DWTS Watch: Rocco Gets a Stay of Execution

Coming into Tuesday night's elimination show on Dancing With the Stars, everyone was wondering just how yesterday's news that Misty May-Treanor was leaving with a ruptured Achilles tendon would effect this week's results. Would they still eliminate someone? Were the rumors of Kim Kardashian's return true?

Well they got their answer when the elder Kardashian sister didn't return to the dance floor and when celebrity chef Rocco DiSpirito lived to dance another week — despite receiving a score that would have eliminated him and partner Karina Smirnoff from the show!

“There’s no question we’re on borrowed time," Rocco told OK! backstage after receiving the news. "We literally borrowed from Misty May."

But despite being at the bottom of the DWTS barrel this week, Rocco says he's down but not out. "I think we have to dig deep and come back from a serious deficit," he explained. "We need our Hail Mary pass. I’m doing the best I can... It’s a charity case for Karina.”

As for Rocco's pro partner, Karina talked to OK! about the night's emotional yo-yo. “I think to tell the whole country you were supposed to go home and keep us there, for a second I was like, ‘I think I’m embarrassed.’ But now, I’m looking at this positively; I’m happy we got this other chance.”

Longtime DWTS pro Tony Dovolani, who is paired with Susan Lucci, told OK! he was delighted with the outcome. “Every single season, someone says, ‘I wish I had another week. I know I could have done better.’ Rocco is getting that chance that no other contestant has gotten before.”

Tony also updated OK! on Misty’s status: “Misty wanted us to know she had a successful operation and she wishes everybody luck and wishes she were here but in her heart, she is here. Hopefully her year of recovery goes by fast and she actually recovers.”

Gold medal winning sprinter Maurice Greene, whose partner is two-time champ Cheryl Burke, told OK! “I pray that her recovery goes well. Now I have to uphold her dancing for the Olympians on the show!”

Boy-bander Lance Bass, who along with pro partner Lacey Schwimmer ended up in the bottom two with Rocco and Karina (though, as the show always says, they are not necessarily the second to last in votes), told OK! he saw Tuesday night's surprise coming.

“I think deep down we all knew everybody was going to be ‘safe’ because of what happened,” Lance said. “I know how reality TV works! I was hoping someone would get to come back, but then it wouldn’t be fair for whoever got kicked off today. This is the only way they could have done it. ”

By Carole Glines