Brandy vs. Bristol: How does elimination work on 'Dancing With the Stars'?

How did singer Brandy get booted from "Dancing With the Stars" after pulling a perfect score for one of her dances with Maksim Chmerkovskiy on Monday night? And how did Bristol Palin and Mark Ballas survive another week despite coming in last with the judges more often than not?

Allow the Ministry to show you the math.

According to the "DWTS" website, couples are ranked by a combination of two scores -- the percentage of total judges' points they are awarded plus the percentage of viewer votes they get. The pair with the lowest combined total goes home.

(OK, this really is math. Hang in there.)

On Monday, Brandy and Maks earned a total of 57 points for their two dances, with 53 for Bristol and Mark, 58 for Kyle Massey and Lacey Schwimmer, and a perfect 60 for Jennifer Grey and Derek Hough. That's a total of 228 points handed out by the judges, leaving the couples ranked as follows, before viewer voting was done: Jennifer/Derek, 26.3%; Kyle/Lacey, 25.4%; Brandy/Maks, 25%; and Bristol/Mark, 23.2%.

So while in raw numbers Brandy and Maks were a full four points higher than Bristol and Mark in the judging, and separated by 3.6 points -- 51.8% to 48.2% -- when compared head to head, there was a difference of only 1.8 points between the two couple in the context of the entire field. And that was only half the battle.

If the audience votes had broken evenly, with each couple getting 25% of the vote, that order would have held, with each team having 25 points added to their total. But Bristol and Mark really didn't have that much to make up -- obviously getting at least 1.9% more of the popular vote than the eliminated twosome. And viewers, who theoretically vote for their favorites via phone, text message and online, must be motivated to give their support, not lulled into complacency or put off.

Seriously, who's more likely to spark an energetic fan reaction -- Brandy or Bristol?

"We consistently have had Bristol at the bottom or the bottom two and the viewers bring her back, and it's because they want to see her dance again," judge Len Goodman said after Monday night's show.

"In this case, you cross the finish line first and somebody barely finishes, and you get a tie because they showed heart," Chmerkovskiy said on "Good Morning America" Wednesday. "It's kind of difficult for me to deal with."

Moral of the story? If you get out the vote, there's no reason to shoot your TV.

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-- Christie D'Zurilla

 

Top photo: Bristol Palin and Mark Ballas face the "Dancing With the Stars" judges on Monday. Credit: Adam Larkey / ABC/Reuters

Bottom photo: Brandy reheases for "DWTS" on Sept. 15. Credit: Matt Sayles / Associated Press

 

Comments

[dance fan]

The more I read the comments, the more I felt like if this show is driven so much by the politics or ...., then why the other contestants and the professional dancers work so hard.... because there will be no point. If you or your mother/father is popular, and as long as you can keep your feet on the dance floor, then you get better chance to win. It lost the truth meaning of this show. You know, I wish Bristol can win, then I can just stop watching this show. I am sure there will be other better shows to fit my taste. This show can leave to those people who have no brain....

[Bobbie Buskohl]

I can't believe the way the show turned out the way it did I tried to vote and voting lines were already closed in central time area. Something looks a little fishy to me

[ASHLEY LANGSTON]

PLEASE TELL ME HOW IN THE WORLD DID BRANDY GET VOTED OFF?? BRISTOL IS A HORRIBLE DANCER!!! ITS TIME TO START VOTING FOR WHO THE TRUE DANCER IS AND NOT WHO YOUR MOTHER IS!! WHO CARES WHO HER MOM IS, SHE'S OVER RATED!!

[Johnna Kelly]

In all the comments I've read...even those who WANT to keep Bristol in, I have not heard even ONE person say Bristol is the BEST dancer! She may be sweet, trying hard, identifiable as "normal" , but, in no way does ANYONE think she is a better dancer than Jennifer or Brandy. So, why would she be kept in by voters and Brandy be voted out? There have to be other reasons people are voting for her and it has nothing to do with skill! Therefore, this seems to negate the show as a dancing competition..let's call it like it is! Bristol is not the "star" part of Dancing with the Stars and she is NOT the best dancer as witnessed by the fact even supporters cannot say this with a straight face! The show has become a silly competition for who can charm or fool all the people, all of the time! I feel sorry for the judges and the pros who try to pretend this is about dancing!

