MSN TV Blog - Reality TV

'Dancing' Recap: Last Tango in Hollywood

Maria Menounos and Derek Hough eliminated, miss out on the finals

By Kate Mulcrone May 15, 2012 8:13PM

'Dancing With the Stars'/ABCIt was anyone's guess who would be eliminated this week -- all four semifinalists were amazing dancers who brought their all to their performances. As Tom Bergeron put it "whichever way this goes, it's gonna suck." It looks like viewer votes are what sent Maria packing, since she finished first on the judges' leaderboard. To her credit, she had nothing but positive things to say about her experience on the show. Maria said she learned a lot from her "DWTS" experience, and Derek complimented her on being a "champion of life."


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Here's a quick look at how our three finalists did this week


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Katherine Jenkins

Katherine's quickstep was the dance of the season! It had 1920s glamor, lightning-fast choreography and that "magic" that makes a good routine great. The judges had nothing but love for this routine, though a slight hiccup near the beginning kept Katherine from earning a perfect 30. Katherine's sexy salsa was gorgeous, but she stumbled near the end of the routine and hurt her back. After that moment, she couldn't get her composure back, but Katherine actually seemed more upset about her slip-up than the judges.


William Levy

William and Cheryl tore up the floor with their smoking hot tango. His intensity was incredible and his lines were gorgeous, though he had some control issues with his spins near the beginning of the number. Len proclaimed the dance "overall terrific," though he did comment on occasional flat-footedness from William. William's samba was amazing and the judges' choice for this week's encore: He shook his booty and did it with a smile. William's technique was as solid as his attitude and the routine earned him a perfect score.


Donald Driver

Donald's sweet waltz was a real departure from his usual intense numbers. He and Peta maintained body contact throughout the routine and his lines were gorgeous. Carrie Ann loved the emotional content of the routine but found Donald's footwork a bit lacking in the end. Donald's samba was stunning -- as usual, he brought his personality to bear while turning in a nearly perfect performance technique-wise.


Who won the week: William

Who needs to step it up: Katherine


"Dancing With the Stars" airs Mondays at 8 p.m. ET/PT and Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on ABC.

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78Comments
b_i_t_E_M_e
May 18, 2012 11:39AM
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Maria should have won the whole thing. She was so much fun to watch...............​....................​........go William
Southern Belle117
May 16, 2012 2:02PM
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If Derek were soooo good they would give him someone like Cloris Leachmen or Kate Gosseling.  He gets the ones that already have dance experience or young teachable ones(Jennifer Grey, Brooke Burns, etc....)  Tired of Derek..... Bye, Bye Blondie!
HalfBloodPrincess83
May 16, 2012 2:00PM
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William and Katherine both can dance and I'll be happy with either one of them winning the trophy. Derek carried Maria for too long; she's very pretty but she must have two left feet to have all those injuries which just shows dancing is not her forte. William is a GORGEOUS looking man. Katherine is a BEAUTIFUL looking woman with a voice of an angel. It's NOT just the way they look. They BOTH just happen to know how to dance as well.
Barbara
May 16, 2012 1:40PM
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I am so disappointed.  Maria turned out to be an amazing dancer and she and Derek deserved to be back next week.  I knew William would definitely be back - Cheryl is an amazing teacher and dancer.  I thought that either Katherine or Donald would be gone. 

 

Deborah Stanley
May 16, 2012 12:02PM
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Auuurgh. Are you kidding? I thought the finalists would be Mark & Derek.  So dissapointed but love the show!

 

