I really liked the showcase aspect of SYTCD - seeing everyone in their styles and having the judges not giving critiques right away so everyone's just bathed in a glow of "look how great they are all". Very enjoyable!

That said, the only choreography I loved was the tap. It's like they aren't even trying to appeal to me and my idiosyncratic taste!

Eta: ugh, the camera work, drives me crazy! But it always does.

Mary called Ashley out on her fake faces during their very first audition, which was part of why she got sent to do the choreo round. Sadly, that part of her dancing hasn't gotten any better. She was outshone by both Ryan and Karen in that latin routine. The whole routine was kind of blah, and she was the blah-est part in it.

I liked the choreography for the boys in that tap piece, but not for Bianca. But I can't tell whether that had to do with the choreography or with the fact that I just flat out don't like her.

Like Liese, I could not tear my eyes away from Billy Bell. He's captivating even when he's just standing still.

I admit, I was not watching Bianca hardly at all.

Oh, I liked the group number a lot, I forgot about that. Just seeing 20 dancers all on stage moving at once is pretty thrilling, and that was a fun piece.

and thus begins the overrating of Ashleigh. Jakob made her look like a little girl.

Adam Shankman's Lil C reference was awesome.

OK, I think it was just mean that they put Brandon up against Russell. Because, obviously.

y'all, have you seen Ryan's body? HOT DAMN. That man is foine.

Aw, that's an awesome thing for Nigel to do. I hope it works out.

Ryan is adorable. That smile!

ON NO! Billy!

I hope he can come back next season.

I already hate the Jakob/Ashleigh pairing. Wrong on every level. Why not Jakob/Ariana? That would've been heaven.

I thought Philip was really great just at the top of that Jive routine. He really had the feel of the dance and was down into the floor nicely. Channing was really tentative.