'Dancing With the Stars' results recap: Jack Wagner eliminated - Los Angeles Times

Results shows are hard. And as Tom said, with a cast this good, “every week it’s going to hurt” when a star is ceremoniously launched out of the Mirrorball’s orbit. It’s hard to say goodbye when everyone’s upped their game. And it’s extra hard when you’ve seen that star don a satin Big Stick of a shirt, shed tears for his newly discovered daughter, and rehearse diligently backstage right before his performance, like this week’s booted contestant Jack Wagner did.

If Len had had his way, the producers would all have given a pass and no one would have to go home this week. But Tom quickly turned down that request. And it was the TV actor and pop star who improved with each performance with the lovely Anna Trebunskaya, yet remained on the lower end of this ballroom curve, who got served this week. Perhaps his competition standing suffered because he didn’t have quite the wow factor to win him votes. But Wagner received his walking papers from Mirrorball Manor graciously, saying he had a great time and “it was fun to test” himself. At least he got to share the story of his daughter and dedicate his dance to her.

And for the second week in a row, the other couple in the bottom two were Gavin DeGraw and Karina Smirnoff. Keep this up, and the singer-songwriter will be a mainstay in the new “dueling dances” segment, where the bottom two couples dance one last time for the judges.

The “entertainment-packed show” kicked off with a performance by Seal, who sang a pared rendition of Bill Withers’ “Lean on Me” that started a capella and ended with a gospel choir and the dance accompaniment of Troupe members Emma, Oksana, Kiki and Henry.

The tears didn’t stop with Monday night. Continuing with the heartfelt theme, the AT&T Spotlight Performance focused on Julia Ivleva, a ballroom dancer and friend of husband and wife team and “DWTS” pros Anna Trebunskaya and Jonathan Roberts, who was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer. Julia, who was too frail to dance, watched from the sidelines as Anna and Jonathan choreographed and danced a waltz in her honor. “We are so inspired by Julia’s example ... of life life and surviving,” said Anna. “We just want to share that example with everybody.” And it was a beautiful tribute, heartfelt and emotional and a lovely tribute to their friend and fellow dancer.

The Macy’s Stars of Dance performance was a high-octane performance choreographed by Misha Gabriel and Nick Bass featuring cool cats, including “So You Think You Can Dance” alums Travis Wall and Twitch and “Footloose” star Kenny Wormald dressed in suits dancing like smooth criminals to the brassy tunes of the Grooveline Horns trio and the Harold Wheeler band.

“DWTS” and Gavin DeGraw friend Rascal Flatts returned to the ballroom, this time to slow things a bit and sing “Changed” while Tony Dovolani and Troupe member Sharna wrapped themselves around each other and did a lot of lifts, including a “Dirty Dancing”-style triumph at the end.

What did you think, ballroom fans? Shocked at who was eliminated this week? Are you “chuffed to bits” for Rock Week next Monday? What about the dancing duel? Would Gavin look better in a porkpie hat or a fez? As Maria Menounos said to Derek Hough after Monday night's performance: Can we get some beer and nachos now?

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â€" Allyssa Lee

Photos: Anna Trebunskaya and Jack Wagner (top). Credit: Adam Taylor / ABC.

Gavin DeGraw and Karina Smirnoff. Credit: Adam Taylor / ABC.