Posts Tagged ‘jason taylor’

Kristi Crowned DWTS Champ!

May 21st, 2008

Riding high on a wave of perfect scores on Monday night’s performance finale, figure skating superstar Kristi Yamaguchi became the latest celebrity to be crowned champ on Dancing with the Stars.

With her dance partner Mark Ballas, the Olympic gold medalist froze out the other two remaining couples: all-pro football star Jason Taylor and Edyta Sliwinska, who finished second, and Chilean actor Cristian de la Fuente and Cheryl Burke, ended up in third.

Kristi, who has been blogging all season for OK! about her experiences on the show, became the first woman to win the hit ABC reality show since its first season, when soap star Kelly Monaco took home the disco ball trophy.

"It’s a huge honor," Kristi told OK! after the show. "Obviously this is a gift from the fans. We danced our hearts out all season for the fans. It’s been the most amazing adventure and I can’t thank Mark enough for giving me this gift.”

She plans to appear with the other two finalists on Good Morning America on Wednesday and wave the green flag to start the Indy 500 this weekend. Then she’ll take a much-needed rest after her long dancing journey.

“I just want to take a break and be with my family," explains the mother of two girls Keara, 4, and Emma, 2, with hockey player husband Bret Hedican. "I know my kids have been missing me a lot so we’ll just chill out for awhile.”

Meanwhile, Jason admitted to OK! he wasn’t surprised about his second-place finish: “I would have been shocked if we would have won. She so deserved it. Edyta and I sat here ten weeks ago and watched her dance the first time and it was like, whoo! This is a waste for us to even do it.”

Jason said his only regret is that he couldn’t win for his dance partner and DWTS regular Edyta — who has never finished first.

“I’m disappointed for her. She hasn’t won one,” he said. “But I was happy to get to this point; I never thought I would be in the finale.”

Jason said he learned from doing the show, “if you take more chances than you normally would, you can accomplish things. I know it’s been said forever that if you set your mind to something, you can do it, but this is one thing I never, ever thought I would do. I tried it, it was scary, but Edyta is a sparkplug and kept the train going all season and I can’t thank her enough.”

The football star said he’s planning to take a trip with wife Katina and their three kids. “We’re heading to the Bahamas, just get lost and go to the beach and do nothing. No dancing. No working out, nothing. Just laying around.”

After that, he’s ready to get back on the football field. “I can still play. I’m ready to go. I’ll take a few days off and get back to work.” He’d also love to break into acting and hopes someday to appear in “action type film.”

Jason’s dance partner Edyta Sliwinska will be visiting her native Poland with her husband, former DWTS pro Alec Mazo, who didn’t participate in the show this season. “I’m going to Poland for a couple of weeks,” she told OK! “I need my mom to take care of me. I need to be spoiled for awhile. I’m tired. I definitely need a break.”

Third-place finisher Cristian wasn’t disappointed either, saying, “Kristi was definitely the best.” His partner Cheryl added, “It was time for a woman to win.”

Gutsy Cristian, who injured his left bicep tendon during the competition but managed to finish third, next faces surgery on his arm. “Surgery and six weeks of recovery,” he told OK! After that, he’ll be promoting his summer USA network drama series, In Plain Sight, in which he plays a baseball player from the Dominican Republic who has a relationship with an American woman played by Mary McCormack.

His dance partner will devote herself to promoting the Cheryl Burke Dance Center, her new chain of dance studios, and will visit schools and encourage kids to take up dancing for physical fitness.

By Carole Glines

DWTS Watch: Kristi’s Perfect in the Finale

May 20th, 2008

After two amazing performances last night, figure skater extraordinaire Kristi Yamaguchi looks poised to add the Dancing With the Stars disco-ball trophy to her already full mantle.

The Olympic gold medalist and her partner Mark Ballas dazzled the judges Monday night, earning perfect scores of 30 for both their cha-cha and freestyle routines and appearing to leave her competitors, football player Jason Taylor and Chilean actor Cristián de la Fuente, on the sidelines.

“I’m ready to collapse. There’s nothing left in me,” a tired but happy Kristi told OK! after her triumph. “I’m thrilled, obviously. I couldn’t have done anything better tonight.” (For more on Kristi, read her OK! blog and check out her fashion feature in this week’s issue.)

Jason received scores of 24 for his cha cha and 27 for the freestyle, while Cristian earned the same score, 26, for both of those dances.

After the show, the football hunk told OK!, “I thought it went well. I had a great time. The freestyle is great — you just do whatever you want. The cha cha wasn’t my favorite.”

His partner Edyta Sliwinksa said Jason’s 6′6" height made doing the cha cha difficult. “It’s very hard for a person this tall to dance,” she explained. “I don’t really know any professional dancers taller than maybe 6′2"."

A gracious Jason said, “Kristi was great as she’s been all season and I thought Cristian danced very well, too.”

