Either way, it is sure to be a frequent nominee in the coming awards season, partly because Portman immersed herself so thoroughly in the role of Nina Sayers. All the way down to her first onscreen lesbian makeout session. “It was a very big part of her life, so I was always curious about it,” the filmmaker said.

In her new film, she plays a more deeply damaged bird, one who has the guts to leap off a cliff, if she must, to set herself free. “But I was a normal boy. They remain unconfirmed. “I hope they did. “Usually when you say to someone, ‘I want to make a movie about your world,’ all the doors open and you can say anything you want. “All you saw was bone. “But the ballet world really wasn’t at all interested in us hanging out.

It was a year’s worth or more of preparation, six months intensively, and then the time that we were on the set. “It was a Eureka moment,” said Mr. Aronofsky as he recalled the night that his new film, “Black Swan,” which opens next Friday, was born. “The characters were so well drawn. Kunis says she’s back to a healthy weight, “It took me five months to lose 20 pounds, but it took me just five days days to gain it all back.” The actress trained for three months prior to the filming the movie to learn ballet for the role and called ballet “the most excruciating sports that I’ve ever been a part of.” “I say sports because they train constantly, every single day. One was dark and passionate and sexual and a woman. Yes, it was “Love and Other Impossible Pursuits.” The apartment she was living in had a ballet studio in the basement and that’s where we were training.

So, for three months, I had to constantly stand up straight,” she tells Collider . We really wanted to bring that tonality to the film—that contrast of horror and the beauty of ballet. And the feet are different because of the ballet shoes. So with Natalie we said, six months out we’re going to go to five hours a day, six days a week. Aside from the physical challenges, though, the role paid huge creative dividends. “We took the fairy tale of Swan Lake and the ballet and basically turned all the characters Rothbart, the Prince, the Queen and translated them into characters in our movie reality. “Lots of directors love the sound of their own voice,” said Ms. Kunis, who was cast during an iChat conversation, on Ms. Portman’s recommendation. “Anytime you do any intimate scene on film, it’s going to be a little uncomfortable, whether it’s the same sex or the opposite sex,” Kunis tells Collider. So it’s really just a retelling of Swan Lake, but it definitely shows the challenges and darkness and the reality of what it takes to be a ballet dancer. We would be on the set all day dancing, and still doing extra training to make sure that she was warm enough and that she was staying really sculpted. But it also shows the beauty of the art and the transcendence that’s possible with that art.” Co-writer Andres Heinz says Black Swan began with a screening of Roman Polanski’s Repulsion. We didn’t really discuss it very much.

And there was lots of soreness. We had become good friends. They got through it, and it was funny at the time. We were giggling and laughing. But she had the base for it, the movement quality and a real love for dancing, too. The physical discipline really helped with the emotional side of the character, because you get a sense of the monastic side. When she was dancing, I was there helping her. So much of Nina’s character is portrayed through dance that, although Portman had a body double, the actress believed she needed to do much of the dancing herself to convincingly play the role. “It’s incredibly challenging, trying to pick ballet up at 28. Even if you’ve taken dance lessons before, you just don’t realize how much goes into it at the elite level,” Portman says. “Every small gesture has to be so specific and so full of lightness and grace.”

Grey, 50, who co-starred with the late Patrick Swayze in the 1987 movie “Dirty Dancing”, was named champion at the end of a two-hour broadcast and a record number of public votes. Kyle Massey, 19, a former child star on the Disney Channel show “That’s So Raven,” was runner-up. Grey, who danced through much of the season with injuries and said she suffered a ruptured disc in her back on Monday, had been the front-runner after scoring consistently high marks from the judges. The episode, in which Dirty Dancing star Jennifer Grey was crowned the winner, attracted the show’s biggest audience in three years, ABC said. Barely able to contain themselves, Grey and Hough spoke to PEOPLE after their victory was announced. Grey’s victory on a combination of judges’ scores and public votes ended one of the most contentious and politically-charged seasons of “Dancing with the Stars” in its history. “This has been the craziest season ever on so many different levels and for so many different reasons and to be able to walk away with the trophy – it’s unbelievable,” Hough said.

I’ve had a ball.” Palin again scored the lowest with judges in her final tango and cha cha cha dances on Tuesday, but was praised for her improvement over the last three months.

“And it’s fantastic!” screamed Grey, whose back was injured Monday night. “It was a blast,” said Massey, “an unforgettable experience. It was a really, really sweet and precious thing that happened in my life that I got to go on this journey.” Meanwhile, for Massey and Schwimmer, second feels a lot like first.

“I knew everybody wanted us to do something with The Time of My Life – there was a lot of pressure for that. It lets me know that the world has not all gone nuts! “To have it under Jennifer and Derek is just awesome for us.

Grey, on the other hand, is a trained dancer who proved an early favorite. “But I knew that was a dance for Patrick and me, and I wanted to leave it as such.” Swayze died of pancreatic cancer in September 2009 at the age of 57. There are still people out there with sense! blah, blah, blah….STOP BITCHING!!!! Producers said the public voted in record numbers for the three finalists, briefly crashing the show’s website, but that each of the remaining contestants were equally affected by the outage. Swayze died of pancreatic cancer in September 2009 at the age of 57. “It was a blast, an unforgettable experience,” he said. She’s awesome, and i love Kyle too,he is happy with second place and is not mad…. That number the biggest “Dancing” audience since November 2007– grew to 26.4 million in the last 30 minutes as the winners were revealed. “You can’t top an experience like this … Asked what she would miss most about “Dancing with the Stars”, Grey replied simply, “Dancing.” “Dancing With the Stars” has enjoyed one of the best seasons in its five year history on U.S. television. More than 23 million viewers tuned in for Monday’s finale, making it the most-watched show in the United States that night.

The episode, in which Dirty Dancing star Jennifer Grey was crowned the winner, attracted the show’s biggest audience in three years, ABC said. The network said numbers grew to 26.4 million in the last 30 minutes as the winners were revealed. Before “Dancing with the Stars” crowned Jennifer Grey its champion Tuesday night, there was all kinds of discussion about how the ABC competition series could lose its credibility if Bristol Palin won.

“This has been the craziest season ever on so many different levels and for so many different reasons and to be able to walk away with the trophy – it’s unbelievable,” Hough said. One thing they shared, beyond their mutual experience as contestants on Dancing with the Stars, was that both got here in much the same way — as products of America’s sharply polarized politics.

