Melissa Rycroft Storms Into The Lead On 'Dancing'

Access Hollywood - May 4, 2009 7:23 PM PDT
Story photo: Melissa Rycroft Storms Into The Lead On 'Dancing'T.G.I.F. Melissa Rycroft To Pose For Playboy? (March 31, 2009)<br />Access HollywoodAccess Hollywood

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Melissa Rycroft may have missed "Dancing With the Stars" last week due to injury, but she was back with a vengeance on Monday night.

The former "Bachelor" star and her professional partner, Tony Dovolani, topped the leaderboard at the end of competition on Monday after two dances. The couple's first dance back was the graceful Viennese waltz and it had Bruno Tonioli mesmerized.

VIEW THE PHOTOS: Gilles Marini: From 'Sex & The City' To 'Dancing' Superstar

"Beautiful, romantic, very ballet-ic, but in the Viennese waltz, you can get away with it," Bruno said, referencing Melissa's ballet training.

The two took home 27 for that dance and a perfect score for their final number, a hot samba, which had Len Goodman fired up.

VIEW THE PHOTOS: Shawn Johnson- From Olympic Gold To 'Dancing' Darling

"Tonight is all about who deserves to get into next week's final," he said. "You 100 percent should be here next week."

But while it was good news for Melissa, Ty Murray and Chelsie Hightower suffered a setback, scoring just 21 points in their second dance of the evening.

Their first ballroom number - the Argentine Tango, was called "aggressive" by Bruno and netted them 25, but its follow up, a rumba, offered hints the two may not make it back for next week's semi-final round.

VIEW THE PHOTOS: 'Dancing With The Stars' Season 8 Cast Revealed!

"I wish I could score you on how much you've improved, because I would give you a ten easily," Carrie Ann Inaba sighed. "It was still a little wooden."

As for the other couples, they all did consistently well. Shawn Johnson and Mark Ballas scored a 27 for their quickstep and a 29 for their paso doble. Lil Kim and Derek Hough netted 25 for their waltz and 27 for their salsa. Gilles Marini and Cheryl Burke picked up 29 for their foxtrot and 27 for their final number of the evening, a rumba.

Related Content from AccessHollywood.com:
PLAY IT NOW: Why Melissa Rycroft Didn't 'Dance' (April 28, 2009)
PLAY IT NOW: Melissa's Painful Decision (April 27, 2009)

MORE ACCESS ON THESE TOPICS: Dancing With the Stars - Shawn Johnson - Gilles Marini - Reality TV - Melissa Rycroft

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comments 1-10 of 36  |< newest · < newer · older > · oldest >|  hide comments · post a comment
  • udsweetness
    Thank you pinnoddle!!!! TY I was trying to place that very annoying smile with someone or something....That is by far the most annoying smile I have seen in my life, and yes very Mr. Ed
    report abuseposted May 6, 2009 11:44 AM PDT
  • udsweetness
    Thank you pinnoddle!!!! TY I was trying to place that very annoying smile with someone or something....That is by far the most annoying smile I have seen in my life, and yes very Mr. Ed
    report abuseposted May 6, 2009 11:44 AM PDT
  • J
    My all time favorite Giles will win this but I'm still rooting for Tye and voted 50 times for him last night!! He is completely out of his realm way more than Melissa definately and Shawn. Yet he is kicking butt and is so lovable. I hope it's the 2 men in the finale!!
    report abuseposted May 6, 2009 1:40 AM PDT
  • J
    Melissa or Shawn should have gone not Lil' Kim!! She is so awesome and deserved to be in the finals. Melissa is just a fill in already experienced dancer who shouldn't be on the show in the first place and I'm personally sick to death of her sob stories! Shawn is a boring imature dancer that is also uncomfortable to watch.
    report abuseposted May 6, 2009 1:38 AM PDT
  • Cutiepie
    Why shouldn't she get paid??? Everyone else is. And by the way, a hairline fracture of the ribs is very painful and it's hard to breathe. I went to the hospital when it happened to me and had to stay home for a couple of days before it felt better. She was back practicing the next day..... GO MELISSA
    report abuseposted May 5, 2009 2:51 PM PDT
  • Cutiepie
    Give me a break and Anomymous should keep all that hate to themselves. The fact that these people say "I hate Melissa," sounds like emotional anger for someone you don't even know. DWTS approached her, not the other way around. I think this was a great opportunity for her and she took it. She's been working her butt off ever since.....
    report abuseposted May 5, 2009 2:46 PM PDT
  • Cutiepie
    Give me a break and Anomymous should keep all that hate to themselves. The fact that these people say "I hate Melissa," sounds like emotional anger for someone you don't even know. DWTS approached her, not the other way around. I think this was a great opportunity for her and she took it. She's been working her butt off ever since.....
    report abuseposted May 5, 2009 2:46 PM PDT
  • A Country Girl Can
    If Melissa isn't a 'celeb' then all the pro football players shouldn't be on the show either.
    report abuseposted May 5, 2009 1:12 PM PDT
  • Give me a break!
    OMG - where do I begin - First - as mentioned previously, Melissa is not a star - she was not actually dumped on national tv - Jason dumped her because he found out after the final rose that she (like him) was a wacko! She is a reality show "whore" of sorts - twice a looser on the Dallas Cowboy cheerleader show - and then on Bachelor with quotes like "i want to be a 1st
    report abuseposted May 5, 2009 10:24 AM PDT
  • starwarsbim
    Melissa was way overscored. Shawn was the underscored star of the night in my opinion, i thought she did the best and most consistent out of everyone last night. I'm sick of Melissa and her 'ballet' looking stuff. I wish she would go away, but sadly it looks like she might win, even if she's had previous dancing experience and isnt a star. ABC will make sure she wi
    report abuseposted May 5, 2009 8:59 AM PDT
comments 1-10 of 36  |< newest · < newer · older > · oldest >| 

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