Potatoes Unite!

It's Coming!

2010-04-14T11:22:00.000-07:00

Last night on Dancing With the Stars (don't judge me!) Travis, Danny, Jaime, and Nick made an appearance that was amazing!

I'm looking forward to the new SYTYCD season in May! Has anyone else heard about the new show format of contestants being paired up with previous seasons' favorites? I'm not so sure about this. . .

Wow.

2009-12-17T08:07:00.000-08:00

I can't believe I thought I was speechless yesterday. Wow. Russell? Really? I can't believe that Jakob didn't win.

Wow.

Speechless.

2009-12-16T07:22:00.000-08:00

I don't know what to say. It's like my beloved show has become a Stepford Wife. Right now I believe that Dancing With the Stars has more integrity than SYTYCD. Dang. My thoughts as they happened:

Cat is wearing a toga and Shankman thinks she looks hot. I think I've seen her wear a toga at least two other times this season. But at least her hair looks normal. There are no video packages for the contestants and they are cramming nine dances into one hour. Where are the solos? Why are there six contestants in the finale? Why isn't everyone dancing with everyone, like they've done every season until now?

Kathryn and Ryan are dancing a samba. It's okay, but I think that Ryan's lack of shirt is annoying, and it's distracting me that he's not wearing shoes. The judges spend more time talking than Kathryn and Ryan spent dancing. Maybe this show should be retitled "So You Think You Can Be a Pompous Old Windbag"?

Ellenore and Jakob are on with a Tyce number. I think Tyce feels threatened by all of the attention showered on Joey Dowling for her Fossey-esque style. So Tyce does a number from Fossey with all of those elements thrown in. Ellenore looks a bit out of control at times with her crazy kicks.
Ashleigh and Russell are next with lyrical jazz. I rewind to make sure I heard it right that it's a Sonya number. Really? I am left a little sad, because Sonya's pieces are usually dark and quirky, just the way I like them. This piece seems a bit. . . generic. Sigh.
Ellenore (wait -- didn't she JUST dance??) and Ryan are up with a jazz number. It's pretty cool. Ellenore truly shines! Ryan seems woefully outmatched, and not at all flexible. Can he not kick above his waist?
Ashleigh and Jakob are foxtrotting (that's two ballroom numbers out of nine -- how many more are we going to see?). I go to the kitchen to wash dishes while they dance.
My question about the ballroom numbers is answered when Russell and Ellenore start dancing their Paso. I am concerned that we are 35 minutes into the show and Ellenore is already done performing. Nigel you are SHAMELESS.
Jakob and Kathryn (where has she been for the last 30 minutes??) stay almost entirely airborne for their contemporary number. I think they are immune to gravity. Very nice.
Ryan and Ashleigh are dancing a Travis Wall piece (Nice. This couldn't be more of an obvious set-up! Argh!). It seems very basic and easy. It's sweet to see their tenderness. The judges have nothing to say about the dancing (but is that really a surprise?).
We end the night with a NappyTab yawn-fest. From the beginning where they turn in that awkward circle, I am left cold.
And that's it. What do I say to this? My bullets:

How is it that Ellenore was totally set up for failure?
Where are the solos? Where are the memorable routines? I am still in awe of Jeanine's solo from last season's finale!
Doesn't Cat always do a final interview with the contestants?
Why was there no group routine?
Why didn't the boys dance together? Or the girls? Does no one remember Benji and Travis' routine? Danny and Niel?

Argh!! I am so frustrated!!! Please tell me I'm not the only one!!!

Nigel is Evil!

2009-11-19T09:59:00.001-08:00

And pervy! And ruining my favorite show! Argh!

I must settle down before continuing, so I'll write more later. For now, discuss how annoying Nigel is!

So You Think You Can ZZZZZZZ. . . .

2009-11-11T09:10:00.000-08:00

Wowsers, last night was a snoozefest! The only dances worth my attention were the Broadway (thank goodness it was NOT choreographed by Tyce!), Afrojazz and Jazz. Other than that I was bored.

Here are my picks for couples in danger:

Eleanor and Ryan. Their Krump -- excuse me, I mean their journey of timing, swagger and synergy -- stank it up. And not in the good stanky way. It was just stinky. I'm sad about Eleanor being in the bottom three because she has some good personality. On the other hand, I am not sad about Ryan being in the bottom three.
Mollee and Nathan. Their Salsa was more like a watery pico de gallo with lots of mistakes. And I am just not loving Nathan -- something about the way he is dancing is very disappointing to me. Meanwhile, Mollee is becoming a favorite of mine despite last night's performance.
Peter and Pauline. I am so bitter that they keep the quickstep around year after year! It's the kiss of death and they should let it go already!

Who is going home? Sadly, I think it will be Eleanor and Peter.
The bullets:

I think that Cat is also one of the V's -- did anyone else hate her cuckoo updo and that weird snakeskin dress? Yikes!
Nigel is a tool. Why does he ALWAYS talk about the choreographer and not the dancers? He is driving me absolutely nuts! Between him and Mary at mach 10 crazy I was ready to pull out my hair last night!
My BFF Adam tells it like it is!
Legacy -- how are you transforming before my eyes? Were you always so great and editing just made you seem horrible?
Did anyone see Donny Osmond in his 80's outfit on Dancing With the Stars? So scary!

How was I fooled into liking and Ryan and not Ashleigh? Ashleigh is by far the superior dancer. Anyone else recognize the BYU bell tower in the background of her graduation picture?
Please don't let Mary dance at the Dizzy Feet gala! I always feel like I need to call the police when I see her dancing with Dmitry. Gross!

What are your takes? Who's going home tonight?

A New Legacy!

2009-11-04T09:26:00.000-08:00

Last night V premiered on ABC and I am convinced that Nigel is the Supreme Leader of the Vs. He's got to be an evil reptilian alien, bent on ruining the world (or at least SYTYCD!)! This week Nigel's evil plot continues, as he is the one making the "decision" (order!) on who is cut. Curses!

First up is a tennis hip-hop with Russell and Noelle. I'm glad to see that Noelle is back, but I was worried about her knee the whole time. And then I started to really worry because this didn't look good at all. Yikes. The tennis thing was a good idea, but didn't have great results. Adam Shankman, my new best friend, was right on in his comments.
Next is the wedding dance with Ashleigh and Jakob and I really want to hate it. But I don't. This is the BEST waltz I've seen on the show. I agree with Adam (my BFF) that it was a bit lifty, but other than that it was great. And I'm not hating Ashleigh as much anymore.
Bianca and Victor are next with a really really bad Braodway by Tyce (my other arch-nemesis). It felt empty and boring to me. I don't know how much of this is them and how much is Tyce. I think both are to blame. It was just uncomfortable to watch. Again my BFF Adam is spot on in his comments.
At this point in the show I am feeling deflated. Maybe Mollee and Nathan will cheer me up with a Bollywood number? It's great, but I'm not loving it. Or Nathan. I keep thinking about how awesome Joshua and Katee were. Sigh.
After Channing and Philip's disastrous samba, I am considering turning off the show for the night. What happened to the fantastic season six?? Where has all the good dancing gone?
Karen and Kevin start the redemption with their NappyTab hip-hop number, but I'm still not feeling it.
And then this happens:

Legacy and Kathryn: SYTYCD 11/03/09 - Watch more Videos at Vodpod.

Wow. I was stunned. And all of a sudden I REALLY love Legacy. Wow. Amazing.
I feel totally sorry for Pauline and Peter who have to follow with another "conception" by Amanda and Wade Robson. This one is pretty cool, but not as cool as the routine I just saw.
Finally it's time for an Argentine Tango and I am super-stressed ten seconds into the routine when I see Eleanor has a foot caught in her dress! Ack! And then she does that wonderful kick and frees herself! Amazing! I loved this routine. Kudos!
It's easy to see who is going home and I'm not feeling that bummed. Just mad that Nigel acts upset about it, when really he's planned this all along on his home planet. Grrr.
Here are my final bullets:

I can't believe that horizontal jump and lift with Legacy and Kathryn. I'm still stunned by the routine.
Shankman is totally falling in love with Karen, and it's cracking me up.
Nigel is evil.
Why is the waltz still one of the dances?
I hate the new stage!!
Mary has intelligent things to say. Yowza.
I love Stacey Tookey.
Sweaty Ashleigh and Jakob = gross.

What did you think of the top 18? Next week we can vote! Who are you voting for?

Thank Goodness for Tivo!!

2009-10-27T09:45:00.000-07:00

How much do I love my Tivo?! It recorded a Meet the Top 20 SYTYCD special last night, just for me! Hurrah!! I am SO glad my sweet Tivo knew about it! Talk about an awesome night! Let's briefly forget about the disaster that Cat is wearing (ack!), how much I dislike Nigel (ick!), how long ago this episode was filmed (grr!), and how I'm missing Mia already (argh!). Let's focus on the dancers!
First up it's a Wade and Amanda Robson concept, choreographed by Wade (what does that mean??). Does conceiving the dance consist of texting on camera? Because that's all I saw Amanda doing. That aside, the routine is off the hook! I am totally drawn to a few of the dancers, most notably Billy Bell (argh! Why did he have to get sick?!) and Nathan (but that's just 'cause he was front and center, I think).
Next up, the hip hoppers and I'm . . . just sort of impressed. I really really LOVE Russel (the krumper), but I'm still not feeling Legacy and I don't even know who that other guy is. NappyTabs' style of hip-hop is a little too much of the 'burbs for me (and you know I've got some serious street cred!).
Contemporary with Tyce is next. I hate Tyce, but despite that I like the routine. There is a great jump in the middle and I'm hooked. Bravo.
Now we're on to my beloved Sonya, who cracks me UP! She definitely does NOT know how to be sexy, but thankfully is able to teach it to the jazz girls. Kudos to the girls, too, for rocking out the jazz routine. Sometimes Ellenore seems a bit off to me, but overall a nice routine, and I loved the jazz hands.
The tappers are INSANE and I am bitter against Nigel for setting them up to be eliminated early on. Why can't they teach other dancers tap? They've had Bollywood, two-step (shudder!), krump, and classical ballet on the show and expected the dancers to pick it up. I don't think it would be more disastrous than having a hip hopper try to waltz. Curse you, Nigel!
I am anticipating a nice 80's routine from Mandy Moore and she knocks me for a loop with a current song! Who introduced you to our decade, Ms. Moore?! As I mentioned earlier, I am totally infatuated with Billy Bell (sobs!) and so am drawn to him for most of the routine. His moves are insane and I am SO bummed that he's not going to be in this season. And why did they replace him with a hip-hop dancer? Why not my Mr. Checker-Pants? I think we should have a viewer selection season, where we can vote in all of our favorites from past seasons who didn't win (Natalee, Billy, Mr. Checker-Pants will be some of my favorites).
Finally we end the night with a samba. I am not a fan of the Di Lellos, but this routine was nice! Ryan seemed a bit out of control a couple of times, but maybe because he was twirling two girls around like a madman! Nice way to end the evening.
Here are my final bullets:

What do we think of the new stage? I'm missing the staircases already.
Paula Abdul guest judging?
Adam Shankman as the new permanent judge?
Mia Michaels' exit?
Billy Bell's exit (sobs!)?
Are the judges eliminating a couple without letting us vote at all? Is that they way it's always been done?
What was up with Cat's dress? Yikes.

Laurie Ann Diva??!!

2009-10-15T10:31:00.000-07:00

Whoever said that there are no stupid questions obviously never asked Laurie Ann Gibson anything. The AUDACITY of asking her a question!!! Shame on you, talented dancer! That being said, I have a lengthy list of stupid questions for her and the rest of the judges/choreographers:

Where'd your headphones go, Crazypants?
Why do you look so tortured after teaching super-talented kids so-so choreography?
Nigel, why are you still standing up and pacing?
Do they purposefully keep the dancers up all night before sending them to Mia?
Mia, why are you so nice and centered? Did they make you be that way?
How much do I love you, Adam Shankman?
How much do I loathe you, Tyce Diorio? Argh!!! Billy Joel? Really?
Must we be subjected to gross gross GROSS pictures of ankles popping out of their sockets? Yech!