But in a comment on Tuesday’s broadcast, Palin said winning the contest and the glitzy mirrorball trophy “would be a great middle finger to all the people who hate my mom and me.” Palin’s survival on “Dancing” took on political overtones after critics of her dance skills suggested she was benefiting from the popularity of her mother a polarizing Tea Party favorite who is weighing a run for U.S. president in 2012. Call it The Bristol Effect, and expect to see it a lot more in future seasons, perhaps as early as this spring. “We got second place so that’s pretty darn cool,” Schwimmer said. Producers said the public voted in record numbers for the three finalists, briefly crashing the show’s website, but that each of the remaining contestants were equally affected by the outage. Slideshow: ‘Dancing’s’ worst outfits (on this page) “American Idol” has its teenagers, who vote for the person they want to date, and “Dancing with the Stars” has its senior citizens, who vote for the person who most resembles their grandchildren.

It would be like a big middle finger to all the people out there who hate my mom and hate me,” she said.

That number the biggest “Dancing” audience since November 2007– grew to 26.4 million in the last 30 minutes as the winners were revealed. Disney Channel star Kyle Massey, 19, was voted runner-up to Grey, with Palin taking 3rd place. But getting to the finals, catapulting over better dancers week after week, was a testament to, pick one: her appealing personality, her remarkable improvement week after week, or the power of the tea party, whose rebel forces routed their political enemies in this year’s elections. She said she had resisted pressure to reinvent the movie’s iconic final dance scene for the TV show. It’s illegal in Texas to give corporate money to political candidates. It’s also easy to forget that Bristol Palin is far from the only bad dancer to make it this far.

Indicted in Austin on money-laundering charges, DeLay lost his leadership position and, ultimately, left Congress. Palin was a lot of unique things all at once: A political figure who could be vilified (both because of her mother and because she’s a “teen activist”), a vilified figure who could be humanized, and a famous stranger. “I knew everybody wanted us to do something with The Time of My Life – there was a lot of pressure for that. “But I knew that was a dance for Patrick and me, and I wanted to leave it as such.” Swayze died of pancreatic cancer in September 2009 at the age of 57.

The episode, in which Dirty Dancing star Jennifer Grey was crowned the winner, attracted the show’s biggest audience in three years, ABC said. The network said numbers grew to 26.4 million in the last 30 minutes as the winners were revealed. Before “Dancing with the Stars” crowned Jennifer Grey its champion Tuesday night, there was all kinds of discussion about how the ABC competition series could lose its credibility if Bristol Palin won. Producers said the public voted in record numbers for the three finalists, briefly crashing the show’s website. A show that has featured Jerry Springer, Kate Gosselin, The Hoff, Tom DeLay, and Cloris Leachman has no credibility, at least not as some kind of serious dance competition. Grey’s victory on a combination of judges’ scores and public votes ended one of the most contentious and politically-charged seasons of “Dancing with the Stars” in its history. Yet the aggrieved fans and critics of the show acted as if a series that mangles pop songs, has a set decorated with dangling strings of Christmas lights, and gives out only a crappy mirror ball trophy as its prize was somehow a serious competition, not a complete joke from day one. It was a really, really sweet and precious thing that happened in my life that I got to go on this journey.” Meanwhile, for Massey and Schwimmer, second feels a lot like first. “We got second place so that’s pretty darn cool,” Schwimmer said. “To have it under Jennifer and Derek is just awesome for us. “Dancing with the Stars” is immensely popular, even beating “American Idol” for a moment last spring.

The finale was up 25 percent in viewership Tuesday night from last fall’s finale with 24.1 million viewers. Monday’s final competition show drew 23.7 million. Barely able to contain themselves, Grey and Hough spoke to PEOPLE after their victory was announced. A show that has featured Jerry Springer, Kate Gosselin, The Hoff, Tom DeLay, and Cloris Leachman has no credibility, at least not as some kind of serious dance competition. After the break, Kyle & Lacey performed the Tango. Call it The Bristol Effect, and expect to see it a lot more in future seasons, perhaps as early as this spring. Last week, an envelope containing what turned out to be talcum powder was delivered to the Los Angeles studio where “Dancing” is broadcast. “To have it under Jennifer and Derek is just awesome for us. “It was a blast, an unforgettable experience,” he said. That number the biggest “Dancing” audience since November 2007– grew to 26.4 million in the last 30 minutes as the winners were revealed. Next, they showed more rehearsal footage from the entire season. Movie turkeys of the year Choosy Cher returns to screen in ‘Burlesque’ It’s a boy!

“I knew everybody wanted us to do something with ‘Time of My Life’, there was a lot of pressure for that. It may never be about dancing, but it’s easy to forget that. Apparently,they had a little friendly dance competition going on. While the media and angry fans might like to blame Bristol’s survival and Brandy’s departure last week on a single, easily named thing — the Tea Party, ABC, producer manipulation, Sarah Palin — it’s much more complicated and simple all at once.

After the break, Brandy returned with her dance partner Maksim to do a special dance routine. Palin was a lot of unique things all at once: A political figure who could be vilified (both because of her mother and because she’s a “teen activist”), a vilified figure who could be humanized, and a famous stranger. Then Christina Aguilera sang her past hit song entitled, “Beautiful.” After the break, the final three couples did their final dance routines to Pinks hit song “Raise Your Glass.” Then the judges gave their scores for it .Kyle & Lacey got a 28. But what else did viewers know about her? Canadians watched the showdown in record numbers. As “Dirty Dancing” veteran Jennifer Grey grabbed the mirror ball trophy, the audience peaked at 3.3 million.

Grey’s victory on a combination of judges’ scores and public votes ended one of the most contentious and politically-charged seasons of “Dancing with the Stars” in its history. Palin, 20, the daughter of conservative politician Sarah Palin who reached the finals despite get low judges’ scores for six weeks, said on Wednesday that prayer had got her through the controversy, which included an anthrax scare on the set. “It is faith that got me through this and just praying all the time and just relying on God and knowing that He is on our side and we’ll get through this,” Palin told People magazine. Carrie Ann has a “girl crush” on your mom! Votes from viewers count for half of the final tally in deciding who is eliminated each week. “It is faith that got me through this and just praying all the time and just relying on God and knowing that He is on our side and we’ll get through this,” Palin told PEOPLE after Monday’s finale. Yet the aggrieved fans and critics of the show acted as if a series that mangles pop songs, has a set decorated with dangling strings of Christmas lights, and gives out only a crappy mirror ball trophy as its prize was somehow a serious competition, not a complete joke from day one.

