'Dancing With the Stars' results: Shake it off

Alert: The “Dancing With the Stars” jiggly quotient has gone down precipitously. First, top-heavy actress and model Pamela Anderson exited the ballroom competition. And now this week, it was comedian and all-around joy Niecy Nash's turn to go. And I’ll miss the “Clean House” host. She had great spirit and loved who she was. Plus, she and her partner, Louis Van Amstel, got along together about as well as a cheeseburger and curly fries. Well, at least now she can have her days back, and won’t have to withhold on the snacks anymore.

And while I knew that Niecy had fewer judges’ points than fellow bottom-two dweller Chad Ochocinco going into this week’s elimination, I had kind of hoped that Niecy’s troops would rally in full force and allow her to stay another week; I loved her spirit and the way that she attacked everything like it was a big, fat, juicy steak. Like Kenny Mayne so memorably said during his entertaining “DanceCenter” segment, this competition should have gone to the one who was the most hungry. And who was more hungry in this season than Niecy?

Alas, it was a bittersweet ending to the eighth week of the competition that left Nicole and Derek, Evan and Anna, Erin and Maks, and Chad and Cheryl on their way to the semifinals.

This week’s results hour showed the encore performance of Nicole and Derek's 1960s paso doble, which remained impressive its second time around. And it played host to the first-ever College Dance Championship, which pitted UC San Diego’s Tritons against the Purdue Boilermakers, introduced the lay viewer to formation team dancing and turned the Rectagon set into some sort of raucous coed pep rally. And while the judges’ scores between the two teams were pretty close, I thought UC San Diego had the competition in the bag; they seemed more in sync and their formations were a lot more interesting. I know the Purdue students said their school was laid back, but the Boilermakers’ mambo was a bit slow and soporific. The judges gave UC San Diego a 24, and Purdue got a 22 (hey, that rhymed!), though the voters also get to weigh in on who makes it to the next round.

The venerable Gipsy Kings performed two numbers. The first was a Spanish version of “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” (“Hay un amigo in me”) that’ll appear in the upcoming “Toy Story 3.” It was accompanied by a paso doble danced cape-ably by our pros Kym and Dmitry and Cheryl and Tony (who also choreographed), swathed in Buzz Lightyear’s purple and green. Then the Kings returned later in the program to sing their hit “Bomboleo” with an accompanying dance by some other very limber and death-defying pros.

And how could I forget the perennially amusing “DanceCenter” with Kenny Mayne, Jerry Rice and Len Goodman? Every season this segment tickles me to bits, and this one was no exception. Loved that Jerry nonsensically donned a blond Sally Struthers wig, took every chance he could to show off his major Super Bowl ring bling (Jerry Rice: three. Ochocinco: zero) and topped off just about every comment with a breathy “That’s hot.”

High points: Kenny revealing Niecy’s nickname to be “Dinnertime” and her secret job as the president and chief executive of myjigglyparts.com. The slow-mo replay of Louis uncharacteristically performing a rock star gesture to Niecy’s jigglies. A marketing suggestion to call Chad’s lip balm line “Chad-stick.” Nicole’s stats (“Age: Prime. Height: Just Right. Strengths: Everything”). Kenny pointing out Derek’s long history of dancing with beautiful girls (i.e., Shannon Elizabeth, Joanna Krupa, Mark Ballas – “look at that hip action!”). Noting that Evan “Blades of Glory” Lysacek’s lustrous locks (“black as a raven’s wing,” marveled Len, in a candy-cane tie) could take their place alongside Justin Bieber and the Lego man as one of the most iconic haircuts of the century. And also how the golden boy, a.k.a. Mr. Excitement, and his monotone ramblings can lull even the most sparkly of hosts to sleep. And finally, how Erin and Maks’ bickering made them sound like kids’ “sugar high mixed with not getting to go on the pony ride.” To which, of course, Jerry Rice hilariously added, “That’s hot.” Ha!

What did you think of this results hour? Did the right person go home? Do you enjoy these “DanceCenter” segments as much as I do? How excited are you that we’ve reached the semifinals? Do you think Nicole and Derek's paso is the best routine of all 10 seasons? Finally, did anyone else catch the man sitting behind Tom and next to the judges’ table with the full-on 1990s era Billy Ray Cyrus mullet? That's hot!

—Allyssa Lee

Related:

‘Dancing With the Stars’: Race to the semifinals

‘Dancing With the Stars’ results: Personality split

Complete ‘Dancing With the Stars’ coverage on Show Tracker

Photos: Adam Larkey / ABC

Comments

[Jay]

I also am sad Niecy is gone :( She brightened up my Monday and Tuesday nights and I will miss her. I'm not even sure whether I will watch the rest of the season.

[Pambie]

Oh yeah. Niecy should have gone home long before this.

Of course at this point there's little anticipation or nail-biting excitement left. Who will win??? Will it be the football player? The lanky as a stringbean sportscaster? The unknown ice-skater?

Or ... oh, my! The professional dancer?

[erica stephens]

No! The right person did not go home.Neicy stinks and so does Chad!Pamela was dynamite!This is exactly why we don,t have a woman president,woman are too emotional.They chose a fat girl and a guy who they find sexy over a woman who is sexy and can really dance!

[Doug]

I'll miss Niecy and her jiggly parts but it was time for her to go. She added to the show with her one-liners and attitude. Quite the opposite of say Lawrence Taylor, from a previous season.
Louis Van Armstel is a great dance instructor and a great DWTS partner.
I can't stand Kenny Mayne. Don't think he is funny. He's moronic to me and I don't like the putting down of the contestants by this one-and-done clod.
No, Nicole and stud muffin's paso doble isn't the best DWTS routine of all time. Not even close. Personally, I enjoyed Erin and Max's Monday night "jump into my arms" dance more.
Am I excited DWTS has reached the semifinals? No, not at all.
Finally, mullets don't do anything for me.

[Doug]

Your picture of Derek and Nicole caught both looking at their feet.

[jgzeger]

Thank God that Niece is finally off the show! I've been waiting for this for weeks as I am no fan of fat. Chad Ochocinco should be next if the TV audience continues to call it right this season.

[Tee]

It doesn't matter if Niecy goes home this week, last week or next week. She isn't going to win. And of course she will be missed...she was given more air time than anyone. And as good as Pamela is, she wouldn't have won either.

Nicole is going to win. Critics can bag on her all day and night, but she clearly is the best dancer. And even if she took dancing lessons at some point in her life - that matters not - she is still the best. MANY entertainers start off in show business by dancing and singing - not uncommon. And yes, she has a natural talent for dancing, that doesn't mean she doesn't deserve to win. She works just as hard as everyone else - if not harder.
Give credit where credit is due people, geez.

The DanceCenter segment is a crack up!

[Jeff]

I believe Ms. Nash is the polar opposite--thankfully--of Kate Gosselin. That is to her credit.

[Kathode]

Yup, it was Niecy's time to go. And I agree with jgzeger: Chad'll be next. I think that since Kate left, the voting audience has chosen wisely each week, with the right person going at the right time.

I'd like to see either Evan or Erin win it all, even though I admit Nicole's obviously the best dancer. I think it'll be Evan in the end.

[Jordan]

I still think that Derek and Joanna's futuristic Paso is the BEST dance of all 10 seasons!!!

Go Erin and Maks!!! ZTA Love!!!