Bristol Palin: America's Dancing Sweetheart

[Frank Cannon]

Maybe tonight's results will finally put an end to this ridiculous show, and Tom Bergeron (a progressive Dem, by the way) can get a better gig.

[AngryOldDem]

1. Here's hoping.

I didn't know that about Bergeron...I imagine a lot of people are just about done with that show, and I'm not necessarily talking about viewers.

[Lasher]

2. I think it's kinda funny.

The audience was stunned into uncomfortable silence when Brandy's name was called, which meant everyone could hear the boos.

http://www.kansascity.com/2010/11/16/2441989/bristol-palin-fans-ruin-dancing.html

[LynneSin]

18. Her winning would be like William Hung winning "American Idol."

That came from that article you linked.

[NewJeffCT]

28. Wasn't there another contestant that was pushed by Howard Stern?

he would have his listeners call & vote for some other guy that ended up making it pretty far on American Idol... isn't this sort of like the Freepers and Teabaggers all voting for Bristol Palin?

[Iggo]

32. This guy?

[nolabear]

3. Yep, there was some major shock among audience and judges. Bristol got NO love.

I do believe the Palins may be in mid-shark-jump.

[AngryOldDem]

4. Yeah...nobody was happy.

The look on Derek Hough's face was priceless.

But the judges pull the old shock face every week, after they help fuel the madness with their bloated scoring system. But Bristol's got her supporters in line so that even if she would fall on her ass, even Ginger Rogers couldn't come close to kicking her off.

[Frank Cannon]

6. Jennifer Grey looked like she was flat-out pissed off

Like she knew she could very well lose this whole thing to BP next week. And she may.

[AngryOldDem]

7. As she should. be.

At some point you have to put sportsmanship and diplomacy aside and call it for what it is. Everybody got played this season because the system got gamed. Not exactly a way to thank your viewers for their loyalty, or those stars who genuinely work hard to try to do their best. I've always liked DWTS because it's neat to see people learn something new, become more comfortable with themselves, and just dance. (Something I wish I could do.) But I won't sit and watch trash trump true talent.

Maks and Brandy were on Good Morning America just now and he said something interesting: Yes, it's okay to vote for people who you like and feel a connection with, but don't forget that behind that image is a produced figure. Preach it. I'm surprised he's not being more blunt because it's been clear he's had it with this crap. I predict he won't be back next season -- and I don't blame him.

[Crystal Clarity]

8. If not BP, shouldn't Kyle Massey have been next?

From what little I've seen so far (3 episodes), it appeared to me that Brandy was better the Kyle. Or did I just happened to tune in on nights he didn't do as well? :shrug:

[Frank Cannon]

11. Kyle's been on fire the last couple of weeks

Neither he nor Brandy deserved to lose to a punk like Bristol, not in a million years.

[Crystal Clarity]

14. Definitely agree w/that..

Even I can tell she's not very good at all, and I know next to nothing about the show or dancing in general. It's very apparent. But since it's clear that she shouldn't have even gone this far, it (sadly) didn't surprise me that she went another week.

I just thought that if it wasn't going to be Bristol it'd be Kyle. But I'll take your word for it that Kyle is doing well. I saw Monday's episode but haven't seen any recent others.

[AngryOldDem]

12. Before Monday, I honestly thought Kyle was gone.

Since about the week Florence Henderson left, you could pretty much line up who's turn was next in the barrel. But the scores were so tight on Monday -- thanks AGAIN to the judges who don't realize that they DO have scoring paddles lower than 8s -- that Brandy was in trouble. And, silly me, I thought that if it did come down to Brandy vs. Bristol, this would be the lil' darlin's week to go. I'm just naive that way, thinking that talent plays a role in crapfests like this.

Kyle actually improved as he went along, plus, he has such a sweet and winning personality. He connects with the audience, and puts feeling (musicality) into his dances, which is more than I can say for Palin.

His size makes him less of a graceful dancer, but he does know his steps and executes them well. But I think he was overscored on Monday too, which didn't help Brandy either. It's going to be Jennifer Grey and Bristol in the finals. What. A. Joke.

