As the Dancing With the Stars weeks roll by, viewers become more acquainted with the celebrity and professional dancers so that saying good-bye tends to get tough. This week it was former UFC champion Chuck Liddell and his partner Anna Trebunskaya who got KO'd from the dance show.

During the elimination show host Tom Bergeron initially announced that singer Mya and Dmitry Chaplin, along with actress Melissa Joan Hart and Mark Ballas were safe -- but actor Aaron Carter and Karina Smirnoff, who had received a score of 18 from the show's judges the previous night, were in danger of being sent home.

Later Bergeron added to the list of safe couples -- Kelly Osbourne and Louis Van Amstel; swimmer Natalie Coughlin and Alec Mazo, Joanna Krupa and Derek Hough, along with "Iron Chef" star Mark Dacasos and Lacey Schwimmer, football great Michael Irvin and Anna Demidova and Donny Osmond and Kym Johnson.

So after guest star Shakira performed "Did It Again" and "Hips Don't Lie," it was time to reveal the celebrity dancer who would be gracing the DWTS stage for the final time.

With the in-danger field narrowed to Chuck and Anna, Aaron and Karina and showboarder Louie Vito and Chelsie Hightower, Bergerson called Vito and Hightower safe.

So after voting from fans at home, the two lowest scoring couples were Chuck and Anna, along with Aaron and Karina -- with Chuck and Anna announced as the couple who had reached the end of their DWTS line.

Liddell, though, said that he enjoyed his time on the show -- and learned that dancing is "hard to do." Trebunskaya said that she will miss her "gentle giant," but that he had done well and made her feel proud.

Now the field is narrowed from 16 couples to only 10 couples -- and next week the dancers will perform in tribute to singer Michael Jackson.

ACTRESS DEBI MAZAR ELIMINATED FROM 'DANCING WITH THE STARS'

What was supposed to be a one-couple Dancing With The Stars elimination in the end saw two of the competing pairs taking their final bows on the DWTS stage.

During the previous night's competition of Latin-style dances, former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay proved that he has guts and courage when he completed his entire routine despite suffering from stress fractures in both feet.

DeLay said that while the adrenaline was flowing, he was able to "dance" through the pain, but that later his feet told him that it was time to leave. Even icing them could not alleviate the hurt. So upon the advice of his doctor, the show's producers and his feet -- along with the fact that he did not want to cause his incredibly talented dance partner, Cheryl Burke, to falter, he announced that was leaving.

"If you can't practice," said DeLay, "you make a fool of yourself out there. And I don't want to do that to Cheryl."

Intertwined with songs performed by Queen Latifah, host Tom Bergeron revealed the couples who were safe and those who were not.

After announcing that DeLay and Burke were safe, he said that Michael Irvin and Anna Demidova were in jeopardy, but that Chuck Liddell and Anna Trebunsaya were also safe.

In Bergeron's next announcement, singer Mya and Dmitry Chaplin and swimmer Natalie Coughlin and Alec Mazo were called safe, but model Joanna Krupa and Derek Hough were disclosed to be in danger of elimination.

In the third set, actor Aaron Carter and Karina Smirnoff were placed on the "in jeopardy" list after Bergeron sent entertainer Donny Osmond and Kym Johnson to safety, along with snowboarder Louie Vito and Chelsie Hightower and 'Iron Chef' star Mark Dacascos and Lacey Schwimmer.

And finally, actress Debi Mazar and Maksim Chmerkovskiy were placed "in danger" after Kelly Osbourne and Louis Van Amstel and Melissa Joan Hart and Mark Ballas were sent to safety.

As all four "in danger" couples lined on the stage, the judges' comments on each celebrity's performance were read -- and Joanna Krupa and Derek Hough, along with Aaron Carter and Karina Smirnoff were deemed safe.

So -- drum roll, please -- it was down to former Cowboys star Michael Irvin and Debi Mazar as the celebrities in danger of being sent home.

Mazar, who was no stranger to the "bottom two," smiled, but looked incredibly nervous -- while Irvin explained that he did not want to leave, but looked as if he could handle the outcome whichever way it went for him.

Mazar's samba the prior evening had failed to impress the judges. Judge Carrie Ann Inaba called her performance "a little too safe." And judge Bruno Tpnioli thought that it was "disconnected," although judge Len Goodman said, "What you did, you did well." She and her partner had garnered scores of 6, 5, and 6 for a total of 17 points -- 3 points higher than that of Irvin and his partner.

