'Dancing' Backstage Report: Ashley and Macy Eliminated

Posted 09/24/09, 1:08 AM GMT by 'Dancing With the Stars' Blog Staff
Categories: Interviews

The first week of 'Dancing With the Stars' proved that the taller they are, the quicker they fall.

After receiving dismal scores from the judges for their first dances, actor Ashley Hamilton, who is 6'4", and singer Macy Gray, 6', were the first two casualties in season 9 of the reality dance competition.

AOL TV got the scoop from Hamilton and Gray about their eliminations, and got reactions from the other stars and dancers as well. Keep checking back here all season long for the backstage scoop and star interviews. -- By Mike Maloney

Ashley, what will you miss most about 'Dancing With the Stars'?
Ashley: Being employed! I'm going to have to go back to my day job, which is putting tanning oil on my dad's [George Hamilton] back.

What did you learn about yourself during this process?
Ashley: That you can do anything even if you think you can't. Just go out there and have fun.

Did you feel like you might be voted off?
Ashley: Yeah. I felt that after we got low scores from the judges that we might be in trouble. I thought we'd have to rank in the middle to stay on.

Edyta, will you be back to perform on the result shows on Tuesdays?
Edyta: Definitely. I'm going to be around and still dancing.

Edyta, what will you miss about Ashley?
Edyta: Definitely his sense of humor and he's a great guy. I've been spending more time with him than I have my husband [Alec Mazo] lately!

Ashley, what do you want to do next?
Ashley: Hopefully, more acting. This has been a great experience and I hope it leads to more stuff.

Having been through the experience himself, what did your dad, George Hamilton, say to you after the elimination?
Ashley: He came up and gave me a hug. He said, "I've been through worse than being eliminated on a dance show."

Macy, what did you think of being on 'Dancing With the Stars'?
Macy: I thought it was very educational. I got to see how the show runs, what the judges were like ... it's very intense.

Macy, did you think using the word "cherry" in the post-dance interview would get so much attention?
Macy: No, I didn't! It was the best analogy I could think of.

Judge Len Goodman said he'd vote for you, but then he gave you a 4 -- did that surprise you?
Macy: No. The scores didn't surprise me. They've been really brutal. I was really happy for Kelly and Mya.
Jonathan: Natalie [Coughlin] did well. I've never seen this before. The judges were so touched by Macy's performance. I've seen them compliment technique, speed and performance, but never what Macy did tonight, which is ... she was innocent and like a child. No one has ever done that one the first show.
Macy: I didn't go in there to do all that. I was just really terrified backstage.

Macy, what's next for you?
Macy: We have a record coming out next year.
Jonathan: It's really cool, I have to say.
Macy: It's still me at the core, but it's how I've been feeling lately. It's more "up."

Macy, why did you take on this challenge?
Macy: My mother talked me into it. First I told her no way. But she's my mother and technically I'm supposed to do what she says.
Jonathan: Your mother and your dance teacher.
Macy: My mother couldn't make it here tonight, but she told me to get out of my head. Everyone here is really great.

Alec, how did it feel to be called safe early on?
Alec: It was really nice. It saves us an hour of torture. [Waiting to hear if you're safe] is the most unpleasant part of the show. You have no control over it. You just stand there and wait.

Alec, how do you feel about your wife Edyta being voted off?
Alec: We felt that it might have happened because Ashley [Hamilton] did not perform as well as we'd hoped. It wasn't his fault. At the end of the day, she did a great job with him. I hope this boosts his career.

Alec, can you relate what it's like being under the red light, waiting to hear if you're safe or not?
Alec: Yes. You know that color Edyta wore? It's an unlucky color. It's the same color Josie [Maran] and I wore when we were kicked off. [Laughs] We're never going to wear that color again!

Chuck, have you heard from your fellow fighters about being on 'Dancing With the Stars'?
Chuck: Yes. They were shocked and surprised when they saw me compete. I don't think the expectations were all that high.

What did you think of the Patrick Swayze tribute?
Chuck: It was great. We were watching on a little TV screen [backstage]. I loved it.

Anna, what was it like dancing with your husband Jonathan on the show?
Anna: (Smiling) We've danced together in many different ways. Jonathan's a bit more demanding as a dancer [than Chuck is].

Anna, is it easier having gotten the first week out of the way?
Anna: Yes. What Macy said is kind of true. The first one is out of the way and now we can start enjoying it. The tango -- which we're doing next week -- is going to be a good dance for Chuck.

Dmitry, did you enjoy dancing in the tribute to Patrick Swayze?
Dmitry: It was really special. It's a huge honor to do something like that for Patrick Swayze. He brought so much to ballroom dancing. I thought ['Dirty Dancing'] was so cool.

Mya and Dmitry, what do you think of Macy Gray leaving the competition?
Mya: I really wanted her to stay. It's hard to see someone go after you connect and bond with them. Macy did something outside of the box and outside of her comfort zone. I really respect and admire her taking this challenge on, especially since she's touring internationally right now.
Dmitry: I thought she was going to stay. It's hard to say who will go home, but what she did was so different. I thought it would capture the audience.

Louie and Chelsie, how did it feel when you learned you'd be competing next week?
Louie: I was really happy. I thought for sure I'd be in the bottom three or two.
Chelsie: Can I just mention that this is the first time I've ever been called earlier than the last two. It felt great! I got to relax!

Chelsie, what was it like dancing with Dmitry in the Patrick Swayze tribute?
Chelsie: It was amazing. He's such an icon of dance. It was great to celebrate him and his life on this dance floor.

Louie, Ashley may have height, but it didn't keep him in the competition. What did you think about him being voted off?
Louie: It was pretty tough. It's a bummer someone has to go, but I'm glad it wasn't me!

