Boo, special reports. Don't they know SYTYCD is on?

Blah blah bay bridge closed blah.

They showed some of Nathan and Mollee's dance, at least.

Why is Russell up for elimination? Not right.

I also hope they let Brandon try out again. I assume he will be going home, and it doesn't seem fair for this to be his one chance.

Russell is just awesome. It's ridiculous. I think the judges put him in the bottom tonight just because they wanted to see him dance. And the rest of the kids all love him. So sweet.

I don't understand why Brandon spent half his time rolling around on the ground.

Neither of the girls made much of an impression. And Pauline's music choice was just bizarre. And I like Sergio Mendes and I adore that song, but it just didn't fit. If it were up to me, I'd kick Noelle off. Even if she is well enough to dance next week, it's not fair that she basically got a free pass this week.

I think the judges put him in the bottom tonight just because they wanted to see him dance.

Seriously. All three of the judges said pretty good things about him in the critique section. There were several guys that got worse reviews.

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

Seriously. I don't get it. I think she should have been up for elimination instead of Ariana.

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

I was sort of hoping it was all a set-up to say they weren't eliminating anybody because of Billy Bell and Noelle being gone this week, mostly because of this:

If it were up to me, I'd kick Noelle off. Even if she is well enough to dance next week, it's not fair that she basically got a free pass this week.

SYTYCD: IF THEY KICKED RUSSELL OFF THE FIRST NIGHT THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN HELL TO PAY!

Erm. Sorry for the asscaps. But seriously. We need to get to voting stat, because the judges are not to be trusted! Okay, mind you with the Shankdaddy we get so much better and more reasoned judging I am willing to forgive most things, but boy howdy would I not have forgiven that.

I mean, it's bad enough we have to lose Billy Bell. Sheesh.

Jakob was fantastic. Ashleigh getting paired with him is the pairing of doom, because he will be excellent and he will carry her. Oh, tonight was our best option of losing her, because the elims weren't partnerships.

I was sorry to lose Ariana. I would have rather lost Pauline, I think. I only realized who she was tonight, and I remember her audition piece, which I loved. I feel ambivalent at Brandon, because it was such a roller coaster. I do have to say, can you imagine if we'd gotten that piece with Billy in it? Sigh.

Agree about Victor & Bianca. She surprised me for sure, but it was really nicely done and the chemistry was fab. Again, Travis knows how to choreograph, specifically for this show. He knows how to hit the notes and show off the dancers and communicate. Not all the choreos do.

Oh, Dave Scott! That piece was amazing. And I was so surprised by both Legacy and Kathryn. They did great with it, and the charisma really came through.

So this episode, I had some thoughts. They really should've just ousted Noelle and Billy from the jump and put Russell together with Pauline. I seriously doubt that Noelle will be recovered enough to dance in next week's show, especially if the scuttlebutt is true and the injury she suffered is actually a result of aggravating a pre-existing injury (a fact which she did not disclose to production and they are pissed!). In which case, they may wind up having to bring Ariana back anyway, which would just be stupid and cruel. But that's all speculation, not spoiler. I have no knowledge that this will in any way play out. And aside from all the theorizing, it's just not fair to all the kids who put it all out there on the stage tonight for Noelle to have the potential to get a free pass into week two. I don't know. It just leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I will need to watch Jakob and Victor dance again to wash it away. The sacrifices I make for this show.

Okay, I am caught up. Scattered thoughts:

The wonderfulness of Jakob is going to make it okay that we lost Billy. I thought Shankman was going to cry for him, too!

That Peter has some charm on him.

Bianca has ridiculously long arms and legs - if she can figure out how to use them a little better, she could be amazing.

Ellenore is the Mark of this season.

Poor Ariana - I would much rather have lost the Mollee or Noelle. She had room to grow. I know exactly what some of those other girls are going to be like - I was looking forward to finding out about Ariana.

I am stunned by how very many of them this year are 18 or 19. Such BABIES. Seriously, aside from the ballroom peeps and Kevin and Legacy, is anyone over 20?

It does seem like there's no one in their early-mid 20s -- they are all 18-20, except for the four or five who are like 28.

It does seem like there's no one in their early-mid 20s -- they are all 18-20, except for the four or five who are like 28.

I wonder if that's a factor of normal career progression - the young'uns are just starting out and looking for a leg up, while the older ones are looking for a final(ish) shot at breaking through. The dancers in their twenties may be out there trying to build their careers without the gimmickry.