[Ｄａｍｎ Ｓｈａｍｅ]

Ｉｔ’ｓ　ｎｏｔ　ａｂｏｕｔ　Ｂｒａｎｄｙ’ｓ　ｓｏ－ｃａｌｌｅｄ　”ａｔｔｉｔｕｄｅ”，　ｙｏｕ　ｍｏｒｏｎｓ，　ｉｔ’ｓ　ａｂｏｕｔ　　ｈｅｒ　ｄａｎｃｉｎｇ　ｓｋｉｌｌｓ．　Ｔｈｅ　ｖｉｅｗｅｒｓ　ｄｏｎ’ｔ　ｂｒｉｎｇ　Ｂｒｉｓｔｏｌ　ｂａｃｋ　ｅｖｅｒｙ　ｗｅｅｋ　ｂｅｃａｕｓｅ　ｔｈｅｙ　ｌｉｋｅ　ｈｅｒ，　ｔｈｅｙ　ｄｏ　ｉｔ　ｂｅｃａｕｓｅ　ｔｈｅｉｒ　ｐｏｌｉｔｉｃａｌ　ｇｒｏｕｐ　ｔｅｌｌｓ　ｔｈｅｍ　ｔｏ　ｄｏ　ｓｏ．　Ｂｒａｎｄｙ　ｉｓ　ａ　ｆａｎｔａｓｔｉｃ　ｄａｎｃｅｒ，　ａｎｄ　ｍａｄｅ　Ｂｒｉｓｔｏｌ　ｌｏｏｋ　ｌｉｋｅ　ａｂｓｏｕｌｕｔｅ　ｄｏｇ　ｃｒａｐ．　Ｙｏｕ　ｓａｙ　ｓｈｅ　ｗｈｉｎｅｄ，　ｗｈａｔ　ａｂｏｕｔ　Ｊｅｎｎｉｆｅｒ’ｓ　ｗａｓｈｅｄ－ｕｐ，　ｗｈｉｎｙ　ａｓｓ？Ａｎｄ　ａｎｏｔｈｅｒ　ｔｈｉｎｇ，　ｔｈａｔ　ｗｏｍａｎ　ｗａｓ　ｈｉｇｈ　ｗｈｅｎ　ｓｈｅ　ｗａｓ　ｄｒｉｖｉｎｇ，　ｉｔ’ｓ　ｎｏｔ　Ｂｒａｎｄｙ’ｓ　ｆａｕｌｔ　ｔｈａｔ　ｓｈｅ　ｄｉｅｄ．　Ｉｔ　ｗａｓ　ｐｒｏｖｅｎ　ｔｈａｔ　ｔｈｅ　ｗｏｍａｎ　ｓｌａｍｍｅｄ　ｄｏｗｎ　ｏｎ　ｈｅｒ　ｂｒｅａｋｓ　ｓｕｄｄｅｎｌｙ，　ｃａｕｓｉｎｇ　Ｂｒａｎｄｙ　ｔｏ　ａｌｓｏ　ｓｌａｍ　ｏｎ　ｈｅｒ　ｂｒｅａｋｓ　ａｎｄ　ｔｈａｔ　ｔｈｅ　ｗｏｍａｎ　ｗａｓ　ｈｉｇｈ　ｏｎ　ｄｒｕｇｓ．

[Yolanda Peters]

I can't stand sara palin and her no talented daughter, she and her tea baggers better known as the KKK need to pack their bags and head back home to Alaska where she can see Russia from her porch.I will never watch dancing with stars ever again I can see the show are taken there order'S from the furor and the republican party the show was suppose to be about talent and anyone with common sense should realize that bristol only talent was getting knocked up out of wedlock, I now hate DWTS AND ABC should be ashamed of themselves for this sham. (GOT TALENT) NO

[M Can Dance]

Stop!! Every judge has said her footwork was excellent, therefore she knows the steps she just doesn't have the dramatics that the others have honed in there career.

Speak of injustice, how can anyone say it's fair to have Jennifer Grey, actress and dancer compete against someone who has neither in their background.

Seriously, quit punishing Bristol for political reasons. Judge her as you would want to be judged under the same situation.

[Disgusted with the whole thing]

Bristol sucks- just like her mother sucks - just shows what a bunch of idiots belong to the teaparty. They don't look for talent or intelligence - they just want control. If Bristol wins, DWTS loses, if her mother wins - we all lose.

[Bessy Smith]

The only thing that keeps Ms. Palin in this dancing contest is the "red neck teabaggers" who keep voting her in each week. What a damn joke! Frankly, I'm tired of seeing her fat %$* each week and everyone else knows she can't dance worth a damn and should have been gone a long time ago!

