AKATECH NEWS

DANCING WITH THE STARS - 2016: GERALDO RIVERA ELIMINATED (AND ‘PRESIDENT TRUMP’ VISITS THE BALLROOM)

MAR 29

POSTED BY: Akatech Solutions | | DATE: March 29, 2016.

Source: Yahoo news.

Geraldo Rivera and the rest of the stars will grace the ballroom floor for the first time on live national television with their professional partners during the two-hour season premiere of "Dancing with the Stars," on Monday, March, 21, 2016, at 8 p.m. on the ABC Television Network.

Veteran journalist Geraldo Rivera was the first contestant eliminated from season 22 of ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars” tonight following an unimpressive debut that earned him the lowest score on the leaderboard in the season premiere.

Rivera, Doug Flutie and Mischa Barton were all in jeopardy of going home tonight, based on their judges’ scores combined with viewer votes from their performances on the March 21 premiere, but Rivera ended up having the lowest total of them all and was sent home.

He praised his pro partner, Edyta Sliwinska, as being “fabulous and patient and talented and charismatic,” but seemed to agree with the result, adding: “If I didn’t get eliminated tonight I would have demanded a recount.”

Last week, judges told the 72-year-old Rivera that he needed to improve his effort but they praised his charisma and the entertainment value of his cha-cha, for which he earned a total of 13 out of a possible 30 points.

Before the eliminations were announced, the 12 competitors gave it their all on the show’s Latin dance-themed night, each performing either a rumba, salsa, samba, paso doble, cha-cha or Argentine tango.

Tonight’s top scorers: UFC fighter Paige VanZant and singer Wanya Morris both earned 24 points.

Even though her pro partner, Mark Ballas, was out due to a back injury, VanZant managed to overcome her nerves and soar to the top of the leaderboard with “Dancing” troupe member Alan Bersten, delivering a high-energy cha-cha that pleased judges. “Paige, you were unleashed tonight with the power of volcanic explosion,” judge Bruno Tonioli said, although he warned her to not to rush ahead of the music.

Morris, of Boyz II Men fame, and his partner, Lindsay Arnold, danced a crowd-pleasing salsa that also made judges happy. It had judge Carrie Ann Inaba calling Morris the “king of the ballroom.”

Tonight’s standout moment: Geraldo Rivera’s Donald Trump-inspired salsa drew many chuckles from the judges and ballroom audience, but the over-the-top effort landed him back at the bottom of the leaderboard with another 13 out of 30 points. Rivera -- sporting a bouffant blond wig, a colorful shirt and a spray tan -- played Trump, while Sliwinska channeled Trump’s wife, Melania. Judges had lots of pun-filled feedback.

“Unfortunately, you did not make dance great again but you did make me laugh,” Inaba told Rivera, in a play on the Republican presidential candidate’s campaign slogan, “Make America Great Again.”

Tonioli asked whether Rivera was having a “bad hair day” before adding: “You were true to the source of inspiration -- plenty of bravado. ... I tell you, impressive for all the wrong reasons.” Head judge Len Goodman pointed out that the word “trumpery” described what Rivera did (and he invited people to look up the word in the dictionary), then said he appreciated that, as a non-dancer, Rivera was giving it his full effort.

In a video that preceded his turn on the dance floor, Rivera said he had no feeling at all in his right foot as a result of back surgery in 2010. After the judges’ comments, Rivera -- who described Trump as “a friend of mine” -- said he and Sliwinska were working on a theme for their performance when they came up with the idea to channel “The Donald.” He said he believes the Republican presidential candidate would enjoy the routine.