First Posted: Nov 20, 2014 02:03 PM EST
Monday night's competition among the semifinalists on ABC's "Dancing With the Stars" meant the season was one step closer to handing the mirror-ball championship trophy to a new winner.
This week's voting totals meant fans had to say goodbye to Tommy Chong, one of the well-loved contestants left and by the far the oldest competitor remaining at 76 years old. The former "Cheech & Chong" star left Monday evening, and the remaining cast, especially Chong's professional dance partner Peta Murgatroyd, seemed upset with the news.
After they were eliminated from the competition, a misty-eyed Murgatroyd said that she was "so proud" of her dancing partner.
"I guess it just like floored me with, like, how loved he is," she said in an interview with E! News. "I am so in love with him right now. I just love him so much."
Even Chong was surprised he continued this far into the season, admitting it likely wasn't because of his dancing skills.
"I made it this far based on my reputation more than anything," he said.
Still left in the competition is "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air's" Alfonso Ribeiro, who suffered a severe back injury that almost didn't allow for him to continue dancing, but he somehow managed to perform. He is partnered with Witney Carson.
"It's a tough one. It's a really tough one," Ribeiro told E! News of his injury. "I've got a back brace on to keep me upright."
Other stars still left in the running are Sadie Robertson from "Duck Dynasty," and partner Mark Ballas, YouTube sensation Bethany Mota and partner Derek Hough, and former "Pretty Little Liars" cast member Janel Parrish and partner Val Chmerkovskiy.
Monday's weekly theme in the competition was "unplugged,"meaning the dancing couples had to perform twice to the same song in two different arrangements. This allowed the stars to express the genre of dance in their choreography without being caught up in not liking the song selection.
Finals for "Dancing With the Stars" begins Monday at 8/7c p.m. on ABC.
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Source: http://www.latinpost.com/articles/26248/20141120/abc-dancing-stars-2014-cast-partners-tommy-chong-peta-murgatroyd.htm
