ABC/ADAM LARKEYLove and hate are a powerful combo. Especially for Dancing With the Stars.
The series just scored its most-watched season closer since a certain love-her-or-hate-her hoofer not named Bristol Palin made the ballroom finals?
We refer to Marie Osmond, arguably DWTS' original is-she-really-that-good title contender.
Last night's show, featuring Jennifer Grey's triumph over Kyle Massey and the lightning rod from Alaska, averaged an estimated 24.1 million viewers, the franchise's biggest finale audience since Osmond came up short to Helio Castroneves and Mel B in November 2007. Nearly 26 million caught the show's final half-hour.
Because Nielsen doesn't offer overnight breakdowns on how many Tea Party members did or didn't watch, or how many Palin haters did or didn't shoot out their TVs, about the only other factoid we can tell you is that DWTS wasn't just huge, it was cool, too. The show schooled an all-new Glee for the night's No. 1 spot in the 18-49 demo.
We'd recommend the love-hate hook to Glee, but that show's doing pretty well with the funny-scary thing.