'Dancing' changes the game

With just three more weeks of competition in the season, “Dancing with the Stars” changed the rules tonight, with the announcement by head judge Len Goodman that the couples can now include one lift in their routines if it’s in keeping with the integrity of the dance they’re performing.

In the past, couples were penalized one point if a dance was included in the routine (it’s a big no-no in professional competitions, it seems). Jason Taylor and partnery Edyta Sliwinska suffered the penalty Monday night when her tiny talented toes failed to touch earth during one elegant spin.

Why change the rules with just three to go? What if that rule change would have helped one of the other competitors, given them an edge in the scoring early on, who are now long gone? Franky, to change the rules at the 5-yard line just plain stinks.