This is what they did the first season (drew names every week) and it seemed to work fine.

I didn't start watching until the end of season 4. When did they move to the "same partner until the top 10" format?

2nd season AFAIK.

Kent is the woobiest woobie that ever woobed. If he is ever in danger, I might actually pick up the phone.

oh man Hair Tumor on Top Chef. Ewwwwwwwww

I thought Mark really took attention from Christina. It wasn't intentional, but Mark has so much charisma as a performer, that he is what drew my eye. I hope by pairing her with Mark that she'll get the votes to remain another week.

Clearly I started this program late, because I just got to the NappyTabs routine: that really sucked. That was not hip hop. WTF.

Get another set of choreographers PLEASE. Send them and 50% of Tyce on their way.

First, I have to say this. "WTF is wrong with the camera people/director?!?!?" I just spent two hours screaming at the tv that they were framing the dancers ALL WRONG. So annoying. It really took away from my enjoyment of the performances all night long.

Now, the performances.

Billy: Well done, and a Broadway number from Tasty that wasn't a Fosse rip-off! Liked it.

Cristina: I deliberately watched her instead of Mark on the first viewing, and I don't know what the judges were watching, because it wasn't what I saw. She left me cold and feeling nothing.

Jose: Not too bad for a b-boy not used to choreography, but nothing special. Not in my bottom three, but just barely out of it.

Adechike: Strong dancing, way outperformed by Kathryn, but not the complete disappointment the judges said it was. I thought he didn't do that bad with the performance, and thought there was at least a small spark of something between them.

Melinda: I admit to not being a ballroom expert, so I missed all the pigeon toes that the judges saw. I did see that she did a better job with the jive than most non-ballroom dancers have in seasons past, and she really sold it with her face and acting skills, so I give her some points there. Comparing her jive dancing to Mollee last season, I think she was much better. (Then again, Mollee annoyed the hell out of me.)

Alex: What the judges said.

Alexie: What the judges said. Cute and innocuous.

Lauren: What the judges said. She hit her spots, did the moves correctly, but talk about no charisma, no connection, just smiley-face and "look at me!!" Very cheerleader-esque overall. Blah.

Kent: So damn cute!! And he was having a grand old time on that stage. I thoroughly enjoyed it, even though it wasn't the best cha-cha ever (nowhere near it, actually).

Ashley: Super-meh. She's a cipher.

Robert: What the judges said. He started to stand out for me last week, and he has real potential to be in the top four.

My choice for bottom three this week: Ashley, Lauren, and Cristina, with Melinda being a close fourth.

I love Alex. Definitely one of my favorites this season.

BTW, I liked Alex's piece, but does anyone think it was over-praised? Mia said: best danced on any SYTYCD stage anywhere up to date?

Wha-what?

Robert kind of got on my nerves with his Sally Field schitck