'Dancing with the Stars' 2010 Week 9 Semifinal Results: Bristol 'the Pistol' Palin Outlasts Brandy, Advances to DWTS Season 11 Finale

The "Dancing with the Stars" 2010 week 9 results show aired Tuesday night, putting to rest the biggest question so far this season: Will Bristol Palin shock everyone, clear the semifinals and make it all the way to the November 22 finale? But before the big question found its answer with the surprising elimination of R&B singer Brandy, we were treated to performances by Annie Lennox and Enrique Iglesias. Here's a complete run-down of the show from start to finish.

Co-hosts Tom Bergeron and Brooke Burke got the results show action going by reviewing last night's judges' leaderboard, which saw actress Jennifer Grey on top and teen activist Palin in the cellar. Attention then turned to head judge Len Goodman, who asked that R&B singer Brandy and partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy reprise their perfect-scoring Argentine Tango for the semifinal round encore. Uhm, okay. Jennifer and her partner Derek Hough received not one but two perfect 30s, yet they went with Brandy and Maks for the encore? Riiiiight. It's true that I'm not big on Brandy and her stressy-pants need to win win win, but I honestly thought at least one of Jen's dances was better. But whatever: 'tis what it is. And now 'tis over.

Grammy Award winner Annie Lennox and a pair of very talented modern dancers kept the show going next with a vocal rendition and artistic representation of Universal Child. It was a stirring, soothing performance. Bravo to Annie in her smooth black suit!

A segment featuring the "DWTS" season 11 semifinalists' thoughts on the competition thus far then aired. Bristol Palin asserted that she'd "found a confidence that I didn't know I had", while Disney Kid Kyle Massey noted that the competition is largely "mental" in nature. Jennifer noted that "with enough hard work and tenacity you can pretty much do anything" and Brandy called "Dancing with the Stars" "the best roller coaster I think I've ever been on". Lots of pretty little cliches for sure. But eh, it's Hollywood. Gotta love 'em.

With about 20 minutes of the "Dancing with the Stars" 2010 week 9 semifinal results show down, the first couple of the night learned their collective competition fate: Jennifer Grey and Derek Hough, who topped the Monday night leaderboard with a perfect score of 60 out of 60, became the first couple to pass on to next week's finale. (They were excited.)

Backstage in the Red Room, Brooke spoke with the three remaining celebs. Brandy asserted that she was "very, very nervous" but that what was meant to be would be, while Bristol claimed she should make the finals because she entered "DWTS" season 11 with zero performance experience. Kyle called the process of awaiting his fate "a ton of pressure". Yeah, I'd guess it is stressful, dude. Just a bit. But you're cute and charming so I'll let you off the hook for making a 'duh, obvious!' kind of statement.

Up next, pro dancers Cheryl Burke and Derek Hough took to the ballroom floor to present the season's fan-voted Design a Dance routine, the final number in season 11's Macy*s Stars of Dance series. It was a cute little number, featuring the two uber-hot dancers shaking their thangs 50s style. Stamp of approval!

After a break, Annie Lennox returned to the Dancing with the Stars 2010 stage with Little Bird. A little flashier, a little funkier, a little more glitter and gold. (From the quartet of birdie 'backup' dancers, that is.) And Annie rocked it out, again. Post-Lennox, a pack featuring the remaining pro dancers' thoughts on the competition aired. Yeah, I don't care so much about that. It was mostly little niceties. Blah blah. Skippable filler.

Post fluff, there was finally more good stuff, as Tom and Brooke called Kyle and partner Lacey Schwimmer to the stage to find out their fate in the "Dancing with the Stars" season 11 competition. Did they earn a spot in the finale? Yes indeed-io, Team Schmurgles earned a spot in the end-game, thanks to Kyle's charm and crazed entertainment chops. (But I gotta say it: If not for his personality, he'd have been gone weeks ago, based on his less-than-stellar technical abilities.)

Up next, Enrique Iglesias (and six pro "DWTS" dancers, a band, back-up singers and a bunch of bright lights) lit up the ballroom with I Like It. Er, not really my style. Catchy, energetic, sort of fun, but also decidedly spastic for 9:45 PM. I felt like a cup of coffee had just gyrated across my screen. It made me tired. So tired that I pretty much tuned out Brooke's Red Room interview of Lacey, Kyle, Derek and Jennifer. Oops. But I re-focused before anything important happened, no worries.

The "Dancing with the Stars" 2010 semifinal results show continued with what we'd waited an hour to hear: The big reveal, the Brandy versus Bristol showdown for the remaining spot in the finale. Would it be the Desperate Diva or the Cellar Dweller? Len addressed Brandy, calling her "brilliant", while he told Bristol that she'd danced with "precision" and "great technique". After the requisite dramatic music and funktastic spotlight action, Brandy and Maks Chmerkovskiy were eliminated from the "Dancing with the Stars" 2010 competition.

I'm not surprised here. In fact, I wanted to call it last night, but wanted more to avoid the fallout of predicting that anyone besides Bristol Palin would get the inglorious boot. Is it fair? Probably not, no. But in a way, Brandy dug her own hole here with a bad attitude early on in the season. Had she started off with a better face and a less argumentative nature, I would almost certainly have liked her more.

With the "Dancing with the Stars" 2010 semifinals in the books and the finals looming in just a week, three celebs remain to duke it out for Mirrorball glory: Jennifer Grey, Kyle Massey and Bristol Palin. Tune in next Monday night to see the ever-popular freestyle routines and then again Tuesday to see who takes the big cheese. Or you can just check in with me. You know I'll be watching.