Dancing With the Stars: Jennifer Grey Makes Case For Crown; Will Bristol Palin Win Anyway?

November 23rd, 2010


Jennifer Grey has been a front-runner and fan favorite all season on Dancing With the Stars and was perfect - seriously, ALL 10s - in her final dances Monday.

Will that be enough to defeat Bristol Palin? You never know!

Bristol, Jennifer and Kyle Massey competed in two rounds of the Dancing with the Stars finals - a redemption dance of the judges' choosing, and freestyle. Jennifer and partner Derek Hough outclassed everyone. Now it's in voters' hands.

Derek Hough and Jennifer Grey Photo

HAND IT TO HER: Jennifer Grey deserves the Mirror Ball trophy.

It's very possible, given what the producers said yesterday about how the judges' scores factor into the overall totals, they were trying to pad Jennifer's lead hard core.

Not that she didn't deserve her perfect 10s, but after Audrina, Rick and most recently Brandy were voted off, you know the pros are pulling for Grey to take this thing.

On the flip side, Bristol's scores were on the high side too, but in proportion to how they scored both Jennifer Kyle. Here's a breakdown of last night, round by round:

Kyle Massey and Lacey Schwimmer: In the foxtrot, Kyle showed improvement in technique, but lost a little entertainment value in the process. Score: 27 (9,9,9).

He picked the "Tootsie Roll" for their freestyle, since it's his favorite, and wanting to end their run on a memorable note. It was wild and fun. Score: 29 (10,9,10).

Bristol Palin and Mark Ballas: With a little nod to the gorilla suit, Bristol's jive was much improved actually. She's come a long way, no doubt. Score: 27 (9,9,9).

In the freestyle, she fell a little bit flat, relatively at least. It was solid, but the blank face and the stiff movements manifested themselves again. Score: 25 (8,9,8).

Jennifer Grey and Derek Hough: The paso doble was a rare stumbling block this fall, but this time, she nailed it. Redemption dance, indeed. Score: 30 (10,10,10).

Their freestyle, which had been in doubt because of Grey's ailing back, offered laughs and enough daring tricks to earn another set of 10s. Score: 30 (10,10,10).

Bristol and Mark PhotoKyle Massey, Lacey Schwimmer Photo

Total scores on Monday's Dancing With the Stars:

  • Jennifer & Derek: 60 (35.71 percent)
  • Kyle & Lacey: 56 (33.33 percent)
  • Bristol & Mark: 52 (30.95 percent)

After last night's routines, Bristol would need to top Jennifer by almost five percent of the vote (for example, 38 to 33 to Kyle's 31) to overtake her overall.

We're not privy to what kind of vote totals she's racked up in previous weeks, but it seems like a tall order, given Grey's strong fan support this season.

Here's hoping for a win for Jen, but let's give Bristol her due. It's not her fault that people vote for her, she tries her best and is under enormous scrutiny.

She didn't deserve to make the finals, in our opinion, but she's given it her all week in and week out, even amid white powder scares. Terrific job, B.

As for Kyle, he's had a great run, but it's ending here. Either the voters will give it to Jennifer on merit or Bristol ... just because. Who are you rooting for?

Bristol Palin a Dancing With the Stars Finalist; Brandy Eliminated in Stunner!

November 17th, 2010


WTF. There's no other intro we can muster right now.

It's not anything new that Dancing With the Stars is about voter support and not technical merit, especially when it comes to mediocre, middle of the pack performers. but at some point, you'd assume the better dancers would be rewarded.

You'd assume wrong, apparently. Bristol Palin will be joining Kyle Massey and Jennifer Grey in next week's finals, with a deserving Brandy left on the sidelines.

Maksim Chmerkovskiy and Brandy Pic

Somehow, Brandy and Maks will be watching, not dancing in the finals.

No sooner had we talked about how Palin's run personally irked Maksim Chmerkovskiy than he and Brandy got the boot Tuesday, despite great dancing Monday.

A record-high number of votes made it happen, too.

"One thing that I love, for my family, the choice they made to come to this country," said Ukrainian-born Maks, taking the high road, "the fact that people vote and voices count. I love that this show represents that, the people's choice."

"I don't regret a second of the last five years of my being on the show and definitely not a second of me being on this season. It's been an amazing journey."

Uhhnh, did Maks just pseudo-quit Dancing With the Stars?

Apparently millions of voters felt she totally deserved it, but one person on stage didn't look stunned, including Bristol herself and partner Mark Ballas.

Imagine if she actually wins this thing next week.

Bristol and Mark Pic

Can anyone derail the Bristol Palin express?

We know she works her butt off, and there's nothing objectionable about her on a fundamental level. But she can't dance. It's time for this to end.

All we have to say is that Jennifer Grey and Kyle Massey voters? You better be on your robo-texting game, because the Palin movement is no joke.

Call it a conspiracy, call it pure enthusiasm for the teen mom next door. Whatever you want to label her, she's one of the final three this season.

Does Bristol Palin deserve to be in the finals?