[Alex Aldama]

THE COMMENT POSTED BY Marlene Gruber-Clark> YOU DONT KNOW WHAT YOUR TALKING ABOUT!! YOU ARE THE ONE THAT IS MAKING RACIST COMMENTS. YOU ARE THE ONE WITH HATE!! ANYONE THAT IS PATRIOTIC SUCH AS OUR MEN AND WOMEN IN THE ARMED SERVICES SHOULD BE HONORED. SARAH PALIN IS NOT YOUR ENEMY!! SARAH IS ONE OF THE MOST PATRIOTIC PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY. YOU ARE A PERSON THAT WOULD APPEASE TO THE REAL ENEMY AND THEY WOULD STILL KILL YOU IF THEY HAD THE CHANCE. WAKE UP AND BE A GOOD SPORT! MS. PALIN WILL NOT WIN THE FINAL COMPETITION ONLY BECAUSE THE OTHER PERSON WILL EARN THE VICTORY. SHE HAS DONE A GREAT JOB TO GET THIS FAR AND THE VOTES WERE AWARDED TO HER... SO STOP YOUR HATE FOR CONSERVATIVES JUST BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE IN GOD AND MOST OF THEM LOVE MANKIND OF ALL RACES. THIS IS NOT POLITICS. ENJOY THE SHOW OR STOP SEEING IT NOW. MOVE ON AND GET A LIFE!!

[Alex Aldama]

TO THE STUPID DUMB AND DUMBER IDIOTS WHO WROTE THESE STUPID COMMENTS... WE ALREADY LOST WITH OBAMA! WHO SAID THESE COMMENTS...

"Bristol sucks- just like her mother sucks - just shows what a bunch of idiots belong to the teaparty. They don't look for talent or intelligence - they just want control. If Bristol wins, DWTS loses, if her mother wins - we all lose."

TALKING ABOUT HATERS. WHO IS THE REAL FUROR AND KKK. THE DEMOCRATS AND CAN'T YOU SEE THEY HATE THIS COUNTRY AND ARE THE LEAST PATRIOTIC PEOPLE OF ALL!! BRISTOL PALIN WILL NOT WIN BUT AT LEAST SHE HAS A MOM THAT WONT APPEASE AND BOW DOWN TO THE REAL ENEMY!!! YOU STUPID BUNCH OF LEFT WING RACIST LEFT DEMOCRATIC PIGS MAKING RACIST COMMENTS. THANK GOD WE STILL HAVE A FEW GOOD DEMOCRATS AROUND. BUT THE ONES MAKING THESE COMMENTS ARE POLLUTING THIS POST THAT WAS MEANT FOR ENTERTAINMENT!!! GO GET A LIFE YOU DUMB ASS COWARDS. MOST OF YOU HIDE YOUR NAMES!!

Posted by: Disgusted with the whole thing | Nov 17, 2010 at 07:12 PM

[Disgusted with the whole thing]

Alex Aldama - your rant proves that you Palinators are fanatics. Heaven help us all. (yes I believe there is a supreme being) DWTS means nothing - but even toying with the idea of giving that gun toting simpleton any power in this country is scary. We may need a change in this country -but she is definitely not it. As a republican until she came on the scene - I have since changed parties.

And quit yelling - turn off your caplock.

[Ms. Hilton]

DWTS is ruined. Bristol will win the miraball trophy but it will only cement the whole season as a joke.

I saw every episode of DWTS, and Bristol skill's were ranked right up there between the Situation and Margaret Cho.

Florence Henderson
Audrina Patridge
Rick Fox
Kurt Warner
Brandy
Kyle Massey
Jennifer Gray

were all better dancers than Bristol.

and were all qualified star celebrities.

Being the daughter of a political figure, or a teenage mom does not make you a star.

[Joy]

This is the 1st season I have watched every episode of dwts. Before I caught peeks between commercials. What I find real interesting is the judges are more honest with their comments on Bristol's (stiff) dancing when Sarah was not in attendance. Yes indeed she has improved, but she should been gone a long time ago. I will finish this season however because both Gray and Kyle are really good. After this, I'm through with dwts

[Shawn]

I blame the judges. They were very harsh on Kirk Warner. They would say mean things about his dancing. They never said anything mean about Bristol's dancing. They treated her like she was 10. She should have never gotten anything about a 5 and she should have been gone in week 3. The judges should have the final say in who goes or stay because leaving it to the people it becomes a popularity contest instead of a dancing contest. This is the worst DWTS ever and the judges should be ashame. This stiff moving, no dancing bristol is gonna win this freakin show.

[Jim Young]

My guess is Kyle and Bristol will be the final two. Kyle will squeak it out. People are getting fed up with the petty bickering that they think they have to show. Kyle and Bristol never did bicker at their pros. That in its self say a lot.

[What in the Hell!]

If Bristol can be a “celebrity” then every pregnant teen mother & baby daddy in the USA should be on the show. This is the teaparty way of getting idiots to practice voting.

How disgusting that the judges participate in the fiasco with the scores they provide. DWTS is not a show about the best dancer moving forward but the most popular. They should change the name to “America’s most favorite – not the most talented dancing with people.” What an insult to ask Brandy to come back & perform after being booted. I hope she doesn’t. With luck Kayne will show up at the final to take away the trophy if Bristol wins.

