‘Dancing With the Stars’ 2015: ‘Bachelor’ Chris Soules, ‘Shark Tank’’s Robert Herjavec Booted In Week 8
— -- As reality TV stars, Chris Soules and Robert Herjavec are used to dishing out rejection, but they were eliminated from ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars” Tuesday night just one week shy of the semi-finals.
Soules, the 33-year-old star of “The Bachelor,” and Herjavec, who stars on “Shark Tank,” were both voted off the show in a double-elimination in the eighth week of the show’s season 20. “The Bachelor” and “Shark Tank” are both on ABC.
“We’ve been doing this for close to 10 weeks,” Soules said on “Good Morning America” this morning of how hard he and professional partner Kim Witney have working. “It’s been my life for a long time and you get to a point where you’re really invested and you work really, really hard, at least 8 to 10 hours a day.”
Disappointed by the elimination but focused on moving ahead, he added, “My reality is the farm right now,” when asked if he’d be ready for three reality shows in a row.
The “Dancing” duo will remain in touch, however. Witney is choreographing Soules’ first dance for his wedding to fiancée Whitney Bischoff.
“I’m thinking a nice, pretty waltz,” said Witney. “Something really romantic and soft, really pretty.”
Soules first learned his fate at the end of “DWTS” Tuesday night. He was overcome with emotion when Tom Bergeron, the show’s longtime host, asked him to share how he was feeling.
“It’s been an incredible experience. I’m just thankful to have been a part of it,” he said, adding that he’d something he never thought he’d be able to do. “It’s life changing. I’m forever grateful.”
Witney Carson, his pro partner, thanked Soules.
“I love this guy so much. This has been the most rewarding season,” she said.
Herjavec’s fate was announced midway through the show, after which he hugged his pro partner, Kym Johnson, whom it’s been speculated he may be romantically involved with. The pair’s apparently affectionate relationship sparked the question “What’s next?” on “GMA” this morning.
“Of course, more dancing with Kim,” he replied.
“Oh you think so?” Johnson questioned.
“I think so,” said Herjavec.
The conversation came after the “Shark Tank” star joked instead about having a relationship with Bergeron.
“I’m not dating Tom,” Herjavec quipped. “He hit on me, but no -- I love him and I respect him but I didn’t want to go there.”
On a more serious note, Johnson said of her professional partner, “He’s done amazing. I think he’s what the show is about. He’s just embraced every single dance. He truly loved learning every single dance that he did.”
The two TV personalities had struggled during their time on the program. Soules, a farmer from Iowa, has shown steady improvement in recent weeks although his scores have hovered at or near the bottom of the leaderboard. Tuesday his scores from the judges placed him third from the last place, with the 51-year-old Herjavec in last place.
Judges have commended Herjavec’s dedication throughout the competition -- his smiling on the dance floor made it clear the business mogul was enjoying his participation in the show -- even though they’ve said his performances were inconsistent.
Tuesday’s eliminations came as no surprise, unlike last week’s revelation that consistent high scorer Willow Shields was being voted off. The 14-year-old actress and star of “The Hunger Games” seemed shocked and upset when her fate was revealed, and the show’s judges, ballroom audience and fans on social media were also stunned by her departure.
Elimination is based upon a combination of judges’ scores and viewer votes.
Returning to the show on Monday for the season’s semi-finals are actress Rumer Willis, who earned two perfect scores on the show Tuesday; Olympian Nastia Liukin; R5 band member Riker Lynch and U.S. Army veteran Noah Galloway.
Singer Carly Rae Jepsen performed her new hit, “I Really Like You.” Singer Josh Groban sang “Over the Rainbow” to a dance by Maddie Ziegler, Brynn Rumfallo and Jaycee Wilkins.
