I forgot SYTYCD was on last night, so I just caught up.

Loved:

Sara and Jesus - the music was "huh?" but they did a great job with the dance itself.

Jesse and Pasha - Jesse was perfect and Pasha really brought it with something other than ballroom.

Jaimie and Hok - Hok is really learning how to partner and they just looked very good.

Lacey and Kameron - they are just one of the cutest couple out there, hothothot and are into each other, it overcomes lame choreography.

Anya and Danny - I won't say I loved them, they did a great job with the technical part, pretty to watch, and Danny was there for his partner for the moves, but there was no real chemistry and Danny, when he wasn't actively partnering, had an arrogant look on his face that said "figjam." Ptui.

Bottom three:

Sabra and Dominic - while he really stepped it up as a partner and learning the moves, he still doesn't look totally comfortable in anything other than B-boying and that shows.

Faina and Cedric - Cedric still hasn't got the hang of partnering and he was so tentative that the dance looked completely unbalanced and awkward.

Shauna and Jimmy - I agree that Shauna is still a little tentative, she needs to let loose just a little bit more, although her stepping was far better than Jimmy's. Jimmy is just too stylized and exaggerated, it's fun to watch, but he always looks like he's onstage by himself because there's no raport with his partner.

TC: I agree with everything everyone else said about Hung and Joey. I'm liking Hung a lot. And he's got chops. I think Hung has a really good shot at the title.

I was glad to see both Sara and Micah make such a comeback from their poor showing in the Quickfire, but I have serious doubts they'll be able to stay in this competition for the long haul. If they're that easily rattled, they'll be out soon enough.

Hoepfully not before Joey goes.

Faina and Cedric - Cedric still hasn't got the hang of partnering and he was so tentative that the dance looked completely unbalanced and awkward.

His concentration face totally made me go "Awww" but it definitely didn't make for good dancing! But it did make me want him to do better.

Cedric is my favorite. He really wants to do well!

I never watched SYTYCD before last week, and it's so much better than I thought it was-- I just love the concept that you have all these dancers who are specialists in something, and you force them (along with another stranger!) to dance in other areas. And it compares favorably to AI-- the contestants are more talented and perform several new artistic compositions a week. The results show is more entertaining, too, and they usually give good context to judge the performances by.

I think Cedric does want to well, but I just don't think he's got the skills to last. I'm really loving on Dominic, he's lost the B-boy arrogance and he's working so hard to be a good partner and it shows. I just haven't been loving their choreography the past two weeks and I'm afraid that is what's shuffling them towards the bottom. I have all confidence that both Sabra and Dominic will pull it out in the dance for you life today.

I liked Sabra and Dominic's performance better on re-watch. In that particular case, I don't think the camera work served them well. At least, I was always wanting to lean to get a better angle to watch from. And that doesn't work so well with the teevee.

Chow.com interview with Sandee Birdsong.

I'm listening to this and Sandee said she poached the lobster on the grill but on the show it looked like she'd cooked that the day before as part of prep.

Although I'm annoyed at the judges AND myself for focusing so much on the boys! Stupid ingrained sexism.

This (with the judges, that is) has been bothering me more and more. It seems more blatant this year, but perhaps it's just that I'm more sensitive to it.

Re, HK, I don't watch the show, but I have found the most recent promos bizarre. I mean, yelling at the people at the top of your lungs to cooperate? I understand that they're trying to push things for the show, but I kinda wonder if he finds that kind of behavior effective in real life. Or even on the show.

I don't think Hell's Kitchen is a very good example of who he is. He's built his reputation on being a yeller but according to what I've read (there's one New York Times) that he instills a very strong sense of loyalty.

He comes off very differently in Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares. He doesn't yell all the time.