Dancing with the Stars

Watch Shannon Elizabeth and Derek Hough's DWTS Parody

Henry Seltzer — Fri, 30 May 2008 14:00:04 -0400

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The couple dance the fox trot and joke about losing

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Former Dancing With the Stars contestants Shannon Elizabeth and Derek Hough are having the last laugh about their elimination in April.

The couple wrote and produced a self-depracating six-minute video for YouTube involving a fox trot that takes them far beyond the dance studio. Watch above.

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Julianne Hough Opens Up About "Love, Alcoholism and Teen Pressure"

Allison Corneau — Fri, 30 May 2008 13:19:33 -0400

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The DWTS stunner shares the secrets behind her new hit country album

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Julianne Hough popped by Us Weekly's New York City offices, where she opened up about her new self-titled debut album.

Hough reveals why she decided to sing about about "love, alcoholism and teen pressure."

Watch what else she had to say (above).

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What's Up Next for the DWTS Finalists

Alissa R — Wed, 21 May 2008 09:32:59 -0400

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Kristi's hitting the pool, Jason may act and Cristian's having surgery

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The show may be over, but the Dancing With the Stars finalists will still be on their feet a lot over the next few weeks.

Champ Kristi Yamaguchi — the second female to win in the show's history — will raise the green flag at this weekend's Indy 500, "hopefully bringing some good luck to Helio [Castroneves, last season's champ]," she told Us after her win Tuesday.

In the meantime, the Olympic gold medal-winning figure skater told Us, "these feet are going up — maybe swimming by the pool!"

Her newly single dance partner Mark Ballas told Us he turns 22 on Saturday.

"We are going to Vegas to have a party with some friends and family," he said.

Meanwhile, pro-football player Jason Taylor, who came in second place, may act.

"Absolutely, that is something that does interest me," he told Us. "The great thing about this show is that it opened a lot of doors of opportunity."

(His ideal flick? "Probably an action-type film. I would have to play the good guy!")

His partner, Edyta Sliwinska, is "going to Poland and have my mom take care of me — I am exhausted! I might take some time off next season. I need to breathe and relax."

As for Cristian de la Fuente — the first finalist to be eliminated?

He is set to is to undergo surgery Friday for a ruptured tendon in his biceps that he suffered on the show.

"It's 8:15 a.m.," he told Us. "I have invited all of TMZ to be there. I will give them all the blood in a jar!"

Take a look back at the show's over-the-top styles here.

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Kristi Yamaguchi Wins Dancing With the Stars

Alissa R — Tue, 20 May 2008 23:03:01 -0400

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She is the second woman to win in the show's history

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Olympic gold medal-winning figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi became the second female ever to win Dancing With the Stars on Tuesday.

"This is the icing on the cake," she said. "I thank all the fans ... and everyone who has made this a dream experience."

She and partner Mark Ballas got a perfect score of 30 for their final competitive dance, the jive. (They also got a perfect score of 60 on Monday's show.)

Judges praised them for being the most "consistent" throughout the season - and viewers agreed by voting for them (a combination of the judges' and viewers' votes determined the winner).

Pro football player Jason Taylor and partner Edyta Sliwinska - whose last dance, the quickstep, was praised by all the judges - came in second place.

"Kristi is so deserving," Taylor said. "Kristi very much deserves it. I had the time of my life."

Cristian de la Fuente, who is to undergo surgery Friday for a ruptured tendon in his biceps that he suffered on the show, was the first finalist to get the boot. His partner, Cheryl Burke, wiped away tears.

"I would never have the feeling of going into the final after an injury if it wasn't for Cheryl," he said. "She's been the best partner I could have."

Many expected a male to take the title, as season one contestant Kelly Monaco has been the only female to win.

Take a look back at the show's over-the-top styles here.

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DWTS' Cristian de la Fuente to Undergo Arm Surgery Friday

Alissa R — Tue, 20 May 2008 09:10:28 -0400

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After he is treated for a torn tendon, he tells Us, "I will go on a nice vacation"

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Chilean soap star Cristian de la Fuente is undergoing surgery for a torn tendon in his arm less than a week after the Dancing With the Stars finale.

