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LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – A Wisconsin man angry
at the success of Bristol Palin on "Dancing with the Stars"
blasted his TV with a shotgun as she waltzed her way into the
program's finals.
Steven Cowan's violent outburst came amid a heated
debate over Palin's survival on the TV dance competition show
despite weeks of low scores.
Critics say the 20 year-old is benefiting from the
popularity of her politician mother, Sarah Palin, with the largely
older, female viewers of the program. Each week the dancers are
judged by a panel of experts and then voted upon by viewers, and
based on a combination of scores and ballots, one contestant is
voted off.
According to a criminal complaint obtained by The
Smoking Gun website on Wednesday, Cowan's wife Janice told police
her husband was watching Bristol Palin dancing Monday night when
he "jumped up and swore...Steven was upset that a political
figure's daughter was on this show when Steven did not think that
she was a good dancer."
Cowan, 67, then took his shotgun and fired a round
into the TV screen, triggering a 15-hour stand-off with police
in the small town of Vermont, Wisconsin. He surrendered and was
charged with reckless endangerment and use of a dangerous weapon,
according to the complaint.
Bristol Palin, whose mother Sarah is a conservative
Tea Party favorite and one of the most polarizing politicians
in the U.S., was voted through to next week's "Dancing"
finals on a record number of public votes, ousting the more confident
and composed dancer and singer Brandy.
More than 17 million Americans watched Tuesday's
results show in what broadcaster ABC said was the biggest audience
for "Dancing" since late September.
Brandy said on Wednesday she was shocked at losing
out Palin for a spot in the finals.
Her professional dance partner, Maksim Chmerkovskiy,
showed even greater disappointment. "In this case you cross
the finish line first, and somebody (Palin) barely finishes, and
you get a tie because they showed heart. It's kind of difficult
for me to deal with," Chmerkovskiy told morning news show
"Good Morning America".
Bristol Palin this week hit back at her critics,
attributing her success to hard work and saying that her mother's
high profile has its disadvantages.
"I've gotten so many people who just attack
me every day because of who my mother is," she told Access
Hollywood on Monday.
Palin will compete in next week's "Dancing
with the Stars" final against "Dirty Dancing" actress
Jennifer Grey and former "That's So Raven" Disney child
star Kyle Massey.
matt@avalonn.com
"There are only two ways to live your life. One is as
though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything
is a miracle."
- Albert Einstein (1879-1955)
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