David Hasselhoff on 'Dancing With the Stars': 'I Gave It 120 Percent'

Sept. 22, 2010 — -- David Hasselhoff, the internationally known star of "Baywatch" and "Knight Rider," and his professional partner, Kym Johnson, were the first couple to get the ax on the new season of "Dancing With the Stars."

Hasselhoff told "Good Morning America" that he wasn't surprised to be the first to go.

"Going into this I kinda knew I wasn't going to be the judge's favorite," he said. "All I wanted to do was have fun."

"I gave it 120 percent, and I didn't let back at all," he said.

Despite his cult-following, "The Hoff" and Johnson had the lowest combined judges' scores and public votes for their cha-cha to Tom Jones' "Sex Bomb" Monday night.

Hasselfhoff's daughters Taylor and Hayley, who were in the audience for Tuesday's results, praised their dad for keeping up with the competition despite his "bad knees."

"They were great," Hasselhoff, 58, said of his doting daughters. "I'm always their hero, and I'm always in control, so for them to see me voted off was a new experience."

Johnson, who took home the title on season nine of "Dancing With the Stars," said it was "disappointing" to be the first to go.

"When they told me I had 'The Hoff,' I was so excited," she recalled. "Every week, we had so much fun. ... He was trying really hard."

There are now 11 couples left, including singer Michael Bolton; R&B/pop singer Brandy; comedian and actress Margaret Cho; former NBA champion Rick Fox; actress Jennifer Grey of "Dirty Dancing" fame; actress and author Florence Henderson; Kyle Orlando Massey, star of the hit Disney Channel program, "Cory in the House;" Bristol Palin, a teen abstinence activist and daughter of former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin; reality TV star Audrina Patridge; Mike "The Situtation" Sorrentino of the reality TV show "The Jersey Shore," and NFL Superbowl champion Kurt Warner.

Hasselhoff, Sorrentino, and Cho all tied for the lowest score, while Grey got the highest score of the night for her Viennese Waltz with partner Derek Hough.

"I love Jennifer Grey. I think she's going to be there in the end," Johnson predicted.

The Hoff said Massey deserved to take home title of "Dancing With the Stars" champion for his pizzazz.

"When it came down between me and Kym and Kyle, I said, 'Let it be us.' The kid is so great," Hasselhoff said on "GMA. "It's about showmanship, and he's got showmanship."

Last season, Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger was the winner of the coveted Mirror Ball trophy.

Michael Bolton

Michael Bolton has sold more than 53 million records, released 18 studio albums, won multiple Grammy awards for Best Male Vocalist and countless other honors, all while selling out arenas worldwide. In 2002, the singer-songwriter earned a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame. He has sung with Luciano Pavarotti and Ray Charles, written songs with Bob Dylan, Ne-Yo and Lady Gaga, written hits for a diverse range of artists, including Barbra Streisand and KISS, played guitar with B.B. King and had his music recorded on a track by hip-hop superstar Kanye West (featuring megastar Jay-Z). Earlier this year, Bolton released his latest album, "One World One Love," featuring his current single, "Murder My Heart," which he co-wrote with Lady Gaga. He is currently on a worldwide concert tour. Of all that he has accomplished, perhaps nothing is more important to Bolton than the Michael Bolton Charities Inc., which he founded in 1993. Located in his home state of Connecticut, MBC's main focus is violence against women. Since its inception, MBC has dispersed more than $6 million in grants to various organizations that support children and women at risk for poverty, abuse, neglect, homelessness and domestic violence.