Smallscreen News

Shannen leaves DWTS, Len is a hit, Pamela's 'Marilyn' makeup superb

By April MacIntyre Mar 31, 2010, 15:22 GMT

Shannen Doherty with boyfriend Kurt Iswarienko. Fame Pictures, Inc - Santa Monica, CA, USA

Last night on ABC's "Dancing with the Stars," actress Shannen Doherty and Mark Ballas were voted off in a shock bottom two that included a visibly distraught Pamela Anderson, who was made up to perfection by Melanie Mills, the Emmy winning makeup artist who heads up a team of makeup maestros.

Shannen and Pamela Anderson had higher scores than the annoying Kate Gosselin and perpetually Space program promoting Buzz Aldrin, but the people voted for these laggards based on popularity.

Doherty, who decided to participate in the competition at the request of her father, who suffered a stroke in December, said the experience was gratifying despite her early departure. “I did what I set out to do,” she says. “I made my dad proud, that’s all that really matters.”

Gosselin, like Kim Kardashian of the DWTS days of yore, has cement in her hips. She is no dancer.  She and Tony have zero palpable chemistry too.

Kudos to the producers for this season, as the introduction of the cult of Len has turned out brilliant side bars of the British judge, a delight, commenting and even spoofing Charlton Heston in The Len Commandments. Len is comedic gold.

Another great addition is the Adam Carolla moment, ''Between the Mirrorballs,' 'as he zings the contestants and judges on their previous performances.  Bruno is prime tuna for this mirth-making.

The dance moments featured Michael Jackson's choreographer Travis Payne with a ''ballroom fusion'' routine by the pros, that felt like the Pussycat Dolls were in charge.

The Pros danced again to the Beach Boys featuring John Stamos (?) and that could have been axed altogether.

Macy's Stars of Dance routine of the season celebrated Wyclef Jean's homeland of Haiti. Emmanuel Pierre-Antoine was in in New York teaching dance when the earthquake hit and, upon returning to Haiti, couldn't find his young son. 

That moment put a great deal of perspective on the bubbly contest, and reminded all that life is precious, so dance while you can.

Below is Nicole Sherzinger's performance, this Pussycat Doll is a shoe-in for the finals: