did not watch, but read the posts anyway. so did each couple have 2 dances? I might get to watch tonight if I can manage to not fall asleep while waitig for mac to fall asleep.

Yep, everyone got two dances, and you could tell in the first hour, because they were rushing everyone, including the judges.

Brandon and Janette totally stole the show last night! They were awesome in both numbers--that tango was so crisp and intense (they were both doing the leg flicks so well, although I thought that Brandon could have done a lunge to match Janette's in the beginning, instead of the folded-leg crouch), and that Wade number was soo Spy vs. Spy (perfect description!) and fun.

The other dancers just faded in comparison, although I did like the foxtrot (the first time I liked Caitlin) and that addiction piece of Mia's. As much as I adore Evan and Randi, the judges were correct in that he has his niche of jazz/Broadway and just can't seem to break out of it. He doesn't know how to bring the intensity and lose the cute.

Melissa and Ade were just fine in both numbers, but not much more, unfortunately. Ade did shake it better than Melissa in the disco, but he didn't get the waltz movement right (although that might have been more the choreographer's fault than his).

the hip hop was an absolutely atrocity.

Jesse, maybe you are right, but I've seen other Russian dances that are much better, so I just thought the choreo was bad.

Definitely everything about it was terrible. I'm willing to call it a group effort!

but I've seen other Russian dances that are much better, so I just thought the choreo was bad.

I haven't tracked down the intro on youtube to confirm, yet, but last night I thought that in that tape they showed a number of things that didn't end up being in the dance. I suspect that whatever they had choreographed got scrapped when Phillip couldn't handle it and thus we got the judges harping on how easy it was.

I think the two booted tonight will be Evan and Caitlin. The producers want Phillip to be in the top ten so he can go on tour this fall, and I personally think that Jeanine outshines him so much that they'll both be safe this week.

Thinking about Top Chef, a comment elsewhere about Suzanne Tracht and Anita Lo got me thinking about why there aren't more badass female chefs on TV. I think it's because they don't have time to fuck around and be cute! They're too busy putting out badass food and running restaurants! Due to it being 1000 times harder for a woman to be taken seriously as a badass.

Anyway, I'm glad to see the ladies represent on TC:M.

Thinking about Top Chef, a comment elsewhere about Suzanne Tracht and Anita Lo got me thinking about why there aren't more badass female chefs on TV. I think it's because they don't have time to fuck around and be cute! They're too busy putting out badass food and running restaurants! Due to it being 1000 times harder for a woman to be taken seriously as a badass.

Anyway, I'm glad to see the ladies represent on TC:M.

Yes, and I was happy to see the other chefs realize quite early who their real competition was.

That kind of Russian dance is really all about showing off your chops in astounding tricks. If the dancers can't do the leaps and kicks, there isn't much else the choreographers can give them. It's just not something you can tone down and still have it be itself.

How do they do the costuming for the choreographed numbers? I had assumed that it was provided by the show, but the judges commenting on wardrobe choices make me think that it's under more of the contestants' control than I thought.

Well just in general, culinary schools are male dominated. Then to go to the externships, where the sexism is pretty heavy - and they whole 7 day a week job and late nights as a factor in possibly having a family. I'd think female chefs would need a stay-at-home partner if they wanted a family.