And the Winner of Dancing With The Stars is...

With a season full of surprises and shocking eliminations, it's no mystery that Tuesday's finale of Dancing with the Stars was a nail-biter, right down to the last remaining minutes of the telecast.



As consistently low-scoring Bristol Palin advanced ahead of stronger dancers like Audrina Patridge and Brandy, fans and the media argued about whether Dancing had lost its credibility.

Palin held her own on Monday night's performance show against the season's most dynamic performer, actress Jennifer Grey, and charismatic actor Kyle Massey. Still, Palin received the lowest scores.

Did Palin's fans vote in droves to ensure she takes the Season 11 mirror-ball trophy home to Alaska? Or did America truly vote for the best dancer – which, depending on whom you ask, is either Grey or Massey?



It's Jennifer Grey!

The audience cheered and the actress broke into tears as her professional partner, Derek Hough, jumped up and and down. This is the third win for Hough, who also had victories with Nicole Scherzinger and Brooke Burke.

Grey, 50, endured health problems throughout the competition and on Tuesday night danced through pain from a slipped disc.

Massey, 19, came in second place, and Palin's amazing run ended. The 20-year-old daughter of Sarah Palin had a third-place finish.

Dancing With the Stars: Did Bristol Palin Save Her Best for Last?

Grey has dazzled Dancing With the Stars fans and judges with incredible routines. And on Monday night, the season's final performance show, Grey and partner Derek Hough achieved perfection for the second week in a row.

They received 30 out of 30 points for both of their dances – a paso doble that had the audience and the judges on their feet and a freestyle that had Bruno Tonioli raving about "two dances at the opposite end of the spectrum and both equally brilliant!"

Kyle Massey and Lacey Schwimmer didn't disappoint with a suave foxtrot that earned a solid 27 out of 30 points and had judge Len Goodman gushing that the actor had gone from "Messy Massey to marvelous."

The duo's hip-hop themed freestyle earned them a score of 29 out of 30 points and Massey a new nickname from Carrie Ann Inaba, who called him "the Fresh Prince of Dancing with the Stars."

At the bottom, once again, were Bristol Palin and Mark Ballas.

The 20-year-old Palin emerged from a hibernation of sorts – and not just because Mama Grizzly Sarah Palin was sitting in the front row – with the routine that earned a much-deserved standing ovation and a score of 27 out of 30.

But their Chicago-themed freestyle didn't fare as well. The musical-inspired routine fell short, with Bruno Tonioli commenting that it was "not quite at the level" of what a finale night freestyle should be, earning 25 points for a combined total score of 52/60 for the night.

Now that the judges' scores have been tallied, the contestants' fates are in the hands of the American voting public. Will Palin's fans pull her through again? Hopefully NOT!

The season 11 live results show airs tonight at 9:00 pm (ET) on ABC.

If Bristol Palin Wins, 'Dancing' is Ruined

At first, having Bristol Palin participate in 'Dancing With The Stars' seemed like a brilliant idea (not to me). Just like Kate Gosselin before her, casting an admittedly bad dancer who was shrouded in controversy has raked in big ratings and tons of press. But now the joke is on the show's producers, as they fear Bristol is actually going to win this thing.

"This will be a disaster for the show if Bristol wins," one TV insider has stated. "Any creditability the show had will be over. It will go from being a dancing competition to a popularity competition where whoever has the most rabid fan base will always win no matter how little talent they have."

And while it's true Bristol's dancing has improved since the season began, no one with working eyes would put her in the same league as the other remaining stars, Jennifer Grey and Kyle Massey.

"Another problem the producers foresee is that after Bristol wins no one in Hollywood will ever want to be on the show again," a well-placed ABC source said. "Why would a real star want to compete and lose against someone like [former U.S. Senate candidate] Christine O'Donnell or Levi Johnston. It's humiliating. The producers know they are in big trouble for sure."