Okay nerds: what are your questions? Are we all in agreement that Laurie Ann Gibson needs a talking to?

*NEWSFLASH* Is Mia leaving SYTYCD? Did anyone else read her Tweets?! What is going on??

Vegas, Baby!

2009-10-08T13:07:00.000-07:00

Cat rules. Seriously.

I am CRUSHED that my Mr. Checker-Pants was cut last night!!

I can totally do this jump. Fo' realz.

I love this guy!

Other bullets:

Why was Nigel standing up half the time during Vegas week?
Where is Sonja during these auditions?
Where is the dude from last season whose boss wouldn't let him out of his contract?
Why does everyone insist that I watch Glee?????? Leave me alone!
How much does Tyce annoy me (if you guess correctly, he must annoy you just as much)?
What is with the Legacy love-affair?
Did they have to show that girl's toenail come off? Eck.
Why on EARTH did Nigel let the stripper through?? Gross, Nigel! You are too pervy!
The New Orleans bounce looked a little too much like just wiggling your legs around and nothing else. Or is it just me?
Where are those Theatre Arts (notice the fancy spellin') ballroom dancers?
WHERE IS NATALIE????????????

Let's get going on the discussion!

Sweet Victory!

2009-08-07T08:46:00.000-07:00

I totally believe the Nigel conspiracy theories, which is why this victory is so sweet! Take that, Nigel! Congratulations Jeanine! There was an article today (click here) about Jeanine that makes this victory even sweeter. Go Jeanine!

Bullets:

There IS a Nigel conspiracy!
Louis Van Amstel had way too many numbers in the judges favorites. I still hate that one waltz and don't get why there were sooooooooo many waltzes this season. Where's the crump? Cha cha cha?
Why on earth is Lil' C a guest judge? Did he even choreograph this season? I didn't think so.
Love Cat's dress! What was that green dress with the crazy hair last week?
Why was Mia laughing hysterically through her entire Chorus Line dance? Did anyone else see how into it Tyce was?
Why on EARTH did Kayla and Evan get a jive in the finale? Is this for real? Remember when they used to draw the names AND the dances from a hat? I don't believe for a second that it's still random!
ZZZZZZZ. . . oh, I'm sorry: the shameless plug for Fame put me to sleep!!
What is with Laurie Ann Gibson and her headphones?? You're trapped in the 80's; we get it already! Go hang out with Mandy Moore!
Still sad about Natalie going home in Vegas. Will she be back in the fall?
Why were they chanting Evan's name on Wednesday? Here's the reason straight from an audience member: “…the amount of criticism the judges gave Evan became torturous (they cut a lot of it from the actual show) to the point where everyone felt so bad they started chanting Evan’s name.” Yet more proof that Nigel stinks.
Still not enough proof that Nigel stinks? Last week Brandon reruns his audition piece and the judges give him a standing ovation. This week Evan does a variation on his audition piece and the judges call him on it.
Final nail in the Nigel stinks coffin? His pervy, dirty-old-man comments he's been making to Jeanine and Kayla all season. Ew!
What is with the massive Travis love affair? Yes, he did a great dance, but TONS of ballroom dancers have come back to the show to choreograph, too. Where's the love for my sweet Dmitry? Pasha?

Finally, I need to discuss this Nigel conspiracy of Angie's. I can't get over how he went on and on about how this show is not So You Think You Can Choreograph, but then every week he waxes poetic about the choreographers. He tells the contestants they need more personality, but doesn't let them speak or show it. He critiques the choreography and not the dancers. He practically drools in the laps of Tyce and Mia and then bags on the Russian Folk and hip hop choreographers that HE hired (remember how "disappointed" he was in hip hop this season? Where was Nappy Tabs at the finale? Were they in the audience?).

Okay, rants are over. Here is my rave: September 2nd is so close that I don't even need to reprogram my Tivo! Hurrah! See you all in a few weeks! Here's hoping that Natalie will be back to win in season 6!

SYTYCD Coffee Talk

2009-07-24T00:27:00.000-07:00

I'm a little verklempt right now. Talk amongst yourselves. I'll give you a topic.

Janette was totally robbed! There IS a conspiracy, Angie!!! Katie Holmes is neither a singer or a dancer. Hok and Jaime ROCK! Cat's dress was blinding. Wade Robson still has some moves.

Discuss.

Here's a video to get the discussion juices flowing!

Wow.

2009-07-09T20:26:00.000-07:00

I loved this dance, and have watched it several times. Any favorites for you guys?

Phew!

2009-06-11T23:37:00.001-07:00

For a moment there I was actually nervous they were going to keep Tony! He's gone and so is Paris. What do we think of the bottom three? What do we think of our first week of SYTYCD competition?
See you on the flip side!

SYTYCD Recap -- My Eyebrows Are Stuck

2009-06-11T08:38:00.000-07:00

I almost fell off the couch when Mary Murphy full-out admitted to the quarts of Botox in her face! Maybe next week she'll tell us how old she really is! So I'm traveling and didn't see the whole episode, but here are some bullets:

Loved the first dance. Phillip ROCKS!
Still strongly dislike TabNap.
What is with Wade Robson? He used to double for Joey Fatone, for Pete's sake!
Love Mandy Moore.
Why did Louis Van Amstel defect from Dancing With the Stars? I'm not a fan of his choreography. Go back and hang out with Tom Bergeron!
Did Mary lose her voice (if yes: my prayers are FINALLY answered!!)?

Okay, that's it for today. Discuss!!

Zack is Back!

2009-06-09T08:50:00.000-07:00

Oh, how I've missed you Zack, Kelly, Slater, Lisa, Jesse, and Screech (but not really Screech). This is priceless!!

Come back to me, SBTB!! Come back!!

Who Put Poop in Mia's Pudding?!

2009-06-05T10:05:00.000-07:00

Rants:
Mia is bonkers (in a very bad way) over Brandon, who bugs the [poop] out of her. What is up with that? Then they let popper Tony through and still don't realize that they made a HUGE mistake when they cut Natalie! Bring her back! Secretly I hope that they're keeping in the wings for the fall season. Finally, I am bummed about the ballerina dude who wasn't let out of his contract. Phooey on you, Miami dancing company!

