(Reporting and writing by Alex Dobuzinskis)
The judges on ABC’s “Dancing With The Stars” won’t have Cloris Leachman to kick around anymore. The grand dame of the show was shown the exit door on Tuesday night, but she was slow to leave.
The Oscar-winning actress and her dancing partner, Corky Ballas, were voted off a day after the judges gave them a rock-bottom score of 15. Leachman, 82, managed to stay in the competition beyond the season’s halfway point with a loyal base of fans, despite scoring at the low end of the judge’s rankings most weeks.
She always played up the humor of her being in the competition when she is way past retirement age, and Tuesday’s show was no exception. First Leachman said she was not leaving, even before the show’s hosts had announced her elimination. Moments later when she was kicked off, the crowd gave her a standing ovation.
In the middle of it all, after thanking the judges, Leachman decided she needed a rest. So she sat down on the dance floor. Ballas and the show’s hosts followed suit.
“I’m going to get a pretty costume and be here next week,” Leachman said. “I’m going to sit right over there.” So, viewers of “Dancing With The Stars” and her fans can expect to see more of Leachman, — just not on the ballroom floor.
In the meantime, viewers will not see professional dancer Julianne Hough for at least a couple weeks. The partner to “Hannah Montana” star Cody Linley, 18, announced on Monday that she was diagnosed with endometriosis, a condition in which tissue normally found in the lining of the uterus grows in other parts of the body.
On Tuesday’s show, Linley told viewers that Hough underwent surgery to remove her appendix and the procedure went well.
On her Web blog at Fancast.com, Hough on Tuesday also shed more light on her condition, which among other things involves complications from cysts. She wrote that she ruptured a cyst that was on her ovary, which required a widely reported trip to the hospital last week and led to her diagnosis.
Hough wrote that doctors wanted to “clean out the cysts” and remove her appendix also, “because later on it can be affected by the cysts.”
Hough said she expects to resume dancing with Linley in two weeks. In the meantime, Linley is partnered with dancing pro Edyta Sliwinska. And, as they say in Hollywood, the show goes on.
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With the new stars that are going to be dancing this year pretty soon. I hope you will go easy on them and try to give them a break because they are going to do their best this year on your show.
- Posted by kimberley lazoreDWTS cloris was worth watching and at her age of 82 God bless her for being a good sport. one thing is to critique another is to shame some-one deliberately, shame on you for taking your-self to serious, after all this is for competition and entertainment keep it there, if people want to tune into watching the pro dancing they would turn on to ball-room competition. keep it fun and light no need to ruine a good thing.
- Posted by denaI want to thank DWTS for having Cloris Leachman on; it was my first time watching the program, and i stayed
because of her passion to learn, spontaneousness, and for the judges respect demonstrated toward her. Her example is totally open, honest, and persevering, and i
was glad for that.
I’m having a hard time caring about watching your show again, because it was cruel of Carrie Ann to make such
an unnecessary remark about Braxton being sent home instead of Cloris. The rules were followed, and that should have been enough, that Cloris left.
Adding a public unnecessary humiliation was unthinkable. If Carrie could apologise to Cloris for saying that, I would watch this show regularly. I believe Carrie has the courage, decency, and a warm heart to be able to do this. Thanks.
- Posted by Kathleen ThurinSusan Lucci is like watching a cardboard figurine try to dance. Lacey it’s not all about you dear!!!! oh boo hoo.go Warren your personality will take you far and Brooke your great. Get well soon Julianne Edyta’s doing a fine job she a great dancer. Lance needs a new partner.
- Posted by GinsoFor what it’s worth, I have to sound off on the harsh, overly critical treatment of Cloris Leachman, and the out of line tongue lashing she received from judge Carrie Ann Inaba. First of all, this show is designed to be entertaining and light hearted. It is not a serious ballroom competition, or else they would not have ill-mannered, uninformed simpletons such as Carrie Ann Inaba judging. She has no training or experience in ballroom dancing, is pro male and critically harsh to the female contestants, and is as out of place as a cat in a dog show. Get over yourself, Ms. Inaba, before you trip on your ego and injur yourself, Don’t you understand that the dancers are really performing for the viewers, not the judges! Your animosity towards Cloris Leachman was way out of line, and you certainly owe her an apology. And, you should apologize to the viewers, too. Too bad we can’t use our votes to get rid of you!
- Posted by Kai KenseThat is it for me! I am no longer watching DWTS. Who does Carrie think she is? What a rude bitch! She needs to be a bit more tactfull when criticizing the stars.(People in general) It was disgracefull how she and Bruno spoke to Cloris. She has shown what a classless person she is. I couldnt bear to watch it anymore. I wont bother to watch it again. cheryl
- Posted by cherylI was shocked and surprised that I didn’t watch your show and to see Cloris Leachman go. I vote the judges off your show and pick new ones and give them a chance at it and plus you’re not even fair with the celebrities. I am so sadden that Cloris was let go because she was a good and funny dancer I say. My heart goes out to Julianne Hough and I hope that takes care and easy on her recovery.
- Posted by kimberley lazoreI was surprised that Cloris was let go last week when I watched your show tonight and I forgot to watch because I wasn’t feeling good myself. I give her an A+ on her performances anyway. I got to vote for her three times before she was voted off and I vote Carrie Ann off as being one of the judges that’s not being so nice about giving some good scores on her behalf on some celebrities and give them a break once in awhile. I am so sadden by all this on what the judges have put them through in order to get the perfect 10 cross the board to make a perfect even 30.
- Posted by kimberley lazoreI am really happy Cloris was voted off. It became a laugh and absurd that good dancers were shut out & she left to go on. The show is about dancing not feeling sorry for Cloris. She’s had her day in the spotlight and it’s time for her to let others shine. Besides this she acted very silly for a woman her age. She didn’t add anything to the show….thank goodness she’s gone & I can resume watching the show.
- Posted by KittyI think Carrie Ann should apologize publicly on the show to Cloris. I like to see her win as many honors as Cloris has. What they fail to realize Cloris was invited to be on the show, and her many fans must have wanted to keep her on the show, to keep her in the competition that long. Why invite a 82 year old woman on the show to dance, was it only to boost the ratings. It was uncalled for the way Carrie had mouthed off last week to Cloris, that goes for Bruno too. I think we need new judges, or in the future do not make the mistake of inviting an elder dancer who they know can not keep up with these younger dancers. It was disgraceful how a legend like Cloris wast treated.
- Posted by O SimoneI love watching the show and was disappointed in Carrie Ann’s remark to Cloris last week. I personally think she should apologize to Cloris for saying it. How can we get these thoughts to the network and the producers of the show?
- Posted by terry AkeryI was ecstatic that Chloris was voted off. I respect her for being 80 and getting this far, but she got this far clearly from sympathy votes, the fact of the matter is this is a competition and we have to keep that in mind. I do agree that they knew here age ahead of time, but we have to remember that they do put some people on strictly for entertainment purposes only, which I believe was the case here. I will continue to watch dancing with stars.
- Posted by B Adams