And it's not just future contestants and viewers that the show needs to worry about. A friend of one of the judges has said that Bristol has made a fool out of all of the judges. It's now painfully obvious that the judge's scores and opinions mean nothing.

Let's hope they are all wrong and next season the show gets back to what it does best, dancing.

Is Bristol Palin Headed to Dancing Finals?

Kyle Massey wooed the Dancing With the Stars judges during the semifinals, but was it enough? Or did Bristol Palin's amazing run finally end?

And did Brandy's fall to the bottom two send her packing? Or is Jennifer Grey going to be the latest surprise elimination on Tuesday night?

It's another ballroom shocker: Brandy was sent packing.

Members of the audience gasped and some booed at hearing the results, but the R&B star's pro partner, Maksim Chmerkovskiy, took the high road.

"People vote and their voices count," he said. "I don't regret a second ... of being on this season. It's been an amazing journey."

Moving to the finals are Massey, Grey and Palin.

Did Bristol Palin Survive Another Week of Dancing?

Bristol Palin may miss her hometown of Wasilla, Alaska, but the teen mom is making herself nice and cozy on Dancing with the Stars – in the cellar.

For another week, Palin and partner Mark Ballas finished last with an Argentine Tango and a samba that couldn't match up with the skills of the other contestants.

But Kurt Warner and Anna Trebunskaya were only one point away from the bottom with their waltz and cha-cha performances.

Did Palin survive another week Tuesday, leaving Warner to pack his bags? Or did this week's elimination follow the last two shockers?

Palin will dance another day as Warner was eliminated. The audience chanted, "M.V.P.," to the retired football star.

It's now down to four semi-finalists. Along with Palin, they are Brandy, Jennifer Grey and Kyle Massey.

Spoiler Alert! Did Bristol Palin or Florence Henderson Get Booted Off Dancing With The Stars?

Bristol Palin found herself in a hairy situation Monday night on Dancing with the Stars.

The contestant – who celebrated her 20th birthday the same night – and partner Mark Ballas sported furry monkey suits during part of their jive routine, which failed to impress judges.

Dancing to the Monkees theme song on a night of TV-themed performances, Palin and Ballas earned just 18 points, landing them in last place, behind Kyle Massey, who scored 20, and Florence Henderson, who scored 21.

Did Palin pack up her Dancing shoes and head back to Alaska? Keep reading to find out who was kicked off during Tuesday's elimination show.

Bristol is safe! And so is Kyle! Instead, Henderson was told she earned the lowest combined score and was eliminated.

"I've been in TV for 50 years and I have to say honestly this has been one of the best produced shows I've ever been on," the Brady Bunch star said after she heard the news. "I've loved the show since it began. It's just a tremendous show."

Henderson, who danced with pro Corky Ballas, added, "I hope I've inspired people to get off their behinds and move and dance and live and enjoy life."

Levi Johnston Gets Hot & Heavy in New Brittani Senser Music Video

While ex Bristol Palin is doing plenty of dancing as a contestant on ABC's Dancing with the Stars, Levi Johnston is doing a different sort of dancing – dirty dancing – in singer Brittani Senser's new music video.

The clip for the R&B song "After Love," which features Johnston writhing and cuddling with Senser on a blanket, perhaps escalated problems in the 20-year-old's relationship with Palin over the summer. In an interview with People magazine at the time, Palin said Johnston lied about the purpose of a trip to California during which time he shot the music video.

"He told me [his trip to L.A.] was to see some hunting show," she said at the time, "but come to find out it was that music video mocking my family."

While there don't appear to be any overt references to the Palin family in the steamy (and melodramatic) clip, Johnston's character does, at one point, get pulled over by police officers and receives what appears to be a restraining order from Senser's mother in the video.

As Senser tells Celebuzz, "Whatever the reason Levi and Bristol broke up, it has nothing to do with the video. The video hadn't been shot when [Bristol] thought it already had been. I feel bad if anybody feels like that was the reason."

