Derek Hough Leaves Dancing with the Stars

Dancing with the Stars will be a little less fabulous when it returns to ABC in March.

"I'm taking season 12 off," three-time champ Derek Hough told People magazine. The Dancing pro, 25, will be busy playing the lead role in the upcoming dance movie Cobu 3D, which is slated to film in New York and Toronto this spring.

Hough will play a New Orleans street dancer who moves to New York and falls for an Asian drummer (played by Korean pop recording star BoA). The Romeo and Juliet-style love story (their dance groups are rivals) will be accented by "some incredible dance numbers," says Hough. "People will see a much edgier side of me and these other styles of dance I'm capable of doing."

Hough has already started training for the film by working out in the gym and brushing up on his tap dancing skills. He says he's put on "about 10 lbs. of muscle" for the film, "which is a lot for me."

Everyone at Dancing with the Stars is excited for Hough's new endeavor. "We wish Derek the best as he takes time off from Dancing with the Stars to pursue his film career," the show's executive producer, Conrad Green, stated, "and look forward to having him return to the show in the fall."

And Dancing fans can expect Hough to come back to the ballroom better than ever for season 13.

"I will be making it back to Dancing with the Stars in the fall. I'm just taking a little break and taking this chance to grow and expand a little bit as an artist," Hough says. "It's like I told one of the producers on the show – I'll come back with a whole new set of skills."

And the Winner of Dancing With The Stars is...

With a season full of surprises and shocking eliminations, it's no mystery that Tuesday's finale of Dancing with the Stars was a nail-biter, right down to the last remaining minutes of the telecast.



As consistently low-scoring Bristol Palin advanced ahead of stronger dancers like Audrina Patridge and Brandy, fans and the media argued about whether Dancing had lost its credibility.

Palin held her own on Monday night's performance show against the season's most dynamic performer, actress Jennifer Grey, and charismatic actor Kyle Massey. Still, Palin received the lowest scores.

Did Palin's fans vote in droves to ensure she takes the Season 11 mirror-ball trophy home to Alaska? Or did America truly vote for the best dancer – which, depending on whom you ask, is either Grey or Massey?



It's Jennifer Grey!

The audience cheered and the actress broke into tears as her professional partner, Derek Hough, jumped up and and down. This is the third win for Hough, who also had victories with Nicole Scherzinger and Brooke Burke.

Grey, 50, endured health problems throughout the competition and on Tuesday night danced through pain from a slipped disc.

Massey, 19, came in second place, and Palin's amazing run ended. The 20-year-old daughter of Sarah Palin had a third-place finish.

Dancing With the Stars: Did Bristol Palin Save Her Best for Last?

Grey has dazzled Dancing With the Stars fans and judges with incredible routines. And on Monday night, the season's final performance show, Grey and partner Derek Hough achieved perfection for the second week in a row.

They received 30 out of 30 points for both of their dances – a paso doble that had the audience and the judges on their feet and a freestyle that had Bruno Tonioli raving about "two dances at the opposite end of the spectrum and both equally brilliant!"

Kyle Massey and Lacey Schwimmer didn't disappoint with a suave foxtrot that earned a solid 27 out of 30 points and had judge Len Goodman gushing that the actor had gone from "Messy Massey to marvelous."

The duo's hip-hop themed freestyle earned them a score of 29 out of 30 points and Massey a new nickname from Carrie Ann Inaba, who called him "the Fresh Prince of Dancing with the Stars."

At the bottom, once again, were Bristol Palin and Mark Ballas.

The 20-year-old Palin emerged from a hibernation of sorts – and not just because Mama Grizzly Sarah Palin was sitting in the front row – with the routine that earned a much-deserved standing ovation and a score of 27 out of 30.

But their Chicago-themed freestyle didn't fare as well. The musical-inspired routine fell short, with Bruno Tonioli commenting that it was "not quite at the level" of what a finale night freestyle should be, earning 25 points for a combined total score of 52/60 for the night.

Now that the judges' scores have been tallied, the contestants' fates are in the hands of the American voting public. Will Palin's fans pull her through again? Hopefully NOT!

The season 11 live results show airs tonight at 9:00 pm (ET) on ABC.

Is Bristol Palin Headed to Dancing Finals?

Kyle Massey wooed the Dancing With the Stars judges during the semifinals, but was it enough? Or did Bristol Palin's amazing run finally end?

And did Brandy's fall to the bottom two send her packing? Or is Jennifer Grey going to be the latest surprise elimination on Tuesday night?

It's another ballroom shocker: Brandy was sent packing.

Members of the audience gasped and some booed at hearing the results, but the R&B star's pro partner, Maksim Chmerkovskiy, took the high road.

"People vote and their voices count," he said. "I don't regret a second ... of being on this season. It's been an amazing journey."