I kind of feel stupid for realizing that I invested a whole lot more into this than it truly deserves, but dammit, I'm sick of people coasting while others work their asses off. I just like to see people succeed through their own hard work and determination, and not because they have a million dimwits power voting. Like I said. I'm naive.

[Crystal Clarity]

17. Yeah that makes me mad too.

One of the things I've heard from people justifying Bristol still being there is "how she's worked so hard" or "come so far". Well haven't they all worked hard, and many have come far; so that argument falls flat w/me.

The whole thing is ridiculous. I'd be mad too if I had been watching all along only to see people who deserve to go on get knocked out of the running by baggers voting for Bristol. :eyes:

[Frank Cannon]

10. If BP wins next week, Derek Hough won't be back either.

In fact, I think all the pros will leave. Why should they bust their asses all season long, only to lose to a total joke?

[AngryOldDem]

13. ABC cooked its own goose.

DWTS has been a ratings lock since it started, and I think a lot of folks won't be back. I don't know what TPTB were thinking, but they grossly overreached and underestimated how much manipulation people will put up with.

[LibDemAlways]

5. You can bet this will be the last time the show pulls a stunt like this.

Next season it will be back to the usual cast of B-listers and has beens.

[LynneSin]

15. Next year it will be a voting system that doesn't allow people to spend 3-5hours

sending in 100 votes for one contestant

[Tuesday Afternoon]

20. as it should be ... do you have a link confirming that?

thanks.

[LynneSin]

23. no link, just an opinion

Without it the show will lose their base audience. Why watch if you know you can easily rig the vote. And who knows if those teabagging nutjobs will watch next year if there isn't another teabagger in the mix.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

24. I am not sure but, I think that the rest of the show is based on the Judge's

scores alone. no more voting. :shrug:

[EOTE]

29. Here you go.

http://jezebel.com/5691445/how-palin-conservatives-are-cheating-the-dwts-voting-system?skyline=true&s=i

[IcyPeas]

9. the teabaggers are voting for her and keeping her score on top

they are even talking about this on the teevee box.

[tanyev]

16. And then if there is outrage over an undeserved Bristol win,

Mama Grizzly will just use it to fire up her persecution complex.

[NewJeffCT]

27. It doesn't matter if there is outrage or not

they'll just manufacture some outrage.

[nolabear]

19. Yes, that's clearly what's going on. But the ratings are high and that's all they care about really

If the dancer/trainers have any self-respect they won't be a part of it though.

But I'm pretty happy to see the Palin Overkill in the media. America does love to raise themup and break them down.

[Love Bug]

21. Don't get me started!

After several years of avoiding this show, this year my daughter has gotten me hooked. We watch it together and every week we've asked, "What is it going to take for Bristol to be kicked off?" It's all in vain apparently. I was pissed when Brandy was voted off last night but frankly, not surprised. As usual, the teabaggers and their type choose to reward a mediocrity over talent. (Not that I have anything personal against Bristol. She seems a nice enough girl and shouldn't be blamed for having whack-a-doodle parents. I can see even she is amazed she's still in the running.)

I asked my daughter, who's followed the show for several seasons, if there has ever been such a disparity of ability between contestants this late in the show. She said, "absolutely not," and although her favorite doesn't always win, the one who does usually deserves it.

Oh, well, it's only a TV show and shouldn't bother me so much. Like the other alleged "talent" shows they end up being popularity contests where the bland, non-threatening mediocrity usually wins.

No doubt if Bristol wins the teabaggers will hail it as some kind of victory. Of what, exactly, I'm not sure. A metaphor for American mediocrity over ability, perhaps?

[Love Bug]

22. "Bristol Palin's dancing prompts man to shoot his tv"

http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/108684844.html?page=1

LOL!

[astral]

25. For Bristol never having danced before, compared to the

others who have (well, I'm not sure about Kyle) it is the level of improvement that the show is about. I think the costumes and choregraphy have hurt Bristol a bit as she doesn't get the costumes that show her body and the choregraphed fun-looking dances that Brandy and Jennifer get. Sure, they are miles ahead of her in ability, and Kyle has shown himself to be far better than her as well, but the long black skirts are not exactly helping her out.

