didn't reach the driving school until after dark. They were the last team to arrive at the Pit Stop, but were not eliminated.

Instead of taking the team's money and possessions, as on previous seasons, David & Mary received a different kind of penalty. Unless they finish the next leg of the race in first place, they will receive a 30-minute penalty.

Considering that the 30-minute penalty given to Tom & Terry in week three dropped them from second place to eighth, 30 minutes could very likely mean the end of the race for David & Mary.

Next week, Lyn & Karlyn get in a fight with Dustin & Kandice. After the fight, one of the Beauty Queens refers to Lyn & Karlyn as "The Sistahs." That's no way to win Miss Congeniality.

DwtS In-Season Update: Sara Evans Quits

Sara Evans announced Thursday that she's leaving Dancing with the Stars, after filing for divorce from her husband, Craig Schelske. Nashville entertainment reporter Brad Schmitt has excerpts from the press release.

The reasons Sara cited in the divorce papers were numerous and sordid. Among them were her husband's infidelity, alcohol abuse, verbal and emotional abuse, and pornography (and by that, I do mean pics of her hubby with other women).

The papers also mention two instances specifically related to Dancing with the Stars. On September 17, her husband objected to a costume designer from DwtS being in their home while the children were present, referring to the designer as a "sodomite."

Her husband claimed the next day that one of their children had broken out in hives from merely looking at the "sodomite."

Also, on October 6, Sara's husband refused to let their children attend the hockey game where Sara sang the National Anthem, as filmed for DwtS.

Sara will make an official announcement on Tuesday's Performance Show. But Tony told People magazine, "This has really taken me by surprise." As recently as October 10, Sara spoke highly of her husband in Us magazine.

ABC has yet to announce how this will affect the show, which is scheduled to end its season on November 15. The natural assumption is that Willa & Max will be brought back to fill the empty slot. But don't count on it. Even if ABC asked her to come back, it doesn't sound like Willa would feel right about accepting.

According to Access Hollywood, Willa expected to be eliminated on Wednesday. That night, when Tom Bergeron asked how she felt about getting cut, she responded, "Relieved." And this morning on Live with Regis and Kelly, after Kelly lead the crowd in a chant of "Bring back Willa and Max," Willa said, "I had a really good time, but when America votes, you go, 'Okay, America voted.'"

Tony will be performing with Elena Grinenko Saturday night at the Chicago Harvest Moon Ball. If I'm able to infiltrate the ball, I'll be sure to ask Tony about everything -- except maybe the gory details of when he took Sara to the doctor for treatment of a stress-induced cyst on her eye, as just reported on the Insider. Yuck.

MOIB will continue to post updates to this story. And we'll add links on this page throughout the weekend. For further reading:

Access Hollywood
People
Sara's husband denies the charges (added 10-14-06)
Craig Schelske's political history (added 10-14-06)