And though she and Johnston were spotted out together at the Teen Choice Awards in Los Angeles last August, he says there's no off-camera romance brewing between the two.

"We're friends," he told People magazine at the time. [She's] just a friend. She's a singer."

Former Dancing with the Stars Contestant Excited for The Situation’s Shirtless Dances

Although Bristol Palin has vowed to stay conservative with her clothing choices on Dancing With The Stars this season, one former constant is betting viewers will get their fair share of flesh from none other than The Situation.

“I want to see how many dances he’s going to do with his shirt off,” former Dancing contestant Louie Vito said. “That’s his trademark, so I want to see if they’re going to play that up or not.”

Not shy about his physique, Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino is sure to be shedding some clothing during Season 11 of the ABC hit show. And although Sorrentino already labeled himself the underdog, Vito isn’t so sure that the Jersey Shore star will be exiting the stage too early in the season.
“It’s all about the package,” Vito said. “If the package is good then they’ll do well with people voting. I think The Situation could have some good packages. I’m interested to see how he’s going to do without the rest of his crew with him.”

But make no mistake about it, Vito isn’t necessarily hoping The Situation takes home the Mirrorball trophy at the end. He’s more of a Michael Bolton fan this season, who is teaming up with Vito’s season 9 partner Chelsie Hightower.

“I always have to cheer for Chelsie ,” Vito said. “She’s my girl there. I’ll always cheer for her no matter who her partner is.”

Pairs are Revealed for Season 11 of Dancing with the Stars

Bristol Palin and her modest outfits will be paired up with two-time winner Mark Ballas for the upcoming season of ABC’s Dancing With the Stars. On the other end of the spectrum, Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino and Karina Smirnoff — neither one exactly a stranger to showing a little skin — have been teamed together.

The nine other pairings — just announced by ABC News — for this season are as follows: Michael Bolton and Chelsie Hightower; Brandy and Maksim Chmerkovskiy; Margaret Cho and Louis Van Amstel; Rick Fox and Cheryl Burke; Jennifer Grey and Derek Hough; David Hasselhoff and Kym Johnson; Florence Henderson and Corky Ballas; Kyle Massey and Lacey Schwimmer; and Audrina Patridge and Tony Dovolani.

The list of professional dancers notably does not include Edyta Sliwinska, who says she is leaving the show to pursue other projects and finish school. “I’m grateful to the show but my life can’t be limited to DWTS,” she Tweeted on Monday.

The new season begins on September 20th.

Dancing with the Stars Season 11 Cast Revealed!

It’s time to take off the flip-flops and put on the dancing shoes as the cast of Dancing with the Stars season 11 is now in place.

Baywatch alum David Hasselhoff will compete against Jersey Shore hunk Michael “The Situation” Sorrentino, as well as former NFL star Kurt Warner, singer Michael Bolton, Bristol Palin and actress Jennifer Grey, Dancing with the Stars hosts Tom Bergeron and Brooke Burke announced in a live press conference Monday night during a new episode of Bachelor Pad.

Also ready to hit the ballroom are Brady Bunch star Florence Henderson, Hills star Audrina Patridge, former Los Angeles Laker Rick Fox, singer Brandy, comedian Margaret Cho and actor Kyle Massey.

The celebrity-professional pairings will be revealed Wednesday. And the new season of Dancing kicks off September 20th on ABC.

Levi Johnston on Bristol Palin: The Ring's Off, But We're Still Friends

Bristol Palin was in tears last week as she spoke to People Magazine about the humiliation that led her to break up – again – with Levi Johnston. But Johnston appears to be happily playing around Hollywood.

"Oh, we're friends. The ring's off, but we're friends, so everything's good," Johnston said at Sunday's Teen Choice Awards in Los Angeles, where he had Brittani Senser on his arm. He said his date was "just a friend. She’s a singer."

It was the second time in as many days the two were spotted together, and Johnston, 20, is actually set to appear opposite Senser in her upcoming music video for her R&B song "After Love." This is the video that Palin, 19, referred to Johnston's lying about in a recent People interview: "He told me [his trip to L.A.] was to see some hunting show, but come to find out it was that music video mocking my family."

