'Dancing With the Stars': Blogosphere in a tizzy over Bristol Palin's advance to the finals

The "Dancing With the Stars" voters have come out in droves to keep Bristol "the Pistol" Palin in the competition. And now the blogosphere is speaking out about the controversial news that the improved, yet still low-scoring teen activist and political daughter beat out the likes of Kurt Warner, Rick Fox, Audrina Patridge and Brandy to make it to the Season 11 finals.

"Let the conspiracy theories begin!" said Wall Street Journal's Speakeasy blog. 

"After Tuesday night, it should be plainly obvious to anyone even barely paying attention to the 11th season that ABC and 'Dancing With the Stars' have -- for want of a better phrase -- a 'Bristol problem,'" wrote Verne Gay in Newsday.

Jimmy Kimmel called Brandy the latest victim of "Hurricane Bristol" and suggested "an organized Tea Party voting bloc" was behind Brandy's elimination when the ousted singer and her partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy appeared on "Jimmy Kimmel Live." 

Perhaps the most violent reaction came from a 67-year-old Wisconsin man, who had a standoff with authorities and was charged with second-degree reckless endangerment when he reportedly shot his television after Bristol Palin's performance, citing that "he didn’t think she was a good dancer."

And of course, there was no shortage of theories posted by commenters themselves. Here's a sampling of the Bristol buzz on the Internet Wednesday morning:

 

"BRISTOL, REALLY? Please people, vote next week and get real!" exclaimed oc_loladee.

"The ONLY reason Bristol is still there is due to viewers votes. SHE CANNOT DANCE and DEFINITELY doesn't deserve to be in the finals. This season's voting results had nothing to do with talent or skill because if it did Bristol should have been voted off the 1st week! It's a popularity contest that has gone HORRIBLY wrong at other peoples expense," said SB.

"Apparently many Americans prefer mediocrity. Thanks Tea Party!" wrote in Tiki.  

Still, others chalk it up to the nature of the game. 

"It is no shock that Brisotl is in the Finals... look at Kelly O (famous daughter, not the best dancer... made the finals)... the show is Not Just About Dancing! If it was, Kyle would be gone too (with his poor posture, and scattered footwork at times). It is part dancing, part a journey, part entertainment, and part voting simply for whom you want to win. I vote for Bristol because I like her performances... she's not being political at all," explained Keith.

"Haters. The girl embodies what the show is about. Non dancers learning to dance. I can't stand her mother, but I am completely taken with Bristol, she is real. And that is where her votes are coming from. They are coming from the people that realize that that is what they would look like up there," wrote in Stefanie.

And there are those who believe that Brandy was ousted by her own hand. "brandy's obsession to win was a bit of a turn off. THe other contestants seemed like they were there to have fun. I picked against brandy for that reason alone," said Carlos. 

-- Allyssa Lee

Related:

'Dancing With the Stars' results recap: The final cut

'Dancing With the Stars' recap: Semifinal showdown

Complete 'Dancing With the Stars' coverage on Show Tracker

Photo: Bristol Palin and dance partner Mark Ballas. Credit: Adam Larkey / ABC

Comments

[Von Woods]

It really is a shame that Palin is being voted for by padded votes. I would think she would WANT to win because she was actually good. If she wins, the show will just be another reality "joke"

[Cheryl Richardson]

Some of you are so mean, this is not about politics, this is a young girl, YOU GO BRISTOL,

[PrinceJackson]

Bristol is a vitim of ignorant voters. The people in this country will not think and do the right thing. They would stand with hate to make a point. The show is called "Dancing with the Stars." What makes you a star? Thats the question! All contestants should walk off the set. If you want common people, change the name to "Can You Dance!"

[debi]

So Brandy went home. That's ok. Bristol isn't the only one who was better than her at times. Brandy expressed many emotions during her performances & had some very beautiful performances, that was good. Except for the fact she also expressed arogance and conceit like they were the only dancers who worked hard and deserved to win. Even the comments of the professional dancers stated the positives of Bristol. If Bristol went home instead and Brandy still lost the trophy, would people complain? What is really bothering people about this? Really, it's just a dance show!

[Wanda]

I love Dancing With The Stars. It's entertaining. I understand the premis of the show as well as the judging rules. I have wtched several professional ballroom dancers as well. The way the statrs are judge nor the genere of music compares to the real deal.

Having sad that it's no wonder that the show lacks continuity in voiting and the contestants that are chosen seem to be inappropriate. For example. Last seasons winner Nicole is a performer she was expected to do well just like the ice skaters and Jennifer Grey. But they are all considered to be stars? Bristol Palin is not a star or is she? Is her mother a star? I am not sure when she became a teen activitist. Was it shortly after her unexpectent teen pregnancy? or her public break up with her on again and off again boyfriend?

It's unfortunate that the producers pick stars or non stars that are not really that good like Kate. These poor souls have to endure all the backlash when voters keep them on.

Yes Bristol should have gone home a long time ago. She is a step above the "situation" and Kate Goslin. I guess. Brandy was a bit overbearing and her desire to win was obvious, however she is a better dancer. Now is the show called the most improved dancer with the stars? no. Yes Bristol improved somewhat but she is no dancer nor a star and in the final analysis who really cares.

