'DWTS' Injured Menounos Wows- Elimination Tonight

By Emma Koonse, Christian Post Reporter Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Week two of season 14's "Dancing with the Stars" saw Maria Menounos steal the show Monday despite a rib injury.

The "Extra" television anchor did not let the pain stop her performance alongside her professional dance partner, Derek Hough.

"Injury or not, I'm going to be a tough Greek and I'm going to kick some [butt]," said Menounos ahead of their dance.

Their fast-paced jive earned a high score of 25 from the judges' table. "DWTS" judge Carrie Ann Inaba said she noticed a huge improvement in Menounos' dancing.

"Talk about changes from last week to this week," said Inaba. "Huge improvement."

Judge Bruno Tonioli added that Menounos and Hough's performance was "nearly spotless."

"You just missed a step in the run, but it was near perfection," said Tonioli.

Ahead of the performance show Monday, Menounos took to Twitter.

"So freaking excited to dance the quick step w/my incredibly handsome and dapper partner @derekhough tonight! please vote!!!"

Following the jive, Menounos told "DWTS" co-host Brooke Burke-Charvet, "I feel great. I had fun. I did my best."

Tying scores with William Levy and pro dancer Cheryl Burke at 25, Menounos added, "We powered through!"

Right after the performance, Menounos tweeted, "What did ya guys think? Hope you are all voting like crazy!!! #TeamMenough."

Days before the performance, 26-year-old "DWTS" pro dancer Hough said that he and his celebrity dance partner were trying to keep the rib injury a secret.

"We were trying to keep it under wraps because we didn't want to be that couple coming out of the gate," said Hough, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

"It happened before the Cha Cha. She's dealing with a lot, but we just want to smile and dance," he continued.

Learning the Cha Cha for last week's show, Menounos had fallen on Hough's knee- twice. Already injured, the "Extra" host did not realize the ribs had been injured at the time.

"I was on a painkiller at that point because I'd already ripped the muscles off of the bone a couple days before that," she said. "So I was already in pain when it hit."

"She's healing really well and quickly," Hough reassured THR. "I've just got to keep her away from hugging people."

Tuesday's episode of "DWTS" will see another couple sent home during the results show, leaving just eleven couples in the competition for the mirror ball trophy.

"DWTS" airs Tuesday on ABC at 8 p.m. EST.