Bristol Palin's 'Dancing With the Stars' song: "Mama Told Me (Not to Come)"

Washinton Post ^ | September 20, 2010; 4:53 PM ET | By Lisa de Moraes

[fight_truth_decay]

mis-matched with her partner

He is the professional, which size match is not necessary. She as most contestants have not danced so doing so on a national stage takes a lot of guts for anyone. Remember Springer went on to learn to dance for his daughter's wedding. You can't be riveting when you are a beginner..each week improvement comes from becoming at ease while taking on a new challenge. I think people think Bristol was going to come out dancing like her partner, the professional. Bristol is also more scrutinized than the other contestants so added pressure for her and takes it off the others.

It's all good clean fun.

[MinuteGal]

I don't disagree with your comments....except on the mis-match part. He makes her look like the Queen Mary bearing down on a canoe.

In couples' figure skating, a 6'3" male skating with a 5'5" partner looks awkward and goofy. Matching is so visually important.

I just think the program's producers could have picked a more complimentary-configured partner for Palin.

It's nothing personal. I'm on her side.

Leni

[lonevoice]

The show has a contracted stable of pro dancers from which to choose and match as partners for the celebrity contestants. When they have a very young contestant, such as Bristol, their first consideration is to match the teenage contestant with one of their youngest pro partners. The reason for this is that most ballroom dancing relies on the illusion that the pair are romantic partners. To match a teenager with an older pro partner really does look terribly inappropriate in some dances.

The youngest two male pro dancers under contract with the show are Mark Ballas and Derek Hough. Derek is rail thin, with an ectomorphic body type. Of the two younger pros, Mark Ballas is the one with the more muscular build. For a ballroom dancer, he actually does have a more athletic, mesomorphic body type than most of the men. In the arena of ballroom dancing, I find Bristol Palin and Mark Ballas to be a visually well-matched pair. Mileage may (and obviously does!) vary.

[GraceCoolidge]

You appear to want to dictate what other people do and pronounce your opinion as The Law. Numberonepal hasn't done that.

No. I think the term you are looking for is "discussion." I had the impression that this forum is for sharing what sometimes is referred to as "opinions." Sometimes that leads people to do something you might have heard of called "disagree." Numberonepal simply responded to my opinion with a vulgar personal comment. But I bet his humor is a big hit in middle school.

It is kind of ironic how expressing one's unfavorable opinion of Bristol Palin's actions brings out all kinds of nasty commentary. My mistake for forgetting that some posters just want to post gratuitous seventh-grade level snark. I have my own opinion on what Bristol Palin is doing, and it's not a favorable one. My prerogative.

[fight_truth_decay]

They are close to the same height however, and more physically matched contestants are already gone. This activity burns calories as well. Another odds to overcome, I guess.

Added piece on Palin daugher:

She (Gov Palin) wrote on Twitter: ‘Over-the-moon excited and happy for Bristol! Cheering her on @ DWTS party in the Palin living room.’

"Dancing with the Stars" was the second-biggest show on TV last season, behind "American Idol," averaging 20 million viewers

It's funny the naysayers that are so embarrassed for her mom over this highly watch PG dance contest..should realize this show and American Idol are two of the most family watched shows on TV. It's a night of entertainment, no one gets shot, nor arrested for concealment of cocaine or shut out of another country, is not breaking and entering into Lohan's apartment to steal designer purses, is not on the Jersey Shore scoring-you know what.

Ayla Brown, Scott Brown's daughter, was a Top 24 semi-finalist on American Idol Season 5. And we know Scott himself poised for Cosmos and won Cosmo's America's Sexiest Man in 1982

There is a double standard for men vs women on what is socially and physically acceptable and what is not.

[fight_truth_decay]

what about singing on TV is that also trashy (to quote you)?

Scott Brown's daughter was in the top 24 on American Idol.

these are both family watched shows, just like football [any sport] can be a family watched show without the concussions

this is just ballroom dancing..did you ever take ballroom dancing in your youth?

So You Think You Can Dance is also a FOX owned show as is American Idol.

Come on, ladyjane, you will give in on this and have some fun... ;)

[Note: Bristol's mom tweet and family cheering her on in photo above]

[ladyjane]

LOL f_t_d

You’re wearing me down! Okay, okay, the dancing isn’t so bad.

I just don’t like Bristol doing anything that hurts her mother. We may all enjoy seeing a Palin on television but I think it will hurt Sarah and interfere with her message. I hope I’m wrong.

[fight_truth_decay]

You gave me a challenge: Phew!!

I gottcha on taking ballroom dancing ..ah huh??? Well, am happy that you gave in a little, a lot!! But, I feel sure Bristol would never hurt her mom in anyway and would never have gone on the show if her mom had disapproved.

Actually, I don't watch the show Dancing With The Stars.[lol] But have watched instead--So You Think You Can Dance. It's more commercial and inventive. ;)

[BlackVeil]

The whole parody of her mother was just in poor taste, and the song choice showed no class whatsoever.

Very true. And she is not an innocent victim of the media. Bristol sold the news of her short lived engagement to a tabloid, before telling her family. Tacky.

[Mamzelle]

Lisa, I'd like to give you such a slap...