Susan Lucci Bids Farewell to Dancing

Photo: Craig Sjodin/ABC

“I’m doing good!” Susan Lucci exclaimed to the audience following her paso doble on Monday’s show. But apparently, not good enough. On the seventh week of competition, the queen of daytime bid farewell to Dancing with the Stars.

When asked by host Samantha Harris whether the coast-to-coast commuting, injury and illness were all worth it, Lucci replied without hesitation, “it was definitely worth it.” She then went on to say: “I feel so much gratitude for the opportunity to have this particular experience in my lifetime. I want to thank all you wonderful audience members here, the fans… and most importantly i need to thank this dancer, this incredible teacher, this incredible man, Tony Dovolani.”

Lucci, whose paso doble was praised by head judge Len Goodman as one of her “best dances,” had in the last two weeks of competition begun showing improvement on the dancefloor. But the last two weeks also exposed Lucci’s flaws when she performed next to her fellow contestants in the group dances–and couldn’t keep in step.

Cody Linley, who also landed in the bottom two following his Viennese waltz Monday with substitute partner Edyta Sliwinska, was visibly relieved to have dodge the elimination bullet. He will return next week, keeping alive the possibility that he will reunite with his regular partner, Julianne Hough, who is recuperating from surgery for endometriosis.

Craig Sjodin/ABC