SYTYCD: Wasn't surprised at all at the results given Neil's performance last week. He's really been on an upswing. My housemate totally called this one, which cracks me up given his initial reaction to my wanting to Tivo this show. I'm very happy Lauren's out although Lacey is starting to bug me more and more.

I loved Daniel's description at TWOP of the opening dance: "The routine can best be described as A Midsummer Night's Swamp Thriller. The dancers are dressed in tattered rags of various shades of moldy and mottled green. They fight their way out from under a net to start, as fog spills over the stage, and proceed to spend the next couple of minutes hopping and kicking and shaking like various undead creatures in search of fresh brains. The women jump on the men's backs and ride them for a while. Tongues get poked out. Do I even need to tell you this was Wade Robson's piece?"

hee! I came in about a minute late, and I took one look at the dance, the costumes, and the lighting, and thought, "This is a Wade Robson dance." Lo and behold, it was. Wade needs to be careful about being too wedded to his style.

Big Brother: Aw, I feel bad for poor dumb Jessica -- Jen talking crazy about Dustin, Eric trying to avoid talking, and the poor noodle doesn't have two brain cells to rub together.

HK's winner, Rock, was interviewed on Talk of the Nation on NPR this afternoon. Apparently, the restaurant he's been working at is a DC favorite.

Rocco's got a new Top Chef blog up. The ongoing dialog between him and Anthony Bourdain is kind of fascinating.

Isn't it?

I hope it continues all season.

Rocco's response made me wonder if Bourdain's point is that Rocco is a better chef than he is.

That was Bourdain's point: he is not dishonoring a great talent by being a writer and tv travel show guy but Rocco did dishonor his talent by being that reality show guy.

Village Voice review of Perilla.

SYTYCD: So much filler. And it's only just beginning.