This week on Dancing with the Stars, the hipless wonder Shannon Elizabeth and her injury-prone partner Derek Hough were shown the door after failing to curry enough votes from us viewers at home.

This pair experienced many highs and lows during their time on the show. Derek was taken to the hospital twice in two weeks, first for a neck injury and then for food poisoning. One begins to wonder if someone else was trying to off him? Then the pair was caught kissing on camera when they went to a Malibu beach to film some rehearsal scenes. Next, they both unleashed their fury at the judges in their post-performance interview in week 6 about the fact that Shannon didn't have enough hip action. (It's true, you didn't. Go watch the performance tape, honey.)

In an interview with In Touch, the couple revealed that at least one of these things might have been a calculated move. They hinted that their reported "sho-mance" was part of a ploy to gain votes.

"We are playing into the rumors with the kisses on the cheek [during their April 21 performance]," said Shannon.

"With our new 'strategy' we are doing it for fun now and for the audience," Derek added. "With our new 'outlook', I think it's going to go down a lot better. We're like, if they want kisses, we'll give them kisses!"

If it was a ploy for votes, well, it didn't work, seeing as they were eliminated this Tuesday. Professional dancer Karina Smirnoff, herself in the gossip headlines about her relationship with season 3 celebrity dancer Mario Lopez, weighed in on Shannon and Derek's little game.

"If it's a strategy, it's not a good one," Karina Smirnoff told In Touch. "Everyone knows that Shannon was dating a schoolteacher when the season started. You've both got to be young, hot and single in order for people to want you together. Their relationship will get them publicity, but that doesn't mean it'll get them votes."

Oh, snap! That Karina, she's got sass, insinuating that Shannon is old and ugly. Maybe everyone on Dancing with the Stars isn't as nice as they appear when they hang out backstage with Samantha Harris.



-Debbie Chang, BuddyTV Staff Writer
Source: In Touch
(Image courtesy of ABC)