that decision is made worse by the fact that they DID NOT SHOW THE DANCER who made Debbie Allen cry.

WTF.

Really.

My theory on that phenomenon in general is that they can't clear song rights.

oh. that is much more reasonable than what I was thinking:

which began and ended at "WTF."

I made it up a couple of years ago. No idea if there's any basis in reality! But it does make me feel better.

I haven't watched the first auditions of SYTYCD because they just showed up on Hulu - 8 day delay and only on the computer.

However, Master Chef is on the day after it airs so I'm watching that again.

... I kept trying to type Master Cher, which makes me think of a reality show contest for the best Cher Impersonator.

That's also what I assume, about song rights. That and for the people where they do a montage.

Is it just me, or are they sending everyone to Vegas? A lot of mediocre shit is getting through, IMHO.

Word.

I guess their crew who have them do routines at the end of the day called in sick.

I'm serious, I don't understand why they gave out so many tix to Vegas, and yet they still had more dancing in the evening and gave out more tix.

They put through some very mediocre people.

Dammit, I love Miss Debbie Allen. Debbie doing the Wobble? Work, woman! I would watch a full season of Debbie Allen Schools You in Dance, Young Buck. Oh, yes. Yes, I would.

I have to agree that a lot of questionable folks were put through to Vegas. In addition to Tim Conkel (Karate hip hopper) who has way too much Dominic in him for my taste, plus he's not that good of a hip hop dancer - all flips and tricks and no actual dancing, I did not understand the following:

Jackson Alvarez - Yes, he made Miss Debbie Allen get up and do the Wobble, so I give him a few small points for that and the judges did make him go to the choreo round, but he really didn't seem to be turning it out during choreo and his popping was only so-so.

Courtney Kirby - She got through because she came with her adorable G-ma. Mediocre dancer at best. Lots of hair flinging and kinda gumby legs and sloppy feet. I bet she gets killed in the early choreo rounds in Vegas.

Asher Walker - Big Country's audition was fun and he was adorable as a basket full of puppies and kittens, but on the real? He is an OK b-boy with a couple of good power moves. The roll up straight into a head stand with no hands was kinda tight. And as Nigel noted, he did have good musicality, a nice groove to the James Brown cut. But I'll be shocked, shocked if he can pick up choreography quickly enough to make it even to the group dance in Vegas. I liked him, but that audition was not ticket to Vegas worthy.

Britney Ortner - Running around the stage, hair flinging, tic having, competition studio trained nightmare. She and her chickens can stay right in Oviedo. She has some natural talent, but you can tell she's spent her entire dance career to date getting schlepped around every weekend to Jump and Break the Floor and every other shake down dance camp, junior national competition and master class in South Florida and that has left her with some bad, bad habits. She has no center - wibbly wobbly all over the place. And the judges know she's not ready and they put her through anyway. Bleagh. I do not want. Where's Mia when you need her? She would've eaten that girl's lunch.

Damon - Or was it Deon? The not really twins who were miles more annoying and only slightly more talented than last week's twins. Anyway, his popping was good, I suppose, but he looked to be really struggling in that choreo round, at least as much as his partner who did not get through and yet somehow the judges miraculously advanced him to Vegas. How and why did that happen? Eww.

So yeah. Lots to not like. At the same time, lots to like:

All the Dragon House Kids - Boris. Andre. Cyrus. Shut it down. They are amazing poppers. And they have a strong LXD influence in their work which I love. Body control like "Whoa!" Musicality like "What?" Flow like "Ugh." Swagger like "Damn!" I loved all three of these kids and they definitely saved the best for last because that Cyrus kid is a superstar. The whole section where he's tutting on his tippy toes? Murder. I don't know how they'll do with other styles, but I enjoyed them all and hope at least one of the three makes the show.

Audrey Case - She looked like she was gonna be your typical hair flinger, but she brought a smile to Miss Debbie Allen's face and that brought a smile to my face. This girl had gorgeous feet. Gorgeous. Really nice center and control on her turns. That one triple where she dropped out into that deep plie in second? Forget about it. She reminded me a bit of S2 Alison. Not anywhere near as good and she definitely has some bad habits to smooth out - perhaps one extension too many? But she had a nice quality to her dancing. Way to work, little one.

Joshua Alexander - In his dress socks. Bless! I found the choreo to be a little too frantic for my taste and consequently he looked a little flail-y at times, but underneath it all, he was sporting some truly exquisite technique. As Debbie said, he roused me. Put this kid in a (continued...)