'Dancing With the Stars': Ralph Macchio forecasts the finale

It was a mixed week for Ralph Macchio on "Dancing With the Stars." Despite partner Karina Smirnoff's stumble (which put them in the hot seat on results night), Macchio earned praise for picking her back up and carrying on with the routine.

Zap2it asked Machine how he managed to rebound from the fall when he stopped by the KTLA News Morning Show, but we were more interested in those dramatic facial expressions he's become known for this season.

"Some of them are just gasping for air," he confesses, laughing. Others, like the Waltz to the theme from "Romeo and Juliet" and the week 6 Paso Doble have all been planned out. "I like embracing the character. We discuss and design that in the rehearsal process."

With only three more weeks until the finale, Macchio also sized up the competition for us, naming his biggest threat: "Chelsea Kane is fantastic, arguable the best celebrity dancer."

But he's still not sure who he expects to see in the finale -- other than himself, of course. "Well, me first," he says. "Karina and I have a lot more to show, and I'd hate to see that relationship end before it needs to."

He'll have the chance to improve his scores on Monday, May 2, when he and Karina take on a prohibition era-themed Quickstep.