What “Dancing with the Stars” actually has is popularity, and what it will have in the future is more Bristol Palins. Disney Channel star Kyle Massey, 19, was voted runner-up to Grey, with Palin taking 3rd place. Grey, 50, is best known for starring opposite the late Patrick Swayze in the 1987 coming-of-age film “Dirty Dancing”.

Bristol said Tuesday that if she won, “it would be like giving a big middle finger to people who hate my mom and hate me.” Sarah Palin supporters helped organize campaigns to keep her daughter on the show, like radio talk host Tammy Bruce’s “Operation Bristol.” Conservative blogger Kevin DuJan’s Hillbuzz.org website also led a get-out-the-vote effort and wrote after Tuesday’s results that Palin “drove the Left crazy for three months. Slideshow: ‘Dancing’s’ worst outfits (on this page) “American Idol” has its teenagers, who vote for the person they want to date, and “Dancing with the Stars” has its senior citizens, who vote for the person who most resembles their grandchildren. Score!” Bristol’s success only intensified the spotlight on Sarah Palin to an extraordinary degree for an out-of-office politician, largely in ways that have nothing to do with politics.

When it was finally time to crown the season 11 winner Tuesday night, the controversy fell to the side and all that mattered was dance floor perfection. Movie turkeys of the year Cookie Monster wants to host ‘SNL’ Choosy Cher returns to screen in ‘Burlesque’ The show is not, as we’ve seen, necessarily about dancing. It’s also easy to forget that Bristol Palin is far from the only bad dancer to make it this far.

While the media and angry fans might like to blame Bristol’s survival and Brandy’s departure last week on a single, easily named thing — the Tea Party, ABC, producer manipulation, Sarah Palin — it’s much more complicated and simple all at once.

Palin was a lot of unique things all at once: A political figure who could be vilified (both because of her mother and because she’s a “teen activist”), a vilified figure who could be humanized, and a famous stranger. “I knew everybody wanted us to do something with ‘Time of My Life’, there was a lot of pressure for that. But I knew that was a dance for Patrick and me, and I wanted to leave it as such,” Grey told “Good Morning America” on Wednesday.

Facebook Twitter E-mail With less than 10 minutes remaining in Tuesday’s live finale of Dancing with the Stars , millions of fans must have breathed a collective sigh upon learning that season 11′s controversial finalist Bristol Palin had come in third place. “I didn’t even think about winning when I first started. – Though many thought (or worried) that rumors of a voting conspiracy would prove true and viewers would vote for Sarah Palin’s daughter Bristol, talent ultimately triumphed and Jennifer Grey became the season 11 winner of ” Dancing with the Stars .” Speaking with the press after the two-hour finale with a cold compress tied to her back, Grey talked about how she and partner Derek Hough “never thought of winning” and tried instead to focus on creating memorable dances. Before “Dancing with the Stars” crowned Jennifer Grey its champion Tuesday night, there was all kinds of discussion about how the ABC competition series could lose its credibility if Bristol Palin won. This is so unbelievable,” said Grey, 50, who has had four neck surgeries and battled cancer. “We collaborated so much and I think that this guy is so talented in terms of concept and execution and attention to detail,” Grey said. “Oh of course!” Palin, 20, told UsMagazine.com after Tuesday’s finale. The network has been denying voting issues all season in light of Bristol Palin’ s longevity on the show. A show that has featured Jerry Springer, Kate Gosselin, The Hoff, Tom DeLay, and Cloris Leachman has no credibility, at least not as some kind of serious dance competition. I don’t know that there’s any experience that will ever be anything like this again.” Meanwhile, this win is Hough’s third on the show, following last season’s victory with Nicole Scherzinger and season 7′s with Brooke Burke. While the judges may deduct a point for an errant step, it is ridiculous to imagine that all viewers make decisions based upon those kinds of technical determinations. “I was just blank!” Grey said of hearing her name called.

Call it The Bristol Effect, and expect to see it a lot more in future seasons, perhaps as early as this spring. “Dancing with the Stars” is immensely popular, even beating “American Idol” for a moment last spring. Its viewers are much older, which is something most people don’t take into account, since the age of viewers probably correlates to the age of voters. Slideshow: ‘Dancing’s’ worst outfits (on this page) “American Idol” has its teenagers, who vote for the person they want to date, and “Dancing with the Stars” has its senior citizens, who vote for the person who most resembles their grandchildren. “We didn’t think we’d make it past the first week, so to make it to the finals and to place second behind Jennifer and Derek, who got perfect scores, means we were pretty close to perfection,” Massey said after the show.

“It’s just a great gift to be a part of a show that brings people so much joy.

And many in the ballroom thought the final standings were perfection. “This show has everything under control and I think it was just people’s rumors that were sparking,” says pro Lacey Schwimmer, who together with Kyle Massey, finished the season in second place. “We got here, Bristol got here, and Jennifer got here all on fair terms. Could Christine O’Donnell go ‘Dancing’ next? “America got it right.” Johnson’s partner David Hasselhoff, who was the first contestant eliminated this season, agreed. “And she needs to have a female partner – and I’ll be her partner.

That’s how we top this.”

