Dancing With the Stars Loses the "Most Amazing, Soft, Gentle" Contestant

Three stars make it into next week's two-night finale

Let's hear it for senses of humor.

On what had the potential to be a sad night on Dancing With the Stars—apparently it's "devastating" to be cut in the semifinals, according to Len Goodman—the not necessarily deserving castoff kept a stiff upper lip and took a bow that left us all smiling.

"This was awesome," NFL star Chad Ochocinco (for you trivia buffs, he had his name legally changed from Johnson) said after being eliminated one week short of the two-night season finale.

"I enjoyed the journey, I met some wonderful people, I got some great criticism that's only made me stronger," the chiseled wide receiver continued, "and I'll miss 'em all, especially the beautiful Cheryl Burke. And in my eyes really, I've already won."

So has Cheryl, who scored both a diamond ring and a necklace from her appreciative star partner.

"Chad is the most humble guy you'll ever meet," Cheryl said, "the most amazing, soft, gentle man in the world, and I've had such an amazing experience with you, thank you."

When asked what would be happening now that the competition is over for them, Chad, once again, played hard-of-hearing.

"Say what?" he said confusedly, leaning toward Brooke Burke.

"We will remain friends, you know," he said. "The relationships here, we'll all remain friends. And I'll be here as a professional next year."

Now that's how you give an exit speech. Leave 'em guessing!

Meanwhile, finalists Evan Lysacek, Erin Andrews and Nicole Scherzinger will each do four competitive dances next week, including a freestyle number where everything goes.

Also tonight, Sarah McLachlan sang her weepy hit "Angel," and a feather-bedecked Miley Cyrus broke out "Can't Be Tamed" for the first time on live TV.