Len kind of sounded like your grandfather when he suggested you get a haircut ...
Louie: [Laughs] Yeah. I've heard it plenty of times. Chelsie warned me it could happen. But I like my hair. I'm going to keep it this way!

Lacey and Mark, how does it feel to be called safe for the first week?
Lacey: Being under the red light and hearing the techno music ...
Mark: ... is terrifying!

What's up for next week?
Lacey: We have the quick step. It's actually a very difficult dance, but it's shorter, which is nice. We're going to power through and we have two sessions a day scheduled. It's going to have a '20s vibe.

Lacey, what are you going to miss about having Macy on the show?
Lacey: She's the entertainment of the show! I was so shocked that she went.
Chuck: She has great energy, and you never know what's going to come out of her mouth!

Debi, you're wearing a neck brace -- what happened?
Debi: I stretched out my muscle last night on my performance. It was swollen ... I have to have an MRI. You take ibuprofen and you ice it. My doctor said it may be an ongoing problem this season, but Maks is very sensitive to it.

Debi, what did you think about the tribute to Patrick Swayze?
Debi: I cried watching it backstage. I know Jen Grey [Swayze's co-star in 'Dirty Dancing']. I was watching Cheryl Burke dance and she almost looked like Jennifer Grey. I got teary. Patrick was such a great, strong, wonderful man. To see him fight cancer publically is a testament to human strength and spirit. I know Patrick is watching and dancing with Michael [Jackson] in heaven.

Debi, how do you feel about advancing in the competition?
Debi: I love it. I would like to last a little longer. I don't care about being the winner, but I'd love to make it to the finals. My grandmother is 89 and lives in Riverdale, New York. She hates watching TV, but the people at the nursing home turned it on and she watched. She's so proud. My three-year-old daughter [Giulia] said, "Mommy, you were great. Now you can be calm."

Cheryl, do you think Tom Delay surprised people?
Cheryl: Honestly, I think people tuned in thinking that I'd be dancing around Tom Delay. He kept up with me. I'm not the type of dancer that wants to dance around my partner. He's a dancer! He's keeping up with me.
Tom: Now, that's a compliment!

Tom, what do you think people might learn about you by doing this show?
Tom: That politicians are people, too.

Cheryl, a lot of people were surprised by Tom's performance. Which performance surprised you?
Cheryl: [Laughs] I think Tom surprised me the most! I couldn't help but laugh. I wasn't laughing at him. I was laughing with him.

Kathy, how did you feel when you learned you'd be paired with Tony?
Kathy: It was a dream that came true -- I was hoping I'd be paired with him. Before I met Tony, I couldn't walk in high heels!

Tony, what are your impressions of Kathy?
Tony: She's got one of the most giving hearts. She's gracious and giving and is doing all this for charities. And her business is matching it. We have so much motivation.

Kathy, which charities are you donating your 'Dancing' money to?
Kathy: Feed The Children. Also, the Elizabeth Taylor HIV/AIDS Foundation. The jewels [I'm wearing] are Dame Elizabeth's designs. She let me borrow them. The outfit is a gift from her, too. She knew I was so busy working with Tony and I had nothing in my closet to wear. She's just amazing.

Michael, your dance seemed to be better than the judges' scores indicated -- the audience loved it!
Michael: I had mixed emotions. It felt great to conquer my fears over being on the dance floor, but the judges are professionals. We'll work harder to get it done.

Anna, how do you think Michael did?
Anna: I thought he was great. I'm happy to listen to what the judges are telling us, but I think they were a little too hard on him.

Karina, was it nerve-wracking opening the season with Aaron Carter?
Karina: Yes. You only have one chance to make a first impression.
Aaron: Karina took the pressure off me. She helped me relax. She helped me do a great job.
Karina: Thank you, baby!





Kym, the audience loved you and Donny and yet the judges weren't that supportive. Can you ever second-guess the judges?
Kym: I know that they were expecting a lot from Donny because he's been in the industry forever.
Donny: Since dirt was created!
Kym: I knew that they were going to be hard on us -- it wasn't a surprise to me. They actually gave some positive feedback.

How did you feel when you learned you'd be paired with Kym?
Donny: She was at the top of my list.
Kym: Donny's a very good student. I'm normally quite nice, but this time I have a cane.
Donny: No joke. You see her pretty face? Put a cane in her hand and it goes out the window!

Donny, did Marie give you insights into what this competition is like?
Donny: Yes, she said it would be grueling. That's why it took me two years to say yes.

Melissa, how did you first dance go?
Melissa: It was so great. I loved getting out there. I felt like a fairy tale princess.

Mark, how do you feel Melissa did?
Mark: She's doing a great job. I felt she was a little burned on the score. I think a lot of people were.





Louis, when did you see Kelly start to transform?
Louis: From day one. I really saw the change when she'd be tired and I pushed her. That's when you see [change], and that's exactly happened with Kelly.

Kelly, how did it feel to have your parents be in the audience?
Kelly: It was nice to share it with them. I will never forget it.

Kelly, what did you think of Macy's performance?
Kelly: I love her. That's what is so special about Macy. She thinks with her heart and her head. She says, "[Expletive] you" -- and she doesn't care. That's what I love about her.
Louis: I find it a shame that they bleeped her comment out about [losing her] cherry.
Kelly: Because it's Disney!
Louis: [Sighs] I know.

Joanna and Derek, how does it feel to be in the lead?
Joanna: I was shocked. It made me feel so good to get a smile out of [Len Goodman].
Derek: We were shooting for a 21; to get 24 is fantastic!

Derek, the camera caught Maks messing up your hair when you were all lined up in front of the judges after the relay dance ...
Derek: Yes. Maks is going through a split. I've gone through a split. We've been buddies for a long time and have been hanging out more. It's cool. We're great friends.