How the Hell Has Bristol Palin Survived on Dancing with the Stars?
Dancing with the Stars is always good for some outrage. The show's uneasy balance of rigid scoring rubrics and home-voter influence can make champions out of inferior runners-up (Donny Osmond's triumph over Mya springs to mind) and losers out of deserving competitors (like this season's shocking Audrina Patridge ouster). But now that four celebrities remain in the series' 11th season, the most terrifying question of all remains: How on Earth is Bristol Palin -- the most awkward and ambivalent performer this season -- still in this contest? Let's break down the reasons for her continued "success."
1. Staunch Republican fan base
In my interview with Tom Bergeron to be posted Monday, the Dancing with the Stars host claims that home-viewers who gripe that Republicans are buttressing Bristol's success can't complain about the results unless they voted themselves. (He goes on to make a midterm elections metaphor that I'll joyfully save until next week.) But his argument implies that Bristol does have some political backing, and it's hard to deny that claim. Sarah Palin is allegedly fixated on Bristol's success in the competition, and it's no surprise that she's used Twitter to mobilize the nation's baby grizzlies to vote. That's been effective so far -- as in, its prevented Bristol from ranking last, at least -- but it's not the only tenet that has worked in her favor.
Relevance: 35%
2. Staunch apolitical fan base (a.k.a. she might actually be good)
Bristol is still the show's worst performer, but it can't be said that she hasn't improved. (And she's certainly better than losers like Michael Bolton or -- gasp -- Master P) In past weeks, she executed a decent pair of tangos and a respectable Viennese Waltz. Even if she hasn't primed her skills like Kyle Massey or Brandy, what's always important in reality competitions is the illusion of progress (something substantiated by the judges and their generally escalating scores for Bristol). In season nine of American Idol, no one could argue that Lee DeWyze was a better singer than Crystal Bowersox, but his late-competition upswing helped sway the vote against Crystal's inarguable, but rather plateaued talents. It could be said that Bristol's slight, but marked improvements are fueling her own underdog push.
Relevance: 10%
3. Sanjaya Syndrome
The "Vote for the Worst" epidemic is about three years out of vogue, but is it possible that Bristol bears a certain Sanjaya and/or Antonella Barba appeal? Is she so bad and so hapless that keeping her in the competition supplies us with deep and sensual schadenfreude?
I say no. Dancing with the Stars is not like American Idol -- almost nobody is a perfect dancer on DWTS (besides Nicole Scherzinger), and nobody's claiming to be. Watching Bristol dance is never excruciating or laughable unless a gorilla suit comes into play. Unfortunately, we can't bank on Bristol's Halloween antics every week. Bear in mind: Kate Gosselin was demonstrably more terrible than Bristol, and she was voted off fairly early in season ten last spring.
Relevance: 5%
4. The others aren't getting votes!
But back to Bergeron's earlier claim: He is exactly right that skepticism about Bristol's standing in the competition does not translate to votes for other dancers. And really, if you were calling in to cancel out Bristol's backers, would you vote for Kurt Warner? Rick Fox? Florence Henderson? Even the arguably great dancer Audrina Patridge? No, you'd vote for the show's actual best hoofers, Jennifer Grey and Brandy. Or Kyle Massey, the adorable tyke and admirable performer who has stood on the precipice of elimination more times than I can remember. There's a chance Bristol can outlast Kyle and his underdog appeal next week, but I don't think she has a prayer of beating Jennifer, who hasn't even busted out "(I've Had the) Time of My Life" yet. Time to assemble some "Don't Be Lazy, Vote Swayze" signs, world.
Relevance: 50%
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Comments
who knows? politics. she is the worst dancer. no feeling, expression or musicality. That show is a joke.
Bristol should be voted off but people are voting for her out of what kind of loyalty, Sad that better dancers are gone just because the Palin people think everything is about following the lead.
Dancing with the Stars have become to political and turning people off. There is no way that Bristol Palin should be still on the show. She has no personality, can't dance, and too young and inexperienced. Bristol should have never been on the show in the first place, because she is not a Star. A 17 year old having a baby out of wedlock, does not classify you of being a star. If is does, we would have millions of stars.
I think one thing you are leaving off the list is "Judging Leniancy".
The judges have obviosuly not been judgiing everybody on the same scale, when Palin and Kyle can get almost as good a score as Jennifer/Brandy/Audrina. Even Kurt's last 8-8-8 dance was much better than Palin's, and her score was only different by 1 point.
The judges being so "nice" to Palin has resulted in a smaller disparity between scores, meaning the scores (and therefore dancing ability) has even less of an impact on who goes home.
So this is another chapter that defines The American Way – sorry that you suck, but we’ll vote you in anyway! Whether you deserve it or not, you can win! Great!
