DancingWithTheStarsBackstageReport

It bites having to leave 'Dancing With the Stars,' especially when you enjoy being there as much as Ron Artest did.

But the pro basketball player focused on the positive after host Tom Bergeron announced on last night's results show that Artest and pro partner Peta Murgatroyd would be the first couple to leave Season 13.

Artest is a lesson to us all in having to embrace a change that we might not be so thrilled about having to make.

The couple earned the lowest score on Monday's show and this was Murgatroyd's first year as a pro dancer so she's yet to build a fan base like veterans Derek Hough, Cheryl Burke and Mark Ballas have. That combination apparently proved to be the duo's undoing.

AOL TV was on the post-show press line to talk to Artest and Murgatroyd about their exit and to some of the remaining participants to get their thoughts on what they need to do to stay in the game.

Could it be that one of the most relevant and popular pop culture icons of our time is about to collide head-on with one of the most relevant (sort of) and popular pop culture icons (if you're a guy) of our time?

Former 'Baywatch' babe and tabloid beauty Pamela Anderson is rumored to be one of the roster of stars on the next 'Dancing with the Stars.'

Of course, no one is officially commenting or confirming anything since ABC has a tighter rein on their reality show secrets than Los Alamos has on their nuclear secrets.

American Idol's choice of Ellen DeGeneres as a judge replacement threw everyone for a loop, even schlubs like me who don't watch the show.

It's not that she's not talented, successful or funny. It's just an odd choice, putting a comedian on the show that takes its goal of crushing losers' dreams on live television so seriously. It would evoke the same reaction from me if they picked Andrew "Dice" Clay as the new judge, if the Diceman was talented, successful or funny.

And besides, why do they need humor and comedy on such an otherwise serious show? There are lots of humorless, vapid and downright boring shows that are crying out for comedic interjection.