Barack accepts the nomination - HISTORY is made!

Thursday at the DNC - More IndyStar Galleries

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SYTYCD - Top 14 - 7/2

Starting tonight, each pair of dancers presents two pieces for us. This means that much more hard work required from the dancers at this point. We also get the new pairing of Thayne and Comfort this week.

I disagreed with Nigel about his comments on Thayne & Comfort’s “Cool” routine. I think that if we were watching the whole gang of the Jets dance this number we’d have expected what he said about aggression and such. BUT that’s not how it was choreographed. In this case it was a partnered dance with a guy and girl and not the original Broadway choreography and I think they danced the choreographer's vision pretty well. (Which seemed to me to be a bit more about *being cool* than *staying cool* if you catch what I mean.) That number was actually the first time that I have liked Thayne. He would make a great Jet - maybe Action? I do still think he looks like a Ken Doll when he smiles though, which really bothers me.

I liked Chelsie & Mark's Jazz piece, but at the end of the night I don't know if it will be really memorable compared to some of the others.

OK.....I'm prepared to have rotten vegetables tossed at me for this one. I thought that maybe the choreographers went easy on Twitch for the Paso Doble. For this style of dance, I expected a lot more footwork out of him than what I saw. I also thought that maybe he also needed to be up on the balls of his feet more? (Go back and watch Heidi & Travis from season 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysMGAtiProI or Sabra & Neil from season 3. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ph1dsH4YEJw ) This is the first time I’ve liked Kherington better than Twitch in a number.

LOVED Mia Michaels piece with Katee and Joshua. My favorite piece of the night. Very intense, used the space well, and was very well partnered. They were absolutely emotionally bared to the audience and 100% committed to what they were doing. These two compliment each other so well. (What the heck was up with Katee's hair though?)

Jessica and Will’s lyrical jazz is my other fav of the night. VERY HOT! Such GREAT use of the shirt prop. Choreography-wise, I loved the way they were isolated at the top and missing each other, went into syncronized movement and then finally into partnering. Mandy laid out the story for them so well and they really did a great job with it. I loved when he used the shirt to flip her over and then to move her around. Their connection was HOT and their lines were wonderful. MAN I love to watch him leap!

Kherington and Twitch also had the good luck to draw Mia. I was wondering how much longer it would be until we got to see how Mia would make use of Twitch. I liked the piece. Was very glad that the tech folks had the good sense to rake the bed so we could see what was going on. Twitch was really committed to this from the first moment. Her entrance from above was nice. I wouldn't call this one of my favorite Mia numbers, but it was still very good.

Bottom three prediciton this week - Kourtni & Matt, Courtney & Gev and Chelsie & Mark. Going home? Possibly Kourtni & Matt. This will be a hard one as the top 10 go on the tour and number 11 & 12 are typically the alternates.

You might even be a rock star.....

Last weekend Keithen went to stay with Grandpa John. He had a real blast and really wants to go back to stay again soon. He came home on Sunday.

The girls spent all this week with Nanny and Pappy. While they were gone, Matt, Keithen and I redid their room with a "rock star" theme - complete with a stage. This was a complete surprise for the girls when they came home today. They LOVED it. There have already been two concerts and a "Webkinz fashion show" on the new stage.

SYTYCD - 6/25 - Top 16

WOW.....one look at Mary's outfit and I'm sure we were all wide awake and ready to party! BLING! Was she supposed to be the disco ball for Jessica & Will's number?

Of course Shankman had to start us out with some bad puns. Groan. But very excited to hear that Lacey & Travis will be in his next movie! Yay!

Nice tribute to Cyd. I didn't know Nigel had danced with her. Anyone know in what?

Twitchington ROCKED! Great way to start the show. She had better facial reactions this time - she had more than one anyway! But when she did smile, it was kind of "BIG and happy like a beauty queen" for me.....not "gangsta." The costumes worked well for them - did they say SYTYCD on the back? The pacing was nice.....there were different levels to it and they hit everything.

Courtney & Gev were really good. Something about coming down from that top pose worried me a little.....I think that it was obvious they were being slow and careful? It didn't seem effortless. Their connection at the top was pretty HOT. But I'm not sure how memorable they will be compared to some of the other stuff? It was hard to see the hip action in a lot of sections because of the camerawork. He looks darn good in a suit!

I didn't like this "African Jazz" as well as some of the others I've seen Tyce do. The lighting was *SO* annoying to me. How are we really supposed to watch and critique the dance with all those darn strobes going and that super "over-exposed" look to things? It wasn't lit well for the camera *at all* and I'm getting tired of that. It's supposed to be about *the dancing* and when the technical elements are *so obvious* that means that they are *over done.* When you have *REALLY GOOD* tech work, the audience *SHOULD NOT NOTICE IT.* Like some of the judges, I wanted more use of the fabric.....but that's on Tyce and not the dancers. And I felt that the animalistic nature from the top didn't carry all the way through the routine consistently.....they lost character. It seemed a little too slow and too soft in a lot of places with that music.....needed to be more aggressive. The intensity didn't match for me.

Jessica & Will really sold the disco number. The little "sigh" moment from her towards the top, he really hit the "Travolta" move and didn't look ridiculous doing it, his flips rocked.

Kourtni & Matt - I was so happy to get to see them dance in their style! Like Adam, I hated the costumes. UGH. If it's a comic book, I wanted more bright colors and perhaps some exaggeration instead of that sack she was wearing.....and he was too muted. They were very stylized, connected and energetic. Well syncronized and the leaps were nice. Agree that he needs to get down into the floor and not be so upright all the time.

