also, wasn't Nigel supposed to NOT be back this year? didn't he have a new show or something?

no, he left AI to do SYTYCD.

Janette and Brandon were lovely. Great lifts, and they did a decent amount of closed hold and kept their frames very well. And they really got into the character of the dance. Loving Louis Van Amstel on this show. He's a huge improvement over Hunter Thompson and Toni Redpath.

oh. haha, wishful thinking.

the difference btw Tyce dance #1 and #2 could not be wider.

Agreed. I was pleasantly surprised by #2 since I hate Tyce.

Cha Cha to Poker Face? Really, Tony? And what happened to Melanie? I know she would not have let it go down like that.

Wrod. I hated when they went in the direction of contemporary music for ballroom and keep hoping they'll go back. And I don't mean Michael Bublé.

bollywood - she was behind or he was rushed in a couple of places that threw me off. it is so fun to watch, but I don't think it was near as clean as the one last year.

I think their problem was the same as the Cha-Cha, not bad, just seeming to lack energy.

wade dance - liked it on rewatch, really liked the girl in that a lot.

It was great to see a Wade dance in competition this early. I hope he sticks around.

Good to hear the few dances remaining sound good.

I'm bummed I can't do my usual morning rewatch of the best numbers.

when she makes Padma look zaftig?

Speaking of zaftig, do the women dancers seem bigger overall this year? I think that's a good thing, but I was wondering if it was my TV.

I frikkin' love Wade Robson. I thought that piece was genius. And Kupono. I adore Kupono. Ashley was a revelation, though. I didn't know what to expect from her, but she brought it. Both of them have insane body control. Some of those isolations were astounding. And the hands and the footwork . . . so quick. I really enjoyed that. I don't know if that's going to get fingers dialing though. It reminded me of that Mia piece, the Let the Drummer Kick piece. Except with dancers that I like rather than the Hunchback and Mischa Chan.

OMG, I forgot about the "Mischa" shit.

Top Chef: I don't care what the judges say, I want Hubert's pea and carrot soup recipe! I'll take out the cinnamon, since that seems to be the sticking point in it, but I love a good carrot soup, and that one sounded good.

And those Girl Scouts were hilarious, especially the picky redhead. She really is an incipient NYT food critic!

msbelle, I'm really sad you weren't joking about Richard Marx.

oh! one of my friends will have a song featured on SYTYCD. Her name is Katie Thompson and she's awesome. She's not sure which ep, though.