I have been such an ardent fan of DWTS. I live in Canada and I think this is yet another reflection on the poor image the rest of the world has of the USA today. As a wildlife lover I find it repulsive to equate this strange Palin family with "baby grizzlies" . Baby grizzlies are way too appealing . How Americans can be voting for Bristol Palin and sending other really talented hardworking dancers who really want to be there is atrocious. I will not be watching this show anymore. The producers made a big mistake putting her on and tensions on the show is at an all-time high I feel.
DWTS is nothing but a popularity contest, plain and simple. Otherwise people like Rick Fox and Audrina Patridge would not have been voted off. That being said, why was Bristol even on there in the first place, she is not a celebrity in any sense of the word. And while I do think she is definitely better than Michael Bolton, I do think Bruno went "a bit far" with his criticism, which was not constructive in the least. It was great to see Michael Bolton step up and replace what's her name for the singing the next week though.
I simply can't believe it....after hearing about the web site that the political folks have showing them how to vote twice for Bristol...now Iam actually believing it.....she should be gone.... Even though she did her best dance last night and actually looked pretty good doing it, there is no way she should be kept around....At this stage of the game....she can screw up and still win in the finals...what a bunch of B.S.
This is pure BS! I hope ABC loses millions of viewers for using this type of stunt to try and boost ratings; I mean REALLY ABC? Why in the hell was Bristol Palin even asked to be on the show in the first place? She's NOT a star as the name of the show suggests? What has she done other than get pregnant out of wedlock and be the daughter of a political idiot? I'm NEVER watching the show again!
She cannot dance. It is so unfair to the stars who can. This is a dance contest and the voting should be based on the best dancers. They should have the judges make the decisions. I mean....really? Voting Brandy off befor Palin is crazy. This is Sarah Palin at work for sure. Cannot stand her.If this is the way she wants to try and get her daughter to win....by buying votes. CHEATER.
I have been a fan of DWTS for a number of years and I always enjoy watching the progress and improvement of the participants from the premier of the show to the final episode. However, after last night's travesty, I doubt if I will continue to watch in the future. I agree with everyone in regards to Bristol's resume' of being a "star!" What the show should do is to have people call in to vote on who should be eliminated each week. That would be a much better indicator than voting for the ONE competitor that you like the best.
I think the show needs to have AN EVEN PLAYING FIELD, no past dance experience !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Like Jennifer, Donny Osmond, Nichole Sherzinger ! This show is so obnoxiously predictable, I think people like Bristol Palin is REFRESHING.
The concept of the show is to train people who don't dance or never have I FEEL. Donny Osmond winning was so NOT exciting, it was PREDICTABLE ! And ya know if Bristol wins I think it will SHAKE things up. I feel this show needs to re think who they pick, their experience and surprise US the viewers with REAL COMPETITION !
Not "celebrity popularity", sooooooooooo DROLL ABC, we see through your plan ! Remember back when Kelly Monaco won??????? She was NOT a dancer ! LET ANOTHER UNDERDOG win !!!!
part of the reason that she is still on there is because if you dont have at&t phones.. you only get 4 votes instead of the 5 that they announce on television.. My daughter and I both vote every week and only get 4 votes .. which really isnt fair to any one voting for their favorites..
that allows her mother and all of
Alaska to vote for her.. she realy is quite wooden most of the time and has almost no emotional connection for the parts of whichever dance she is supposed to be doing.. the others all get into the characters that they are supposed to be portraying.. while Mark does his best.. with her.. she really is a whiny teenager who allows her mothers success to push her on.. when she should be standing on her 0wn two feet and their merits... if she didnt have the Republican Party standing behind with her mother,,, really ,, how many people would actually have kept her on this far???I mean really? she knows shes not that good..she may have improved.. but she is no where near the caliber of the remaining dancers.. pro or not...
Everyone assumes that there really is a vote tally. The end of all reality shows has a statement that the producers can ignore the votes! This is Jennifer Gray's show for coming back to Hollywood. The mediocre dancers stay while the true competition is forced off - to guarantee Jennifer's win! Reality shows are not real - just well scripted!
the guy who shot his TV screen said it all.
I agree with him in spades. bill
You people are a bunch of whiners. If you want some else to win instead of Bristol Palin, you should vote for them. You can't complain about who gets elected to Congress or President if you didn't vote.
Bristol dances like a Clydesdale but I'm voting for her and I'm not a conservative by any means.
I've talked with the ladies at my place of employment and we're going to keep voting for Bristol. Why? Because as moms we feel she's been crucified by bloggers and the media for things that have absolutely nothing to do with the show or Bristol. Morally I feel like a better person for supporting Bristol. I realize it only a entertaining television and who wins makes no difference in my life or anyone elses.