OK, Erin, you watched the show in person this week. How was sitting just outside the Celebrity Aquarium?
I had a great time. It was very emotional for me, because that was such a special time for me. Like Margaret Cho said and like I told you before, it was a lot of therapy. Just a great group and family surrounding me, so it was emotional to come back. I was so excited to see everyone, to see Maks and spend time with him, and also to meet Brandy as well.
Yeah, you got to witness the Brandy-Maks dynamic firsthand. What did you think?
I liked it! You know, I thought their dance was great. I thought he kind of stole the show with the leather pants -- no offense to Brandy. I mean, he comes out in those pants and it's like, what else are you supposed to focus on? But I loved meeting her. She was great. You can tell she really, really, really wants to win this thing. She kept saying it over and over. She kept saying, "I really want to win this. I really want to win this." She said she was glad I was came and she appreciated the support. So I enjoyed meeting her.
What did you and Maks talk about?
Um, what did we talk about? Well, we didn't get to say much before the show, just quick hellos and hugging and everything. Then after the show we did the press line and we met up and all went to dinner as a big group. We watched the end of the Monday Night Football and talked a little bit about the season, which was great. With my schedule and his schedule, I hadn't really had a chance to catch up on all the dirt with the cast and catch up with him on his life and his family's too.
Tell us about watching the dancing in person. Did you notice things we have missed at home?
Gosh. I don't know, because the viewers are really smart and in tune with everything. Let's see: I really thought Bristol did a very good job. I was impressed with how poised she was. I thought her technique was a lot better, and I loved that she was in character -- the hair flip, the tongue thing. I actually didn't think in person that Kurt's dance was bad at all. I think he was kind of gypped with the scores. That show is so crazy. Being on the show, you kind of see that. There are just nights you get picked on. I thought that happened with Jennifer; I thought her dance was great. There was a point where she slipped, and I know Carrie Ann said it was a little out of control. Being there in person, I didn't think it was out of control at all. The one part where she slipped and lost it a little bit, she was coming out of a turn, a really fast one. I thought maybe she was just a little dizzy or that the floor was slippery. But I didn't think the whole thing was a mess.
Kurt and Jennifer scored the lowest this week, and that seemed like b.s. to me. I mean, Rick Fox beat Jennifer Grey by four points. What do you make of that?
I just feel like when you do the show, you know there are shows when you'll be picked on. It won't be your night. That was the case for Kurt and Jennifer, and I actually told Kurt at the end of the night -- I'd talked to his wife for a little bit -- I said, "Please don't get frustrated with this. This is how this show goes." One night you're going to be singled out and you'll think you're going to feel like you're going home the next day. And next week you come out and you're praised and you think, "OK, I don't think I did that well." So I just wanted to make Kurt understand, "I think you're doing a fabulous job." I think women at home appreciate the fact that he's never danced in his life and he's just giving it his all. I think he's going to be fine.
In fact, it's probably good to have a bad week. Then people remember to vote for you. Otherwise you end up like Audrina did yesterday!
I'm... stunned. Are you stunned?
Traumatized!
Ha! I was shocked. I was actually flying back from LA, and I hadn't gotten to see the show. When I landed, I read Maks's Twitter, and it said, "America got it wrong." And I was like, "What?!" They were the last people I thought would be eliminated. I was with Tony [Dovolani, Audrina's partner] at dinner the night before. Let me tell you, there are some nights you think you're going home. But that was not the vibe any of us felt about those two.
Ouch, you got to talk to them the night before? Were they at all pessimistic? I mean, they tied for second place this week.
Second place. It was unbelievable. I don't think either one of them had the sense they'd be leaving at all. I think everyone kind of thought, "Ehh, maybe this person will go, that person. Maybe it's time for that person to go." But not those two!
I know you said Bristol did better this week, but how optimistic are you for her future on the show?
I don't know. It's just going to get harder. Obviously the night of the dance marathon that night, I was there. But they're going to have to start doing two dances. It's going to get worse. The competition will get more difficult. I mean, if she can stay in it, and I know she wants to, I'm all for it. Good for her. But it's just going to start getting harder. I don't remember what her criticism was that night, but I thought she did have the technique. Her technique looked great. She's just got to let herself go, emotions-wise. I don't know what dances she has coming up, but it's not going to be any easier. And the judges aren't going to get any easier as well.