The 50-year-old, who ruptured a disc in her back on Monday, had been the front runner after scoring consistently high marks from the judges. “The absolute destination for me was the journey. But it was not to be. Conservatives and those who feel maternal instincts to girls-next-door were thwarted in their effort to vote Sarah Palin’s 20-year-old daughter into the winning slot on the ABC competition show. As each contestant on Dancing with Stars had to perform two dances during the finale in which Kyle Massey and Lacey Schwimmer kicked things off with a tango for their first routine, which the judges enjoyed, especially Bruno Tonioli who said of Massey, “You really are a talented young man. … Bristol finished third, behind 19-year-old Disney star Kyle Massey, who generated a wave of good feeling among viewers – and the show’s three professional judges – with his exuberance and general likability. The couple consistently topped the judges’ leaderboard throughout the season, but Palin’s cadre of voter support led to some surprising upsets, including Brandy ‘s elimination after earning a perfect score last week. This has been such a life-changing experience and I had the time of my life,” Bristol told host Tom Bergeron when he revealed she’d won the bronze after months of competition. Jennifer and Derek chose a Viennese Waltz, which Grey admitted that she performed with a ruptured a disc in her back. “This has been a life-changing experience,” she said. “If somebody had said to me, in week one, ‘Bristol Palin’s in the final,’ I’d have pickled me walnuts!” the show’s senior professional judge, Len Goodman, said in the final minutes of Tuesday’s show, speaking for us all. No charges were immediately filed. Meanwhile, in social-media land, fans of Jennifer, Bristol and Kyle sent competing “iwaves” on the “Dancing With the Stars” Facebook page while the three finalists rehearsed their final dance – an Insta-Cha-Cha Challenge for the final Insta-dance round, to a tune that they’d learned only minutes earlier would be Pink’s “Raise Your Glass,” practicing in what Bergeron called the “Dancing With the Stars” Veal Cages backstage.

Shedding tears of joy, she said: ‘It’s such a sweet thing at the end of such a tricky tumultuous journey and it was worth every second of it It was the chance of a lifetime and I’m so grateful that I didn’t miss it.’ Asked what she would miss most about the show, Grey replied simply: ‘Dancing.’ Golden moment: Jennifer struggled with various injuries throughout the season but came out on top. Best known for playing the naive teen Frances ‘Baby’ Houseman in the coming-of-age film Dirty Dancing, she won hearts with emotional recollections of performing with Swayze more than 20 years ago. Dancing executive producer Conrad Green had said it would be fair game if Palin’s voters sent her to victory Tuesday. ‘Going out there and winning this would mean a lot. “Some viewers reported experiencing difficulties registering their votes for the Dancing With The Stars finale, which affected each finalist equally,” producers said in a statement. But the issues was dealt with “promptly” and voting times were not extended.

This is something that’s supposed to be uplifting and just something positive and I don’t want those people out there to turn it into something else,” the 20-year-old, who scored a grand total of 52 out of 60 on Monday, continued. “People are going to say whatever they want to say and we’re used to it. Bristol explained to Shaun that if she were to win, she believes it would be fair. “I feel that everyone has worked their butts off in this competition and were out at the studio for hours on end, we’re all working hard for this and we’re all enjoying ourselves and I think whoever wins we’re all going to support them,” she explained. “A little bit of baby powder. “If ever there was a season that’s hard to predict I think it’s this one,” Inaba said, acknowledging that it isn’t the first one in which fan votes are influencing who advances in the competition. “I wish the judges’ scores carried more weight. PEOPLE: Kyle Massey loses 8 inches off his waistline Now that the judges’ scores have been tallied, the contestants’ fates are in the hands of the American voting public. “Everyone is on high alert,” a source told gossip reporter Rob Shuter. “I think it’s bad juju,” she said after earning a perfect 60 points on Monday’s episode. Palin’s mother, former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, gave equal praise – in the form of raucous applause and cheering – to all of the evening’s dancers. “It’s like a scene from ‘The Bodyguard,’ with Bristol playing the leading lady.” Monday night’s episode went off without any reported security incidents. When people ask me if the right person has won, I always say yes, because the concept of the show is not, who is the best dancer? See the full article on PEOPLE.com © 2010 People and Time Inc.

Play our celebrity hair game now! “It’ll be crazy if we win,” Massey said. “It can be scary because there are people whose sense of reality is not the same as everyone else. Though she said on Monday’s episode “there’s lots of haters out there that are waiting for me to fail,” the 20-year-old single mom said after the show that she’s shrugged off her detractors and feels she deserves to win. “We’ve been working our butts off,” she said. “It added confidence to my jive.” And it was the jive, for which Palin and Ballas earned their best score, that she performed as her redemption dance. The supporters were out in full force for the other contestants, too. On Tuesday night, each pair will perform two more dances – each “Star” will get to choose their personal favorite routine from the season and give it another go, as well as an “Instant Dance,” in which they will have to master the Cha Cha Cha to music they’ve been given for the first time immediately after the show’s broadcast has begun. The final two dances will close out the judges’ scores, with viewer votes based on Monday’s performances accounting for half of each team’s final total.

It’s anybody’s guess, judge Carrie Ann Inaba told PEOPLE backstage after the broadcast. “If ever there was a season that’s hard to predict I think it’s this one,” Inaba said, acknowledging that it isn’t the first one in which fan votes are influencing who advances in the competition. The Dancing with the Stars season finale is upon us, leaving fans to fret over who will snag the show’s gaudy-yet-coveted mirrorball trophy on tonight’s final results show. The 50-year-old actress comes into Tuesday’s season finale in first place.

Only time will tell, but ABC isn’t taking any chances with Bristol’s safety. I did not commission it to look like that, but with Jennifer and Derek slightly out in front, doesn’t it sort of seem like a medal stand? Palin’s mother, former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, gave equal praise – in the form of raucous applause and cheering – to all of the evening’s dancers. Each judge helped coach one couple on how to improve their performance. Each pair performed a “redemption dance,” a do-over of a style they had blown at some point earlier in the season, and a freestyle number that, as its name implies, could be anything they chose. “Your footwork was much better,” said Goodman.

“I think it’s bad juju,” she said after earning a perfect 60 points on Monday’s episode. Pay a visit to your psychic for that s—. (Hey, if Bruno can swear on the show, so can I! Some people rose to the occasion and some people were just obviously going to be great. Massey and his professional partner, Lacey Schwimmer, said they’ve been having so much fun dancing together, they can hardly believe they actually have a chance at the title. It’s been awesome.” Bristol Steps Up Rising to the occasion was Palin, 20, whose scores with partner Mark Ballas were the duo’s highest of the season.

In an upset during the semi-final rounds, Brandy was eliminated from the competition, despite being one of the top contenders in the show. I’ll probably do the worm again.” The 19-year-old Disney Channel star did the retro dance move during his freestyle routine on Monday’s show. “This is the meaning of redemption!” said Carrie Ann Inaba, who coached the couple. They were on equal terms, perfectly matched in style, in their powerful body types and in their exuberant temperaments, and they made each other look good. Palin said it was challenging to overcome the flurry of media coverage that erupted when she outlasted Brandy on the hit ABC show, prompting some viewers to question the veracity of the “Dancing” voting system. You knew they loved it out there. The supporters were out in full force for the other contestants, too.

