Mario Elimination: Backstage Report
Mario, did you enjoy dancing with <a href='http://television.aol.com/celebrity/karina-smirnoff/507224' target='_blank'><FONT COLOR='#2864B4'>Karina</font></a>?
<b>Mario:</b> I had fun with her. There were good times and bad times. Even when things got tough, I still had a great time with her. She's a great teacher. She has a love for ballroom dancing. When I saw her passion for dance, it made me want to do it more.
Mario, why did you give a shout-out to the troops?
<b>Mario:</b> There was a lot of light shed on my age as opposed to who I am as a person. It was my opportunity to tell the world how I felt about young people. We are the future. Kids younger than I am are the future. [Some of them] are out there fighting for this country and we should definitely shed light on that, too.
Karina, Mario was the youngest contender. Did he seem that way?
<b>Karina:</b> He is 100 percent a class act. He's mature, humble and well-mannered. He always took a high road.
Mario and Karina, will you stay in touch?
<b>Karina:</b> [Joking] We're pretty much going to move in together. <b>Mario:</b> [Smiles] We'll see each other every day.
Mario, what's next for you?
<b>Mario:</b> My tour is next. I'm working on a new project; my album should be done this summer. I'm into a lot of things right now. I love to express myself in different ways.
<a href='http://television.aol.com/celebrity/marissa-winokur/302006' target='_blank'><FONT COLOR='#2864B4'>Marissa,</font></a> what will you miss about Mario?
<b>Marissa:</b> I think that if Mario were just let loose on the dance floor and were allowed to do whatever he wanted, he'd be the best dancer of us all. Mario's an amazing talent. He sings. He dances. He can do it all.
<a href='http://television.aol.com/celebrity/mark-cuban/323015' target='_blank'><FONT COLOR='#2864B4'>Mark Cuban,</font></a> what's it like to come back for the 100th episode?
<b>Mark:</b> It's a blast. It's like we've all been in the same fraternity. There's such camaraderie. We've all been through the same thing -- the terror and listening to the music and the red light.
<a href='http://television.aol.com/celebrity/cheryl-burke/507214' target='_blank'><FONT COLOR='#2864B4'>Julianne Hough,</font></a> what have you been up to since leaving the show?
<b>Julianne:</b> I'm doing an <a href="http://music.aol.com/sessions/latest" target="_blank">AOL Sessions</a>! I just found out today. Sessions [is] where they get bands and a camera crew and they show it on AOL. I'm also excited to be here [for the 100th episode show]. It was so great dancing with <a href="http://television.aol.com/celebrity/apolo-anton-ohno/505176">Apolo [Ohno]</a> again. We had two days to practice and he picked it up so quickly.
<a href='http://television.aol.com/celebrity/kym-johnson/507220' target='_blank'><FONT COLOR='#2864B4'>Kym Johnson,</font></a> what's it like seeing all your former partners again?
<b>Kym:</b> It was great seeing <a href="http://television.aol.com/celebrity/mark-cuban/323015" target="_blank">Mark [Cuban]</a> again. I had Mark back -- he looks great. He's such an incredible person. He's a self-made man. It was a real privilege dancing with him. <a href="http://television.aol.com/celebrity/jerry-springer/265399" target="_blank">Jerry Springer</a> and <a href="http://television.aol.com/celebrity/joey-fatone/296921" target="_blank">Joey Fatone</a> are here, too. Joey and I went to the finals. <a href="http://television.aol.com/celebrity/penn-jillette/96067">Penn Jillette</a> wasn't here tonight. He's performing in Las Vegas, but I have three of my guys here!
<a href='http://television.aol.com/celebrity/trista-sutter/507298' target='_blank'><FONT COLOR='#2864B4'>Trista Sutter,</font></a> what do you remember about your 'Dancing' days?
<b>Trista:</b> I was the first one ever kicked off! It's so fun to come back and see everyone here and to have been a part of something that turned out to be so successful. It was fun to get out. I'm a Mom these days, so all I do is hang out with my baby Max. Ryan is great. He's at the fire station tonight.
<a href='http://television.aol.com/celebrity/maksim-chmerkovskiy/507215' target='_blank'><FONT COLOR='#2864B4'>Maksim Chmerkovskiy,</font></a> will you be back next season?
<b>Maksim:</b> Absolutely! That was the agreement. I'd take this season off to tend to some stuff. And I would not say no when I'm called and invited back. <i>Reported by Mike Maloney</i>