I don't think the show's ratings are going to go down one little bit, sorry!

I agree 100% the show's not fair. But I don't stomach too well seeing the comments here insinuating Bristol is some of sub-par class human being just because she wasn't already a celebrity like the others. Just by the luck of the --- stars --- she was plucked as a random middle-class young gal from Anywhere-USA and thrown into the mix.

It is clear she worked her butt off and embraced the opportunity and is trying her best. SHE knows the scoring is making people unhappy, but please stop acting like it is her fault that she exists.

I have never bothered to figure out how to vote for anyone on the show, I just hope so-and-so makes it, and this is all the more interesting when it becomes a popularity contest instead of a talent contest. Maybe the network can verify whether there is 'teabagging' going on here, or if America, regardless of what D.U. and the other dancers and the studio audience and the judges think -- wants Bristol to win just because she IS the underdog in the mix.

There is more to this than just unfair voting tactics, I think. I could be wrong.

[RockaFowler]

26. She's not a nice person

She's vindictive just like her mother.

http://www.intouchweekly.com/2010/11/bristol_maks_does_not_like_me.php

[Love Bug]

30. I think you are being a bit naive to think she was chosen as a "random middle-class young gal"

She's the daughter of a celebrity politician, ex-governor who came close to becoming the Vice President. Choosing her was a move calculated to bring in ratings because for some unfathomable reason right now anything Palin = eyeballs and $$$. Knowing her mother would be there to be on camera surely came into consideration, too.

Sure, Bristol's improved but so have the others. This is supposed to be a talent contest with the prize going to the best, not the most improved.

If you don't think the teabaggers aren't having an influence, google "operation Bristol." I'm not saying they can't or mustn't do it, but that it's not fair to vote for someone because you like her mother's politics. It's certainly not fair to the other contestants who don't have that advantage.

[emilyg]

34. I'm for the underdog.

[AngryOldDem]

36. I have to disagree.

<<For Bristol never having danced before, compared to the others who have (well, I'm not sure about Kyle) it is the level of improvement that the show is about.<<

The majority of stars in this season had little to no dance experience. And it's been clear that the judges have been using a double standard in scoring Palin as opposed to everyone else. Everyone else is scored according to how well they perform the dance. Palin, however, is getting high (and undeserved) marks because she is "showing improvement." Compare the comments Kurt Warner received to Palin's to see my point.

<<I don't think the show's ratings are going to go down one little bit, sorry!<<

Not for the last two shows, no; but ABC has hurt its credibility with this stunt and I think people will be slow to return next season. Now, if ABC reforms its voting system, that may help. I think that will depend on Tuesday's outcome.

<<I agree 100% the show's not fair. But I don't stomach too well seeing the comments here insinuating Bristol is some of sub-par class human being just because she wasn't already a celebrity like the others. Just by the luck of the --- stars --- she was plucked as a random middle-class young gal from Anywhere-USA and thrown into the mix.<<

Complete and utter horseshit. ABC KNEW what it was doing/getting with such a polarizing figure as Palin, through her mother. I think that was what was behind the casting of Tom DeLay a few seasons back -- "let's see what will happen if...". What saved it from becoming a spectacle then was DeLay's exit due to injury. This time I think the network seriously underestimated its public and how far the public would be manipulated. And why TPTB want to ruin an entertainment show like this is unfathomable to me. Sports stars, singers, and actors are one thing. Political figures of any stripe have NO place in this show.

<<There is more to this than just unfair voting tactics, I think. I could be wrong.<<

Week after week Palin has been in the bottom two because of her subpar performances, yet she's in the finals. So you tell me what's going on.

[petronius]

31. Could be a nice test of character for Bristol - she could publicly ask people not to game

the voting. Yeah, I doubt it will happen, too...

[applegrove]

33. So strange Palin's followers would cheat..... actually not so strange.

[Orsino]

35. The network's sweetheart, maybe.

But when that pact with Satan comes due, no more.