Mike I for the not-win!

Also, stupid Mike Voltaggio can lay off my Kevin!!

Agreed, Jesse. Michael's dish might have been inventive and cute, but Kevin delivered a hearty meal. I adore Kevin.

I also made victory arms during the elimination. So relieved.

I also made victory arms during the elimination. So relieved.

I woo-hoo-ed VERY loudly. Now if we can just get Eli and Mike V. gone I'll be very, very happy.

I suspect Robin will go sooner, and, from what I've seen, deserves to, but I'd like no one in the finals I'm going to hate winning.

ETA - now that I think about it, I may have made victory arms as well. Heh.

The krumpwashing (love!) really chaps my ass. Nigel made a point to ask Russell if he had trained in other styles during his first round audition and he said that he had trained in pretty much everything, including tap, which led to Nigel making that awful "krap" joke. They've been trying to walk it back ever since. Stupid, show.

I am hoping that Billy will get to try out for the show again on a technicality, since he didn't, strictly speaking, compete on the show. He just performed on the opening night, and they let Philip compete last season even though he had been on the S4 finale in the hip hop battle with Robert Muraine. I wouldn't mind if they gave him a pass straight through to Top 20, but I also think it would be fair to just put him through to Vegas, the same way that they did Nathan this season. I've no doubt they'd pick him to be on the show again because he is fabulous.

Nigel made a point to ask Russell if he had trained in other styles during his first round audition and he said that he had trained in pretty much everything, including tap, which led to Nigel making that awful "krap" joke. They've been trying to walk it back ever since. Stupid, show.

I wasn't sure if it was the show trying to krumpwash or Russell thinking that it improved his chances if people thought that this untrained krumper was doing so "well" (even though he's very talented, even for being trained)

I guess I'm just inclined to think ill of the show where this is concerened because they have done it in the past, most egregiously with faboo dancer and S4 champion Joshua. I suppose they feel like it makes for a better storyline, but I just can't abide it. Lots of people train in different styles but are pretty mediocre at things outside of their specialty. It's still pretty fucking incredible to be that good at so many different styles of dance. Most especially given the time frame that these kids have to pick up unfamiliar styles. It's just so unnecessary to pretend like these kids have less training than they actually have. Down with the krumpwashing!

And even if Russell has been co-opted into walking it back (and I think he has done so), I'd be very surprised if he weren't doing it in response to producer manipulation.

Top Chef: I like that it seemed to be both Mike's food and his attitude that got him sent home over Robin.

Yes - excellent elimination on TC.

I don't get why there was so little in the way of starch. Pasta or rice or couscous all would have made sense to me.

There is an entire PhD's worth of material in SYTYCD's treatment of issues of race, class, masculinity, and sexuality in the male dancers. Looking at the "street" dancers from this season alone, Legacy is clearly by FAR the least trained - I would honestly be surprised if he's had any formal classes at all. It's obvious by his struggles in Vegas. Russell was shown in Vegas wearing capri-length skin-tight leggings (not very street!) - I'm *sure* he's had ballet. (I do think he hasn't had any ballroom classes, but that's not unusual for many of the dancers - I doubt most contemporary dancers have had any ballroom to speak of.)

I honestly think this is one reason the male dancers are more interesting in many ways - dance is societally problematic for straight males, especially straight males of color.