"I have surgery Friday — there is not a lot I can do or plan for six weeks," he told Usmagazine.com after Monday night's show. "Hopefully, I will also go on a nice vacation, then go to work."

Fuente was briefly hospitalized after suffering a severe muscle cramp in his arm while performing the samba in late April. Despite some pain (and rumors that he'd leave the show), he decided to stay on board.

He told Us he has already accomplished so much.

"Being in the finals is our goal," he said. "When I had an accident, I thought it was not going to happen.

"I am not the best dancer, and I have not been the best dancer from the beginning," he added. "I am happy we made it this far."

He said tonight's finale will air live in Chile for the first time.

"That, for me, is very touching because my country wants to know how I am
doing on the show," he told Us. "It's great to have their support."

Take a look back at the show's over-the-top styles here.

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Dancing with the Stars' Karina Smirnoff Trusts Beau Mario Lopez

Mandi Illuzzi — Tue, 13 May 2008 12:26:33 -0400

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"Unless there is something that I don't know, [rumors are] all BS," she tells Us

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Karina Smirnoff trusts her boyfriend Mario Lopez and doesn't listen to gossip that he's
cheating.

"The only rumor I saw was in a magazine where it said [Mario] was seen with [a woman] who was actually just at the same place at the same time," Smirnoff told Usmagazine.com. "He doesn't even know who the lady is!"

"My instinct is that, unless there is something that I don't know, it's all BS and it's not true," she added.

As for rumors that the Dancing With the Stars pro – who was voted off May 6 – didn't get along with her partner R&B singer Mario?

"I don't think we ever fought!" Smirnoff said. "We only had one disagreement once about the schedule early in the show, because I said, 'You really need to put in as much time as you can. You can't go off and promote your CD as much as you used to while you're on the show.'"

Now off DWTS, Smirnoff plans to spend her time off in NYC supporting Lopez's Broadway debut in Chorus Line.

"Mario is doing an amazing job!" Smirnoff raved to Us. "As soon as the show is over, he's going to take a few weeks off to go on a small tour for his fitness book and I'm going with him."

Check out Dancing With the Stars style here.

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Karina Smirnoff and Mario Lopez arrive to the opening of Beso Restaurant on March 6, 2008 in Hollywood, California.

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DWTS' Mark Ballas & Sabrina Bryan Split

Mandi Illuzzi — Wed, 07 May 2008 10:55:04 -0400

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"We are just friends," Ballas tells Us

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Dancing With the Stars pro dancer Mark Ballas and Cheetah Girl Sabrina Bryan have split, Ballas told Usmagazine.com.

"We are just friends now," he told Us Tuesday.

On Wednesday, Ballas backed away from his comment, posting on his MySpace blog: “We are both really busy, and see each other when we can, are still close as ever and nothing has changed!!!”

The pair met in November 2007 when they were partnered together on season five of DWTS.

"We've gotten so close, and I guess the friendship started from the moment we met," Bryan said in 2007. "Now that the show is over, we definitely couldn't stand the thought of not being in each other's lives at this point."

She added: "You see all this love and chemistry we have? It's really so vibrant, and that's really how our friendship and relationship is."

See more spring splits here.

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Sabrina Bryan and Mark Ballas pose as they visit Avenue Q on Broadway on November 1, 2007 in New York City.

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Karina Smirnoff on Mario's Ousting: I'll Miss Him "Licking His Lips"

Alissa R — Wed, 07 May 2008 08:30:08 -0400

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PLUS: Sabrina Bryan & Drew Lachey popped by DWTS' 100th episode

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Now that R&B singer Mario's been voted off Dancing With the Stars, what will his partner Karina Smirnoff miss most?

"His attitude," she told Usmagazine.com shortly after his elimination Tuesday, "and him licking his lips!"

Mario and Smirnoff earned 53 out of 60 points for their Viennese waltz and jive on Monday's performance show. One judge called his feet "bloody ugly" after his Latin dance.

"I never let my judges and what they said affect me because then you will focus on what they say, and you can't do that," Mario said.

Of his time on DWTS, he added, "We had a blast. What more can I ask for?"