While not happy about the breakup with Palin, Johnston, 20, says he is dealing with it in his own way. "You know, it's tough," he says. "It's not something that I wanted, but life goes on, and I'll just take it one step at a time."

He adds that he's still going to spend time with his and Palin's 19-month-old son, Tripp. "Oh yeah, yeah. We're still co-parenting," he says.

Going forward, Palin says she wants to find someone "who's going to be completely honest with me and someone who loves me and Tripp and wants to be with him all the time."

Bristol Palin to Levi Johnston: 'It's Over'

And just like that, they were off again. "It's over. I broke up with him," Bristol Palin told People Magazine exclusively of her second try at an engagement to Levi Johnston, father of her 19-month-old son Tripp.

Palin, 19, says the relationship soured on July 14, the very same day they announced their marriage intentions to the world. Palin says he told her that evening he might have fathered a baby with another teenage girl. (Palin did not name the young woman, but a pregnant former girlfriend of Johnston's has since publicly denied his paternity.)

In an emotional phone interview with People, Palin spoke through tears about feeling heartbroken, humiliated and trapped – while Johnston acted cool. "There's been no remorse," she says, adding that she's seen him only once in the past three weeks.

"The final straw was him flying to Hollywood for what he told me was to see some hunting show but come to find out it was that music video mocking my family," she says. "He's just obsessed with the limelight and I got played."

Reps for Johnston did not return calls seeking comment.

Palin's mom, Sarah, the former Alaska Governor and prominent Republican with whom Johnston publicly – and bitterly – sparred over the past year and a half, told People: "I wish for Bristol to be able to move forward in life with her same forgiving, gracious, optimistic spirit, but from henceforth she'll know to trust but verify. Bristol is strong, she is independent, and she knows what is right for her son."

Most immediately, Bristol has decided that what's right for her and Tripp is to vacate the Anchorage townhouse she only bought last February, saying too many photographers and gawkers were hanging around her driveway.

"I didn't feel safe," she says, adding that she's already cleaned out the three-story home and put it on the market. A friend told People she is temporarily staying at her parents' more secluded home about 45 minutes away in Wasilla.

Bristol also says she's not giving up hope of a safe and happy two-parent home for Tripp. "I have faith that I'll find it. Through this whole experience I know I need a man who's going to be completely honest with me and someone who loves me and Tripp and wants to be with him all the time. I also want someone who has religious beliefs and a good family."

For even more detail on Palin's breakup and how her mother greeted the news, pick up the new issue of PEOPLE on newsstands Friday.

Bristol Palin & Levi Johnston are Getting Married

It's been a tumultuous couple of years for Bristol Palin and her ex-fiancé Levi Johnston – but she says the two are looking to change all that, and possibly in a very big way.

Following Johnston's recent public apology, in which he admits he "said things about the Palins that were not completely true," Bristol, 19, tells People Magazine in its new issue, "I forgive him for what he did. He was young, mad, misguided. We're moving on."

Amid reports that the two are planning to tie the knot – a move they reputedly have yet to run by her parents – Bristol, who did not wear an engagement ring during her conversation with People, replied to the question of if they would marry: "Yeah. I mean, I don't really want to get into detail about what's in store for our future, because who knows? But all I'd like to say about it is, hopefully we will be a family."

As for how they managed to bury the hatchet after their very public falling out, Bristol credits Levi's "just coming around. But, I don't know. It's good. It's good for all three of us [including son] Tripp Easton!"

Looking back, Bristol believes that if fame, money and her mom Sarah Palin's vice presidential campaign had not become part of her and Levi's lives, the ex-couple would already be happy living a simple life.

"I think Levi and I would be married," she says without hesitation. "He would still have his [oil] job on the North Slope, and we'd be in a one-bedroom apartment, scraping by."