Jason revealed that his wife Katina gave him some advice before his final dances — and that’s not unusual. She gives him feedback on football, too! “She’s always coaching me, no matter what, constantly on the phone before a football game, she’ll text me points. She’s always trying to help. She gives me that boost of energy.”

The dance couple said it was Edyta’s idea for them both to rip each other’s clothes off during their sexy freestyle routine. “I decided to show how gorgeous he looks,” smiled Edyta, who also has one of Hollywood’s best bodies. “He’s really modest and it was very difficult to get him to do it.” Jason, a self-described introvert, said, “She talked me into it. Look, it’s the finals. Pull out all stops.”

Meanwhile, Cristian and partner Cheryl Burke thought their dances went well, even though the actor — who injured his left bicep weeks ago — tweaked the arm badly during rehearsals.

“I did everything she wanted me to do,” a relieved Cristian told OK! after performing two clean routines. “At the end of the day, that’s what it’s about.”

Cheryl said she thought he might not be able to go on after the tough rehearsals: “He is stubborn.”

Gutsy Cristian explained, “When you want to achieve, the worst thing is to give up–to go home and imagine what would have been.”

The star praised his competitors and pointed out, “We’re so all different. We all bring so many different things to the dance floor. People, by voting, have the ultimate decision.”

Tune in to ABC tonight to see what voting viewers have decided!

By Carole Glines

DWTS Watch: Cristian Bounces Back!

May 6th, 2008

Just one week after suffering an injury many thought would end his dancing days, Cristian de la Fuente surprised everyone by coming back to earn the top score of the night on Monday’s Dancing with the Stars.

The Chilean actor decided to stay in the competition last week after he ruptured a tendon of his left bicep. Cristian’s doctor told him he could delay having surgery until after the show, but the star would be unable to do lifts with his left arm.

So it was up to his right arm to do all the lifting of pro partner Cheryl Burke during the tango and the mambo.

“I was a little nervous at the beginning,” he admitted to OK! after the show. “We worked really hard this week and at the end, it was the best outcome we could have had. I can’t believe it. I’ll have to go back home and watch the tape.”

The physical setback, which forced him to keep his left arm behind his back during some of the choreography, has actually made Cristian a better dancer. “We fought so hard to get good scores and every week we’d go home with a little bit of a disappointment,” he recalled. But not tonight.

But don’t think it was as easy as they made it look last night. Cristian and Cheryl revealed that there were lots of problems in rehearsal, however, and they actually took time outs from each other like little kids. “When we both got in a bad mood then we went to separate corners of the dance studio for five minutes," he explained. "There’s a lot of frustration so sometimes it’s better in ‘time out.’ But we love each other so much and we’re so passionate about this.”

Cheryl disclosed that there were times he dropped her in rehearsals, but “I trust him. He’s a strong man.”

In fact, the actor is so determined to win the ABC reality show that he said of his wife Angelica, who cheers him on in the audience, “I don’t even see her. I get home every night at midnight and leave every morning at eight. I’m rehearsing all day.”

Fellow competitor Jason Taylor told OK! “He danced his butt off. He should try both arms behind his back. It’s amazing what he did.”

By Carole Glines

Cameron Mathison Predicts DWTS Winner

April 24th, 2008

Dancing with the Stars alum Cameron Mathison and Edyta Sliwinska made it to fifth place in last season’s competition. Now he’s predicting that his former partner, who’s currently dancing with NFL Man of the Year Jason Taylor, will make it all the way to number one.
 
“It’s a no brainer,” Cameron told OK! at Discovery Network’s TV upfront last night in New York City. “I think he’s doing a phenomenal job. He’s a really good dancer, and I think they have a good dynamic together.”
 
Cameron points out that the six-time All Pro is the shy underdog who’s primed to take it all. “Kristi Yamaguchi is extremely talented and the obvious frontrunner, but you got to remember, the obvious frontrunner never wins,” Cameron cautions. “It’s going to be Edyta’s year and she deserves it.”
 
As for who he’d like to see next on the dance floor, Cameron, who’s hosting a new TLC game show, Your Place or Mine, gives thumbs up to fellow TLC host and Bachelor alum Bob Guiney. “I want to see his Paso Doble,” Cameron laughs.
 
Asked if he was up for the challenge, Bob replied, “I can promise one thing, I won’t be taking off my shirt as Super Cam did. Cameron propelled himself into the final five by taking off his shirt!”

 
By Delaina Dixon

Who’s Cristián de la Fuente’s New BFF?

April 18th, 2008

Cristián de la Fuente’s partner on Dancing with the Stars may be Cheryl Burke, but off the hardwood, he’s hooking up with another DWTS star – Jason Taylor.

The Chilean native reveals that he and the football star have become best buddies since they became trailer neighbors on set.  

"We bought furniture, patio chairs,” Cristián tells Extra. “What we’re probably going do next week is buy a pool so we can swim there.”