Who are we leaving out? Kyle! What'd you think of him this week?
I thought Kyle was adorable! I loved it. I'm a big Lacey fan; love her creativity with her costumes and dances. And I think he's just so sweet. They have a different vibe because he's a little younger, and I thought he was wonderful. He was one of the dances I was sitting there clapping and screaming for. I just really, really liked it.
Important question: Do you think Jennifer is still the front-runner?
I think Jennifer is the front-runner. She had her bad week. Last season Nicole had her bad week, and it was tears and "Oh my gosh!" and then she came back and killed every routine after that. You can't, with this show, always have the best week. Even with Evan, the judges once told him, "You went all wrong tonight." There's just always the week you're going to get singled out, especially if you're one of the best. Brandy's going to have that week, and I'm sure Maks has prepared her for that. There's going to be a week where she doesn't breathe right, and her scores are going to stink. Now, I know Maks will prepare her for that because he prepared me for it, but I hope she can take it because she's very, very -- I notice when she gets her scores, her eyes are closed and she's looking like she's praying -- I hope she can take it. Jennifer I felt took it in stride, and Derek probably told her, "Look, this is going to happen." You just have to know it's not going to be your night one of these times and they are just going to unleash on you.
Interesting that you say Maks helped prepare you for the judges. Was it disheartening to know that, at random, you could be gypped?
It makes you feel bad when they're sitting there picking everything apart. But the good part is when the fans are sitting there booing. It's reassurance! Then you get back to your trailer and look at your phone, and your friends are saying, "What are they, crazy? You were fine." But it's also cool when your fans see what the judges have said, because they come out in full force and vote even harder. Jennifer's fans are now going to see that she was in the bottom and that the judges' scores weren't that great, and now her fans will get back on track. When we were in the bottom two with Pam [Anderson], we felt it was kind of a message for our fans. Like, "Wake up. We need your votes. We need your calls." Maybe that's what happened with Audrina and Tony. Fans thought, "She's got this in the bag. She's good to go until the Top 4, maybe Top 3. Then we'll get back on track with calling." But it is a good wake-up call.
It's still pretty confounding that Audrina and Tony didn't even get enough votes to stay in the competition.
Yeah! When they say your votes matter, I mean, they're just as important as the judges' score. This proved that. At the same time, it's reality TV. It can't go how we all think it will play out. Then it wouldn't be a popular show. They have to add some twists and turns to it. You just kind of hope the night you're on it, it's not you. But I'm shocked. Shocked!
We breezed through our chat this week, Erin! What are you looking forward to next week?
The 200th episode is next week, and I'm going back for that. It's going to be a huge celebration, the whole family getting back together. I've already asked our casting director to seat me next to Evan and Niecy, because they're my troublemakers on the show. So I cannot wait for that. That's one thing I will say about this season's cast. This season eleven cast versus my cast? They're all really well-behaved. Especially when they're in the C. Aquarium? And when they're waiting for their scores or waiting to go on? Um, our cast was out of control. We were always talking, play-fighting each other, giving each wet willies, grabbing each others' buns. And this cast is so well-behaved. My sister even said, "You guys acted like fools." I think the biggest reason why we misbehaved and acted like 10-year-olds was because of Niecy, Evan, and I. We stirred up so much trouble off the set. Just watching this cast, maybe that's something America doesn't notice. Niecy, Evan, and I made everyone act like children. So much fun.
You'll get to meet so many great DWTS veterans. Who are you looking forward to meeting most?
I'm excited to spend a little time with Mel B. Maks loved her so much. I love her show now, and I think she's such a great personality. The stories he tells about Mel and her husband are hysterical, so I'm hoping to spend a bit of time with her. I saw her at the finale last year and she came and gave me a giant hug. But I've never gotten to break bread with her and talk, so I'm looking forward to that.
We'll look for you on TV! And scream and clap.
It'll be fun! It's traumatic right now! It's crazy right now. But it'll be great to see how it plays out for the rest of the show.