Talking points:

Why did they cut Natalie?
Why do they like Tony?
Was anyone surprised that they took Asuka over the blond girl whose name I never knew? Did she really think she had a chance?
Why did they love that circus performer so much?
Who is putting grouchy pills in Mia "I like to cut" Michael's porridge? Seriously.
Which Kasprkjlsjzk brother is your favorite?
Favorites from the top 20?
How does Phillip make his arms move like that? Does he even have bones in his arms?
Why is that ballroom guy wearing jeans, no shirt and a vest? Yech!

SYTYCD Has Landed!

2009-06-04T09:19:00.000-07:00

Welcome to SYTYCD talk. I'm a little verklempt. I'll give you a topic:

Why did Natalie get cut???? I am still in shock.
How much Botox does Mary Murphy have in her face at any given time? I'm guessing at least two liters!
Why did they keep on giving that popper and Gabi extra chances?? I was not impressed by either of them.
I am, however, impressed like crazy over those two brothers (the Kasmyzksyrks's?). Which one do we like better?
How high school dance class were some of those group numbers?
When did the French dude become some catty? Has he been taking lessons from Mia?

Discuss!

It's Coming!!!!!! Hurrah!!!!

2009-03-30T13:42:00.001-07:00

Generalissimo!!

2009-02-06T12:31:00.000-08:00

Alec Baldwin, you are an evil genius!!!

No More Barfait!!!

2008-12-01T14:25:00.000-08:00

Bless your souls, Foo Fighters, for my favorite line of the night! So far I am loving this season! What stands out to me thus far is how they are really putting the chefs through different tests than before: basic skills right at the beginning, judging by wanna-be contestants (how they fit all those egos in Tom's restaurant is beyond me!), and now switching up on the chefs on the quickfire and the elimination challenge! Hurrah for the producers!
I am so far consistently impressed by Gene, Jamie, Leah, and Stefan. What do you think? Am I missing anyone?

AufwiederFINALLY!

2008-10-09T13:55:00.000-07:00

I am so relieved that the judges came to their senses and sent Jerrel home! It's about time. I am soooo excited to see the final ladies' runway shows! I'm most excited about. . . . well, all of them, to be honest!!

I must confess that I cheated and checked out the collections on the Bravo website, and I'll just put my favorite dress so far right here:

So which collection are you most excited to see? What's your take on this season? Who do you think will be the winner??

Too Brilliant!

2008-10-06T11:17:00.000-07:00

Yawn

2008-10-03T00:15:00.001-07:00

Is anyone else totally bored by this season's crop of "designers" on Project Runway? I feel like I've seen everything before, including their lame attitudes and boring designs. Kenley's attitude? A watered-down Santino. Creepy fake-bake Blayne? Mini Christian. Kieth? I'm sorry, I fell asleep just writing about him.
Dang this season is boring!
And so are last night's evening gowns. Even the judges final (non) decision was a rerun! Project Runway what are you doing? Are you trying to make me hate you before you move to Lifetime? Are you too embarrassed for your friends to see you on such a ridiculous network? Somebody please explain this insanity to me!!!

Holla At Ya Avant Garde!

2008-09-11T00:08:00.000-07:00

I was sooooooooooooo glad to see our favorite fake-baker Blayne go tonight. I wasn't so sure about Terri going; I feel like it's time Suede let us know that Suede is leaving.

Up until tonight I was a big Kenley fan, but now I'm rethinking things -- what kind of wacky attitude was she pulling? Was Santino up there with marionette strings? I'm mean, "I don't follow collections"? For realsies? Wow, she was acting crazy. Just CA-RAY-ZEEE.
And as for the cast-offs coming back: sigh. As usual, some are cool (Stella!), some are their usual train-wreck selves (Keith). Argh I just want to smack Keith upside the head. "Be gentle with me, I'm feeling vulnerable"??? Hold on a second, Keith, I'll be right there to wipe your little baby bottom and feed you a bottle. It's late and I'm too annoyed with Keith's existence to continue. Let me know what you thought.
Oh, by the way: Jerrell's outfit was L.A.M.E. And yes I mean the one he designed AND the bugly ensemble he wore for the runway show. Here's just one sampling of his many fashion offenses:

My favorite looks from tonight's show:

Welcome back Christian and Daniel V!

Bones?

2008-09-04T13:51:00.000-07:00

Do any of you dedicated TV watchers watch Bones?

90210 - Back and, well, NOT better than ever!

2008-09-03T09:11:00.000-07:00

Did anyone else watch this? Was it just me, or was it lame? Who wishes that instead of these tools:

The show was about these awesome friends of ours?

Well, everyone in that pic except Scott ('cause you know he's dead) and Andrea ('cause you know she's boring).

Yeah Baby! Yeah!

2008-07-31T19:04:00.001-07:00

That's right people: I am a super genius AGAIN!

Grillin'

