dancing with the stars

'Dancing With The Stars' week 2 elimination: Tavis Smiley gets the boot

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

'Dancing With The Stars' week 2 elimination: Tavis Smiley gets the boot

Tavis Smiley and Sharna Burgess were the second couple to be eliminated from 'Dancing With The Stars' Season 19.

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- "Dancing With The Stars" said goodbye to the second celebrity of the season Tuesday night -- Tavis Smiley and Sharna Burgess were eliminated.

Smiley had trouble fitting in rehearsal time with his latest book tour, and the lack of practice showed during their Cha Cha routine. The talk show host found himself in the dreaded bottom two with race car driver Michael Waltrip after receiving a 28 out of a possible 40 for his Samba to "Boogie Wonderland" from Earth, Wind & Fire on Monday night.

While the book just became a bestseller, this chapter in Smiley's life is over and Waltrip moved on to the next round.

VIDEO: Tavis Smiley, Sharna Burgess on being eliminated in week 2

Tavis Smiley on being eliminated from 'Dancing With The Stars'

"The producers made the mistake, if you will, of putting me on in September when I specifically asked to be on in March because I knew what I was up against and it wouldn't be fair to me, wouldn't be fair to Sharna, and to your brilliant point, it wouldn't be fair to the fans," Smiley said. "The fans deserve to see somebody on the show who really does have the time to put the effort in to get better every week and that's how you respect the art form of dance, not putting somebody on who will tell you to your face, 'I can't rehearse but eight or 10 hours a week because I'm doing something else.'"

Burgess is sad it all ended so suddenly.

"We were about to get to know all the other sides of Tavis Smiley and that's what excited me the most because I've got to know them and I love them all, and it's just a shame for me that everybody else isn't going to get to see that," Burgess said.

Nevertheless, Smiley said he will be "forever grateful and appreciative of this moment."

Olympian Lolo Jones became the first celebrity contestant to be eliminated last week. She had a problem with a prop during her routine and failed to recover.

Meanwhile, there's no time for the 11 remaining contestants to slow down. The celebrities and their professional partner will dance to songs from their favorite films on Movie Night next Monday at 8 p.m on ABC7.

VIDEO: Michael Waltrip, Emma Slater on being in jeopardy in "DWTS" week 2