Bristol, who says all of her friends have gone out of state, has no plans to follow them. "Levi and I are both Alaska based, and I don't see us moving anywhere else."

For much more on Bristol Palin, pick up this week's issue of People, on newsstands Friday.

Levi Johnston: My Future is Bleak

Levi Johnston has just fired back at his baby mama, Bristol Palin, and unlike grandma Sarah Palin, Levi didn't need to write crib notes on his hand.

Levi is responding to Bristol's demand for $1,750 a month in child support. In his opposing legal papers, Levi's lawyer, Rex Butler, says Levi's income is "erratic." Bristol claims that Levi raked in more than $105,000 in 2009. But attorney Butler says, prior to 2009, Levi never made more than $10,000 a year.

In the legal docs, Johnston agrees to pay 20% of his adjusted 2009 income -- though he doesn't say exactly how much he made. He also agrees to file quarterly income reports. In his declaration, Levi says in 2010, his only contractual guarantee for income is $25,000 plus "some contingencies based on my Playgirl shoot." He says he doesn't see how it's possible to pay $1,750 a month in child support.

And there's this. According to the docs, "Levi Johnston stands before this court as a 19-year-old with good hopeful for an entertainment career but the chances of increased income are as unknowable as it would be for any young person working his way into the entertainment industry is not particularly good."

Levi-Bristol Custody Fight Open to the Public

Levi Johnston has won an early battle in the custody war over his 1-year-old son Tripp with Sarah Palin's daughter, Bristol Palin.

A judge in the case has sided with Johnston, who had asked that the court proceedings be open to the public, according to the Anchorage Daily News.

After Palin filed for full legal and physical custody of Tripp in November, Johnston made known his intentions to fight in court for the right to raise his son.

Bristol, 19, had requested that the case be kept from public scrutiny, arguing that privacy would be in her son's best interest, the paper reports. She also asked for a gag order so none of the parties involved could talk about the case and for all filings to be under the pseudonyms Jane and John Doe.

But Johnston, also 19, saw things differently and said in an affidavit, "I know that public scrutiny will simplify this matter and act as a check against anyone's need to be overly vindictive, aggressive or malicious, not that Bristol would ever be that way, nor that I would. But her mother is powerful, politically ambitious and has a reputation for being extremely vindictive . . . So, I think a public case might go a long way in reducing Sarah Palin's instinct to attack."

"None of this is true," Bristol said in a response. "My mother is not involved in this case." She also claimed that Johnston wanted the proceedings open to the public "for his own self-promotion."

But in a decision that came down December 23rd, Alaska Superior Court Judge Kari Kristiansen of Palmer ruled that Palin didn't provide evidence that her son would be harmed by the anticipated publicity, the paper reports, and ordered all the sealed records opened. In addition, Sharon Gleason, presiding judge for the judicial district, ruled against her request to use pseudonyms.

Levi Johnston to Sue for Joint Custody of Son Tripp

The man who was almost Sarah Palin's son-in-law will pursue legal action to gain joint custody of his son with Bristol Palin, according to reports.

Levi Johnston, 19, is the father of 10-month-old Tripp with his ex-girlfriend Bristol, the daughter of the former Alaska governor. The two were engaged to be married, but broke off their relationship in March.

Johnston is seeking joint custody at the end of the month because the Palin family is allegedly making it difficult for him to see his son, he told The Insider.

"It's not working. I'm done," he said. "It's going to have to go to court. They just finally pushed me over the edge."

The relationship between Johnston and the Palins has taken a particularly nasty turn in the last few weeks, with Johnston calling Sarah Palin a hypocrite, and Palin lambasting him for his upcoming nude pictorial in Playgirl.

The Palin camp did not respond to requests for comment. Sarah Palin's lawyer, Thomas Van Flein, told Britain's The Guardian newspaper on October 30th, "Other than noting that Tripp's father is always welcome to visit his son, we are unable to respond to these allegations as it is inappropriate to discuss child custody matters publicly."