Chef DiSpirito sambas off 'Dancing with the Stars'

[October 15, 2008]  LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Rocco DiSpirito won't be cooking up any more moves on "Dancing with the Stars."

The celebrity chef and his partner, Karina Smirnoff, were eliminated Tuesday from ABC's popular dancing competition. The pair received the judges' lowest score -- 18 out of 30 -- for their samba routine. Viewer votes and the judges' scores from last week and Monday were combined after injured contestant Misty May-Treanor dropped out of the competition.

"For my final request, I would love it if Bruno could show me how to make my hips move properly," DiSpirito said, prompting flamboyant judge Bruno Tonioli to accompany DiSpirito on the dance floor for a duel hip gyrating session.

Outspoken actress Cloris Leachman joined DiSpirito in the bottom two with the next-to-lowest combined score and votes, while model-actress Brooke Burke remained in the top spot. Her samba earned a 26 from the judges Monday, bringing her two-week total to 54. Burke and her partner, Derek Hough, have maintained first place all season.

Other celebrities in the competition include: singers Lance Bass and Toni Braxton; former NFL star Warren Sapp; Olympic gold medalist Maurice Greene; actor Cody Linley; and actress Susan Lucci. Reality TV star Kim Kardashian, actor Ted McGinley and comedian Jeffrey Ross were dismissed earlier.

___

ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Co.

___

On the Net:

http://abc.go.com/primetime/dancingwiththestars/

[Associated Press; By DERRIK J. LANG]

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.