(Thumbnail Image: New York Daily News)

BY NINA MOINI

REPORTER: “Do you feel kind of like overwhelmed?

PALIN: "Yes, I’m so not used to this kind of stuff but I’m stepping out of my element and I’m ready to have a good time.” (Access Hollywood)
 

After days of rumors, ABC made the official announcement Monday night that Bristol Palin, daughter of former governor of Alaska and vice presidential nominee, Sarah Palin, made the cut for season 11 of “Dancing with the Stars.”

Coming off the heels of a brief and highly publicized reconciliation with the father of her child, Bristol Palin now steps onto a stage of her own.

“...[she] join[s] her mother, an occasional contributor for Fox News Channel, on TV. (Oh, and possibly her ex, Levi Johnston, who is trying to sell a reality series based on his run for mayor of Wasilla, Alaska.)”  (Chicago Tribune)

One Washington Post contributor thinks when Bristol puts on those dancing shoes, she could outshine the ex she helped bring into the spotlight and even her famous mother.

“Bristol's going to dance circles around Mom and her ex in the ratings: ‘Dancing’ has recently become an ‘American Idol’-esque ratings behemoth thanks to some very savvy celeb-casting.”

An anchor for MSNBC isn’t buying into the ratings, saying fame does not necessarily qualify someone for star-status.

“But isn’t the show called 'Dancing with the Stars'?..."

“Yeah but we have The Situation this season.

“OK, you got me.”

“Audrina Patridge. It’s really, it’s dancing with the stars loosely.  Loosely.”

But a Houston Press blogger thinks it’s smart to cash in before the limelight dims on Palin and other dancing celebs, like "Jersey Shore’s" ‘The Situation’.

“That they're both going to make some extra money by participating in a dancing competition is not that surprising, and in fact it shows how shrewd they are. They both know that there's a definite horizon to their kind of fame, so it makes sense to grab as much money as possible on their way to the door.”

So what do you think? Is Palin cashing in, or are her 15 minutes up?