After six amazing weeks of competition, the hills seemed alive for The Hills star Audrina Patridge and her partner, Tony Dovolani, but last night all that changed when the couple were eliminated on Dancing With the Stars.
With the added pressure of two dances to learn this week, a paso doble and a group competition dance, the pressure was on. While the couple executed both routines well and were awarded a very respectable 24 (out of 30) for their solo routine and a further 8 (out of a possible 10 points) for the group number, the judges’ harsh critiques soon dampened their elated spirits. “I wanted them to realize how hard Audrina and I had worked together,” Tony tells In Touch. “Instead they scolded us. We were so happy after the dance and I even gave out a scream as Audrina gave me what I wanted.”
Many of the couples seemed to struggle with the rock theme, including former front-runner Jennifer Grey, who received her lowest performance score to date. “I like rock ’n’ roll music, but am not sure if it works with ballroom dancing,” Audrina tells In Touch. “Still, I had a great time and felt good about the night,” she adds.
However, after being advised the couple were in danger early in last night’s elimination show, which also featured some energetic performances by musical guests Heart and Kylie Minogue, the red light eventually revealed their fate.
“I still feel like I wanted more time and there is some unfinished business,” Audrina tells In Touch. “But I’ll be learning to dance from Tony and Maks and I’ll be back for the finale and the 200th episode party next week, so I’ll be back to visit.”
With a new VH1 reality show in the works, Audrina will be busy with that, along with voting for her remaining DWTS colleagues. “We are friends with all of them so it’s going to be hard,” laughed Tony when quizzed on whom the couple will be voting for now. “Maybe there will be a phone call for everyone,” reveals Audrina who also tells In Touch she won’t be back for ABC’s upcoming Skating With the Stars anytime soon. “I’ll pass on that,” she laughs.
Q: You seem so sad to be going?
Audrina: I started to tear up, just because I am not going to see these people every week. There are so many things going on in my head right now, it’s just really sad. So it was disheartening to hear the comments last night. My heart started sinking and I was sad. I put in so much work for the entire week. I wish they had recognized it. But our score was pretty good. Carrie Ann saw the progress, which meant a lot.
Q: Do you feel the judges’ comments were too harsh last night?
Audrina: Last night’s comments were harsh but there is nothing I can really say — it was meant to be.
Tony: It’s hard when you put that much work into it. I know the judges can sway things in one way or another, in this case I wanted them to realize how hard Audrina and I had worked together. Instead they scolded us, not once, but a few weeks in a row. They kind of focused on her character and I think she has the greatest character in the world.
Q: What did you learn about yourself on the show?
Audrina: I learned a lot about myself and found a new confidence. It’s like because I am not on The Hills anymore I got to get in touch with myself and what I want to do. I get to make my own decisions now so I feel like I am maturing more and more.
Q: What’s next for you?
Audrina: I can announce the show I was working on with Mark Burnett got picked up by VH1, so we start that next and the journey continues. It’ll be about my family and me and all the things people have wondered about. They’ll see all of that. Hopefully, Tony will be on it. We have become good friends now so there will be some trips to New York to dance.
Q: So you definitely will continue to dance?
Audrina: Actually, my girlfriends said, “God forbid if you get voted off, we are coming to classes and learning to dance with you.”
Tony: Well, Maks and I are opening a dance studio in Hollywood soon called Dance With Me, so she’ll be dancing with her friends there.
Q: Is there anything you can’t wait to eat now you that don’t have to rehearse eight hours a day?
Audrina: Oh, I ate pizza every other day. I’ll probably…
Tony: We were on the see-food diet and ate what we saw. Audrina: I actually ate more desserts than I ever have being on this show — surprisingly.
