DwtS 3 -- Results Show Week 8

Monique's been fighting an uphill battle for weeks -- the only woman left in the competition, low scores from the judges. Her battle came to an end tonight, when she and Louis became the next pair eliminated from Dancing with the Stars.

The show began with confessional clips from last night's Performance Show. Mario admitted to getting emotional during his Waltz. "I promised Karina I wasn't gonna cry, but I got all watery," he said. "Then when I concentrated on not crying, I thought I was gonna forget my steps."

In regard to his Fox Trot, Emmitt said, "I'm not sure if the performance was as shaky as those scores."

But Emmitt & Cheryl were happier about their Rumba scores, especially Len's comment that he wished he could've given them an 11 -- which would have given them a total of 30 for the dance. Cheryl said, "We really did get a perfect score..."

Emmitt completed her sentence: "...in our minds."

The first dance of the evening was the Judges' Encore. Len announced that honor would go to Monique & Louis, "because we thought it was so fantastic, and it's the first time they've been asked to give an encore."

The only difference in tonight's performance was that, at the end of the routine, Louis wouldn't move out of the way so that Monique could get up off the floor. She played along, flopping around to indicate her displeasure.

Then it was time for the return of Willa Ford. She didn't dance. Instead, she sang the theme song from Fame. Why? No one knows. But Tony, Max, Louis, Edyta, Cheryl, and Elena danced to it, which is reason enough for me.

While the pros cleared the floor, Samantha was backstage asking the celebrity competitors about the previous night's dances. Emmitt discussed his low-scoring ballroom routine. "When you have a score that's low," Emmitt said, "you wanna come back and give a great performance." Monique, who'd fared similarly in her performances -- scoring high in the Latin after a rough Ballroom -- agreed.

When asked how he and Edyta were going to move forward in the competition, Joey said, "If we're blessed to be here next week, we're just gonna keep it going."

On what it would take to score a perfect 30 points from the judges, Mario said, "Maybe the stars have to be aligned. Maybe everyone has to be in a good mood." Back in the ballroom, Tom said the latter condition would never be met on this show.

Then we learned what last night's audience thought of the performances. "I started to get a little choked up when I saw Edyta in her costume," Andy Lawrence said.

Another male audience member was outraged: "I am so sick of Mario! The women want him... and the men want him too!"

Two of last season's pros, Jonathan Roberts & Anna Trebunskaya, were also in the audience. Anna was impressed by the male celebrities this season: "I think I'll have Mario for Monday, and I think I'll have Emmitt for Tuesday."

After the audience comments, Tom and Samantha announced the first couple who will be returning for next week's semifinal round: Emmitt & Cheryl.

Multinational operatic pop stars Il Divo then took the stage to perform Harry Nilsson's hit song, "Without You," in Spanish.

But the real stars were professional Standard dancers Victor Fung & Anna Mikhed. They danced beautifully, and Anna's dress was positively dreamy. It was my favorite dance of the whole season, so far.

After the dance, Samantha caught up with Emmitt & Cheryl backstage. "The pressure right now is really awful," Emmitt said. "Performing is nothing. The Results Show is the toughest moment."

The interview was followed by an update on Slim-Fast Challenge contestant, Tysonia. Her partner, Christian, surprised her with the news that they'd be competing against professionals at the Pacific Dancesport Championships. Tysonia's initial excitement gave way to panic, as she practiced the Rumba. More to come next week.

Then, it was time for the third new dance demonstration of the night. Choreographer Hinton Battle created a fusion of swing and hip-hop he calls Swop. The eight dancers gave an exciting, acrobatic performance.

Tom and Samantha announced that, for the remainder of the competition, couples will choose their own dances. For next week, they will pick one Ballroom and one Latin style that they've already performed, but the music and choreography must be all new.

"Every couple has to have a strategy from now on," Cheryl said.

"It's going to be a hard decision," Edyta said, "because we have to choose dances that are going to favor us, and favor the audience and the judges."

As for which dance he'd prefer, Mario said, "To me, it's the one that got the best response from the audience."

Monique said, "I think I'm gonna choose something that got some criticism -- to give myself a second chance."

All the pros said they have special tricks for managing their celebrity charges over the final couple weeks. Mario needs to be dealt with harshly. Emmitt needs to have fun. Monique needs to have confidence. And Joey needs to keep from burning out.

In another clip package, the judges gave their opinion of the four remaining celebrities. Len called them "The Big Easy (Emmitt)," "Little Miss Dynamite (Monique)," "Joey The Dependable," and "Mario The Magnificent."

Of Emmitt, Len said he's "funky. He is a true, cool dude."

Carrie Ann said, "What I love about Emmitt the most is the way he moves his head. It goes with his body." (I guess that's better than if his head went with someone else's body.)

Len did have some nits to pick. "Technically, Emmitt needs to work on his footwork. We want to see good posture."

Bruno suggested, "Give it the edge. Give it precision."

Len said Monique "comes to the floor totally committed."

Bruno said she has "the most beautiful arms in the competition." But he also noted that "she seems to give the same facial expression in all the dances."

Carrie Ann said, "She's disconnected. It all feels quite fake."

Joey was described by Len as "the most accomplished ballroom dancer in this whole series."

"You can see the pin-sharp execution of the step with his feet," said Bruno.

"The only problem with Joey's dancing," said Carrie Ann, "is that he gets a little locked in his chest."

Len said Joey's weakness was "lack of flair."

"Mario, without a doubt, is the most talented of all our celebrities," said Len. "He can do things that none of the other celebrities can do."

Carrie Ann said, "What's missing from Mario's performance is fluidity. He goes from move to move to move. It's precise, but he's forgetting about everything that's happening between the steps."

Of all the competitors, Bruno said, "The standard is so high, whatever happens is going to be amazing."

After the clips, Joey & Edyta were announced as the next safe couple.

But that didn't mean that Mario & Karina and Monique & Louis were the Bottom Two. Tom clarified that, though either Mario or Monique had received the lowest total score, the other couple could have been anywhere in the top three.

Tom then announced the couple who would be going home: Monique & Louis.

As Tom tried to get Monique to come over for an interview, her mother ran out onto the floor for a hug. After prying herself away from her mom, Monique thanked the fans who've kept her in the competition so long.

Of his partner, Louis said, "Whatever I threw at her, she never said no. She's a perfect example, that if you want something bad enough, you can do it." Monique said she and Louis will be lifelong friends.

After a short video montage of their performances, Monique & Louis walked to the center of the floor for their final dance. Monique's mom was back, cutting in on Louis. The rest of the competitors waited to approach, until Monique waved them over. Everyone stood in a circle and danced to "Don't You Forget About Me."