"DWTS" Lachey Drama -- Nick Is Out, Now It's Up to Vanessa
The temperature in the Dancing with the Stars ballroom dropped a solid 98 degrees at the conclusion of Monday night’s show when it was announced Nick Lachey had been eliminated from the ABC dancing competition. Lachey’s journey this season was fraught with self-doubt -- and this week was no exception. As he and partner Peta Murgatroyd (pictured above) prepared for their Western-themed movie-night Samba, Lachey made his concerns clear during the couple’s pre-dance video package. “I’m frustrated because we are working as hard as anyone else and the results don’t happen the way I want them to happen,” he admitted, looking dejected. An early announcement that the couple would be dancing while in jeopardy of elimination did nothing to bolster his confidence.
"You know, I feel good," Lachey said after the show. "Obviously no one wants to go home, that’s human nature, you'd love to still be in it. But I’m very, very, proud of the effort and I’m very proud of the journey.
"I have no regrets at all about my decision to do the show or anything else," he continued. "[Peta and I] worked as hard as possible. You just have to accept the results as they come."
Despite out-dancing the likes of seasoned performer Debbie Gibson this season, and making it to week seven, Lachey's self-doubt still was still evident. "I went into this thing knowing I wasn’t a good dancer and knowing that it was going to be an uphill climb," he told me. "Still, I’m very proud that we gave it our all and I’m proud that we got to this point."
With Lachey no longer a contender, the singer and reality show star is happy to return to the role of dad. "That’s been the toughest part of the show," he admitted. "Having two parents be so busy with the show, if there is a silver lining it is that I get to be a dad again and take the kids to school. My son especially will be very happy that I’m around more so I’m excited about that."
He’s now thrilled to sit on the sidelines cheering for wife Vanessa, who continues to power through her routines. (She scored an impressive 36 out of 40 for her intricate, musical-inspired quickstep on Monday's show). Nick told me it's now up to Vanessa (pictured above in red) to bring home the coveted mirror ball trophy.
"We’ve already cleared the space for the mirror ball," he said with a smile. "Even though I didn’t bring it home there’s still hope for the Lachey household, so it will be on display ... that, or we have to borrow [my brother] Drew’s at some point. But let’s hope it doesn’t come to that. [Editor’s note: Drew Lachey won the mirror ball way back in Season 2.]
“This is a stressful competition,” he said when I asked about the extra pressure on his wife to deliver. “Whatever stress she’s feeling I’m sure is based on the fact that she has to do tough routines on national television every week. None of that will change. She’s going great. I’m so proud of the journey she’s taken.”
Next week the remaining eight couples will continue their journeys on Dancing with the Stars at 8 p.m. on ABC.
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Steve Gidlow
Steve Gidlow, a long-time columnist for MediaVillage ("Behind the Scenes in Hollywood"), has written about television and pop culture since 1994, beginning in Australia. Since moving to Hollywood in 1997, Steve has focused on celebrity interv…