blackpearl
May 16, 2012 11:41AM
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Snoopy there's a lot to what you say. However if you carry your argument about music matching the dance further you will be forced to admit that rarely do the music and the dance have much to do with one another. In fact if you think about it Latin music rarely accompanies the Latin dances. That's one of my biggest gripes about DWTS season after season.
shigirl7
May 16, 2012 11:33AM
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I was disappointed that Derek and Maria were eliminated. The chemistry, the weekly improvements and their overall perfomances were always refreshing to watch. I'm relieved that I wasn't the only one who noticed that Katherine seemed a bit dramatic when she "hurt" herself. Sympathy votes? Hmmm, gotta wonder.
Husky House
May 16, 2012 10:40AM
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Wish we had judges who were actually judging on the moves and steps instead of who they like and gush over! Donald kept getting voted low scores and yet 2 times he has been the favorite for repeat dances on Tuesday's. Make up your minds judges or get off the bench!
SnoopyDogg
May 16, 2012 10:32AM
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There are steps that need to made for every dance category in ballroom dancing in order for it to be legit. Derek is a great choreographer and dancer but the voting should be of his partners dancing not his. Maria was just not a better dancer than Katherine or William; how she was able to get perfect scoring is more, in my honest opinion, a reflection of Derek's job not hers. But we're not scoring him are we? It'll probably boil down to Katherine and William; Donald can dance but he needs to loosen up a bit to get higher scoring and next time dance a 'samba' song for his 'samba' dance. It just isn't samba without a samba song. There is a great movie directed by Baz Luhrmann called "Strictly Ballroom" that I'd recommend watching if you enjoy ballroom dancing. It's a very good movie :)
Drivesouth
May 16, 2012 10:32AM
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Do I think Donald is the best dancer out there?  No.  Do I think he should be in the final 3? Yes. Katherine should have been eliminated due to the miscue at the end.  Donald could dance better then Fred Astaire and Len wouldn't give him a 10.  I am very confused as to why Len always says Donald did a wonderful job, never gives any direct criticism on what he can improve on and then gives him a 9.  William and Cheryl are sexy on the floor but he dances like a card board cut out.. Watch how stiff he carries his upper body.  And, Donald leads Peta in the dance, as a Real Man should do.. William is being lead by Cheryl.  I am anxious to see what Donald will bring to the finals.
Drivesouth
May 16, 2012 10:32AM
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Do I think Donald is the best dancer out there?  No.  Do I think he should be in the final 3? Yes. Katherine should have been eliminated due to the miscue at the end.  Donald could dance better then Fred Astaire and Len wouldn't give him a 10.  I am very confused as to why Len always says Donald did a wonderful job, never gives any direct criticism on what he can improve on and then gives him a 9.  William and Cheryl are sexy on the floor but he dances like a card board cut out.. Watch how stiff he carries his upper body.  And, Donald leads Peta in the dance, as a Real Man should do.. William is being lead by Cheryl.  I am anxious to see what Donald will bring to the finals.
blackpearl
May 16, 2012 10:22AM
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"Maria was the best dancer and yet voted off. I'll not be watching DWTS anymore. It's like watching a soap opera on heels, too much drama and "my tragic life story" in it for me. 2-3 hours a week spent watching a popularity contest is a waste of 2-3 hours."

 

 

Please see my earlier comment..  Who really cares whether or not you watch? No one has held a gun to your head this season.

venecom
May 16, 2012 10:01AM
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 Maria is  the best dancing on it. I dont wacht this program anymore. It is a fraud!
littledi
May 16, 2012 9:54AM
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Maria was the best dancer and yet voted off.  I'll not be watching DWTS anymore.  It's like watching a soap opera on heels, too much drama and "my tragic life story" in it for me.  2-3 hours a week spent watching a popularity contest is a waste of 2-3 hours. 
PauRaSi
May 16, 2012 9:54AM
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knew it was going to be tough, someone had to go though, sorry it had to be Maria and Derrick..  Maria was awesome Monday night...I am hoping that Katherine will win, but with William being the favorite with most of the ladies, I think he will take it....then of course it will turn into the usual popularity thing...Donald is not too shabby either....oh well, guess we will have to "suck it up".

 

Diane S.
May 16, 2012 9:35AM
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Since everything here is what one person thinks, let's chill abit. I do think that Maria is a much better dancer then William and Donald, but hormones kept William and Green Bay fans kept Donald. So here's hoping that Katherine, who is the best dancer, beats them both! I rest my case.
blackpearl
May 16, 2012 9:29AM
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"I really liked Maria and Derek as a couple because I thought they were so cute and had great chemistry...Then I found out she has a boyfriend of 10  years and it got awkward to watch."

 

What planet are you living on? What earthly difference does it make whether or not she has a boyfriend? It's all for show. It adds to the drama of the dance. Do you not watch gays interact with straights or blacks with whites or married actors in love scenes with others than their spouses? Get real!

As Tina Turner so famously said: "What's love got to do with it?"

ctheslayer
May 16, 2012 9:12AM
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"It just goes to show it doesnt matter how good a dancer you are it's a popularity contest. This makes the 3rd season in a row where the good dancers go and the ones that can't dance but had a higher fan base stayed."
 
Seriously? Who was better last season than J.R., Rob and Ricki? Who was better the season before than Hines and Kirstie? I'd really like to know who you think belonged in the finals those years. ........Among my DWTS friends who watched the finals together (all muscial theatre/dance pros) we felt like Maria's and Donald's second numbers were overscored and we would have gone with 9's across the board.  Of the last four we all thought that William and Katherine were rock solid to go into the finals and it was a toss up between Donald and Maria who took the third slot.
GD123446
May 16, 2012 9:05AM
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I THINK MARIA WENT HOME BECAUSE OF HER INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR THE PREVIOUS NIGHT.  YOU DONT JUMP ON MARRIED MEN AND STADDLE THEM!!!  A BIG NO NO.  i FOUND IT RUDE AND DISRESPECTFUL...AND IM SURE OTHER VIEWERS DID TOO...AND THAT COULD BE WHY SHE WENT HOME.
a b
May 16, 2012 9:02AM
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a-one     Sorry ginnya. " I THOUGHT "  it was the amateurs competing.. I sure as heck hope Derek would beat Donald  .Derek is the professional ,and I have thought for the last month that he has carried 85 percent of the performance, more or less carrying Maria around the dance floor.. Not just my opinion, check out Val on GMA yesterday. He had the same observation. GO DONALD!!
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