2008-07-31T15:56:00.000-07:00

I loved it when Cat put Twitch's grillz on! I almost died laughing, and then was filled with deep admiration for our host and how great she is! I am so glad that Lauren Sanchez got dumped after the first season!
I just watched an interview with Will (sigh) where he talks about how embarrassed he was being shirtless on stage. He notes that he doesn't get to condition that much since the show started, and so he isn't in the best shape of his life. Hence his embarrassment. We should all have such problems. . . . This little snippet from Will makes me hate him just the teeniest tiniest bit. Or a whole lot. On to this week's dancing:
Courtney and Mark: their first dance is the traditional kiss of death, the Vietnamese Waltz (shout out to Donyelle from season 2!). It was good, but seriously, why do they still have this dance as an option??? This and the quickstep aren't doing the contestants any favors. But I'll give them props for a watchable routine. Next up they dance a Sonja piece and I LOVE IT. Mathias (my hubbie) hates it. What?!?! It was AWESOME and I am so pleased that Mark and Courtney get to do something so fun.
Twitch and Chelsie first dance a mambo choreographed by Tony Meredith. Does nobody remember him from America's Ballroom Challenge? Really? Set your TiVos, people! Watching Twitch in this mambo makes me cringe, but for some reason the judges have all taken happy pills and give glowing reviews. What's going on? Is this because Paula Abcrazydul is in the house? Second they dance a snore-worthy routine from Tabitha and Napoleon. That was a serious snoozer. TabNap needs to take a break from boring routines!
And now I've saved the best for last: Joshua and Katee rocked my universe tonight with their awesome routines! First they dance a contemporary piece that blew my mind. I watched that Tyce number several times! Then they blow the roof off the joint with a wicked awesome Paso. Dang, I just loved all of it! What is weird to me is that Joshua has talked about taking dance classes. He's said on the show that he's had ballet training, and I just read an interview where he talks about the loads of workshops he's done (with Debbie Allen!). So why is everyone gushing about how he's so untrained? Whether he's trained or not, he's an effortless, beautiful dancer. I can't believe I didn't like him in the beginning!
The solos are boring me to tears these days. Katee with her funny finger dances, Chelsie's sad ballroom solos (at least this time she did the splits), Mark's same "quirky" dances over and over again. Twitch gave it a nice something new with his glasses and grillz. And Joshua's routine was off the hook. But as far as solos go, I'm feeling like this is last year's Wade Robson solos all over again. Everything the same and not interesting. Where's my boy Blake when I need him the most? Or at least beautiful Artem or Dmitry?
After last week's lame elimination, I felt duty-bound to vote. My pick? Joshua. I really like Joshua, and I feel like he's the best dancer of them all right now. Who's your pick? What's your take on my take? And who gave Mary her screams back? I was really hoping they were gone for good. Alas.
Predictions: Chelsie and Mark are going home. I hope. Or maybe Courtney and Twitch.

Rerun Comments

2008-07-30T20:39:00.000-07:00

I'm writing whilst watching the rerun of last week's elimination (R.I.P. Will). A couple of things stand out:

I know there's only six dancers left, but I'm sad that I am going from two blissful hours down to a paltry single hour. Sigh. Can't we give each dancer three or four dances plus a solo to get that second hour filled up?
The opening dance of last week's elimination is strikingly familiar to what J.Lo's old crew, that's right -- The Fly Girls, used to dance on In Living Color. And the costumes are obviously cast-offs from Michael Jackson's 80's closet.

Is anyone else feeling this way, or is it just me?

Wow.

2008-07-25T10:14:00.000-07:00

I kind of saw that one coming, but still, I hoped. Don't you all remember season one when Blake did that amazing number that ended with him taking off his shirt? That's what I thought of when Will did that James Brown solo. When he started dancing that solo, I just knew he would be in the bottom. The real surprise here is that Mark wasn't even in the bottom at all. That's crazy. And it's too bad that Will went home. At least he has a brilliant career ahead of him. So who are our predictions now? I have my smart money on Katee or Joshua.

Last Night Rocked! Yes it Did!

2008-07-24T12:34:00.000-07:00

Last night is probably one of my favorite shows of all the seasons! Everything about it was great! Cat's ensemble was not horrifying, Mary was a manageable level of crazy, the dances were fantastic, and Toni Basil was a judge! Hey SYTYCD you're so fine, you're so fine you blow my mind, hey SYTYCD!!!
Let's jump right into the dances:
Courtney and Will: first up is a samba choreographed by Jean-Marc Genereux. When did Jean Marc become so cool? I usually don't like samba, but for some reason the samba is speaking to me almost every time this season. Nice job! Next they have a slow hip-hop and everyone is gushing about how there's never been a slow hip-hop number on the show. Hello?!?!?! What about Dom and Sabra last season????? How quick we are to forget. It was a nice routine, but Napoleon and Tabitha are getting on my nerves. It seems like almost every dance with them is about someone leaving, dying, or leaving to die. Sigh.
Twitch and Katee: a Mia Michaels routine. Awesome! Contrary to some other opinions out there, I thought that the kiss was great! Woo woo! I loved the whole routine: the door, the music, costumes (FINALLY the costume department is not hating on the contestants!), and especially the dancing. Great job. Next for them is a Broadway routine. Tyce gave them some love with that routine. Good for him. Some of these Broadway routines have been boring me to tears, but somehow the stars have aligned for this night.
Mark and Comfort: How is it chance that the bottom two would be paired together? I don't know -- this seems rigged. First they dance a hip-hop routine choreographed by TabNap. It's nice and for once no one is dying or saying goodbye. Really good job. Next they have a foxtrot and I thought it was pretty fun until the judges started talking. And then I still didn't think it was as bad as they said it was. However it is definitely the low point of the evening.
Chelsie and Joshua: Let's have a moment of silence for my dreamy Dmitry choreographing their first number. Can I drool over him more (later we can talk about how I tried to steal a picture of Daniel Craig last night at the movie theater)?? I like this Argentine tango. They do a great job. Totally fun and not snooze worthy like so many other Argentine tangos I've seen on the show. But what are the chances that Chelsie has two Argentine tangos?? This thing is rigged, I tell you! Rigged!!! Next they have a disco number choreographed by the last holdout of the disco-age, Dorianna Crazyface. Even with the groovy lifts I was not too impressed. Her routines are just one-notes the whole way. We could have stopped with disco in the first season, if you ask me. And is it just me or did Joshua keep messing up? I swear I saw at least three or four mistakes in there. He just looked like he was scrambling the whole way!
As far as solos go there were a couple of standouts. Will is an obvious one, and I am curious to see if his James Brown impersonation won or lost him votes. I also really enjoyed Twitch, Courtney, and Comfort. Chelsie and Mark definitely had the weakest solos.
Overall tonight was so great -- it's nights like this that remind me why this is my favorite show! Here are some favorite moments and predictions for you as I bid adieu until this evening:

The return of the Hot Tamale Train: blerg.
Katee dressed up as our favorite train wreck, Amy Winehouse. Classic.
The fantastic kiddie pics of all the contestants.
Dreamy Dmitry!!
Bottom four: Chelsie, Mark, Comfort, Will
Going home: Mark and Comfort.

Okay, so what did you think? Are you all soooooo excited for the tour????? Hopefully tonight I'm a supergenius again!

Gev -- We Hardly Knew Thee!

