Keyshawn Johnson First to Go Home on 'Dancing with the Stars'

"I had the opportunity to learn Sharna is an amazing choreographer," he said

Published on September 23, 2013 10:15 PM

Bill Nye the Science Guy is definitely a fan favorite on Dancing with the Stars, but did people’s votes save the low-scoring star from being the first eliminated contestant of season 17?

Following last week’s 14 out of 30-point cha cha, Nye, 57, and partner Tyne Stecklein showed a little improvement on Monday night with a 17-point Paso Doble, but it wasn’t enough to keep them from the bottom of the leader board, with judge Carrie Ann Inaba critiquing his footwork.

Trailing close to the scientist was Keyshawn Johnson with an 18-point samba that Inaba said was “rough around the edges” – and Valerie Harper, who seemed like she “forgot a third of” her 19-point Paso Doble, according to Inaba.

So who ended up going home?

Bill Engvall and Emma Slater were in the bottom two with Johnson and partner Sharna Burgess, but it was the latter couple who hung up their dancing shoes.

“For a guy [who] has never even bopped his head in the car [Doing this show] is something amazing to me,” Johnson, 41, told the audience right after his elimination. “I had the opportunity to learn She’s an amazing choreographer.”

Other notable dances of the night included Corbin Bleu and Karina Smirnoff‘s upbeat, 26-point High School Musical-themed jive which all three judges loved and Inaba said had “this raw edge that made me feel excited.”

Frontrunners Amber Riley and Derek Hough had their jive critiqued for “flat footwork,” from judge Bruno Tonioli. Inaba said the number had some “technical difficulties.” But even so, the pair received a 24 and are currently at the very top of the leader board from both weeks combined.

Peta Murgatroyd and Brant Daugherty danced a sensual rumba to Shakira‘s “Underneath Your Clothes.” Judge Len Goodman called the pair “a terrific looking couple,” but Tonioli said the Pretty Little Liars actor was “dragging your feet.” Still, the pair, who was cheered on by Daugherty’s costars in the audience, scored 23 points.