It’s not all fun and games though. The 34-year-old is working hard on his dance for Monday night’s show – the elegant foxtrot.

“We can’t tell you the song [we’re dancing to], but it’s a song by a guy, last name Sinatra,” he teases.

The dance will be a far cry from Cristian and Cheryl’s steamy Latin dances as of late. And while they definitely bring the heat on the floor, there’s nothing going on in real life as their relationship is like that of a “bickering brother-sister,” according to Cheryl.

“He loves to mess around with me,” she tells OK!. “Sometimes he’ll be like, "Oh, my God, you’re so physically abusive," because I’ll hit him and he gets so frustrated sometimes. We’ll joke around and he’ll start hitting me and then I’ll start hitting him. It’s really funny.”

Karina & Mario “Laugh” at Dating Rumors

April 1st, 2008 / Author: cwillett

It takes two to tango, but three to start a rumor!

A week after rumors flew that Dancing With the Stars partners Karina Smirnoff and R&B singer Mario are dating, the couple are still out debunking the reports.

“No [we’re not dating],” 21-year-old Mario tells Extra following their Monday night tango.

But that doesn’t mean the two aren’t having a light-hearted laugh at all the talk.

“We laugh at that. At least they think he’s cute enough and that I’m not too old for him,” Karina, 30, says. “That’s not a bad thing.”

Also not a bad thing is igniting some passion and sparks during the dance for NFL star Jason Taylor and his partner Edyta Sliwinska. The Miami Dolphins linebacker’s wife, Katina, encourages her husband to turn up the heat on the dance floor with Edyta.

“I tell him he’s got to look at her [with desire],” Katina says. “It’s acting. They’re dancing. We’re married seven years and three kids. We’re good.”

For more on DWTS, tune in to Extra tonight!

DWTS: Mario Takes the Lead!

March 18th, 2008

Three seasons after Mario Lopez came this-close to taking home the DWTS crown, another super Mario, 21-year-old R&B singer Mario is stepping up to stake his Dancing With the Stars claim. And not only does he have the same name — he’s got the same dance partner in Karina Smirnoff!

And while Mario Lopez’s main rival was eventual champ, football star Emmit Smith, in another case of déjà vu, Mario’s closest competitor amongst the men so far this season looks like football player Jason Taylor.

OK! was backstage tonight after the premiere to get Mario and Karina’s secrets to success. “I’m working hard and I had fun out there!" says Mario. "There was a lot of adrenalin and inspiration.”

Karina, who recently recovered from back surgery, gave Mario her all — even providing him with a home remedy to rub on his body when he suffered a painful groin pull. “I gave him this hot spicy chili to warm the muscles up and I said be careful not to put it on sensitive areas, and somehow it got there and he kept saying ‘great balls of fire!’” she laughed.

The dance pro also gave him a good luck charm: “Karina gave me this bracelet and it’s supposed to keep evil spirits away. I think it works!” Mario said, showing OK! the beaded bracelet around his wrist. “It’s an eye that protects against the evil eye,” Karina revealed.

Mario also says Karina has opened up unknown worlds for him: “I’ve moved my body in ways I’ve never moved it before!”

It’s been no problem juggling Marios for Karina, who has been romantically linked to Mario Lopez since they were partnered in season three. “He’s not jealous,” the other Mario insisted.

Meanwhile, Jason Taylor, with partner Edyta Sliwinska by his side, admitted to OK!, “Mario is pretty darn good. I’ll be thinking about that tonight when I go to bed.” The football star said DWTS has been a physical challenge: “The soreness at the beginning was surprising — the feet, the ankles, the knees, the hips. I’ve gotten over most of that but I have a newfound respect for ballroom dancers.”

At 6’7” tall, comedian and illusionist Penn Jillette was disappointed that the judges took potshots at him for his size: “They don’t like big people. That was clear. They were afraid of Godzilla, the biggest guy that was ever on the show.”

The illusionist said over the past six months before the show, he had lost 50 pounds and has dropped four more while training with partner Kym Johnson. “I thought [the show] was an excuse to lose some weight. I can’t wait ‘til I get thrown off the show and I can try and put on 60 pounds in two weeks — that’s my goal. I just want to pick up my copy of Moby Dick and some ice cream and sit down and read and eat.”

Meanwhile, Chilean actor Cristian de la Fuente, who is teamed with Cheryl Burke, told OK! his pre-show ritual: “I light a candle and leave it in my trailer. Hopefully the trailer is not burning!”

And Steve Guttenberg told OK! he was just happy to dance in tribute to his parents, Ann, 70, and Stanley, 75, on their 50th wedding anniversary. The couple watched Steve on TV because they were “too nervous” to come to the studio.

Steve, who is divorced, admitted he hasn’t yet found that special someone to settle down with himself: “I had a girlfriend last year but we broke up so I’m single now. I’m looking forward to falling in love with someone.” Maybe learning the dance moves will help!

By Carole Glines

AD FPO