DwtS 3 -- Results Show Week 4

It was the second surprising elimination in a row on Dancing with the Stars. Despite a string of solid performances, Vivica and Monique were in the Bottom Two, and Vivica was sent home.

Recapping last night's performances, Jerry said he relished the chance to prove his love for his daughter in front of millions of people: "I'll make a fool of myself for you, Honey. There's nothing I won't do for you."

Joey was emotional, too: "I'm so glad we made Len happy, man!"

And Mario confessed that the reason he'd seemed so serious after receiving his high marks was that he was fighting the urge to do the Cabbage Patch.

After the recap, Len awarded the Judges' Encore to "Willa the Thrilla and Marvelous Max."

A performance by Grammy nominees Los Lonely Boys followed the encore. The band was accompanied by a few of their own backup dancers, but none of the DwtS professionals.

After the musical interlude, Samantha was backstage with questions for a couple of the celebrities. She asked Jerry if he was nervous about next week's dances, the Rumba and the Samba. Jerry said, "I got by on being sexy this week, so I'm gonna be really sexy next week."

Samantha stammered as she asked the imposing Vivica if she thought she was in danger of being sent home. Vivica confidently replied, "I think we're good."

Tom then introduced a package of interview clips with members of last night's studio audience. Mario was a big hit with the fans, including actress Eva Longoria, who wore a "Vote for Mario" T-shirt. Another woman, far too old for Mario, gushed, "That butt in those pants? Oh my God!" A number of the parents in the audience were moved by Jerry's Waltz. And actress Shannon Elizabeth also had strong opinions, though I'm not sure she specified on what or whom.

Back in the ballroom, Tom and Samantha announced the first two couples who would be moving on to next week's show. To nobody's surprise, Mario & Karina and Jerry & Kym were safe.

Ashly DelGrosso, fresh off her elimination last week, was back to dance with her five sisters -- all of whom have names that begin with the letter "A": Ayatollah, Anaerobic, Anklet, Aspirator, and Antoine. Their performance to the song "Heat Wave" will make a great halftime show at a Utah Jazz game this season.

After the DelGrossest performance ever, Samantha talked to the two safe couples backstage. Jerry said that he's earned so many votes because fans frequently mistake him for Mario.

Then it was time for the weekly update on Slim-Fast Challenge contestant Tysonia. A vigorous cardio workout, courtesy of the Samba, was part of what has helped her drop four dress sizes since the program began. She was nervous about performing in a relatively skimpy dress until she saw her audience: authentic Samba dancers wearing little more than bikinis.

When we returned to the dance floor, last season's winner, Drew Lachey, had a front row seat for a performance by his brother, Nick. Pros Tony and Elena danced to Nick's latest ode to divorce, "I Can't Hate You Anymore."

The women in the audience loved the song. They screamed so loudly for Nick that Samantha had trouble introducing the next package of clips, which offered a look at the world of ballroom from the celebrities' perspectives.

When the show started, the celebrities were confounded by the performance costumes -- in particular the shirt-and-underwear combo worn by the men. Jerry suggested, "If spandex manufacturers go on strike, dancing is finished as a performance art."

The liberal administration of spray-on tan was another point of amusement. Vivica thought that perhaps the men are trying to achieve George Hamilton's golden brown hue. Willa and Monique seemed the most eager to embrace every aspect of ballroom dance culture. "Even I got a spray-on tan," Monique said. "I'm a black girl!"

The celebs marvelled at the painstaking primping the pros undergo on show day. Willa said that Max gets makeup applied to his chest early in the day, and then spends the rest of the day topless. Mario said, "I didn't realize how much vanity was involved."

After the clip package, Tom and Samantha announced the next two safe couples: Emmitt & Cheryl and Willa & Max.

Before revealing which couples were in the Bottom Two, the judges offered some thoughts on what makes a good partnership. Some of the couples just look right together, like Joey & Edyta, Mario & Karina, and Vivica & Nick. The rest of the couples have special relationships that make their partnership successful.

Carrie Ann said, "Jerry & Kym obviously care about each other, so it works despite age difference." Willa & Max thrive on a "fire and ice" dynamic. Louis and Cheryl act like coaches for Monique and Emmitt, respectively. And Tony is a big brother figure for Sara.

Len had the final word on partnership, saying, "Unless they come together and work as one, they've got no chance."

As Tom prepared to announce the Bottom Two, he asked Len what he thought of the four couples waiting to learn their fate. Len said, "I'm shocked to see some of the best couples in competition still standing there." Tom announced that Joey & Edyta were safe, and then the sound briefly cut out as Tony exclaimed, "Holy shit!" when he learned he and Sara were also moving on.

That left Monique & Louis and Vivica & Nick in the Bottom Two. Monique fought back tears as the show went to commercial break. After the break, Tom announced that Vivica & Nick had been eliminated.

Vivica accepted the decision gracefully, trying to quiet the booing crowd by saying, "We're good. I had a wonderful time." Tom told her that, during the commercial break, the judges, and even audience member Lisa Rinna, told him they were in shock that it had come down to Monique and Vivica.

When Samatha asked Vivica what she'd take away from the ballroom, Vivica said, "Nick." She said she'll consider Nick a friend for the rest of her life. The couple then danced one last time, to "Against All Odds."