[C.R.]

ABC & Disney should be ashamed of themselves! First off, since when does having a child out of wedlock as a teenager qualify one as a "star". She never should have been on the show to begin with. There has clearly been a political agenda. The judges have not judge her with the same criteria.Everyone is trying their best, so effort and heart have never been grounds to keep someone in the contest to the finale.
I tried to vote for Brandy and for the first time this season, my votes could be registar due to unknown malfunction. In reading online this same malfunction happened with other trying to vote for Brandy & Max, via computer. And phone lines where completely jammed.
THE FIX WAS IN! They were able to elect BUSH president when he LOST the popular vote, so this was a piece of cake.
I am very disappointed, I liked DWTS, even with the judges occasional bias, I still thought the show had some integrity! Now its a joke. Bristol cant even hold a beat, she should have been one of the first people, off the show if DANCING where what was being judged!

[steve]

well analyzed and non-partisan. refreshing to hear instead of shouts of "voter fraud." i dont even watch the show, but this is now politics.

[nancy]

If Briston wins and this is definitely not out of the question, her mother and her staff etc. will probably really believe that she deserved to win and will never admit that it actually had nothing to do with good dancing skills which Bristol doesn't have. Sure she has improved, but what else has she been doing but practicing with the professionals. come on - wake up - swithch to a different program. DWTS has now done itself in with letting the "audience" do the bidding, while they have professional judges on hand.

[MJ]

We viewers are fickle... and who knows what we will really do next season.

But here is one truth. Bristol cannot dance. I am so very tired of seeing her poor partner drag her around the stage. I am happy that she gave it a shot.....but I cannot bear to watch any longer.

I wish the two teams who will really be competing all the best. Both Jennifer and Kyle but their whole heart in the efforts. And they both can actually DANCE.

[kjl76112]

I think its interesting that the comparison is between Brandy and Bristol. What we don't know is if Bristol was actually in the bottom two. The elimination could have been between brandy and either of the other two contestants. The show is about ratings and the best pairings to create the least amount of outrage while peaking the right amount of interest is what we see.

Imagine the amount of credibility the show would lose if the bottom two were actually Brandy and Jennifer? Or the racial implications that could be made if the bottom two revealed each week were the minority dance contesttants. And heaven forbid if the results revealed that Jennifer was in the bottom two after receiving six perfect scores?

DWTS knows it has a problem with the scoring, but its producers are paid very well to conceal it.

[carlos]

I can't get over the simple mindness of the left. They can't stand on thier own talents or issues, so they have to tear down anything they can't control. The other day I was listening to Michael Moore critizing O'Donnel for her Constitution remark about separation of church in state. Which is not in the First Amendment by the way. He made a stetemnt about he couldn't understand how she didn't know that was in the Constitution and continued to ramp on about how he believes in Evoulution and it's being proving by science and should be taught in schools. When Larry King told him it was only The Theory of Evolution, he was dumbfounded "its a Theory I didn't know that I just accepted it as fact". Oh ok, if Micheal Moore believes to be true I guess we should all accept it, he is after all the smartest liberal in the room.
This quy arques and doesn't even know the facts about what his arquement is about.
Bristol Palin is winning because we like her and we want her to win. This is a show based on viewers and what they want to see and we want to see Bristol win.

cp

[Yolin]

Gotta say..... didn't understand how ABC qualified Bristol as a contestant on DWTS in the first place. Is she a "star" because she's the daughter of a politician? Hmmmph!! I'm not a fan of Sarah Palin but, Bristol did better than I expected and earned my respect. However...........she has consistently been in the bottom since the season started and never should have gotten this far. Audrina, Kurt and Rick were all better dancers than her, as was Brandy (even if I DON'T like her). Teabaggers have united to get Bristol this far, regardless of her lack of talent. The rest of us need to do the same for our favorites.I've been splitting my votes between Kyle and Jennifer but, I guess it's time to pick one so I'll be voting for Jennifer. I LOVE Kyle, but, Jennifer really IS the better dancer.

[francis Ray]

The kid (bristol) just want to have fun and that's all there is to it. Yes we have to admit she is not a real dancer she may be a star in her own right, yes she has a mother who is a politician & has followers that be helping her too but the real culprit on why she is still alive on that dancing competition is maybe who she was up to. She was up against Brandy & Maks yes Brandy a real star & a good dancer the problem she did not got much vote from the public & the real villain is Maks that guy is a dope If any potential good star who wants to win the dancing competition don't take Maks as your partner a lot of people don't like him he is such a big headed who think that he is already a star a big star he think he is even a bigger than his real star partner. I have to admit I like Brandy but I cannot vote for her 'cuz I don't like her DI.