Those points, combined with Monday night’s judges’ scores, will account for 50 percent of each contestant’s overall tally. The rest is up to the voters.

“I really want to do the show,” Jodie Sweetin tells PEOPLE. “I just want to dance, but the fact that it would be on camera, and I’d get to have my hair and makeup done and wear those costumes? Studio audience members began to boo when the show’s three professional judges gave Bristol just 25 points for her freestyle dance, which she performed to a well-known tune from “Chicago” – the play/movie Bristol said she has never seen. Two dances down, two to go before a new “Dancing” champ is crowned.

Tuesday night, a desperate people receives the results of one of the most important votes in American history: Who will be the next president of – oh, wait, that’s in 2012. Awesome!” It wouldn’t be the first time she’s danced on television. Grey, meanwhile, nabbed a perfect score of 30 for her freestyle dance, which she did to a tune from the flick “Dirty Dancing” – though not the flick’s most iconic song, “Time of Your Life” because, Grey told show sidekick Brooke Burke, that one was all about her and movie co-star Patrick Swayze (who died of cancer a little more than a year ago). The 50-year-old actress is in first place coming into Tuesday’s season finale. If you don’t vote, don’t complain,” Bergeron said in response to the kerfuffle that was kicked off over those press reports. The final two dances will close out the judges’ scores, with viewer votes based on Monday’s performances accounting for half of each team’s final total. “We saw a ‘Get Jodie Sweetin on Dancing with the Stars ‘ group on Facebook,” says Coyle. “And I thought, wow, all you have to do is ‘like’ this.

Despite that season-long success, Grey said she doesn’t think she’ll be coasting to the title by any means. “I really like Derek Hough,” she says. Palin’s success no surprise to Grey ‘Dirty Dancing’ star says show’s not necessarily about the best dancer. In recent weeks on “Dancing,” which is among the top-rated programs in the United States reaching nearly 20 million viewers weekly in each of two shows, Palin has consistently performed at the bottom of the pack where the judges are concerned. But I like Derek’s style and his technique. And she did – at least during Monday’s first round of dancing, when each of the show’s three finalists was asked to repeat a dance style at which they’d done poorly during this edition of the hit reality show. I’ve always wanted to learn the Argentine tango.” She’ll probably make quick work of it, too.

Bristol re-did the jive – which she’d first attempted this season in a gorilla suit. This time, in a much nicer blue dress, she delivered one of her best performances of the season, for which the judges rewarded her with 27 points.

Basically, it looks like everyone is still pretty much up in arms over Tuesday evening’s events. And this furor has spawned many, many conspiracies. Ordered from least probable to most probable, all of these theories have been spotted on the Internet. One user, Chastity Cotten , wrote, sic “what is up wit dancing withthe stars? I’m going to go with the first, since I have not seen anyone imply that Osama Bin Laden has been calling in votes for Bristol from his cave. Because, no matter what people might say about cable TV taking over the universe, there’ s still nothing like a broadcast network for reaching a gigantic number of people. “And when you have people supporting you, it makes you feel better. She’s 50 years old, rockin’ a seriously hot bod and has been dominating the show since week one.

Also, why purchase votes when loads of people are happy to do the work for free? It has turned into a popularity contest, not a competition, some argue. It’s counter-productive, since scandals tend to bring in viewers. I had scored triple 7s.

There’s a Tea Party movement behind it, others say. The Tween Prince: Kyle Massey is sweet and adorable (and a total ham), and all of those qualities work in his favor on DWTS . He’s also a megawatt Disney star who has shown tons of improvement and winning-worthy moves on the dance floor. Plus, since we’ve seen the power of the tweeny-bopper vote on other reality-competition series ( American Idol’ s David Archuleta and Tim Urban ), we’re actually inclined to believe that Kyle could pull out the win on Tuesday’s season finale. The studio rigged the results to increase ratings. Then … randomly knock on neighbors’ doors and use their phones to call, call, call, and then call some more.” He told the AP he didn’t see a problem with his tactic. The couple with the lowest combined total is eliminated from the show. That explanation would diminish the impact. Lots of people said they just didn’t like Brandy. Will the most talented take home top prize, or will the seemingly fan faves win it all? But they could be doing that for Jennifer, they could be doing that for Kyle, they could be doing that for anyone.” It’s anyone’s guess who will take home the trophy on Tuesday’s episode of “Dancing with the Stars,” but it’s safe to say that someone will be disappointed no matter who wins. While possibly a factor (conscious or unconscious), it seems unlikely to have had the claimed effect.

Would there be this level of controversy if, say, Mike (The Situation) Sorrentino had lasted this long? Jennifer Grey has done a great job, but before now couldn’t get noticed at a “Dirty Dancing” fan club meeting. They cited extensive dance experience. Across the three judges (and yes I realize there are some weeks they try different things, but the math still works) a couple on the show can’t score more than 30 total points. A lot of them probably are. Instead, they mobilized specifically to vote for Bristol and are definitely affecting the results. What do you think about the conspiracy theories?

Tea Partiers and other grassroots conservatives gaming the vote. OK, so it’s only a TV show, with the ultimate prize a cheesy mirror-ball trophy. I could be objective about Brandy’s elimination from Dancing with the Stars in the semi-finals. And the 20-year-old teen activist, who doesn’t act, sing or dance, is a contestant because she’s the daughter of potential presidential contender Sarah Palin . Well it sure could happen! The audience erupted with applause as well as a chorus of boos at host Tom Bergeron’s announcement, and the judges couldn’t believe the loss of the celebrity they had voted to the top of the leaderboard, or close to it, all season. On November 16th, 2010 in a shocking DWTS elimination, Brandy was sent packing up her dance shoes and stripped of her chance to win the mirror ball trophy. “She’s whipped up passions of people and the cloud of brouhaha just like Sarah Palin,” says DWTS executive producer Conrad Green.

