SPOILER ALERT: We talked to the second contestant eliminated on Tuesday night’s Dancing With the Stars! After the jump, learn more about the latest hoofer to say goodbye to the mirror ball.
After earning a mere 13 points last night, Buzz Aldrin became the second dancer to get the boot from Dancing With the Stars. We talked to the former astronaut and his partner Ashly Costa about how they were judged and what he hoped his appearance on the show did for the nation’s space program.
EW: How do you feel?
BUZZ ALDRIN: On top of the world!
What are you going to take away from this experience?
The satisfaction of really pushing myself, accepting a challenge and doing the best I can to spread interest among Americans and the rest of the world about the achievements of success that I was a part of in the past – the Mercury, the Gemini, and the Apollo programs, and the Space Shuttle. And most of all, (to appreciate) the wonderful challenges we face. It takes patience to see lasting important things, and the American people are very focused on what’s in it for me right now. Impatience! It took us less than a decade to get to the moon. It’s going to take us maybe two decades to get to Mars, but it will be so worth it.
Were you surprised when Len said he thought you were safe?
Well we were certainly planning on staying, at least another couple of weeks. If Len said that, why didn’t he boost the (voting) a little bit?
Do you think the judging was fair?
ASHLY COSTA: It’s unbelievable what Buzz did, and I was a little bit disappointed that the judges didn’t see that every week he improved. For who he is and what he’s accomplished, it was quite amazing.
ALDRIN: You’d make a good judge, you know that?
Ashly, what was it like to come back after a couple of seasons away?
COSTA: I loved it, it was an honor to be with Buzz and to be his teacher. I will miss hearing his stories. It’s fascinating. I wish everybody could hear what he was telling me.
Buzz, what have you learned about yourself by doing this show?
ALDRIN: That I don’t really build up big expectations and I can accept what comes my way. I just feel very warm about the last couple of weeks, making new friends, reaching out to people that haven’t heard about me before or haven’t thought about me for a while. I’m happy to re-kindle those acquaintances. They are distant but they are very valuable to me.
So now that its all over, Buzz, which environment was crazier — here or the moon?
There was a un-reality about our being there. We knew where we were but it just seemed unreal to be somewhere that had been dreamt about by so many people and to actually see what it is, and say wow, this is really something! And its real. But the dance floor, that was reality. It’s hard wood.
I don’t think it was a surprise to anyone that Buzz was eliminated, it was bound to happen and the questions was just when. Now however everyone is going to wonder if Kate is next to go, clearly she’s not a good dancer and if she survives next weeks elimination, some serious questions should be raised about who is voting to result in such odd results. Check the official DWTS opinion channel at http://www.baduku.com/dwts10
I was really looking forward to seeing Buzz another week, at least. He was so sweet and at least managed to make it through each routine – something not all of the contestants can say. He definitely wasn’t hard to watch, unlike Kate. Who keeps voting for her anyway?
Love and respect him so much! Classy guy, and he certainly worked hard on the show.
Oh dear lord. Now we have spammers replying to spammers! please EW, clean up the trash!
AMEN!! Do It NOW!!
Spam replying to spam…might be one of the funniest things I’ve seen in a while. I do agree though EW please find a way to stop them! They are so annoying!
I like Buzz, but I’m glad that Kate wil be back for another week. Go Kate!
Kate’s unfortunate back story notwithstanding, it’s difficult watching her dance. There’s no grace, no form, no elegance, no flow, it’s painful. I have no malice toward her but I cannot stand watching her dance. I wish it had been her going home this week.
Kate Sucks!!! She should have went home for sure!!!
Whether you like Kate as a person or not, she is one of, if not THE worst “dancers” they have ever cast. I actually think she would appreciate being sent home and being put out of her misery.
True, but, let’s not forget Master P.
she’s worse than Master P.
because “in her mind she does great”
what do you see in her, honestly?
Sad that America prefers a no-talent White lady over a legend.
rephase —-they prefer a pregnant machine to an American Hero…
Now all these woman who are voting for her are going to get fertility treatments so they can have 6-8 kids like Gosselin and Octomom and then they will expect to get on DWTS…but they will end up on welfare and our taxes will have to pay for them
I was hoping Kate would go home the first week and am disgusted that she will still be on next week! Pregnant machine? Wasn’t she only pregnant twice?
AGREE
Oh so you are one of the pathetic ones voting for her-a tree branch with no personality that cannot dance and is not nice-wow…..
You are one of the people I would punch in the face if I could for keeping that shrew on one of my favorite shows. She CANNOT dance but thinks she can which is the worst kind of person on here! Stop voting for her for God’s sake!
Wish Jake had gone tonight.
Jake deserved to go the first week but he made a big improvement. Unlike Kate. But Kate’s got the fun factor to watch.