2008-07-18T09:06:00.000-07:00

Okay, I was really surprised that Gev and Kherington were the ones to go. I thought for sure that they had a bigger fan base than Mark and Comfort. But I need to give Comfort props for her good attitude and awesome solo last night.

So what did we think of Nigel's boring number (I guess my feelings on it are already clear)? How about the other numbers?
What about Kherington's "attitude" backstage last night after receiving critique from the judges? Do you think that Lil' C was right when he told her off? Let's hear it!

Nobody Puts Baby in a Corner

2008-07-17T10:19:00.000-07:00

But for sure some of last night's dances should have been cornered. Wow! What an evening. First up we'll talk about the news and wardrobe. The news:
Jessica is out with cracked and broken ribs. Yowch! Comfort is in. Now I know I was just asking about why no one likes Comfort, but I am sad to see her back and Jessica go. Poor Jessica! But at least she went out gracefully. Good for her! We'll miss you, Jessica!
On to the wardrobe fiascoes of the evening: Cat's dress, first of all, was bleh and I thought she wore that same one a couple weeks ago? What do you think? Also, Mary's hair extensions. . . . well, do we need to comment on Joan Rivers' heir apparent anymore? Sigh. Mary, you used to look normal!
Finally, a message to the wardrobe department: stop it already with your vendetta against the contestants! The dances are hard enough without you finding the worst outfits EVER for them!
And now on to the contestants:
Joshua and Courtney: I am initially excited about the hip hop number, but then that quickly fizzles and I become bored. Are hip hop numbers supposed to make me yawn? Their second dance is the ruuuuuumba. Woo woo! That was actually awesome! What is up with Joshua's hips? Is he secretly a latin dancer posing as a popper?
Kherington and Mark are up second with a two step and it was terrible! Oh man I just felt sorry for them! And Nigel was right when he said he was just willing them to get through the dance. I think after the first five or six mistakes I couldn't watch anymore. For their second routine they did a jazz number that I thought was great. The judges were not so impressed. I was kind of bummed about that because I really like these two. And their solos didn't do them any favors. Kherington's solo last week was so amazing that I just felt let down this time around.
This week Comfort and Twitch are the couple marked for death by a smooth waltz. Is it just me or was Hunter Johnson switching between American and Australian accents? Also, I think I recognize him as the guy who always needed help with his Botafogos in Strictly Ballroom. Anyone else? As expected, Twitchfort stank up the floor with their smooth waltz. They totally redeemed themselves, however, with their bonkers hip hop number. Finally a hip hop number that doesn't put me to sleep! And it makes such a huge difference when the girl is also a hip hop dancer! Dang that was sweet! My only gripe here is Twitch's lame lame lame ensemble. Poor Twitch. Was that aluminum foil wrapped around his waist?
Next up are the dream team of Will and Katie. First they dance a Tyce routine which I thought was just okay. It seemed a bit slow to me. But the judges loved it so what do I know. Sometimes I think they feel the same way about Will as I do about Daniel Craig: they would watch him open an envelope and think it brilliant. Their second dance is the Pas de Deux. Wow. Wow. The only dance I watched twice. Dang that was great. Just fabulous.
The last dancers are Chelsie and Gev. I was initially disappointed by Chelsie because her solo was the ballroom equivalent of Comfort's solo last week. I almost pulled a Mia Michaels at Tyce's and fell asleep. When I saw that they were dancing a Sonja piece I got a little excited, though, because Sonja's style has so far impressed me. They did a nice job, but I kind of wish it was Chelsie and Mark dancing that one because they had better chemistry. For their second dance they jive at hyper-speed. Holy cow that was fast! When Gev missed her hand in the first half I thought that was it and they wouldn't recover. But they did a pretty nice job. I was just amazed that they went sooooo fast. Bonkers!
On to the solos: No one's really stood out to me. Gev and Joshua's were okay, but other than that I was left a little cold.
So this episode was full of ups and downs for me. What did you think? Who do you think is going home tonight? What do you think of Comfort's return? Triumphant?
I will bid you adieu with some bullets and predictions:

Mary Murphy embracing her cougar status by saying Will can take his shirt of any time. Ew.
Lil' C defining Buck -- is this what we thought it meant?
No hot tamale train tonight. Is this the end of the train and the beginning of the Love Boat?
Dirty Dancing references - yippeeeee!
Dmitry in the audience - yipppeeeee!
Predictions for bottom girls: Kherington and Comfort
Predictions for bottom boys: Mark and Gev
Going home: Comfort and Mark

Tell me what you think! Will I be a super genius yet again?

What's Wrong With Comfort?

2008-07-08T09:30:00.000-07:00

I like Comfort! How come everyone is bagging on her? Tell me the reasons and I will look more closely on Wednesday.

I AM STILL A SUPERGENIUS!!!

2008-07-04T09:55:00.000-07:00

That's right folks! I got this week right on the money! And what on earth was up with Cat's hair?? I know she was going for the Cleopatra look, but it came out as sort of Mickey Mouse. . . .

Sequins and Tuxes and Bowties -- Oh My!

2008-07-03T10:52:00.000-07:00

Poor Cat. I mean really, poor Cat. She's super tall and skinny and younger than me and hosting a fabulous hit show. She must have such a hard time finding things to wear. I can think of NO reason (except for a drunk stylist) for the bib/tux/bow tie number she was wearing tonight. Argh! Cat! At least she got to do the hairstyle she wanted.

