After Jason Taylor literally took the lead on Monday night’s edition and Cristian’s dance injury, you’d think the show wouldn’t have any more surprises.

Thankfully Len and the judges selected Jason and Edyta’s “Dirty Boogie” Quick Step as the encore dance.

The first couple safe: Kristi Yamaguchi and Mark.

Kenny Mayne, Jerry Rice and Len teamed up again for another edtion of “Dance Center.” Mayne has such a whacked-out sense of humor. It’s silly stuff like this that makes me appreciate that this show doesn’t take itself too seriouslyl

Def Leppard and ”Dancing with the Stars.”

Never would have thought I would be typing those two phrases together. The heavy metal hair band sounded surprisingly good. The ballroom was rocking on Tuesday night!

The next safe couple: Mario and Karina!

A behind the scenes video shows the week in the life of the stars, what their schedule is like.

Then it was on to the elimination…(but after a commercial break!)

Finally, Cristian and Cheryl explained what happened last night, and Cristian’s injury. Tom Bergeron referenced that the show was in flux all day long and now we know why; producers were not sure Cristian could compete anymore. Cristian suffered a ruptered tendon (ouch!) He will have to have surgery on his arm, but it could be delayed. He says he could dance if they got the votes…and guess what, they did!

Wow! Good drama on live TV! This is going to make next week pretty interesting.

Marissa and Tony go to the bottom two…then Jason and Edyta are announced safe, leaving Shannon and Derek with Marissa and Tony as the bottom two.

Ultimately, Shannon and Derek are sent home…and Shannon cried again.

I said it last week, I think Shannon and Derek’s outburst, snapping and sniping about the judges and their score in a post dance interview, would turn off viewers. I think they knew it too. They apologized several times for it. But to no avail…

Marissa and Tony started off the night with the Tango.

I like Marissa. She’s so adorable. Tony is terrific, too. I had the chance to meet him last summer on the ABC Summer Screening Tour…he’s charming and a great ambassador for the show. And they did great. Len put it to a point when he said “Your best dance!” Bruno said “great job!” Carrie Ann said she stretched herself. Three very positive reviews! Three NINES!

Cristian and Cheryl were up second with the Vienenese Waltz. Cheryl said he needed to dance with her to make her feel like a princess! Like he would dance with his daughter…so of course, Cristian’s adorable little princess, his young daughter made an appearance. What a cutie!

I thought the dance was romantic and well done. The judges thought it was fine. Bruno calls Cristian South America’s Clark Gable…”a pleasure to watch”…but Len wanted to see more of the traditional waltz. Two eights and a NINE from Bruno!

Kristi hit the ice in rehearsals and showed why she was a world champion. She and Mark dance a waltz as well. Kristi is so good…and Mark is creative as a choreographer. The judges are gonna love it, right? Well…

Carrie Ann thought they took a risk with a prop umbrella and she liked it. But she noted Kristi’s turn near the end was “a little off.” Len was non-plussed. He didn’t like “all the mincing around.” Bruno, an audience pleaser and he knows it, liked the dance challenging the audience to pull off those moves! Two Nines and and an Eight from Len. First time Kristi has ever scored less than a nine.

Mario was in the bottom two last week. So he immediately went to work on this week’s dance, right after the Results Show. The Foxtrot with Karina. Very nice…a missed hand grab, but impressive footwork. Len had a beaming smile and said he danced with “maturity” but that Mario is not the most elegant of dancers, but well done. Bruno said the Foxtrot needs control…but Mario is always a pleasure to watch. Carrie Ann said Mario takes on ambitious routines, just needs to be a little stiffer. 8-8-8.

Shannon and Derek apologized again for their negative comments last week complaining to the cameras about the judges scores. But the judges were kind tonight. Shannon is a drama queen and the Tango is good to her. Bruno loved it in his overly exuberant way. Even Carrie Ann and Len were pleased. 9-9-9!

Jason and Edyta did the Quick step…and it brought down the house!

He listened to Carrie Ann’s notes from last week and danced bigger, faster and so smooth! Len said the football players on the show have been a tenencious bunch. He said if Jason keeps dancing like that he’s going to be in the finals! He said it was Fantastic! Carrie Ann loved it! Bruno said it was “The best dance of the night, I think!” Two TENS and a NINE from Len (Len is being stingy tonight.)

Amazingly, for the first time this season, Kristi was not in first. She was in fourth place after the first round of dances!

Marissa started the Latin portion of the evening with a slower paced Rumba. It was graceful. Bruno said it was romantic, warm but he likes it “a little dirty.” Not Carrie Ann. She thought it was beautiful. Len thought it was a little too “careful.” Two eights and a NINE from Carrie Ann!

Cristian and Cheryl’s Samba moved around the floor. He’s got the hip action down. The dancers are in great sync.

But then, suddenly a problem…near the end of the dance, Cristian stopped, losing his grip on Cheryl…something was wrong!

Cristian clutched his arm. In obvious pain, he told Tom Bergeron he thought he pulled a muscle. They went to a commerical break.

Live TV…I love it!

Back from the break, Cristian’s arm was wrapped in ice. The show’s doctor said it was a severe muscle sprain. The judges were kind and supportive judging up to the point where the injury happened. Three sevens. That score probably hurts more than the arm.

Kristi and Mark did the Cha Cha Cha.

Man, I love to watch Kristi dance…the couple rocked the Cha Cha Cha, adding some very contemporary moves with it. And got a standing ovation.

But Len was not impressed. He called the dance time-wasting. Len was showing his age. Bruno thought it was fantastic. Carrie Ann liked the hip hop moves. Two TENS from Bruno and Carrie Ann…and a lowly eight from Len. (Tom called him “Cranky pants”)

Mario and Karina did the Mambo. Good moves, some fun surprises…good effort (but a little off timing at the end) Bruno said he is great with Latin dances. Carrie Ann said it was his dance. Len surprised calling it “wild, wacky and wonderful!” Nine, Nine, Nine!

Shannon and Derek danced again. I can tell watching she’s not going to get a good score. She’s not on it…she seems to walking through it. The judges speak…but Carrie Ann didn’t know what to say…really! But she felt Shannon’s lines were off. Len said she looked a little “gawky.” Bruno said it was an improvement.

Three eights. And I thought the judges were way generous.

The final dance was Jason’s. And he danced to the old Monday Night Football theme. (You know it…Da Da Da da…) Who’da thunk?

Len liked the attack of the dance (though a little too much posing) I personally loved that Edyta was wearing the Miami Dolphin colors in her barely there outfit. The score….9-8-9.

Whew, it was a race to the end (and to “Samantha Who?”)

Look for the Results Show on Tuesday night at 9PM on ABC for the latest on Cristian’s injury.