'Dancing with the Stars' 2011 Semifinal Results - Ralph Macchio Waxes Off

Following directly on the heels of a freestyle extravaganza, the "Dancing with the Stars" 2011 semifinal results show aired Tuesday evening. The night's action included performances by Pitbull with Ne Yo and Stevie Nicks. By night's end, Karate Kid Ralph Macchio felt sadly short of next week's finale. Here's a full recap.



Co-hosts Tom Bergeron and Brooke Burke opened the evening by calling on head judge Len Goodman to choose the week's encore dance. Crankypants said that he and fellow judges Bruno Tonioli and Carrie Ann Inaba had struggled with their pick, but ultimately asked Chelsea Kane and Mark Ballas to reprise their Rumba. Snap crackle pop, baby.



Immediately afterward, the results action began when Brooke called forward NFL star Hines Ward and Kym Johnson, who survived a serious neck injury during rehearsals and wound up scoring two perfect 30s last night. Moments later, they became the first couple named to the "DWTS" season 12 finals.



Backstage, Brooke chatted with the other three remaining couples. Ralph Macchio said he'd been "confused" by the judges' scoring last night, but hoped his fans would help them make the finals. Chelsea said that she and Mark would "love to go the finals" and that they'd had a great time performing. Kirstie Alley said she and partner Maks Chmerkovskiy would deliver "less drama and more aerials" if they made it to next week's competition.



Superstar Stevie Nicks was up next with a vocal performance of her song "Secret Love". "Dancing" pros Anna Trebunskaya, Dmitry Chaplin (open-shirted, naturally) and Damian Whitewood (also open-shirted, but less aggressively so) and "DWTS" Troop member Peta offered up visual accompaniment. I like Nicks and all, but I didn't love this particular performance. It was almost too gritty. Even for Stevie Nicks. And her heavy black ensemble made her look like she'd been attacked by viscious upholstery.



A commercial break, and then wham, more music. Front loading it tonight, huh, producers? Pitbull and Ne Yo and some chick I didn't recognize at all hit the ballroom with a live rendition of what's supposedly a huge dance hit right now. It was fine, peppy and all that. But what I want to know is why mainstream dancing involves so much ho-like behavior? Yuck.



And then more results action as Chelsea and Mark were named finalists. They were pumped. Back in the Red Room, Brooke tried to get Hines and Chelsea to fight, but to no avail. Ho hum.



Up next on "Dancing with the Stars" was a tearjerkingly inspirational segment featuring Tayla Kelley, a girl born missing half of her immune system. Although she has only a 60% chance of making it to adulthood, Tayla lives her life to the fullest. She hit the ballroom live and danced alongside "DWTS" pros Lacey Schwimmer and Chelsie Hightower. She certainly has a gift! Go girl.



Then a taped segment featuring the contestants' thoughts on season 12 aired. It basically consisted of Chelsea, Hines, Ralph and Kirstie talking about their many injuries and issues from day one. Yawn. Filler.



But the good stuff returned as Stevie Nicks returned to the stage to preform the Fleetwood Mac mega hit "Landslide". Sing it, sister. Sing it. (But the drapery dress was still awful.) "DWTS" pros Cheryl Burke and Tony Dovolani Rumba'd right along. Good stuff all in all.



With almost everything else in the books, Tom and Brooke reviewed the final two contestants' semifinal wound offerings. And then Kirstie and Ralph and their respective partners took to the stage to find out which pair would make the finals. Ooh, high drama. So who made it? After the requisite dramatic music and red lights, Ralph Macchio and Karina Smirnoff were eliminated from "Dancing with the Stars" 2011. Ralph was gracious in defeat, thanking everyone from Brooke and Tom to his partner to the hair and make-up crew.



So Kirstie heads to the "Dancing with the Stars" 2011 finals with Hines Ward and Chelsea Kane. Well, two-thirds of that is all good. Kirstie? Uhm, okay. At least Maks gets to stick around. Tune in for next week's one hour performance finale to see who delivers the best Freestyle of the season, and then again on Tuesday for the big Mirrorball reveal. Or you can just check in with me. You know I'll be watching.