It Ends as It Began for Andy Dick -- with Tears

Andy Dick said it himself two weeks ago -- who would have thought he'd have made it even this far?

After surviving six rounds, it was no huge surprise that the comedic actor and one-time Jolietan would be eliminated Tuesday night in the seventh week of Dancing with the Stars competition.

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As the judges themselves acknowledged Monday -- amidst boos from the crowd -- with just a handful of dancers left, entertainment value and personality will only get you so far when they're being used to mask stiffness and self-consciousness.

And so it was that Dick went out the way he came in: with tears in his eyes and words of gratitude for the chance.

"I've been talking about it from day one," he said, speaking after being told that he would not be returning. "It's been the best. It's just been the best."

After weeks of gushing about how much they enjoyed Dick's enthusiastic willingness to throw himself into the mix, the judges took off the gloves Monday and it appeared the writing was on the wall.

Carrie Ann Inaba: "You know, you touch us and that's really special, but at this point in the competition, as you can tell, we're getting serious about the details, right? If you want to improve, you need to not forget about your arms. What happens is you get so into the character that you let your arms drop and you have a kind of dead arm and then you remember and it comes back up, and it's a little spazzy."

Len Goodman: "Andy, I liked the fun of the dance, I liked the entertainment value, and I love your enthusiasm. But, to be honest with you, as a far a rumba, it was more erratic than erotic. There wasn't enough hip action going on, there wasn't enough musicality."

Bruno Tonioli: "That was a tough call because you've taken an unforgettable classic dance, something that is in everybody's mind, and now (it's something) I wish I could forget. Gene Kelly, Cyd Charisse (referring to one segment of the routine that paid homage to a scene from Singing in the Rain), c'mon, give me a break. The thing is, Lenny's right, you tried very hard, we all appreciate that. At the moment what you're doing, you're doing steps. Steps have to flow through the body, it has to be a continuous motion, not just doing the feet and hoping for the best."

Interestingly, it was the first time any of the judges gave Dick any real constructive criticism, as his dance partner Sharna Burgess pointed out in an interview with People magazine Monday.

"I'm angry, because, for example, Bruno – he stands up every week and says something mean to be funny," Burgess said. "You're here to be a judge, to tell us how to be better. ... I hate seeing Andy be berated week to week for things that aren't dance related."

Regardless, Dick said he was grateful for the experience and the audience support.

His parting words to the fans who voted for him: "I love you."