Cowan of Town of Vermont, Wis., was seemingly unable to confine his ballroom rage to the usual online comment or water cooler rant and instead, chose to shoot his television for daring to air the offending footage of Palin at all. This has been an amazing journey.” Before dancing purists short out their keyboards with their tears, remember it’s a popularity contest as much as a dancing competition. No show that claims to be a dancing competition would ever eliminate such a strong performer when there was an obviously inferior dancer available. Yes, that means the man is said to have shot the set before Palin went on to beat out Brandy for a spot in the finals. Bristol has a great sense of humor and we laughed a lot together and learned a lot from DWTS . I have yelled at it, but I’ve never thrown anything at it. “While Bristol has been at the bottom of the leader board, she hasn’t been miles behind the other dancers,” says Green. Steven jumped up and swore, saying something to the effect of, ‘The f—ing politics.’ Steven was upset that a political figure’s daughter was dancing on this particular show when Steven did not think she was a good dancer.” Cowan is hardly alone in that sentiment, but the following actions set him apart from the crowd. “The closer the judges’ scores, the more important the audience votes are. I admit that she has tried hard and done far better than many (myself included) expected. After disappearing upstairs for some time, he returned with a single-shot shotgun and allegedly fired a round into the TV screen. Cowan’s wife told police, “He scared the Bejebees out of me.” No doubt.

Massey and Lacey Schwimmer, who came in second with a combined 58 out of 60. Related content: ‘Dancing’ cuts yet another front-runner Bristol and The Situation hook up for a PSA A ‘Dancing’ tie?

Hillbuzz editor Kevin Dujan has been promoting her DWTS run since the season’s debut. He suggests Bristol’s support isn’t political. All the hard work has paid off!” So what do you think? “I think it’s moms, sisters, grandmoms, dads — people who are voting with their hearts, not with a political agenda.” The grassroots support isn’t unprecedented. When it comes to voter support versus dancing, dancing never wins. Others seem quite disturbed that she has made it this far.

How much does dancing not matter? His wife said the 66-year-old had been drinking; he faces disorderly conduct and weapons charges. Palin has already offered to buy the couple a new TV.

According to a report in the Wisconsin State Journal , Steven N. Palin has been a polarizing figure on the show, having advanced in the competition despite consistently receiving the lowest scores from the judges. The 66-year-old then retrieved his shotgun, which he loaded and fired at the TV, before allegedly pointing it at his wife, who fled the scene and called 911. Steven Cowan, 67, blasted his television set with a shotgun after watching Bristol Palin’s “Dancing with the Stars” routine Monday night. I could try to come up with reasons to explain why Bristol deserves a place in the finals more than Brandy. Brandy and dancing partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy scored a perfect 30 after their well-executed tango routine, and they already had accumulated 57 points out of 60 to Palin’s 53 points. Steven Cowan, according to local authorities, told officers he believes Bristol is not a good dancer and is only on the show because her mother Sarah Palin is famous. There’s a public debate brewing over whether Bristol Palin’s success has much to do with her famous mother’s political pull with conservatives, a major demographic of the show. The man reportedly became so enraged on Monday that he fired at his TV, according to officials, and then aimed at his wife, but she was able to escape the house. “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” today. No show that claims to be a dancing competition would ever eliminate such a strong performer when there was an obviously inferior dancer available.

But it does seem like a good time to confess whether you’ve ever struck out at your TV. “It’s kind of difficult for me to deal with.” Brandy broke into tears last night after losing. But today she said the experience reawakened “a confidence and passion that I thought was gone. Steven jumped up and swore, saying something to the effect of, ‘The f—ing politics.’ Steven was upset that a political figure’s daughter was dancing on this particular show when Steven did not think she was a good dancer.” Cowan is hardly alone in that sentiment, but the following actions set him apart from the crowd. Bristol seems like a lovely person. Cowan’s wife told police, “He scared the Bejebees out of me.” No doubt.

In an interview with Barbara Walters over the weekend, Sarah Palin addressed the controversy. Bristol won because of voter support. I haven’t got the time,” Sarah Palin told Walters.

In contrast, Brandy had her dancing. And when ‘Dancing With the Stars’ called her and wanted her to be on the show, I said, ‘Bristol, you know you’re going to open yourself up to criticism just because of your last name. When it comes to voter support versus dancing, dancing never wins. They’re going to criticize me, so I might as well dance.’” How much does dancing not matter? Cowan, who has been receiving care for mental health problems, according to the report, kept police at bay outside his home for 15 hours before surrendering without incident on Tuesday morning. There’s no telling how Cowan would have reacted to Bristol’s advancing to the finals , but it’s safe to say she didn’t get his vote.

Offstage, Grey’s dance partner Derek Hough was visibly stunned. Likewise were the show’s three professional judges and co-host Brooke Burke. Another upset shook the world of ” Dancing with the Stars ” on Tuesday with Brandy ‘s elimination, and “The Insider” gained access backstage to get the singer’s reaction to the controversial results. Brandy and Maksim Chmerkovskiy earned 57 out of a possible 60 points on Monday but their paso doble and Argentine tango just weren’t good enough to keep them on the dance floor (at least, as far as the voting viewers were concerned). But unfortunately tonight’s ousted Dancing With the Stars duo fell short, and delivered the most emotional elimination of the season. “I don’t know how to feel right now, I haven’t it hasn’t processed yet for me,” a shocked Norwood said after she and Chmerkovskiy were ousted based on the combination of the Dancing with the Stars judges’ scores they received during Monday night’s performance show and the home viewer votes which were cast afterwards. I gave it everything I have and I don’t have any regrets. I’m so proud of me and I say that humbly. No, the teen mom turned dancing queen has waltzed her way into the DWTS finale, leaving poor Brandy and Maksim Chmerkovskiy waaay back in the dust. Watch the video to see Brandy’s special message to her fans. And regardless if Brandy’s scores were nearly the highest in the season, DWTS host Tom Bergeron announced she was eliminated on tonights Results show.