Cat's Mary Murphy-esque ensemble was a portent of the nature of tonight's show: bleh. I was underwhelmed tonight. Most of the dances were a snooze. There were maybe three or four routines that I thought were up to standard: the two Mia routines and the two Mandy Moore routines. And that's it. And there were fourteen dances!
First up:
Jessica and Will: Leave poor Jessica alone about holding Will back! I totally disagree. Sometimes I think that Will is too hammy and too "jazzy." Tonight's jive was a perfect example of that. The best part of this jive (and by "best," I mean the only good part) was that over the back through the legs lift. That was bonkers.
Their second dance choreographed by Mandy Moore was da bomb! I totally dug the shirt thing and seriously Will jumped about fifteen feet in the air right at the beginning. Bonkers!
Comfort and Thayne: first up is a Blankenbuehler (I love his name, hate his choreography) Broadway routine that leaves me cold. Have we seen Blankenbuehler before?
Second up is a smooth waltz and I want to know why they still have this as an option? Poor Comfort and Thayne will be in the bottom six, I predict. Wake me up when they stop dancing.
Kourtni and Matt: Olisa and Cecily's hip hop routine was not doing them any favors tonight. They definitely looked like two contemporary dancers doing hip hop. It did not work. And then their mambo, which had great potential. . . . sigh. Nigel was right when he said Matt needed to "butch" it up. These two are also in danger, I'm afraid.
Chelsie and Mark: I said earlier that I loved the Mandy Moore routines tonight and this was the first one we saw. Awesome. Although I must admit that the song choice drove me nuts. That "Kiss Kiss" song was originally done by a Turkish singer, Tarkan, and the original is SO MUCH better than the lame knockoff.
For their second dance they had the foxtrot. Why oh why did they give Chelsie that awful dress?? It distracted me the whole time and shed feathers everywhere. Other than my blood boiling because of the dress, I was left cold by this routine.
Twitch and Kherington: I don't know what to say about their paso doble. Twitch's shoulders really looked like he was wearing earrings and I couldn't get over that and how awkward he looked the entire time.
The Mia routine, however. . . wow! I loved it! That was fantastic! But not quite as good as Mia's other routine, danced by:
Katee and Joshua: holy cats this routine blew me away. I could feel the depth of emotion. Everything, to my super-dance-trained-eye, was superb. Amazing. Kudos to Mia for a great routine that will also get the audience to vote! Amazing!
Their second routine choreographed by dear Benji -- I almost fell asleep! Seriously why do the judges always love Benji's west coast swing routines?? I always come away from his routines wishing he were the one who actually danced them. Benji and Lacey have the personality for west coast swing. I haven't seen any other dancers (including Pascha from last year) who have what it takes for west coast swing. Katee and Joshua were no exception. The routine was slow and jerky. A total miss for me and I'm glad their first routine was soooo awesome.
Courtney and Gev: their routines are choreographed by the two losing choreographers of the night. Cecily and Olisa are first with a hip hop routine that looked like something out of an early (let's say late eighties, early nineties) rap video. I was so bored with this routine. Their was nothing interesting for me to get in to. Which is sad because I really like Courtney and Gev.
And then their Blankenbuehler Broadway routine. Again, I'm just not feeling it. Blankenbuehler's routines are really leaving me cold tonight.
So my predictions for the danger zone: Courtney and Gev, Kourtni and Matt, Comfort and Thayne.
Going home: Kourtni and Matt. Or Thayne. I'm torn.
Am I too grouchy about last night? Was it really a great night for dance and I am just stuck in some sort of funk? Who do you think is going home?

I AM A SUPERGENIUS!!!

2008-06-26T20:03:00.001-07:00

And tonight's results show proves it! Dang, I am freaky-freaky-freaky FRESH!
Okay ducklings, tell me what you thought of the bottom three (of which I got 2 right) and the ousted dancers (who I totally got right!)!
Also, there is some sort of superdork out there spreading the rumor that Cat is leaving the show. Anyone else hear this? Is Lauren Sanchez the source of these evil rumors???!

R.I.P. Adam Shankman's Microphone

2008-06-26T09:39:00.000-07:00

Wow, I am so impressed that the show did not run over! Adam Shankman never stopped talking! And when he did, it was only to rough up his poor microphone. He must have hit that poor mic ten times!
Meanwhile, Mary was breaking out into new territory yet again. Not satisfied with just deafening everyone in the world, this time she was going for blinding everyone as well!
First up, Twitch and Kherington with a jailbreak routine. Pretty good. I'm not totally blown away with Tabitha and Napolean's routines, but they are fo' sho' better than Dan Karrity's routines. My favorite part is when the music was over and I saw Kherington's "Twitch" glasses. Pretty fly. She definitely needs to tone down that smiling though. Mia was right last week. Kher has a great smile, and it's probably naturally there, but she doesn't need to smile that much through a jail break hip hop routine.
Can I be more in love with Gev? I almost died laughing when Tony told him to grab Courtney's booty. His smile was worth millions! Does anyone else recognize Tony Meredith from America's Ballroom Challenge? I can't get over him reciting all of his scripted material with Sandy Duncan.
Comfort and Chris. Boy, did they stink it up. There was really no power behind their dancing. Tyce's routine had the opportunity to be great. Bummer. What else can I say?
Doriana Sanchez. Dang I feel like this woman is my arch-nemesis! Why do they keep having disco? After the first disco routine in the first season we should have just stopped. But I guess Will and Jessica did a good enough job.
Meanwhile I totally am digging this Sonya mohawk chick and I hope that she comes back to choreograph again. I loved her routine. Fabulous, and really a good piece for Matt and Kourtni (side note to parents: stop it already with the funky spellings!).
I don't even want to talk about Chelsea and Thayne because it will make me too sad. Boy was that was heavy and boring. And it wasn't totally their fault. That choreography was a SNOOZE!
Why is everyone so in love with Tabitha and Napolean??? I liked Chelsi and Mark's routine (by the way his pinkies are Ca-Ray-Z! Yikes!), but I'm not peeling myself off the ceiling like everyone else. Geez.
And finally, Joshua and Katee. When I saw that they were doing Samba I groaned like a boy (ala Katee). I don't like Samba. Boy oh boy did I change my mind after that routine. That was really smokin' hot! Sweet! Sick! Banoodles! Right from the beginning I was hooked! What a great way to close the show!
So now I realize I've pulled an Adam Shankman and nattered on endlessly. I'll leave with a few (thousand) bullets:

What is up with the wardrobe department tonight? Did they spend all of their money on bedazzling Mary's dress? I was not diggin' any of the ensembles.
Is anyone else over the hot tamale train?
What dance show did Tabitha and Napolean come from?
Wasn't it so fly that Jessica tried to match Will's line after his slip?
How is Comfort still dancing with a dislocated shoulder? Didn't Mark on Dancing With the Stars do the same thing and had to have surgery?
Where the heck did Brian Friedman go?!?! I miss him!
And finally, I need to know how old Mary Murphy is. Ever since I realized she's removed her age from the interwebiverse, I've been obsessed. Any guesses?
Bottom three predictions: Chelsea and Thayne, Comfort and Chris, Will and Jessica (because Disco is never a favorite).
Going home: Chris and Chelsea

