Bristol Palin Comes in Last on Dancing with the Stars' Finale (227 hits)
LOS ANGELES, Calif. - Jennifer Grey outscored fellow finalists Kyle Massey and Bristol Palin, who was buoyed for weeks by passionate voters and online efforts to support the single mom to become the new "Dancing With the Stars" champion. Disney Channel star Massey finished second. Palin, the daughter of former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, was third.
Palin said she didn't have any expectations when she decided to do "Dancing With the Stars," but on Tuesday's episode, she said that winning the ABC dance contest "would be like a big middle finger to all the people out there that hate my mom and hate me."
After the show, Palin's partner, Mark Ballas, downplayed the voting controversy that threatened to overshadow the couple's performances. "Politics aside, this is a dance show," he said. "Let's just focus on the good things."
But voter support for Palin, including get-out-the-vote efforts spearheaded by some conservative bloggers, became a focal point during the "Dancing" season, as week after week former vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin's daughter outlasted more talented dancers. A flurry of media coverage erupted when Bristol Palin was voted in over the singer Brandy — who had received a perfect score for her tango — prompting some viewers to question the veracity of the "Dancing" voting system.
Producers maintained that the system was sound and Palin was just very popular. The show did experience some voting problems this week. Producers said Tuesday that "a record amount of activity" overloaded its online and telephone voting systems after Monday's episode.
"Some viewers reported experiencing difficulties registering their votes for the 'Dancing With the Stars' finale, which affected each finalist equally," show producers said in a statement. "The issue was promptly addressed" and voting times were not extended. Viewer votes are combined with judges' scores to determine where each couple stands.
Palin acknowledged that the voting frenzy may have been good for the show. "I think it boosted its ratings," she said.
Tuesday's two-hour season finale also included performances by Christina Aguilera and colourful routines from some of this season's past contestants, including a "Baywatch"-themed number by David Hasselhoff and a quickstep by Brandy that got a standing ovation.
