‘Dancing With the Stars’ aims to prove on Tuesday’s show that Palin wasn’t booed

‘Dancing’ to clarify boo-gate on Tuesday’s show

LOS ANGELES — “Dancing With the Stars” wants to put boo-gate to rest.

Host Tom Bergeron says the hit ABC show will air footage during Tuesday’s episode that shows that loud boos from the audience were directed at the show’s three judges, not audience member Sarah Palin.

Palin had a front-row seat in the ballroom to watch her daughter perform on Monday’s episode. Just before Bergeron sat down to do a brief on-air interview with the former vice-presidential candidate, emphatic boos were heard off camera. Several media outlets and numerous “Dancing” fans online reported that the disapproval was directed at Palin.

But Bergeron said it was all about the judges, who had given three eight scores to first-place couple Jennifer Grey and Derek Hough.

The scores — each out of a maximum of 10 — “were perceived as relatively low for a dance that received a standing ovation,” executive producer Conrad Green said in a statement Tuesday.

“The judges (were) basically having an argument with the audience about the eights,” Bergeron said. “So the booing has started before I’m even going over to see Sarah, and it just gets louder and louder as they egg the audience on more.”

Audience members are encouraged during commercial breaks to voice their feelings about the judges’ scores.

Producers plan to show about 45 seconds of uncut footage from another camera angle during Tuesday’s episode to clarify for whom the boos were intended.

“Lucky we had the grassy knoll camera on, because this really will just put it to rest,” Bergeron quipped.

He called the reports that Palin was booed “just paranoid speculation.”

The host said this is the first time in the show’s 11 seasons that shots from a different angle are being shown to clarify a kerfuffle from the night before.

“I think it’s out of respect really for Sarah for us to do this,” he said. “Also just to clarify, just out of respect for our audience, too. These people don’t get all dressed up to be hooligans.”

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