'Dancing' says bye-bye to Michael Bolton
LOS ANGELES, CA
Bolton came into Tuesday's episode in last place, earning just
12 points out of 30 for his "Hound Dog"-themed jive with
professional partner Chelsie Hightower.
Judge Bruno Tonioli said he hated the dance and thought it was
"probably the worst" in the show's 11 seasons.
Judges' scores are combined with viewer votes to determine which
couple is ousted each week.
Before learning his fate, Bolton said he thought Tonioli's
remarks were "inappropriate and disrespectful."
"Other than that, it was a phenomenal experience up 'til now,"
the 57-year-old singer said.
Tuesday's episode also aimed to prove that it was the judges,
not audience member Sarah Palin, targeted with boos during Monday's
show.
Palin had a front-row seat in the ballroom to watch her daughter
Bristol perform, and just before host Tom Bergeron sat down to do a
brief on-air interview with the former vice-presidential candidate,
emphatic boos were heard off camera. Several media outlets and
numerous "Dancing" fans online reported that the disapproval was
directed at Palin.
Producers contended that the boos were in response to the score
of three eights the judges had given to first-place couple Jennifer
Grey and Derek Hough. Ten is the highest score judges can give.
Chatting with Grey and Hough on Tuesday, co-host Brooke Burke
introduced a clip from Monday's episode that showed the judges
bantering with the audience and defending their scores as the crowd
booed. Then Bergeron introduced Palin.
"It seems to me, based on that footage, that the audience was
booing because they thought you deserved higher scores," Burke
said.
"Palin told me before the show that she was surprised by all
the controversy because she was booing you guys, too," Bergeron
quipped.
Hough and Grey said they were pleased with their scores. Palin
was also in the audience Tuesday.
The action-packed episode also included performances by singers
Seal and Janelle Monae and a dance performance that featured
contortionists, aerialists and a ballerina.
Returning to dance Monday will be actors Grey, Kyle Massey and
Florence Henderson; singer-actress Brandy; athletes Kurt Warner and
Rick Fox; comedian Margaret Cho; reality stars Audrina Patridge and
Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino; and Bristol Palin.