Moving to the finals are Massey, Grey and Palin.

'Dancing with the Stars' Now with 100% More Abs

Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino was unofficially confirmed as the reason people will tune into the new season of Dancing with the Stars.

Widely regarded by the cast of Jersey Shore as the worst dancer of the group, the Situation will have to up his game to impress the show's tough judges.

After OK! magazine reported the news Monday, the LA Times also reported that sources close to the show are confirming that Dancing with the Stars has a Situation on its hands. While ABC doesn't officially confirm anyone until Tom Bergeron makes the announcement, Hills star Audrina Patridge, R&B artist Brandy and retired NFL quarterback Kurt Warner are all expected to appear on the show in the fall season.

Unaware of the news, Dancing with the Stars pro Derek Hough told OK! magazine on Sunday that Mike would be a great personality for the show.

"It’s people like that who come on the show who people will tune in and watch because either it will be a travesty or it will be interesting to see somebody turn something completely around so I’m up for anybody. For me it’s classic entertainment, it’s fun. Whatever gets people talking and tuning in is interesting to watch."

The official cast annoucement will be made next Monday during ABC's "Bachelor Pad".

Nicole Scherzinger: Winning Dancing With The Stars is Life-Changing

All season long, Nicole Scherzinger and her partner, Derek Hough, out-tangoed, out-quick stepped and out paso dobled the competition. During the Dancing With the Stars finale Tuesday night, the two earned the distinction of unanimous praise from all three of the judges, who called the pop singer the best dancer in the show’s history.

“I’m totally emotional,” Hough told People Magazine moments after the show ended. “Nicole and I burst out into tears backstage after our Argentine tango. We were so overwhelmed with how happy we were with what was going on tonight. Win, lose, draw we were going to be happy. But to win is phenomenal.”

“I’m kind of speechless right now,” confessed Scherzinger, who helped Hough earn his second mirror ball trophy (he captured the season six title with new co-host Brooke Burke). “I’m going to go into a room and cry. It’s not about the trophy. It’s beyond the trophy. The experience and the challenge and everything you go through — it’s a lot of life-changing experiences in three months and it’s just so intense.”

And the pair may work together again, Hough says, laughing. Scherzinger is working on a solo album and Hough “will be in the back in the videos wearing my lime green rhinestones,” she says.

Meanwhile, there were no hard feelings from talented runners-up Evan Lysacek and Anna Trebunskaya.

“We feel like we haven’t left anything on the table,” Lysacek said. “We all gave it our best shot, but Derek and Nicole were the best from day one. They inspired all of us and kept it going week after week and we’re very happy for them.”

ESPN correspondent Erin Andrews clung to partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy after the show, grateful for his friendship and support.

“I was a mess when I came here,” Andrews, the victim of a stalking scandal, said, her eyes welling with tears. “He was exactly what I needed.”

Like Lysacek, Andrews was thrilled to compete in the finale, and humbled by the experience.

“I am one of the best at what I do and you come into this and all of a sudden you’re not the best any more,” she said. “You just feel insecure, humbled, you’re getting criticized and corrected and it was a lot of medicine to swallow. And I had a lot to deal with off the ballroom floor. It was the perfect thing to happen to me.”

“And the season flew by,” Chmerkovskiy says. “It was blur, blur, blur. Scream, scream, loud noises, and the winner is Derek and Nicole! This did not feel like three months, it felt like three weeks.”

And, adds Lysacek, “I would do it all over again in a heartbeat.”

Who Won on the 10th "Dancing With The Stars"? We've Got Your Results.

After performing a sexy samba and a even sexier freestyle with partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy on Monday night, ESPN reporter Erin Andrews found herself at the top of the leader board for the first time, tied with front-runners Nicole Scherzinger and Derek Hough.

An Olympian who has proved his worth in gold, Evan Lysacek, and his partner Anna Trebunskaya were close behind after the first night of competition on Dancing‘s two-night finale.

Tuesday night they danced again and two were eliminated, leaving one star the proud season 10 champ and owner of the coveted mirror ball trophy.

It’s Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger!

Lysacek was second and Andrews was third.

Scherzinger’s victory capped a banner year for the show. Not every program can top the ratings charts in its 10th season, but Dancing did just that, outdoing juggernaut American Idol several times thanks to a cast that included reality star Kate Gosselin, actress Pamela Anderson, pro football player Chad Ochocinco and Bachelor star Jake Pavelka.

There were the usual are-they-or-aren’t-they dating rumors that swirled around couples like Andrews and Chmerkovskiy, and Cheryl Burke and Ochocinco.

