Marlee Matlin Elimination: Backstage Report
Marlee, what did you learn from 'Dancing'?
<b>Marlee:</b> It's hard work. You have to have what it takes to do this. But I had a great time. It's hard to imagine not working with <a href="http://television.aol.com/celebrity/fabian-sanchez/565394" target="_blank">Fabian</a> anymore, but I'll find a way to make that happen.
Marlee and Fabian, what are your favorite memories?
<b>Marlee:</b> My favorite memory is my meeting with Fabian for the first time at the studio. We were so curious to check each other out. We hit it off like we'd been friends forever. <b>Fabian:</b> It's the whole two and a half months that we spent together. We'd goof around and play jokes on each other. I love her dearly and I hope we stay great friends forever.
Marlee and Fabian, were the judges too hard on you?
<b>Marlee:</b> They see what they see. And I do what I do. <b>Fabian:</b> Judging ballroom dancing comes down to an opinion. They're entitled to their opinions. I'm extremely proud of Marlee. She did a great job.
<a href='http://television.aol.com/celebrity/paula-abdul/78920' target='_blank'><FONT COLOR='#2864B4'>Paula Abdul,</font></a> will you be on the show someday? Would it conflict with <a href='http://television.aol.com/show/american-idol/65307/main' target='_blank'><FONT COLOR='#2864B4'>'American Idol'</font></a>?
<b>Paula:</b> I'm a huge fan of 'Dancing with the Stars.' I like seeing people excel at something that they're not used to doing. For me, dance enters every aspect of your life. There's a thing called "off-season." I'm thinking hypothetically. I'd be honored, but that doesn't confirm or deny anything!
Paula, what would <a href='http://television.aol.com/celebrity/simon-cowell/329871' target='_blank'><FONT COLOR='#2864B4'>Simon Cowell</font></a> say about you 'Dancing'?
<b>Paula:</b> Oh, he'd probably say, "Let me be a guest judge and place four cameras on every angle [to capture] my facial expressions." And I'd say, "Bring it on!"
<a href='http://television.aol.com/celebrity/len-goodman/508986' target='_blank'><FONT COLOR='#2864B4'>Len Goodman,</font></a> did you call Karina a ... ''crumpet''?
<b>Len:</b> No, it's not a "crumpet!" The word is "strumpet." Google it on the Oxford English dictionary -- not on your American dictionary. It's a very old Shakespearean word. It means a "harlot." It wasn't meant as a personal [attack]. The rumba is a dance about a developing romance. It was their characterization of that dance that was, for me, a little bit offensive. I wasn't saying [Karina is] a strumpet and [Mario is] a gigolo
<a href='http://music.aol.com/artist/mario/1487211' target='_blank'><FONT COLOR='#2864B4'>Mario</font></a> and <a href='http://television.aol.com/celebrity/karina-smirnoff/507224' target='_blank'><FONT COLOR='#2864B4'>Karina,</font></a> what did you think about Len's comment?
<b>Mario:</b> He's a judge and he's doing his job, but I think he has to think about what he says because there are a lot of people watching. I thought our dance was provocative and sexy. <b>Karina:</b> I hope he didn't mean anything [derogatory] by it. It is live television; he's got to filter it a little bit. His calling us names on national television took it to a whole new level. I don't take it too personally, but I think it made Len look bad.
Karina, do you think <a href='http://television.aol.com/celebrity/samantha-harris/305376' target='_blank'><FONT COLOR='#2864B4'>Samantha Harris</font></a> got too personal with her questions backstage?
<b>Karina:</b> She usually doesn't go into our private lives, but this is a reality TV show. People want to know what the reality of the situation is. I think she asked good questions. It definitely made for good television.
<a href='http://television.aol.com/celebrity/marissa-winokur/302006' target='_blank'><FONT COLOR='#2864B4'>Marissa,</font></a> you're going to be a new mom soon, right?
<b>Marissa:</b> I have a surrogate. We're two months away from delivery. We know we're having a boy. He's going to be called Zev -- it's the Hebrew name for wolf. He's going to be named after my husband's uncle. It's a cool name.