Chelsea and Thayne - not the worst Quickstep but not the best routine of the night either. LOVED her dress. Wished the camera would have stayed pulled back so we can watch the FEET since that's what this number is all about! Their smiles seemed so "glued on" to me. I bet they were gritting their teeth and chanting "Oh God don't let me mess up!" Better than expected but didn't knock me off my feet. They didn't really sell it.

Chelsie & Mark's Hip Hop was another one I was really looking forward too. I know he's a contemporary dancer, but I had a feeling that his quirky style of movement would lend itself to this genre. *MAN* were they amazing! Towards the top where her hand was near his face and he slid down her arm to her neck.....YUM. Their connection was just amazing. Their musicality was just beautiful and they had such attention to detail, hitting all the little stuff. That bit with his hand on her chest and the fingers, stealing the heatbeat. Her "heartbreak" response at the end was amazing. They were so committed to this and it seemed like such a complete and polished performance. AWESOME!

Katie and Joshua's Samba had me a little worried at first before we actually saw them. I didn't know how he would handle this style. MAN did he have it down. He had such wonderful hip action! Camerawork frustrated me here a bit again when they cut from two dancers to one yet again. HELLO.....we want to see BOTH of them! There was one bit towards the end where she raised her knee and they kind of hit a post - I want to go back and watch again as it seemed like an awkward moment to me.....too slow maybe?

Eliminating people is getting harder and harder!

I think the bottom 3 will be.....
* Chelsea & Thayne
* Courtney & Gev
* Comfort & Chris
.....not that any of them were really bad, there was just a *very tough* competition this week!
Voted off? I think probably Chris and Courtney maybe? It would be interesting to see Gev & Comfort as partners if that happens.

Oh.....and officially *LOVING* Napoleon & Tabitha!!!!!

SYTYCD - Top 18 - 6/18

My take on the top 18 show -

I thought Cat looked pretty good last night. Some of her dresses are just icky but last night she looked very classy.

What in the world happened to Mary? First off, either the lighting was bad or she's turning into a lobster. That woman's skin was R.E.D. last night! And I have to say that I'm really glad her leopard print blouse held up to the enormous strain it was obviously under last night. Can we say "jam packed?!" I thought those puppies were gonna break free a couple of times. I really wanna know what's in that cup of hers too. (And was she sharing it with Nigel last night?!)

Chelsea & Thayne – I’m still not big fans of these two. Where was there connection? This piece was probably intended to be a lot hotter than it was. And those costumes were just ridiculous. Her “bustle” looked more like a diaper!

Chelsie & Mark – I was a bit worried when I heard Argentine Tango, but they really pulled it off! He looked so classy. Their frame and lines were very nice (most of the time) and all those deep, flexed lunges! He had a sultry intensity which she *almost* matched. Their syncronization was very nice. (And isn't Cat just the greatest! How sweet of her to fix Chelsie's shoe. I wonder how long it was like that?)

Jessica & William – I’m a little afraid that they could be in trouble again. I sure hope not as I love William. It was really nice to see him smiling and obviously having fun. The routine started out fun and energetic but was also a little uneven and unattached. He was really doing a pretty good job hitting it (remember he is a contemporary dancer!) but she was not quite there…..a little “cheerleader” quality? Could have been tighter.

Kourtni & Matt – A Foxtrot straight out of a movie. The lifts were much better this time. MAN he must be strong. His face was very lit up. Their footwork could have been a little tighter.

Courtney & Gev – He really did partner her well and was there for her in everything. He showed strength. It was technically well-danced but I’d love to have seen a little more emotion from them and a bit more of an organic quality. Overall pretty well done and they will most likely be safe.

Katee & Joshua – Not Tyce's best choreography ever, but fun none-the-less. These two really are the official couple to beat right now. She’s got a very expressive face when she dances. They work really well together as a couple and really commit to and sell whatever they’re given. Remember how Benji & Donyelle just "clicked" right from the beginning? Well, that's kind of how these two seem to just fit together as partners as well. If I had any criticism, I think that maybe they were slowing down a bit too much towards the end…..they had to have been exhausted after that!

Susie & Marquis – Can we send her home yet? I feel bad as Ruby says that she is her favorite girl…..but I just want her GONE! The only thing I really liked about their Salsa was the throw down from his shoulders. That made me go WOW! But since this is supposed to be her forte, I expected a lot more and felt very let down. It looked like hard work instead of like a performance. The part where they twisted around each other’s arms was kinda painful to watch.

Kherington & Twitch – When I heard “Viennese Waltz” I was honestly a little worried. I don’t know why! They captured the real essence of what they were given. It was joyful and beautiful. The lifts were so lovely and the tender rocking in his arms. Can you believe I used “tender” to describe Twitch?! This is a Hip Hop guy for goodness sakes! His strong manly carriage, wonderful partnering, soft lines. They are so safe again.

Comfort & Chris – The camera work on this one was exceptionally bad once again. I felt they could have hit it harder and expected a bit more from her – good, but not what I thought it would be. Was Chris even there?

Bottom 3 predicition - Susie & Marquis, Chelsea & Thayne, Comfort & Chris

Bwahahahhaha!

Baracknophobia

Ain't it the truth?

RIP Tim Russert - 5/7/1950 - 6/13/2008

I was shocked and saddened to learn that Tim Russert, host of NBC's Meet the Press, died today. I can't imagine the rest of this election year's news covereage without Mr. Russert there. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.

Can I get an "Amen!"

More on the "Obama Baby Mama" controversy.