Bergeron stepped up and hugged Brandy as she began to tear up. As the results were read, Maks just sunk down, and the audience booed the results. “He taught me how to dance with confidence.” Added the sometimes hotheaded dancer, “I’m very proud of Brandy. But Chmerkovskiy wasn’t looking to criticize Palin. “I agree that it’s up to the people. Every season there has been a couple of shocking eliminations. I let the people decide. “Most recently Bristol said I don’t like her,” Chmerkovskiy continued. “I never said it. I want to make sure that people understand that I’m a dancer. The fans now must decide to make things right, and next week, if Kyle Massey goes home, I am disowning you all. She’s done such a beautiful job, she’s such an amazing dancer.” “I haven’t been shocked once this season because this show is so unpredictable,” Lacey Schwimmer told us. It’s probably been the most rewarding season for me because I didn’t only do my job as a dance professional but I was helping a friend.” The show is well aware that many people believe Palin should have been sent packing weeks ago. But we’re happy for Bristol because she’s great, too. But Executive Producer Conrad Green, who’s been on Stars since the beginning, hopes that fans step back and look at the bigger picture. “A little bit of a deep breath needs to be taken,” Green told EW. “If you look at the judges scores alone, undoubtedly, Brandy has been a better dancer throughout the competition. Bristol has made a huge improvement. Are any of the remaining dancers your cup of tea, or was Brandy the winner you wanted? But that was business as usual for this edition of “Dancing.” Bristol, who went into the competition with no dance and no performance background, has consistently wound up at the bottom of the point heap.

Each contestant was not only required to memorize two routines, but also a small celebrity solo had to be incorporated in the first dance. The singer tangoed so hard that she knocked Maks’ earring out! Jennifer Grey was perfection personified on Monday night’s “Dancing With the Stars,” nabbing a 60 out of 60 score. And although they still have to face an elimination Tuesday night, when one of them will go home, and another week of intense rehearsals, all they can think about is winning. The final four celebrities performed twice on the 90-minute show, which gave them two scores for a potential total of 60 points. They received perfect 10s from all judges, after which Jennifer told Brooke that she was, “In love, deeply in love with dancing.” Derek commented that she “looked beautiful,” and the couple landed in first place for Round 1.

For her first dance, Grey performed the cha-cha with her partner, Derek Hough, and the judges salivated over it. How does that feel both of you?” Dancing with the Stars co-host Brooke Burke asked the couple. After the dance she ran into the audience to kiss her husband, Clark Gregg .

“But the cake is the journey – the journey of just connecting to my confidence again and to my power and believing in myself again and gaining an amazing friend.” “I’m just enjoying this moment so much that I don’t want to get ahead of myself,” said Grey, whose two performances with Derek Hough were both awarded perfect scores from the judges. “I’m loving tonight.” Kyle Massey said he wanted to win the trophy “just as bad as everyone else.” He acknowledged that the final results will come down to “who performed the best,” before partner Lacey Schwimmer added, “And the fans!” If I’m dreaming, don’t wake me up!” 60/60. “Wow it’s just amazing, what a great night!” Hough exclaimed. Sorrentino, 28, says he became involved because “it’s an important cause and I am proud to be a part of it.” Get more Us! Their next performance was the Argentine tango, and Tonioli couldn’t get enough. The young actor’s clip before his second performance explained how his mother uprooted her life to L.A. to follow her son’s dreams. Kyle has remained very calm throughout the season, keeping his thoughts positive. “I’m not thinking about next week right now, I’m focused on tomorrow,’ he shared with reporters. “Who knows what’s gonna happen tomorrow they could send one of the judges home.” Tune in tonight at 9 p.m. on ABC for the week nine results show. Guest performances include Annie Lennox and Enrique Iglesias before another celebrity is eliminated, and the remaining three become one step closer to the coveted mirror ball trophy.

For a competition draped in glitz and glam, Monday night’s “Dancing With the Stars” semifinals show sure was boring. Maybe the penultimate performance night seemed exciting to Jennifer Grey, who waltzed (and cha cha cha-ed) her way to two perfect scores. The final four couples on ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars” battled on the dance floor in order to make it into the coveted top three, and next week’s big finals. Then again, given her past performances and Day-One favorite status, those numbers couldn’t have come as much of a surprise. Sarah Palin and the tea party may be involved. Bristol Palin has tangoed her way into the semifinals even though she and her partner Mark Ballas have placed in the bottom two of the judges’ scoreboard for the past six weeks. Just one couple will be voted out before next weeks three-way finale, and the judges werent much help. Twitter and Facebook are abuzz. That means it’s the viewers and Palin fans who are keeping their dance hopes alive. You gave it everything you’ve got.” Judge Bruno Tonioli joked of the performance, “You need to go in anger management. … You danced like a fury.” Judge Carrie Ann Inaba called the dance “amazingly passionate.” Jennifer Grey and Derek Hough took the dance floor with their cha cha cha to rave reviews from the judges and a perfect score of 30. Welcome to the semifinals of “Dancing With the Stars !” It’s “Dirty Dancing” star Jennifer Grey vs. pop star Brandy.

Bruno jumped up and danced in his seat, telling them, “That really was a luminous, vibrant, sexy cha cha cha and on top of it all, the execution was flawless.” Carrie Ann said, “I’ve been waiting all season to see Jennifer Grey do a cha cha all by herself and I was not disappointed.” Bristol Palin , whose mother Sarah Palin was in the audience for moral support, and Mark Ballas thrilled the judges with their paso doble, which earned a score of 27. It’s Disney star Kyle Massey vs., yes, teen activist (and single mom and Sarah’s daughter) Bristol Palin. Len told Kyle, “I think you’ve got a bionic bum. … You had more bounce to the ounce than anyone else this season.” Bruno said to Kyle, “You truly are a bouncing bundle of joy.” Carrie Ann cried, “I have never ever seen so much pelvic action ever.” Brandy and Maksim thrilled with their second dance of the night, earning a score of 30 for their Argentine tango. Story: Bristol: ‘There’s no politics involved’ on ‘Dancing’ The closest thing to a shakeup came with Brandy’s third place finish. In its 10th edition, last spring, the ABC contest clocked its biggest audience ever nearly 22 million viewers each week. And with that fourth contestant comes the controversy, which Bristol’s partner, Mark Ballas, addressed head-on during rehearsal sessions aired Monday night. This season it’s averaging around 21 million but that number will likely climb if Bristol makes it to next week’s finals. Carrie Ann commented, “Through dancing we actually can see people’s souls … it was one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen.” “Be still, my beating heart,” Len said, continuing, “Sometimes a whisper can speak louder than a shout.

So how did the famous teen mom survive last night’s “Dancing with the Stars” after crashing through a samba? A tea party conspiracy, perchance? Viewers turned on the football star in favor of the tea party teen when they booted Kurt Warner and partner Anna Trebunskaya on Tuesday night’s “Dancing with the Stars” results show. I mean, I think we all feel, in some way, it is unfair when we get voted off. “I’m pretty raw and vulnerable when it comes to this whole thing. “I played football for so long that it became natural, it became something I was good at,” Warner said. “It was unfair,” Warner told PEOPLE.

