'Dancing With the Stars' Results: Michael Irvin, Mark Dacascos double eliminated

Another double elimination looms in Week 7 of "Dancing With the Stars" and I'm readying myself for my impending disappointment and sad faces.

Team Tango kicks off the show with an encore performance before hosts Tom Bergeron and Samantha Harris' intro and throw to last night's recap.

One bit of good news is that Lacey Schwimmer is well enough to dance with Mark Dacascos in the Knock Out round if needed (any I'm fairly sure it will be). Kelly Osbourne & Louis Van Amstel are safe but Mark & Lacey, as predicted, are in the Bottom Three. Giant sigh.

After a commercial break, we're treated to a performance of "Falling For You" by Colbie Caillat while Edyta Slwinskya & Alec Mazo dance. The song's a bit fast for a Rumba but they did really well with it.

Tom gives us more results after a backstage interview. Donny Osmond & Kym Johnson are safe, not a surprise and definitely deserved. Also not a surprise is Michael Irvin & Anna Demidova having to stand under the Spotlight of Dooooooooooom.

Next up, Ballas Hough perform their single "Move." Yes. This is indeed a two-man-boy-band consisting of Mark Ballas and Derek Hough (the boy band thing, by the way, is said with complete affection -- I totally participated in the New Kids reunion tour last year and it was endlessly entertaining). The song is vocoder/electronica heavy so I can't judge their singing skills at all. The track is solid club fare, I'll have to hear it again to get a real opinion. At least the dancing from the guys and their cadre of back-up dancers was really good.

So Mya & Dmitry Chaplin are safe. Whew! Unfortunately, that means Joanna Krupa & Derek are too, leaving Aaron Carter & Karina Smirnoff in the Bottom Three. For me, Aaron & Karina's Jive was way better than Joanna & Derek's Rumba and the results surely would've been reversed if not for the Team dances.

Rod Stewart takes the floor to sing his cover of the Four Tops classic "It's The Same Old Song." Two pairs of nameless female and male dancers join him. They look familiar, especially the guys. Hmmm. Anyway, Rod sounds pretty much the same as he always has but I'll take the Four Tops version any day.

Filler #1 is about all the couples freaking out about the double elimination and having to perform their Knock Out dances. Those two or so minutes lead up to the straight elimination.

Having the lowest total and eliminated with no chance at redemption is...Michael & Anna. I'm a bit shocked. I think Mark & Lacey were too. They get a standing ovation from everyone including the judges, and Tom gives him props for having a great week, both with his individual dance and with pulling Team Paso together. Michael was gracious and says he feels the ovation was in appreciation for working hard. Aw, he's a really good guy. At least he went out on an upswing. Anna thanks him for being such a great partner and encourages him to keep dancing.

Before the dance off starts, I want to say that I believe in fair play but there's no way the judges are voting off Aaron.

Dance Off
Mark & Lacey
Dance/Song: Cha Cha/"I Like To Movie It" a la Reel 2 Real
Mark looks a lot more composed tonight and it's definitely helping his technique. I liked the choreography and there was a cool acrobatic sequence in the middle of it. Really good job.
Judges: Len says Mark's back to his best and the dance was clean, sharp, and rhythmic. Bruno said that what little Cha Cha was there was good and that he had a lot of tricks. Carrie Ann is pleased he's back in top form and that his transition from tricks to dancing was effortless.

Aaron & Karina
Dance/Song: Jive/"Mess Around" a la Ray Charles
Great idea to repeat this dance since they did so well with it last night. It's a faster than normal Jive but Aaron rocked it. He had really good personality and the kicks and flicks were just as strong as last night.
Judges: Bruno can't believe he's in the bottom and this was as good as last night. Carrie Ann thinks it was better than last night and the style is perfectly suited for him. Len called him the "comeback kid" and tonight he was right on the money.

Now for the judges' votes. All the judges think they both did extremely well and that it's a very hard decision. Len announces that it's unanimous and they all want to save Aaron & Karina. Lacey seemed to know before anybody even said anything. Mark says this is one of the greatest experiences of his life and expressed affection for his fellow contestants and especially his partner, and Lacey's glad she's well enough to have one last dance with him. Tom says that it amazed him that he had such a rough week and still came out and nailed the Knock Out dance.

Mark & Lacey join Michael & Anna for their final dance to "Dance Away" by Bryan Ferry and, after a somewhat brief group hug, they hold hands and start prancing in a circle like kids, Mark waving the other couples over to join them. Aw. So cute...and I'm bummed now. I wish it was only a single elimination this week.

Are you at all surprised by the results tonight? Do you share my sadness that Mark is gone? What did you think about the musical guests? Anything else you want to add?

Related:

TV's Top WTF? moments for October
'Dancing With the Stars' career boost
'Dancing With the Stars' recaps