Not to mention plenty of off-the-dance-floor drama. Captured on tape were flaring tempers between pro Tony Dovolani and Gosselin, as well as tears from frustrated pros Chelsie Hightower and Trebunskaya. And no sooner had Andrews put the much-publicized peephole stalking incident behind her when another stalker surfaced and threatened her life.

But in the end it came down to talent, especially that of Pussycat Dolls vocalist Scherzinger, whom pro Jonathan Roberts calls “the best woman to ever be on the show,” and Olympic figure skating champ Lysacek, “the best guy to ever be on the show. In a way, it’s a tragedy that both Evan and Nicole were on the same season, because in any other given season either one of them would hands down be the winner.”

Jake Pavelka Strips Down to His Tighty Whiteys on Dancing With The Stars

Reigning Bachelor Jake Pavelka channeled Tom Cruise in Risky Business on Monday night’s Dancing With the Stars by stripping down to his skivvies. And whaddaya know? He and partner Chelsie Hightower ended up in the top 3 for the first time!

“You leave it all on the dance floor, and there’s some skin out there, I think,” Jake said afterward. “Once in a lifetime opportunity! And my knees will heal.”

Maksim Chmerkovskiy stated to E!: “He’s desperate…with his pants off. I don’t blame him. You’re in the bottom two, you wanted the numbers, there’s nothing to lose, so he just took his pants off.”

To recreat Tom Cruise’s iconic underwear scene from Risky Business was, well, risky for Jake Pavelka.

He’s jumped into hot tubs on The Bachelor, but dancing the cha cha in undies required baby steps.

“I rehearsed for the first time in underwear and there was about five people,” Pavelka told People Magazine. “Then about 20 people, and then for dress rehearsal about 40 people. And then we did it tonight for about 25 million people.”

Pavelka’s partner, Chelsie Hightower, “was loving every minute of it,” she says. “I was laughing my head off.”
Meanwhile, Derek Hough was impressed: “I love how he just comes out and doesn’t hold back. He just goes for it,” he says. “There’s no way my chicken legs are ever making an appearance on this show!”

Dancing in his tighty whiteys paid off as he survived elimination this week.

Dancing with the Stars Finalists Revealed!

After four couples danced their hearts out in Monday’s semi-finals, only three could move on to the Dancing with the Stars finale next week. Sadly, model Joanna Krupa and her partner Derek Hough will not be one of them. The pair danced her last waltz Tuesday night — and it was lovely.

“I really came in the underdog so it’s great that people actually appreciated our dances and our hard work,” Krupa said after the elimination.

Instead of taking a final bow as the credits rolled, head judge Len Goodman asked Krupa and Hough to give a final performance of their Viennese waltz.

“It couldn’t have been written better, going out on that dance. It was really special,” Hough says. “We went out on a high note.”

As the weeks went by, Kelly Osbourne often talked about how close she and partner Louis van Amstel became with Krupa and Hough. So it was no surprise that the foursome huddled together for a private moment during a commercial break.

“We basically said, ‘Whatever happens happens. It was an amazing experience,’” says Krupa, recalling what they talked about before the final couple was announced. “We both came in here with no experience, so whoever gets to the next level, we’re going to root for, and I’m definitely going to root for Kelly to win.”

Krupa, who appears on the December cover of Playboy magazine, says she’ll miss the long hours she spent rehearsing with Hough.

“I’m sure I’ll be missing him and I’ll call and say, ‘Can you come over? Let’s rehearse a samba,’” she joked. “‘Teach me some new moves.’”

The remaining couples headed to the finale are Mya and Dmitry Chaplin, Kelly Osbourne and Louis van Amstel and Donny Osmond and Kym Johnson.

The Dancing with the Stars final performance show airs Monday at 8:00 pm (EST) on ABC.

Dancing with the Stars Update:Derek Hough Out, Maksim Chmerkovsky Steps In

If you are keeping score on this season of the hit ABC reality show Dancing With the Stars, you know that Maksim Chmerkovskiy and his partner Debi Mazar got the boot last week. Two remaining dancers were actually quite happy to be rid of “the drama”. Their relief turned out to be short lived because Maks will be back next week….at least temporarily.

Derek Hough is ill with the flu and the producers of DWTS have recalled Maks to cover for the ailing pro. He stepped back in on Thursday to assist celebrity contestant Joanna Krupa.

Not so pleased with this new state of affairs are Maksim’s ex-fiance Karina Smirnoff and her celeb partner Aaron Carter. According to Carter, the tension on the set had been strained. After the departure of Debi and Maks, Aaron told Usmagazine that “the energy has definitely gotten a lot better. We have the opportunity now to focus on the dancing without the drama.”

Hough managed a few comments on his Twitter page about his condition. He ‘tweeted’, “had a temperature of 104…Had an IV in my arm for 2 hrs. Maks is steppin up for me helpin jo.”