'Dancing With the Stars' Drops Another

In this photo made available by ABC, Ian Ziering, right, and his partner Cheryl Burke, dance Monday, May 14, 2007. Cyrus, who said appearing on "Dancing With the Stars" was "the scariest thing I could possibly think of to do," has bid farewell to the ballroom. Ziering was booted from the ABC dance-off Tuesday, May 15 during the competition's semifinal round. (AP Photo/ABC, CAROL KAELSON) (Carol Kaelson - AP)

LOS ANGELES -- He earned a perfect score and glowing praise from the judges. But that wasn't enough to keep Ian Ziering on "Dancing With the Stars." The 43-year-old actor was booted from the ABC dance-off Tuesday during the competition's semifinal round.

"We're in it to win it," the "Beverly Hills 90210" alum said before his performance Monday. "This week you're going to see a whole new Ian Ziering on the dance floor."

Judge Len Goodman seemed to think so, praising Ziering as "technically ... the soundest of all the celebrity dancers."

Ziering's performance of the jive _ which he did wearing an Elvis costume and wig _ earned a perfect score of 30 points.

His tango, which Goodman called "your best dance ever," earned a score of 28, bringing his total score for the two dances to 58 _ just two points less than perfect, but it was the lowest of the week. Judges' scores are combined with viewer votes to determine which couple is eliminated.

Ziering said it was "truly a victory" to get a perfect score on Monday and credited his professional partner, two-time champion Cheryl Burke.

"Cheryl, it means so much to be in this competition with you and to have gotten this far," he said. "I've accomplished my goal. I've learned how to dance. I feel like a big winner just doing that."

Tuesday's results show also included the fast footwork of flamenco dancer Joaquin Cortes and a performance by Enrique Iglesias, who sang the single from his forthcoming album, "Insomniac."

Paulina Porizkova, Shandi Finnessey, Leeza Gibbons, Clyde Drexler, Heather Mills, John Ratzenberger and Billy Ray Cyrus have already been eliminated.

The three remaining celebrity dancers _ Laila Ali, Joey Fatone and Apolo Anton Ohno _ begin the competition's final round on Monday, when they will perform a dance chosen by the judges as well as a "freestyle" dance.

The new "Dancing With the Stars" champion will be named on May 22.

___

ABC is owned by the Walt Disney Co.

___

On the Net:

http://abc.go.com/primetime/dancingwiththestars/index