"Dancing With the Stars: All-Stars": Guys go home in semifinal shakedown

Olympian skater Apolo Ohno and professional dancer Karina Smirnoff perform a rhumba to Michael Jackson's "Man in the Mirror" Monday, Nov. 19, 2012 on "Dancing With The Stars: All-Stars".

/ ABC

It seemed like the melancholy men knew the writing was on the wall as "Dancing With The Stars: All-Stars" pruned its celebrity cast list down to the final three dancers.

"Dancing With The Stars: All-Stars": Silly semifinal showdown night

Former "DWTS" champions Apolo Ohno and Emmitt Smith were knocked out in a double elimination that set up next week's championship with some fine-looking fillies who can shake a tail feather: Shawn Johnson, Melissa Rycroft and Kelly Monaco.

The gents said the things you say when you lose -- on camera, anyway.

"It's been a tremendous experience, a great ride," said Smith.

"It's been a blessing,'' said Ohno.

NFL legend Emmitt Smith dips professional partner Cheryl Burke during a tango Monday on "Dancing With The Stars; All-Stars."

/ ABC

Both stars were great performers this season. Apolo worked tirelessly like the world-class athlete that he is. And Smith brought something unique to the season -- a sexy confidence that never eroded into swagger or strut.

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"Dancing with the Stars: All-Stars"

Yet as I think back on the season, there isn't one routine from either of them that stands out as memorable. Indeed, the best of the male dancers this season was Gilles Marini, the Frenchman who bid adieu last week.

Which leaves frontrunner Shawn Johnson, who will win the mirrorball trophy next Tuesday unless there is another superstorm to delay the proceedings. Shawn has owned this season, delivering a fistful of memorable performances -- most of them punctuated with her "secret weapon," the ability to throw in a gravity-defying move as part of a seamless routine. It didn't hurt to be backed by the innovative choreography of partner Derek Hough.

Shawn's handmaidens in the queen's court will be Melissa Rycroft, the perky Texas gal who slowly commanded respect from the judges and audience as she delivered crisp, professional routines week after week. And everyone would love to see good-guy pro Tony Dovolani get his hands on the trophy.

And there's Kelly Monaco, who could easily have exited the show by week three or four, but who instead managed to build an audience that bailed her out more than once when she landed at the bottom of the judges' leaderboard. Coy Kelly has played out a backstage romance storyline with partner Valentin Chmerkovskiy just like a soap opera actress, which, indeed she is.

The three ladies will be faced with three dances next week:

With so little mystery about next week's winner, one's mind can only go to the inevitable: How will ABC top this stellar season?

[ChrisBaron123]

Your description of Emmitt's sexy confidence is right on point, and I am sad to see him go. He always looked like he was having a ton of fun out there, like every show was his first and he was just excited to be there. I was talking to a coworker at DISH about the eliminations, and she is a little upset that we have an all-female final when there were so many great male contestants. I nearly missed the show last night because of my daughter's school play, but thankfully I caught it on Primetime Anytime. I love how easy it is to keep up with all of my favorite shows since my DISH Hopper records everything on during primetime on the four major networks without having to set a million timers. I am glad that I caught it because it was great to see Paula on the show again, especially because she was performing.

[givemeyourpuppy]

Would you please stop being a kiss butt "DISH NETWORK" employee, we are all so sick of you and how great the HOPPER is. Ain't gonna get you a raise, so put it to a rest! Otherwise, enjoy your comments. Hate Kelly, go Melissa or Shawn!

[synderala1]

Dancing with the stars is meant for the best dancers not for the best football players!

[erasmus111]

I can't believe Apolo went home! : (

[pedalit]

really surprised emmitt was sent packing. not because i like his dancing (i don't), but athletes get a disproportionate lift from the voters. a stiff hines ward was another good example

[erasmus111]

I am surprised Emmitt went home, too. Like you, not because of his dancing but because of all the football fans.