[Black and Gray]

Stop! Just stop. The more you speak against Bristol the more votes she will get. That is why this Black woman voted for her three times! And if her mother runs for president I will vote for her too. Bristol is exactly what the show is about, the improvement of non-dancers as they journey along each week. What the haters should be complaining about is the winners who are professional dancers. Brandy danced in her teen music videos and Jennifer Grey danced in the movies. Professional ice skaters do dance routines on the rink, and music performers dance on stage have also been unfairly made winners. And I have had enough of that kind of cheating. It takes the fun out of watching the show. The two people who should be in the finals are Bristol and Kyle.

[euroguy]

This should be called Dancing with the Fat Slobs, ha ha ha.

[lane webb]

Wake up fans of DWTS...the fix is about to happen just as in the 2000 presidential election. These morons are ruthless and will do anything to further their agenda, even infiltrating the entertainment arena. Send Bristol back to her idiot mother on 11/22. VOTE!!!

[Bluejeans]

They turn something into a 3-ring circus & then complain about the elephant? Well, lmao. People sure are funny!

[Jack Handler]

DWBS - Yeah, you fooled us. Perhaps you got some future political deals in the making with momma to promote this mockery and call it dancing with the starts. The show is so horribly predictable in its internal voting mechanism and what is counted as a vote from the "general audience" that this controversy could have been predicted with 100% accuracy 4 weeks ago. This show is predictably boring and the dancing is horrible. The votes are rigged since the outcome is determined before the votes are even tallied for the benefit of the "independent auditing" group. That's about as legitimate as hiring a Bell City official to teach law.

[Curmudgeon]

Sen. John McCain is to blame for this travesty. If he had not selected Sarah Palin to be his VP nominee, no one outside of Alaska would have known anything about this totally disfunctional family. Sarah Palin might still be the governor of Alaska, Bristol would continue to be in her on/off relationship with Levi and no one on Earth would know who they are. Shame on McCain for opening the modern day Pandora's Box of the Palin family!

[Fran]

Blogger's claim that it's easy to vote with fake emails 300 times to make silk purses from a sow's ear. Doesn't this make the three judges' opinions irrelevant?

[dol]

dancing with the stars is a farce, you don't have to be stars or the best dancer,to win. the show is a political campaign tactic. Many stars came on this show to advance their entertainment careers, as the Osmonds'. The idea is great, if it was honest. I became a fan of the show to marvel at the great dancing and the thrill to see the best dancer win from hard and diligent work. I understand now the motive is, who can conjure the most votes,political or monetary. I will no longer waste my emotional efforts on this show

[steve husein]

i gotta be honest. my life isn't all pathetic but it feels a little like it now. i'm looking for a job without much success and i gotta say, this bristol thing has been a great diversion. i love being able to get ticked off about something so insignificant and yet so infuriating to others. guilty pleasures. its hard to imagine a more genius move by ABC. It will all be over next week and they could pretend they wer concerned about democratic whining but in the meantimes they had the highest voting ever in the history of the show yesteday. that means advertising dollars. and they're the sure winners in this saga

[Johnny]

I hope Bristol goes all the way -- just like she did with Levi Johnston...lol

[deborah]

Bristol should have been put off the show a long time ago, before Kurt and Rick; let-alone, Brandy being her ending rival.

Please, this is a joke and everyone knows it.

Firstly, its DWTS (is Bristol any kind of STAR at all)?

Brandy was taught the Tango, and Waltz and other strange dances that were not familiar to her either, just like Bristol and Brandy did very well with the dances and Bristol did not.

Just as a prior commentor stated, I had a problem calling in that night as well and could not get through and by the time I did get through the voice mail said, "the voting time was over".... so I could not post my vote and the other nights I voted I did not have a problem getting through to vote. This makes me suspicious.

If you review the show please note that Bristol came out that night with a smile on her face and not nervous at all, as if she already knew she was going to win, makes me suspicious too.

"Brandy" please don't sweat the small stuff girl, we still love you, forget the "haters" out there for a confident, strong, talented, powerful, and determined young and beautiful Black young woman.

I wish you well Miss "B", God is with you and your family, peace and love to you.

[HMD]

OMG , she looks like miss piggy with two left feet on that dance floor. As usual, she is using her stint on DWTS to promote the fact that she got knocked up at the age of 17. Give me a break. If she had any other name, she would labeled a tramp. I hope the judges take over the scoring for the finale and she gets her more than ample booty kicked back to the audience where she belongs.

[Tracey Hellsten]

Obviously "Dancing With the Stars' is not a dancing contest. Bristol Palin is the second worst dancer I've ever seen on the show, second only to Kate Gossselin. It really is a shame for this to be allowed to continue when others on the show are working hard and trying to learn to dance. What are these conservatives with such supposedly "high morals" whom are supporting this farce named "Bristol the pistol" teaching their children?, That it's ok to disregard the rules of a competition and to devalue talent , hard work, and dancing itself just to try to push your own opinion and agenda on others? And to accomplish this using a teenage unwed mother as an example? I for one find this whole season totally ridiculous and I will never watch the show again.

[Betsy]

I have been watching DWTS since the start and I must admit after last night's results it makes it hard to say that I will watch it again. I will admit that Bristol has gotten better, but not that good!
I beg of all who call in votes forget her number. She needs to go home!

[jazzy j]

And how is Bristrol a star? She can not dance.