Old Tamale Train

2008-06-23T20:20:00.000-07:00

Okay, rather than waste a thousand words, please just look at this:

What the heck is Mary Murphy wearing???? And isn't she a little too old, like by let's say ONE HUNDRED years, to be wearing such an ensemble? I would post her actual age (judging by her Flintstone's era necklaces, I'd say she coming up on a Jurassic birthday), but while researching for this post, I was unable to locate her exact birth date.
Seriously.
Mary McBotox has not only removed age from her face, but also from the Interweb. How she did this, I don't know. She is an evil genius. I guess when you've been around for several millennia you learn a few tricks.
Kudos to you, Mary, for tramping up and crazifying my blessed SYTYCD! It wouldn't be the same unless you were drunk and frozen-faced! Banoodles!

Girl Power!

2008-06-21T23:59:00.000-07:00

Can I just say how glad I am that Stephanie won Top Chef? It is so great to see a girl win in such a male dominated field! Good for her. And I'm glad it was someone nice, too. Not a crazy schizo like everyone else on the show. Although I was really really pulling for Antonia. She won me over at: "We don't let Andrew talk to customers. Seriously." Fantastic.

So let's talk menus (I'm only including Richard and Stephanie because, well, did Lisa's presence even really matter?):

Richard:
Fish Course: "The Beginning": Grilled Scallop with Pineapple Vinegar and Mango -- I wanted this to work soooo badly. I'm one of those people that always looks at scallops with a twinge of sadness. They are so perfect to look at, but alas, never have I had one that tastes great. Sigh.
Poultry Course: "Which Came First?": Guinea Hen, Duck, Foie Gras, and Chicken Egg with Spring Vegetables -- Yikes this just looked heavy heavy heavy.
Red Meat Course: "Be the Bacon": Pork Belly with Pickled Radish and Mirin Broth -- You don't know how many times I wish I could be the bacon. And again, I am just soooooo sad about this course. Pork belly, or as I call it, Mannah from Heaven, is just superdelicious when done right. Richard, you could have been great with this! Curses!
Dessert Course: "The End": Banana Scallop with Bacon Ice Cream and Cilantro Stem -- This is the course that frustrated me the most. This is the meal of your life and you do reruns?!?! What a bad call. And bacon ice cream? Hasn't he ever seen Iron Chef? Ice cream is the kiss of death!

On to our winner. . .

Stephanie:
Fish Course: Sauteed Red Snapper Filet with Truffled White Asparagus and Clam Broth -- despite my psychological allergy to all things fish, this actually looked super tasty. Everything about it looked great.
Poultry Course: Seared Quail Breast with Butter Poached Lobster Ravioli and Mango -- lobster, not so much. But add the mango and quail? Nice.
Red Meat Course: Roasted Lamb Medallions with Maitake Mushrooms, Braised Pistachios, and Blackberry -- I love lamb. Love. Lamb. So why didn't this look good to me? Was it just the presence of the dreaded fungus? Although I will add that I am intrigued by those braised pistachios. Interesting. I might have to get some pistachios from Trader Joe's and try that out. Or just eat the whole bag of pistachios while watching Top Chef. That counts too, right?
Dessert Course: Ricotta Pound Cake with Lime Glaze, Pineapple, and Salted Banana Cream -- Poor chefs stuck with a dessert course. How come we didn't see a mousse or something simple like that? Why is everyone either baking or doing reruns? Blerg!

Overall, I was more intrigued by Richard's menu, but Stephanie with her even demeanor pulled it out in the end. Good for her. Sad for Richard. Lisa who?

So that's my first review. Let's open it up for discussion, fellow Top Chef nerds. I'll leave you with my final favorite moment:
Gail Simmons, Top Chef's Nina Garcia, in a moment of deep thought:

Brave New Potato

2008-06-19T16:27:00.000-07:00

Last week, while vacationing at Casa My Parents, my dad woke me up at 1:30am. I was passed out on their couch in a puddle of drool with only the vaguest of recollections that I had fallen asleep watching The Fabulous Life of Cougars on VH1. Some might interpret this as rock bottom.
Not I.
Since that moment I have dedicated almost every waking moment to spreading the word about that special Cougars episode of the Fabulous Life. The result, dear readers (sadly enough this is probably just me), is that I have decided to start a blog devoted to discussing one of my three favorite media mediums: television.
Potatoes, please hear my siren song and feast upon our beautiful pop culture! The Potato Watch list to your left contains all of my most current boob tube obsessions.
Until next time, unite, Potatoes! Unite!

Potatoes Unite!

It's Coming!

Wow.

Speechless.

Nigel is Evil!

So You Think You Can ZZZZZZZ. . . .

A New Legacy!

Thank Goodness for Tivo!!

Laurie Ann Diva??!!

Vegas, Baby!

Sweet Victory!

SYTYCD Coffee Talk

Wow.

Phew!

SYTYCD Recap -- My Eyebrows Are Stuck

Zack is Back!

Who Put Poop in Mia's Pudding?!

SYTYCD Has Landed!

It's Coming!!!!!! Hurrah!!!!

Generalissimo!!

No More Barfait!!!

AufwiederFINALLY!

Too Brilliant!

*Yawn*

Holla At Ya Avant Garde!

Bones?

90210 - Back and, well, NOT better than ever!

Yeah Baby! Yeah!

Grillin'

Rerun Comments

Wow.

Last Night Rocked! Yes it Did!

Gev -- We Hardly Knew Thee!

Nobody Puts Baby in a Corner

What's Wrong With Comfort?

I AM STILL A SUPERGENIUS!!!

Sequins and Tuxes and Bowties -- Oh My!

I AM A SUPERGENIUS!!!

R.I.P. Adam Shankman's Microphone

Old Tamale Train

Girl Power!

Brave New Potato

Yawn