Love her or hate her, you're voting for her.
Bristol Palin, who's taken her share of lumps from the judges and potshots from the hoi polloi, was duly rewarded in the court of public opinion for last night's tango, her highest-scoring dance of the season.
So when it came time for Dancing With the Stars to bid farewell to one of seven contestants Tuesday, it was anyone's guess who would come up short after a decidedly rocky rock 'n' roll night.
But did you guess Audrina Patridge?
The Hills star had been one of the season's strongest dancers so far, though she had been taking heat for that spacey look in her eyes a lack of intensity and fire in her Latin performances.
"I was really pushing it, trying to get more character, but I guess I just can't tap into that right now," she said ruefully after being eliminated. But overall, she had "so much fun."
And her consistent level of quality will be missed.
"This is ludicrous that one of these two is going home," Len Goodman grumbled once only Audrina and Jennifer Grey were standing before him. "We like the underdog, but we like justice more, and there is no justice these two being here. It's nonsense."
Jennifer didn't necessarily have the second-lowest point total going into the results show, but perhaps she was undergoing extra punishment for hitting the paso doble a little too hard last night and winding up with a personal low of 20 for that routine.
Meanwhile, the ascendant Brandy, who has supplanted both Jennifer and Audrina at the top of the leaderboard the last two weeks, had no cause for panic tonight.
Despite being flagged many times and ending up in last place, Kurt Warner was as safe as a Montana-to-Rice pass—football fans are so loyal!—and survived to dance two routines next week, along with Brandy, Bristol, Jennifer, Rick Fox and Kyle Massey.
None of whom wanted to miss next week's party!
DWTS celebrates its 200th show on Monday with guest judges Kelly Osbourne, Gilles Marini, Mel B., Drew Lachey, Hélio Castroneves and Emmitt Smith. Former champions Kristi Yamaguchi and Apolo Ohno will also serve as team captains for the group dance round.
(Originally published Oct. 26, 2010, at 7:10 p.m. PT)