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Backstage at DWTS' "Most Unpredictable" Night Ever
Dancing with the Stars by Kelsey McNeal/ABC
It was enough to make the producers want to tear their hair out. Would Latin soap star Cristian de la Fuente — who suffered what everyone thought was a severely pulled muscle in his left arm Monday night doing the samba — be able to stay on Dancing with the Stars? Or would he be forced to withdraw? And if he did, would Tuesday night's elimination of Shannon Elizabeth be nixed? "In six seasons of the show, this has been the most unpredictable night for production," says cohost Samantha Harris. "In our early [Tuesday] morning meeting, we thought Cristian could continue. Then after rehearsal, we were told he would not be able to continue. And literally moments before we went on the air, it changed again."
That's because just 10 minutes before going live, executive producer Conrad Green was on the phone with Cristian de la Fuente's doctor. Everyone knew the actor was hurt. What they didn't know until after the Tuesday afternoon MRI is that De la Fuente had actually ruptured a tendon. "Literally, five minutes before the show began, the specialist gave his opinion," says Green. "The key thing for us was knowing that Cristian wasn't going to hurt himself further. I wasn't willing [to let him keep dancing] just on a song and a prayer. But I will take a specialist's opinion over my own presumptions. If Cristian wants to do it, knowing the risks, we're never going to stop someone being on the show."
"I've been at the doctor's office, from 9 in the morning until 5 tonight," says De la Fuente, noticeably holding his left arm steady. Adds Harris, "He had a compression bandage on it during the show, but it was constricting his arm so much that it was making his hand swell, so he took it off."
Says De la Fuente, "I'm going to go to the doctor again tomorrow morning so he can tell me how to use the arm, protect the arm."
Cristian's pro partner, Cheryl Burke, says, "I have to be really careful choreographing" in light of the injury. "I think the tango (next week) is going to be the most challenging because we have to stay in ballroom hold and he's got to keep his left arm up. I'm going to try not to put any pressure on it and work around it. I don't know how I'm going to do it. I'm still thinking about it."
"I've said to him many times, "If you feel that you're going to hurt yourself, just stop," says Green. "He's going to have to be very careful with that arm."
"It's very admirable that he is not giving up," says judge Carrie Ann Inaba. "That's what this competition is all about. It's a partnership, and I think he really reminded us of that. He can't let Cheryl down." Will it be like judging Heather Mills, who danced on a prosthetic leg? "We have to score what we see," says judge Bruno Tonioli. "At the end of the day, you have to score the dance." So no lifts for De la Fuente? Tonioli laughs. "No, only slides! Slides across the floor. And less clothes." — Deborah Starr Seibel
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Apr 30, 2008 9:56 AM
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I think the next competition will tell it all. I don't think it'll be easy for him to dance with one bad arm (likening himself to Marlee was sweet but I don't think it's the same thing) don't know how he can swing his partner out, dance with that arm up, he certainly can't hold onto her while she does fancy bending steps or such, and I think the things he can't do are going to overshadow the things he can and unless he wins a sympathy vote (he could have gotten them after Monday's show) I don't think the poor guy has much of a chance. Too bad, he actually was growing on me, and he's a trouper.
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Apr 30, 2008 1:20 PM
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I really like Christian but, I think he should have bowed out of the competition because of the nature of his injury. A dance competition is not worth injuring his arm again. It will be interesting to see how he does next week. I know he did not want to disappoint Cheryl but I am sure she would understand. The fans gave him and Cheryl a sympathy vote due to his injury and that kept them in the competition but the fact is they were only able to complete one minute of the second dance and that in itself should have eliminated the couple based on performance. The judges were very lenient with them by giving them 7's. Obviously the judges wanted them to stay longer. Good luck to Christian and I wish him a speedy recovery.
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Apr 30, 2008 5:44 PM
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I wish there was some way that we could precipitate the removal of Samantha Harris. Or else, get her to keep her mouth closed.
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Apr 30, 2008 6:36 PM
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I have to admire Christian for staying in the competition. It's going to be hard for Cheryl to choregraph around it, but she's a pro and I have faith she and Christian can do it.
Kudos to him for staying in!!!
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Apr 30, 2008 6:41 PM
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I like Christian and I think he's doing a great job, but I think he should have bowed out last night. He really shouldn't risk hurting his arm even more than it's already injured. I just hope he knows what he's getting into. But kudos to him for wanting to go on and I'm sure Cheryl will figure something out. I agree with everyone who said that he got the sympathy vote.
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Apr 30, 2008 6:47 PM
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I think Christian should have done the RIGHT thing and bowed out of the competition. There is no way he can give his full and complete effort to actually winning the competition if he is injured. Also, it was unfair to Shannon Elizabeth, because if Christian can't perform next week and he's out, she will have been eliminated for nothing. If he was thinking of anyone other than himself, he would have stepped down!
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Apr 30, 2008 11:47 PM
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I am not trying to be rude here since I cannot recall her name off the bat, but the fat girl needs to go ASAP voters. Shannon Elizabeth, Marlee, Matlin, Priscilla Presley, and Monica Seles were all much, much better than this fat girl. How she has made it this far in the competition is beyond me. If she beats out Kristi Yamaguchi, then this year's competition was rigged somehow. I do not want to see another repeat of season one when Wendy Monaco won. She didn't deserve it either. I am glad there was a rematch in her case. I am pulling for Kristi wins it all this year, but there is one gentleman who is pretty tough out there who might just snatch it, and if he does I can live with it. As for you, Cristian de la Fuente, my heart goes out to you, even if I am a man myself. Who cares? You really took a beating and I hope you can still continue a while longer. Take care of that arm. So again reader and voters, this fat girl must go now She is pulling a Wendy Monaco, Part 2.
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May 1, 2008 1:16 AM
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I do not know what is wrong with some people here!!!I know that everybody has the free of post what ever opinion they want. but I do not understand why people keep telling that Tuesday was the most shocker or unpredictable night, and what the pro dancer Karina said in one interview that "look what happen with Marie last season" what do she means by that. first Christian is better dancer than Marie she was terrible, and besides Christian do not had the symphaty votes, I think that voters vote for him because he has being improving a lot like Carrien said went he dance the jive "you improve by mile" by mile so stop been so negative on him I think because he is Latino. but hey look Helio ,what about him .he won last season and he is from Brazil the country that is next to Chile and who knew him? I didn't, so he was like Christian he was a improved dancer. so people stop please stop!!! these is just wrong people. I not saying he will win or need to win or most NO but he diserve to be in there not Derek Hough partner.
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May 1, 2008 10:47 AM
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