( continues...) Oh, joy! I was a little nervous when this dance started because the first lift was kinda suspect, but as soon as Peanut pulled off that pirouette sequence down to the floor it was on and cracking. The lift where she went up into a backbend on top of his knees? Gorgeous. The next sequence where he lifts her up by the neck and she twists into a backbend and then they flip and she’s holding him by the neck? Gorgeous. The part where she does the flexed foot kick and then falls back into him and he pushes her abdomen down and then grabs her feet and pulls her up into a shoulder stand? Gorgeous. The triple twist leap into the lift? Gorgeous. The hold with her on his shoulders then she swooped down to the floor? Gorgeous. Triple turn in synch down to the floor for her and into a barrel turn for him? Thank god, gorgeous. Mary mentioned the pull up from the floor into his arms which was what? Gorgeous. Just so, so much. Peanut is an amazing dancer and Amy is just a wonder. Work! And yet? I still would’ve given Mark the pimp slot. He brought something more new than this. But that may just be my Mark goggles talking.

Going Home

It’s so hard now, kittens. These kids are chock full o’ talent. If it were just based on tonight, I’d send Hayley and Fik Shun home. If it’s cumulative, I’d send Jenna and Tucker to the showers. Let’s see what these bitches do. Huh. They took the cumulative route. Wow. Cruel Summer. To send Jenna home after that routine tonight? I guess karma is a bitch after Mackenzie went home last week after that gorgeous routine with Jakob. . I have to say that I’m kind of OK with Tucker going home tonight given that he had a built in advantage dancing in a style so adjacent to his own and failed to overcome the bad choreo and impress. And I think Hayley and Fik Shun will go home next week anyway, leaving us with a top 4 of Paul, Aaron, Amy and Jasmine. That’s good stuff.

ETA: Only 4 posts. Whoo! And now, to read what other lovely Buffistas have to say.

I love all the Mark love. Awww. My people, my people. And he turned it out and looked good going. He's so great!

Also, I read that Alan was hurt tonight, something with his shoulder - torn muscle maybe. Anyway, that's why he wasn't in the group routine (I didn't even notice that!) and could explain why there were so many missed connections in the closed hold work in that Jive. Strange that neither the judges nor Cat mentioned anything about it.

They choose to mention what they want to mention. This is a long standing pet peeve of mine.

Mark is just the man. He rocks my world. I was so happy to see him tonight. He is less buff than when I saw him dancing with Gaga last. I actually think that is a good thing. I thought he was too much in the upper body and I'm glad he toned it down some.

I thought it was awesome he got choked up.

It’s always going to be easier for the female contestants to dance ballroom with an All star because so much of ballroom depends on a strong lead.

Oh, that's so interesting. As a non-dancer watching, I wouldn't have thought of it, but of course I have done partner dancing with someone who knows how and it did make me feel like I could dance!

TC:M So when there's no quickfire Sang just wins overall, eh? That beef and broccoli did sound wonderful.

I would like a deconstructed s'more now.

I don't understand Kate's dress at all. And I hate Karen's dye.

OTOH, I'm kind of surprised how much I like Jeremy's. I didn't think I would when he talked about the design but seeing it on the runway - it's really beautiful.

OMG "smushed frog" made me LOL. And then Heidi with the "Oh Em Gee" Ha!

I don't care for Alexandria's look at all but what I really hate is the eye makeup.

Was that maybe a little orchestrated? Perhaps?

I think so. I sort of hate that they did that, either way.

Yeah, it's not good. They should auf that device.

He does seem like a genuinely sweet person, and they all genuinely seem to like him, but that dress was a mess. And I haven't seen anything really impressive from him this season, although his audition pieces were great.