Smirnoff — who who blasted rumors that she and Mario were hooking up — told
Us, "we will still hang out.

"He is mature, humble, a class act," she said. "He always took a high road."

Meanwhile, top-scorer Cristian de la Fuente — who ruptured a tendon last week — and partner Cheryl Burke still seem to be going strong. (She choreographed their tango and mambo routines this week so that he mostly used his good arm.)

They will join NFL player Jason Taylor, Olympic figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi and Marissa Jaret Winokur in next week's semifinals.

"I was so surprised!" Winokur told Us. "I did not at all think it was going to happen. I was so shocked they called us first — that was major!"

In honor of the show's 100th episode Tuesday, several former contestants — including Kelly Monaco, Jane Seymour, Drew Lachey, Ian Ziering, Sabrina Bryan -- popped by.

"I wish more people would of danced!" Yamaguchi told Us. "I was hoping Joey Lawrence, Drew Lachey and Stacey Keibler would have danced!"

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Cristian de la Fuente to Remain on Dancing With the Stars

Alissa R — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 21:45:08 -0400

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Shannon Elizabeth was sent home on Tuesday's show

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Shannon Elizabeth was the latest celeb sent home on Dancing With the Stars Tuesday. But the night's real shocker: Cristian de la Fuente will remain on the show.

On Monday's show, the Chilean soap star suffered a severe muscle cramp in his arm while performing the samba with partner Cheryl Burke.

With his arm in a brace, de la Fuente told host Tom Bergeron Tuesday that he had ruptured a tendon and will need to undergo surgery.

The good news, said de la Fuente: "I just talked to the doctor, and he said he can delay the surgery. If people vote for us, I would like to be here and not give up."

Asked if he's comfortable taking such a risk, de la Fuente replied, "Oh, yeah, of course!"

Burke told Usmagazine.com on Monday, "If he can't come back, then I will not continue. There is nothing I can do -- he is my second half."

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Cheryl Burke and Cristian de la Fuente at a private fundraiser Hosted by Versace and Laker Derek Fisher on April 9, 2008 at Versace in Los Angeles, CA.

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Karina Smirnoff: Mario Lopez and I "Are Going Strong"

Alissa R — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 21:45:08 -0400

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She shoots down split rumors, but admits, "everybody goes through ups and downs"

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Despite a people.com report, Dancing With the Stars' Karina Smirnoff says she and beau Mario Lopez haven't called it quits.

"You know, everybody goes through ups and downs in their relationships," she told Usmagazine.com in a telephone interview Tuesday. "That’s kind of a given, and it’s normal. But Mario and I are going strong."

Lopez, she said, "is a great guy, and I support him 100 percent, and I know he supports me.

"We are totally fine - and I'm not moving out!" she added. "You guys will be the first to know if I'm moving out."

Smirnoff met the actor on the third season of the hit ABC show when he was a contestant.

In March, Smirnoff told Us "there is nothing" to rumors she's hooking up with her current DWTS partner, R&B singer Mario.

"We have a completely professional relationship," she told Us. "I have a lot of respect for Mario. He is a great person."

Lopez told Us just two weeks ago that the rumor was "funny."

The actor, best known for his role in the '90s show Saved By the Bell, is currently starring in Broadway's A Chorus Line.

To see couples who have split this spring, click here.

Want more Dancing With the Stars? Click here for more dish, photos and contestant commentary on your favorite show at DWTS Extra!

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Karina Smirnoff and Mario Lopez arrive to the opening of Beso Restaurant sponsored by Hornitos tequila on March 6, 2008 in Hollywood, CA.

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Dancing with the Stars

Watch Shannon Elizabeth and Derek Hough's DWTS Parody

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Julianne Hough Opens Up About "Love, Alcoholism and Teen Pressure"

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What's Up Next for the DWTS Finalists

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Kristi Yamaguchi Wins Dancing With the Stars

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DWTS' Cristian de la Fuente to Undergo Arm Surgery Friday

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Dancing with the Stars' Karina Smirnoff Trusts Beau Mario Lopez

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DWTS' Mark Ballas & Sabrina Bryan Split

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