Jennie Garth Expelled from Dancing

"90210" alum eliminated, leaving Mel B, Helio Castroneves and Marie Osmond in next week's final

By Natalie Finn Nov 21, 2007 6:33 AMTags

The beat goes on, as does Marie Osmond.

The "Paper Roses" singer will join Helio Castroneves and Melanie Brown in next week's Dancing with the Stars finale, meaning Beverly Hills 90210 alum Jennie Garth doesn't get to graduate with the rest of her class.

"I had such a great time," she said Tuesday. "My family was so supportive and here all the way and I taught my daughters such a valuable lesson."

"I have self-confidence," she added, when asked by Tom Bergeron whether her confidence level had finally caught up with her skill level. "My issue is performing in front of people, and Derek brought that out in me."

A few weeks ago, the judges told her that she herself was the only one left who didn't know what a great dancer she was, talent some may have doubted when she took a spill during week two.

"My greatest fear coming into this competition was falling," the 35-year-old actress and mother of three said in the video montage played after the elimination. "In retrospect, it was the greatest thing that could have happened. Falling gave me the confidence that I could keep going."

Garth out-maneuvered Osmond on Monday, scoring a combined 58 on her two dances, including her first 30 of the competition for her cha-cha, but it was Osmond who was the first celebrity to be declared safe tonight.

Luckily, the 48-year-old entertainer and QVC peddler kicked it up a notch just in time to make her advancement into the final less scandalous, this already having been a season rife with drama and shocking moments. Osmond alone has accounted for a fainting spell, the loss of a parent and last week's announcement that her teenage son is in rehab.

Pro Jonathan Roberts helped Osmond score two 10s on her quickstep, with a "9"-wielding Bruno Tonioli being the only holdout, and a 27 on "the most dizzily madcap mambo" that Tonioli had ever seen.

"My strategy was to follow Jonathan's strategy," Osmond joked last night. On a more serious note, however, she credited her age and experience for her longevity in this competition.

"I know how to apply a work ethic," she said in an interview shown during Tuesday's broadcast. "I know how to bring it when it gets tough."

That's good, because it's going to get tougher next week.

Castroneves and Mel B turned in flawless performances last night, scoring perfect 30s across the board.

"You can whip me if I misbehave," Len Goodman said playfully following Mel B's literally whip-cracking paso doble with Maksim Chmerkovskiy, who has said throughout the competition that the Spice Girl has what it takes to go all the way.

And you actually believe him.

Castroneves' jaunty foxtrot and saucy samba were called "mind-blowing" and "mind-boggling," respectively.

"You really are the king of the great ride," Tonioli told the Brazilian Indy Car champ.

Meanwhile, Sabrina Bryan showed up to make us wonder what might have been, dancing a killer rumba with partner and new love interest Mark Ballas Jr.

The chemistry-enhanced pair took the floor to Avril Lavigne's "Complicated," performed live by the pop princess, who also cranked out her latest single, "Hot," off of The Best Damn Thing.

But while they lost their chance for the disco ball trophy unjustifiably early in the competition, Bryan and Ballas will be headlining the upcoming Dancing with the Stars—The Tour, kicking off Dec. 18 in Seattle.

Wayne Newton, who's had to cancel two months' worth of shows while he battles cardiomyopathy, has been given the greenlight by his doctor and should be ready to leg it out with Bryan, Marie Osmond, Joey Lawrence, Monique Coleman and Drew Lachey when the tour begins.

“Having spent my life in show business, the Dancing with the Stars experience has certainly become a highlight," Newton said in a statement. "I’m thrilled that my doctors have given me the ok to hit the road this winter and perform for all of my fans across the country."

Next Monday, each finalist will perform three dances apiece, including a lifts-allowed freestyle number, and Celine Dion will appear on Tuesday's finale.