Backstage Report: Jennie Garth Evicted From 'Dancing'

The '90210' Star and Her Partner Dish Their Exit; Mel B., Helio and Marie Prepare for the Finals

Nov. 21 -- Despite getting a slightly higher score of 58 to Marie Osmond's total of 56, Jennie Garth and her partner Derek Hough were voted off the 'Dancing With The Stars' semifinals on Tuesday night. Traditionally, the ejected celebrity does a blitz of electronic, print and online chats immediately after the results show. Perhaps because she saw the handwriting on the wall, Garth, who waltzed away before doing all her interviews, opted to preview her exit after Monday's show with AOL TV's Michael Maloney.

How did getting the "30" for your second dance feel?
It felt really good. It felt like I'd done everything I could.
What will you take away from having been in this competition?
I'll take away the knowledge that I can do it. I can really preserve.
Will you keep dancing as part of your life?
I hope so.

Derek Hough, Garth's gregarious partner, happily shared his thoughts on his first (but hopefully not last) 'Dancing' season on Tuesday. "I'm ecstatic," he said. "We had two encore dances. We made it to the semi-finals and got a perfect sore. We fell. We did it all. We're leaving on top." Would Hough like to do the show again? "I'd love to," he said. "It'd be interesting to see who I'd get as a partner."

Celebrity racecar driver Helio Castroneves and his partner Julianne Hough (Derek's sister) earning a perfect total score of 60 on Monday night didn't give the duo a safe feeling -- especially since they were the last two announced as finalists. "You never know," Hough said. "You feel very nervous up there." Whether he made it to the finals or not, Castroneves already felt like a winner; the uncle-to-be joyously shared the news that his sister, Kiti, is expecting a baby. "It's awesome," he said. "The first [baby] of a new generation!"

Castroneves said he's not going to focus on fellow finalists Osmond and Melanie Brown, but rather himself. "I'm going to be my own competition," he said. "Whatever Julianne tells me to do, I'm going to do!" Castroneves had audience support from actor pal Adrian Bellani ('Passions'). "He's not supposed to [move] his hips in a racecar, so it's amazing how far he's come," shared Bellani. "I think he's going to win."

'Extreme Makeover: Home Edition designer Paige Hemmis, a racecar enthusiast, is also rooting for Castroneves. Hemmis and some 'Home' co-stars viewed Monday's show from the audience. "Paige and I have been here three times," said 'Home's' Michael Moloney. "It's a treat to see it live."

'Home's' 100th episode airs this Sunday. "We're bringing back eight families to help us build a house," Moloney previewed. While the 'Home' team can't create a dwelling for every applicant, carpenter Paul DiMeo hopes the show's "pay it forward" approach inspires more giving. "We want to build homes for families that can instill hope in others," he said.

Osmond and her partner, Jonathan Roberts, were thrilled to learn not only were they saved, but that they were also the first pair announced as finalists. "Your heart is beating so fast," said Roberts. "It's great when you hear your name." The dancer joked that soon he could be changing his surname. "People are calling me 'Johnny Osmond,'" joked Marie's partner. Will she think of her dancing buddy like an additional brother? "Always," said Osmond with a smile.



What will Osmond do if she wins the coveted mirror ball trophy? "I keep all my awards in my office but if I win this baby, it's going in my house," she proclaimed, adding with a chuckle, "It's going to have a shrine with all the ibuprofen [bottles] and Band-Aids!"

Osmond's sibling Donny, who has been doing on-air commentary for 'Entertainment Tonight,' predicted his sister would take the trophy early on in the competition. How does he feel knowing that she is now poised to do just that? "It makes me feel like I know what I'm talking about," laughed Osmond, who added on a more serious tone, "I've been very objective. Shirley Ballas [Mark's mother] told me my analysis has been spot on."

Melanie Brown and her partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy also earned a perfect total score of 60, despite having little rehearsal time. "Maks said if you remember these dances, it'll be a miracle," said Brown, who has been preparing for her Spice Girl tour and presented at the recent American Music Awards. While some feel that the winner's statue should go to the most improved performer in the competition, Chmerkovskiy feels it should be bestowed upon "the best dancer" -- Brown.

Just as Castroneves recently floored Hough with an unexpected kiss at the end of one of their routines, Chmerkovskiy had some fun with his partner on Monday's show by playfully turning his face away from Brown at the conclusion of their dance, which prevented the duo from locking lips. Was that intentional? "Yes," responded a mischievously grinning Chmerkovskiy. "I saved her marriage by doing that."

Here's one 'Dancing' mystery that we had to get to the, er, "bottom" of. Is Brown really "goosing" Tom Bergeron while the judges give feedback to the Spice Girl and her partner? "Do you know what 'goosing' is in England?" a stunned Brown asked. "It's something totally inappropriate!" After explaining to her that here it means grabbing someone's behind and giving a little pinch, Brown said, "Oh, yeah, I [do] grab his 'bum-bum.' It's all very nice."

The three couples going to the finals have something extra to be grateful for this Thanksgiving. What are their plans for Thursday? "Practice -- all day," said Roberts. Hough concurred: "If we finish early, maybe I'll have a little [gathering] over at my house." In addition to a dance workout and some pumpkin pie, the Brazilian-born Castroneves might also search out a history lesson on the holiday. "I thought people were talking about pelicans -- not pilgrims," said Castroneves, who knew that Americans celebrate the day by feasting on some kind of bird. "I wasn't sure how the turkey came into it all," the smiling racecar driver shrugged.

Go to our Cameron Mathison Backstage Report>>