I thought the 4′s from Len and Bruno last night were unkind and unnecessary. They could have made the same point with 5′s. It was obvious to all that Buzz had no chance of winning this thing, they should have spared him the insult and indignity of the 4, it would have been the better part of valor – something Mr. Aldrin may know all about but obviously the less than gracious judges of DWTS have yet to learn.
Did you see Carrie Ann’s face? She was obviously disappointed in them. I still don’t understand how they could give him a 4 and Kate a 5.
It was an honor and privilege to get to watch Buzz Aldrin take on a challenge like this. I think he should have gotten more credit for his progress with each dance but in the end, I think he accomplished what he set out to do. Wish him all the best.
I like that he did the show to be a voice for space programs, but I hate that he has had plastic surgery. Shouldn’t a man that has actually been to the moon be above silly things like vanity? Kinda disappointing in a lot of ways.
Do you think he did the show for the Space Program….or the $200,000?? Really, how many astronauts and rocket scientists watch DWTS???
Why would he do a show for people, aka “astronauts and rockets scientists”, who already care about NASA? Of course he was doing the show to appeal to the crowd that doesn’t give a damn about the space program.
And btw, to sit there and assume no “astronaut or rocket scientist” watches DWTS is ridiculous. Its entertainment. Nobody is above or beneath being entertained.
It would have been more classy if he would have stopped mentioning the space program and the military
every chance he got to win votes.
He has been promoting the space program and the military for all these years-I am honored I got to watch him and so what if he talked about the space program and the military-Those are great things to talk about-Better than complaining that you have to get up a 6AM to make your (8) kids a casserole and then go to practice on DWTS….
Why should he have stopped? He had a message to tell and he told it as often as he could. I’m sure he knew he wouldn’t last long.
Since most people don’t care about the Space Program anyway, it was nice to have a clear, cognizant, and legendary voice remind people that not only is the space program important, but America’s place in space is important.
I’M happy that Kate is staying for another week.
Maybe her dancing will show some improvement next week. Go Kate!
YOu have got to be kidding-the woman cannot dance-stop dreaming
Sad to say, if 6 weeks of intense training with a world class dancer hasn’t made a difference, I don’t hold out much hope for future improvement…
Dolores, what are you smoking, maybe she will fall and break her leg…. that would be an improvement!
It should’ve been Kate Gozilla!!!
Plain and simple, Kate G is hot…
If she is hot you are desperate
Kate may be having hot flashes, that’s about as “hot” as she gets.
THE JUDGING IN UNFAIR.NO ONE SHOULD VOTE, WHAT DO YOU HAVE JUDGES FOR??????????????. THEY ARE THE PROS AND THEY SHOULD MAKE THE DECISIONS. THIS IS A DANCE CONTEST, NOT A POPULARITY CONTEST. GET RID OF KATE, SHE IS NOT GOOD. BUZZ IS A GENTLEMEN, KATE HAS EVIL IN HER EYES.NEVER SMILES. POOR TONY HE GOT SCREWED THIS YEAR.
She is evil with no respect for others.
Did you see the clip on how everone gets along on the show-
That has never been an issue until this year-
The real truth is no one can get along with Gosselin-She is not well liked at all-And Tony really can’t wait until she gets voted off-That clip was all propaganda
so right Ann! I’ve lost ALL respect for this show with Kate being on!!
Not to be an ageist, but is DWTS next going to the nursing homes and pull out the 100 yr old seniors? Come on, 80 y.o. is too old for this type of show….they know he wouldn’t last beyond two shows.
Gimmicks!
Age is one factor, but the show has always had contestants of wildly far ranging ability. Take someone like Kate this season who is young and in relatively good shape and has zero dancing talent. I think she’s even worse than Buzz. Then you go all the way to Nicole, who is very talented and who’s only handicap is viewers accusing her of being a ringer. That’s exactly why Derek broke the rules this week. He wants sympathy votes from the audience. Anyways, it’s been like this every season with contestants of varying ages and abilities. A real competition would not have such a huge gap between the top and bottom.
I respect this man so very much-He is a National Hero with grace and raw emotion (the positive kind).
Gosselin-made it through another vote-It is sickening quite frankly to see this.
What is sad is that Buzz was not a dancer anymore than Gosselin was, but someone decided it is more important to keep a pregnancy machine on the show instead of a National Hero.
I figure-the votes are rigged by the show or there are a lot of very pathetic people out there voting for this woman-who is not nice and a narcicistic *itch.
Jake has the competitive edge! Stay determined, Jake!
I cannot believe America voted off a National Monument like Buzz over Kate Skunkweed. Neither can dance, but Buzz should not have gone before her. Kate needs to take her DIVA acting A$$ back to Peti-Coat Junction. The stage Coach leaves Los Angeles at 9:45 today Kate.