Macchio: 'Dancing' judges' comments were 'rude'

[May 19, 2011]  LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Ralph Macchio feels like the judges on "Dancing with the Stars" didn't give him a fair shake.

The "Karate Kid" star was kicked off the hit ABC show Tuesday, and after the credits rolled, he told reporters he "felt circled as the one couple that didn't get praise and built up like the others did."

The 49-year-old actor said that some of the comments made Monday by judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Len Goodman and Bruno Tonioli were "rude and disrespectful." Tonioli was briefly bleeped while making his remarks, during which he also referred to Macchio's professional partner, Karina Smirnoff, as "a pussycat." Smirnoff was wearing a leopard-print cat suit for the performance.

The couple earned the lowest scores of the night.

Macchio said he "felt like the playing field wasn't level for some reason" and that he "had a feeling" he would be eliminated from the show the next day.

Football star Hines Ward and actresses Kirstie Alley and Chelsea Kane will compete for the mirrorball trophy next week.

Macchio said he has no idea who will be named the new "Dancing" champ.

"It's tough to predict because I would not have predicted the comments we got (Monday) night," he said.

[Associated Press; By SANDY COHEN]

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