The second season of Dance Moms, a popular reality TV show filmed in Penn Hills, came to an end last Tuesday.

Upper St. Clair mother and daughter, Leslie and Payton Ackerman, again made a number of appearances in season two.

"As a whole, there were a lot of changes (from season one)," Leslie said. "I'm just glad in the end (of season two) we got to see more of the girls' talent and less mom drama."

Although Leslie does understand that the show is called Dance Moms.

In many scenes, Leslie is shown arguing with the other mothers.

"It used to bother me, but it doesn't bother me anymore," she said.

But Leslie reminds viewers that the editors cut out the parts when the other moms antagonize her; they only show her reaction.

"Which is me, I am real," she said.

Leslie said she holds a grudge with a few of the moms. She speaks with Holly and is cordial with Melissa, "but it will never be the same."

And life in general is a bit different for the Ackermans since they started appearing on the show. When Leslie is out, she is often approached by fans, and Payton "gets recognized everywhere."

"People are intimidated by us (at dance competitions), but if they have enough sense to say hello they end up saying, 'You're nothing like that on TV,'" Leslie said. "We're not bad people."

So what's next for Leslie, Payton and Dance Moms?

"I have no clue, I wish I did. I'm always left in the dark," Leslie said.

Despite the drama, Payton plans on dancing with the Abby Lee Dance Company until she goes to college.

In the meantime, Leslie's older daughter and former student of Abby Lee Miller's just finished performing with Taylor Swift at the MTV Video Music Awards and filming a performance for Abby's new show, Abby's Ultimate Dance Competition.