Who says TV critics aren't powerful?

Well, mostly we do. For all sorts of excellent reasons.

But after all of yesterday's whining about the results of ABC's "Dancing with the Stars," the network just announced that the next edition, planned for midseason, will include a separate results show, a la "American Idol."

OK, so maybe this won't make the show's judges any more believable, but at least the audience at home and the judges will be voting on the same performances now. In this summer's edition, Philadelphia's Kelly Monaco, a "General Hospital" star with deep support among soap fans, went into the finale having already won the thing (something that was never really explained to the 23 million people who tuned in to see Monaco face off with "Seinfeld's" John O'Hurley).

Even if she hadn't gotten those three 10s, the audience vote would have broken any tie, ABC entertainment president Steve McPherson explained yesterday.

But once again, our complaints -- and yours -- have been heard.

Maybe the system really does work.