Chuck Liddell Elimination Interview: 'DWTS' Backstage Report

Posted 10/13/09, 11:59 PM GMT by 'Dancing With the Stars' Blog Staff
Categories: Interviews

The Iceman go-eth. Wrestling fans are pretty passionate, but not enough of them voted to keep Ultimate Fighting Champion Chuck Liddell (a.k.a. the Iceman) and his partner Anna Trebunskaya on 'Dancing With the Stars.' And he may be tough on the outside, but Liddell was pretty bummed about being ousted.

AOL was on the scene to talk to the fighter, his partner and the remaining pros and stars about the surprise exit. Bonus dating scoop: We even got another couple to go on the record about whether or not they're doing an off-screen tango!

Read the full backstage report right here. -- By Mike Maloney

Chuck and Anna, how do you feel?
Chuck: I'm alright. I feel bad for Anna. She was great. I'm a hard guy to work with -- I'm pretty rough. She did a great job.
Anna: (Joking) It feels like crap!

Chuck, what did you achieve on the show?
Chuck: I hopefully got across to America that [fighters] aren't a bunch of Neanderthals. We're normal people and have normal lives. I know a fighter who's a math teacher ... I fought a guy who has his master's degree.

What are your plans for the future?
Chuck: I got some stuff going on ... maybe some movie stuff.

Anna, what's next for you?
Anna: I'm going to sleep for two days straight. I'm going to work on our studio in Hermosa Beach. That's been kind of neglected.

Aaron and Karina, there are reports that you're dating. Any reaction?
Karina: (Wryly) Well, apparently not, because [according the judges] we weren't raunchy enough with our dance!
Aaron: Completely false. We like to be out and about and [if we were dating] you would have seen us. There's nothing going on.
Karina: We're doing the time without doing the crime!

Can you talk about the bear hug Aaron got from Michael this week after your dance?
Karina: Michael Irvin is honestly the sweetest guy you're going to meet. When you need a shoulder to lean on, he's there for you.
Aaron: Michael's a beautiful person inside. I can't say that about too many people. Karina's a beautiful person inside, as well. Michael just noticed that I was hurt and upset. He embraced me. I can't be that upset because Michael goes out and does his best every week ... what am I crying about?

Carrie Ann said she didn't want to hurt your feelings. Did she?
Aaron: No.
Karina: We're actually more concerned with hurting her feelings. Apparently, it was very hard for her to watch [our dance]. We hope she'll be okay.

Michael, you gave Aaron a supportive hug after he was bummed out about his low score this week ...
Michael: Yeah. Men don't show emotions when things don't go well. I told Aaron I admired him for [getting emotional].

It looked like Chuck needed the hug after the results show ...
Michael: Yeah. It hurt me to see how much it hurt Chuck. I really like Chuck. He's a good man. It hit me: I might have to go through this one of these days.

Anna, do you think you can have a breakout performance like Melissa did this week?
Anna: We're trying.
Michael: We're doing the Paso Doble next week. It's about passion and anger.

Lacey, was this the sexiest week of the season in terms of dancing?
Lacey: We had two dances that were based around sexuality. Maybe the judges aren't getting too much?

Mark, how do you think your dance went?
Mark: Lacey can tell when I'm counting [dance beats] in my head, right? She said, "Just stop counting and listen to the music." I did and was just feeling it. It was so much better. The judges could tell. She's happier with me -- it's all good. I think we're on our way now.

After seeing Derek and Joanna dance on Monday, Len indicated that they'd be doing the encore dance, but it ended up being you. Surprised?
Melissa: That was a joke on his part because Derek and Joanna were making out at the beginning of the dance.
Mark: He was probably serious, but he got outvoted by Carrie Ann and Bruno.

Melissa, how'd it feel to jump up 9 points this week? You've had a few weeks of getting great comments, but the same low scores ...
Melissa: It felt good. There's a lot of pressure now because people will be wondering if it was a one-time thing.

Were you surprised about Chuck?
Melissa: I think it's a female-driven show. I think everyone has fans. Mark and [Sabrina Bryan] went out in week six with three "9"s in Season 5.

Kelly, were you surprised about Chuck leaving?
Kelly: Yes. It's very disappointing because we've all gotten to know each other. You don't know who's going to go.

Louis, how does it feel to be called safe for next week?
Louie: You walk around differently after you find out. Until then, you're thinking of the different scenarios.


Donny and Kym, you had a high score this week, but is it still nerve-wracking waiting to hear your names called as safe?
Donny: It's scary.
Kym: You never know you're safe. They kept us waiting a little longer.

Donny, when you went into the audience to give your family a hug, you skipped Marie -- did you see her faux hurt reaction on-air?
Donny: I heard about it. That was not a good thing for me to do, especially since today is her birthday.

Did you call her?
Donny: I'll call her tomorrow. [Laughs] Seriously, I sent her a text. We've communicated.

How do you feel about Chuck leaving?
Kym: I was shocked. He's going to be missed.
Donny: He really, really tried. That's why everyone loved him so much.

What's up for next week?
Kym: The Argentine Tango. It's a very sexy dance.
Donny: I'll be sleeping in the dog house after next week's dance.

Mya, were you surprised about Chuck leaving?
Mya: Yes. Chuck has wonderful charm and I'd honestly like to see him perform again.

Dmitry, what's your plan for next week's performance?
Dmitry: We have the Argentine Tango. It's going to be really passionate. It's a [dance that relies on] chemistry. If somebody's not following, the whole dance fails.

So...are you going to follow him?
Mya: (Smiling) Oh, yeah. Definitely, I'm going to follow him.

Natalie and Alec, you were arguing a bit in the video package shown just before your dance. Was it accurate?
Natalie: We [actually] get along great. But I had a feeling they were going to do that based on questions they had for us during the week. We get along great.
Alec: It was a 15-minute thing. It wasn't even a "thing."
Natalie: It was just getting frustrating. I get quiet. Alec gives me direction. I listen. When you edit that together it looks different than how it feels.
Alec: (Smiling) We'll have a chat with the producers.

Louie and Chelsie, the judges' comments about your Country Two-Step were tough this week; were they warranted?
Louie: It was a bummer. I heard from people who do the Country Two-Step that I shouldn't pick up my feet [which I was criticized for not doing]. I thought we did all right.
Chelsie: I was told personally by the world champion of Country Two-Step that you're not necessarily supposed to pick up your feet and that the guy walks around while the girl turns and the guy leads. I'm just sayin' ...

Louie, some of the guys on this show apparently shave their chests ...
Louie: Am I going to? No. I'm 21 years old and I'm just getting chest hair. Plus, I heard if you shave it, it might grow back thicker and funkier. I'm all natural.

Joanna and Derek, did you think you were doing the encore dance?
Derek: I think Len was just kidding when he said on Monday that we'd be doing it.
Joanna: (Wryly) I don't think they could take all that sexiness two nights in a row!
Derek: Melissa and Mark definitely deserved the encore.

Derek, you have a goatee tonight -- is this in preparation for next week's dance?
Derek: No. I cut my hair, too. It's pretty drastic actually.

You know you have the best hair in TV ...
Derek: (Wryly) I'm still waiting for my Pantene endorsement.
Joanna: That would be perfect. I've never seen a man with such amazing hair as Derek's. I'm jealous.