Monday night’s performance presented the dancers with a difficult challenge: They didn’t know what music they were dancing to until right before they performed. The couples were scored on each of their two performances, and front-runner Jennifer Grey danced her way back to the top of the leader board, earning perfect 10s for one of her dances. “It’s a game-changer,” says Elayne Rapping, a pop culture expert at SUNY-Buffalo. Bristol in the semifinals. Warner was gracious in his goodbye. “Commitment to your craft, willingness to work, footwork is always a big part of athletics. … Tea party activists on Twitter “are part of a large community that has power, and when this group of people with this power decide to put it in the service of Bristol Palin, it’s kind of mind-boggling.” The tea party conspiracy theory does have legs. “I wish everyone else well.” VIDEO: Watch The Situation perform the most “bizarre” DWTS dance ever Competing in Monday’s semifinal round along with Palin: Jennifer Grey, Kyle Massey and Brandy . “I learned a long time ago that life isn’t about winning and losing competitions,” Warner said after he learned he’d be heading home. Those things lended themselves to the dances,” he said. Who does he think will win?

Ms. Bruce tweeted before last night’s show: “Operation Bristol waltzes in tonight! The competition had its first “instant dances” following the ballroom routines. “The problem for athletes … they’re not really performers, don’t really know how to externalize how they’re feeling,” Trebunskaya said on “GMA.” “Warner went out there every single week, had a blast, and made everybody enjoy it.” The judges praised Warner for coming out and having fun, but he received nothing but eights for the two dances in his final week, landing him second from the bottom, only ahead of Bristol Palin. Four of the five couples proved to be better at the instant dances than in their well-rehearsed numbers. Before his departure, Warner received a standing ovation and a chant of “MVP” from the audience. Couples drew their music selection from a big mirror-ball dish and had only several minutes backstage to match steps, which they’d practiced earlier, to that tune. “Bristol’s survival on ‘DWTS’ is a testament to the power of her mother and her Tea Party fans,” says CBS News. “And, it’s an indicator of how the Palin brand is viewed as Sarah Palin contemplates running for president in 2012.”

He did do a dance to No Doubt, though, which is one thing NewsFeed thought we’d never see. Bristol’s samba was all sorts of awkward but we loved her tango, which was set hilariously to The Pussycat Dolls: Warner’s sacking propelled Bristol into the final four. Bristol’s continued success in not getting voted off the “DWTS” island is due in part to fans of her mother, Sarah Palin. Producers Bruce Cohen and Don Mischer have been at work since June, and we’re now past the time when the last Oscar hosts, Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin, were announced (Nov. 3), reports The Wrap . Instead, it was former quarterback Kurt Warner who was given the boot on Tuesday night. “I played football for so long that it became natural, it became something I was good at,” Warner said.

The judges try to be kind and offer some compliments, but it is faint praise. I think we felt for a long time that we should have gotten better scores than we did, so you’re disappointed. We’re all biased.” PHOTOS: Before they were on DWTS Though judges praised his waltz and chacha, Warner, 39, and his professional partner, Anna Trebunskaya, scored 24 points out of 30 for each dance Monday, barely beating out Bristol Palin , who scored the lowest. Those things lended themselves to the dances,” he said. Next up, “Sarah Palin’s Alaska, ” the TLC show featuring the Palin family taking viewers on a tour of America’s “final frontier.” Bristol’s survival on “DWTS” is a testament to the power of her mother and her Tea Party fans. “I think Kyle has a chance because he’s a tremendous entertainer, and I think a big part of this is entertainment and enjoying what you do,” Warner told Us. And, it’s an indicator of how the Palin brand is viewed as Sarah Palin contemplates running for president in 2012. If she hangs on next week she’s in the finals, where anything can happen.

Is our prediction from three weeks ago coming true?

While Monday’s impromptu routines made them look great, they weakened the other two dancers. It just came down to whether Sarah’s daughter could skate through yet again or if nice guy Kurt had enough fan support. From the start, the 11th season of “Dancing With the Stars” was not going to be like any other. Who’s in and who’s out?

Find out after the jump … After trading top spots on the leader board over the course of the season, Brandy and Jennifer Grey tied for first place Monday with almost perfect scores. The dancers faced a heady challenge: They didn’t know what music they were dancing to until right before the performed. Kurt Warner got the boot! The couples were scored on each of their two performances, and Jennifer Grey danced her way back to the top of the leaderboard, earning three 10s for one of her dances. You know, I mean, when you spend so much time with someone and build a relationship, you know, it’s going to be tough not seeing her every day.” Anna jokingly noted that “You’re going to miss Monday nights. It goes something like this: Bristol is a plucky young woman who overcomes obstacles with charm and fortitude. Bristol the Pistol’s unlikely run has extended all the way to the semifinals! But the studio audience disagreed, erupting in boos following the judge’s critique. Bristol, Jennifer Grey, Brandy, and Kyle Massey will keep dancing for all the marbles next week.

“You’ve become this kind of sophisticated, refined young man. “I loved all of it,” Bruno said of their cha cha to Katy Perry ‘s “Teenage Dream.” But Carrie Ann was displeased with the choreography, and her critique left Maks seething. “Stay out of it,” the semifinalist smartly replied. “You’re sort of like if they had a Ken doll for adults and he could ballroom dance,” Carrie Ann Inaba said. After their waltz to The Eagles’ “Take It To the Limit,” Carrie Ann conceded that Kurt is “not quite at the same level as some of the other contestants.” Of their cha cha to No Doubt’s “Hella Good,” Len said simply, “your performance was good.” Kurt and Anna earned straight eights for both dances. We are seeing people think, ‘Wow, Bristol Palin has all these great traits, so her mom must have these qualities, too.’ Two years from now, people may not remember a dance routine, but they’ll remember she’s a risk-taker. ” Politically partisan sites around the Web have taken up the call, exhorting readers to vote for Bristol. Of course, plenty of non-partisan sites get created or co-opted each season to generate bloc voting for other contestants, but in this case there’s a sense that the survival of a less-talented but enthusiastic Bristol will provide ballast to the views and opinions (and possibly the later political success) of her mother.

What did you think of the voters’ choice this week? Who are you rooting for among Dancing With the Stars ‘ final four?