When Mazar's name was called, she instinctively said, "Oh, no." Clearly, Mazar wanted more time to improve in her dancing -- but she graciously continued to smile and said that she was grateful to have learned the dance steps and had the opportunity to form friendships, especially with her partner Maks. "I definitely have a few more steps," Mazar said, "and I've had a great time."

So Mazar joined the list of previously voted-off celebrities: actor Ashley Hamilton -- son of previous contestant, George Hamilton; model Kathy Ireland and singer Macy Gray. And, of course, Tom DeLay will no longer perform, although he did enthusiastically welcome Bergeron's offer to come back to perform the Texas two-step on the Dancing With The Stars finale.

TOM DeLAY LEAVING 'DANCING WITH THE STARS' COMPETITION

Former Housee Majority Leader Tom DeLay is withdrawing from the dance competition on the popular television program, Dancing With The Stars.

DeLay performed with his partner, Cheryl Burke, last night despite suffering stress fractures in both feet.

But DeLay explained that after completing the dance, he was paying a price for trying to stay in the contest even though his doctors and DWTS producers had opined that he should quit.

"They're starting to tell me that I should not have done this," DeLay said -- speaking of his feet. "I ice them. I have a bone stimulator machine that I put on them."

But DeLay said that he enjoyed being a part of Dancing With The Stars -- and has met wonderful friends, particularly Burke.

MYA AND DMITRY CHAPLIN TOP THE 'DANCING WITH THE STARS' LEADER BOARD

Another week on Dancing With the Stars found Len back on the DWTS judging panel -- and the celebrities preforming close to the level of previous weeks.

The only real surprise of the evening was the previously near-perfect Aaron Carter and partner Karina Smirnoff. While Carter's dancing was on a par with most DWTS competitors, he had set the bar high for himself and was expected to be flawless. But the rumba proved not to be quite Carter's cup of tea. His dance moves were admirable, but unnatural and exaggerated. Judge Bruno Tonioli opined that the performance lacked "fluidity." Carrie Ann Inaba thought that it was exaggerated, but otherwise a "good job." And Len Goodman felt that it lacked "musicality." The pair garnered 8, 6, 7 scores for a total of 21, placing them fourth and tied with entertainer Donny Osmond and Kym Johnson who also found the rumba more of a challenge than their previous dance styles.



Topping the leader board were singer Mya and her partner Dmitry Chaplin. The rumba gave this couple no problems as they performed a sexy routine that brought a thunderous applause from fans. Carrie Ann loved the "fluidity" of their performance. Len was a bit grumpy in his assessment, but Bruno quickly chimed in, saying, that the performance had undoubtedly put a lot of Americans "in the mood for love." Their efforts brought two perfect scores of 10 -- and a 7 from Len, totaling 27.

Second place was captured by swimmer Natalie Coughlin and partner Alec Mazo. While during rehearsal the young Natalie was challenged to look into her partner's eyes and perform a sexy routine, once they hit the competition dance floor she knew exactly what to do -- and she did it. Slow and sexy -- perhaps the pair's best performance thus far. Carrie called the dance "dramatic," and Len praised the "leg action." Bruno turned theatrical in terming it "stratospheric!" Scores were 9, 8, and 9 -- for a total of 26, just one point behind Mya and Dmitry.

Finishing third were model Joanna Krupa and Derek Hough. In an unusual opening, Hough grabbed a rope and made his swinging entrance Tarzan-style. Carrie Ann said that Joanna was "fearless" in performing the samba -- and "super sexy." Len agreed -- adding that "it had quality stamped all over it." And Bruno echoed their sentiments. The 7, 8, and 8 scores delivered a 23 total.

The lowest ranked couple of the evening was football great Michael Irvin and partner Anna Demidova -- dancing a samba. Carrie Ann thought that Irvin was "dancing too small" -- and Len and Bruno considered the performance "disappointing." Their scores were 5, 4, 5, for a low 14 points.

And finishing only one point higher was the couple -- former Sen. Tom DeLay and Cheryl Burke. While their dance may not have captivated the audience, DeLay won the respect of DWTS fans -- completing the entire routine despite suffering stress fractures in both feet! DeLay had been advised by his doctors and the show's producers to leave the competition -- but he said that he likes challenges and was determined to dance. DeLay captured high praise for his courage -- along with scores of 6, 4, and 5 -- for 15 points.

Other scores for the evening:
Mark Dacascos and Lacey Schwimmer -- 18
Melissa Joan Hart and Mark Ballas -- 19
Louie Vito and Chelsie Hightower -- 20
Debi Mazar and Maksim Chmerkovskiy -- 17
Chuck Liddell and Anna Trebunskaya -- 17
Kelly Osborne and Louis Van Amstel -- 20