Las Vegas Weekly

April 21, 2010 · 6:38 AM

Photos: Kate Gosselin’s stroll ends on Dancing With the Stars

By Don Chareunsy

Tom Bergeron, Brooke Burke, Kate Gosselin and Tony Dovolani during the results show of Dancing With the Starson April 20, 2010.

Photo: Adam Larkey/ABC TV

By now, every Dancing With the Stars viewer knows that reality TV star Kate Gosselin, with patient partner Tony Dovolani, got the heave-ho on last night’s elimination episode. This is as certain as a final between Pussycat Dolls singer Nicole Scherzinger battling Olympic and real-life golden boy Evan Lysacek.

Within the first few minutes, Nicole and pro partner Derek Hough were declared safe, and Kate and Tony were told they were in the bottom two for the first time. In judge Len Goodman’s recap, he places former Planet Hollywood headliner Pamela Anderson, with Damian Whitewood, The Bachelor star Jake Pavelka, with Las Vegas’ own Chelsie Hightower, and ESPN host Erin Andrews, with Le Reve choreographer Maksim Chmerkovskiy, in the middle of the pack.

At the bottom for Len? Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Ochocino, with Cheryl Burke, comedian and actress Niecy Nash, with Louis Van Amstel, and Kate and Tony. He said Niecy’s Movie Night dance should’ve been a blockbuster but was lackluster. And Kate? “This is Dancing With the Stars, not Strolling With the Stars.” The judges chose Jake and Chelsie’s “Old Time Rock and Roll” from Risky Business as the encore dance, and Jake improved upon Monday’s performance. However, it sounded like Len called Jake … Chad!

Speaking of Chad, Cheryl and he are declared -- in jeopardy of still leaving, while Niecy and Louis are declared safe. Evan and Ana are declared safe, then Jake and Chelsie are still in jeopardy of leaving. Erin and Maksim are declared safe, and Pamela and Damian are in jeopardy.

In between the contestants’ status checks, the episode also included Maxwell singing “Fistful of Tears”; a Macy’s Stars of Dance tribute to Fred Astaire’s “Puttin’ on the Ritz,” Saturday Night Fever, Austin Powers and Fame, with an apropos appearance by Debbie Allen; a surprisingly unfunny rundown by Adam Carolla; and the U.S. debut of singer and dancer Debi Nova, Costa Rica’s answer to Colombia’s Shakira. Debi shook and shimmied to her song “Drummer Boy.”

In the final lap, Jake and Chad are declared safe, and Pamela is in the bottom two for the second time. However, Kate and Tony get their walking papers, and Tony is complimentary when Kate is speechless. Kate returns the favor, saying “I had a wonderful teacher,” and the judges and Tony praise Kate for her determination.

“Thank you for believing in me more than I believed in myself,” Kate said of her fans while wiping away tears. “I was scared to death most of the time, but I gave it my all. In the end, though, it was a great experience.”

Next week, viewers can look forward to a first-ever swing dance marathon and the celebrity contestants designing their professional partners’ costumes. Will Chad and Niecy break from the bottom of the pack?

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.

Follow Vegas DeLuxe on Twitter at Twitter.com/vegasdeluxe.

Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter at Twitter.com/VDLXEditorDon.

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