It isn't your imagination regarding the lack of variety. Last year we had too many hip hop dances. I think it's because they try to play to what type of the dancer they have the most of. This year they were over-loaded with contemporary dancers...last year the finals included both Twitch and Joshua.

I think TPTB need to work harder to have more balanced shows when it comes to styles, both for the audience and also to work toward the stated goal of pushing the dancers.

Only through the first 3 pages, but I LOVE the Willy Wonka picture, especially with Ade having a hair pick.

Loved the recap, and I feel the exact same way about Evan. His solos remind me why I love him so much, but I think his time is up.

Didn't I used to like Lil C? I think I did, but he seems to have bought into his own shtick. UGH. GO AWAY.

Also- Buttercup is a PowerPuff Girl. (As a 35 year old woman, I really have no business knowing that, so don't tell anyone you heard it from me. It's embarrassing!! haha)

P.S. "Disco Stick" wasn't edited out in my area. I know because a) I always turn the station if I'm listening to the radio and Lady Gagme comes on (HATE!), so I have never heard the song before; and b) I was thinking that the song was really suggestive (understatement LOL) and probably inappropriate for a family show.

Strange, eh?

here4beer: Glad you cleared up the "Buttercup" mystery for some of us--my kid's not old enough for me to know that yet, and all I could come up with was "Princess Bride reference?"

PM: Loved the recap--I look forward to it as much as I do the show itself these days! And while I agree with you on the disco--the lifts were hesitant and not smooth--I thought that the synchronization was pretty darn good and that they did well performing a very difficult routine within a new partnership. Why do the discos nearly always leave one wanting more though? It's as if we can see the potential there, and they never quite live up to it...

I share your hate for the swaying/mugging/psuedo-sexy thing too many of them do at the end of their solo!

Guess I'm in the minority, cause I thought that disco was not at all good. Way too frantic, too hoppy (it's really not supposed to be, despite what we always see on this show)in addition to what you said about the lifts and transitions.

I agree with here4beer, in that I liked Lil C the first season he was on, but now he goes on and on too much. Still better than Randy Jackson's stock "yo, dawg, check it out, you did your thang" on AI though.

Love your recaps! How come nobody recapped DWTS this past season? I really missed them.

I think Brandon is a BRILLIANT dancer but there's something about him that just irks me. I think it's the face he makes at the end of his solos when he does that dumb swaying crap. Or maybe it's how he doesn't shave above the corners of his mouth. That REALLY bothers me. Am I the only one? I thought his solo tonight was amazing but I'm pretty sure it was the same solo he used to audition for the show that made Mary cry and don't they usually get reamed for using the same solo twice?

Great recap though! Jeanine FTW pleasee!

Just wanted to say, I love reading your recaps!

And thank you, thank you, thank you for your validation of my dislike for the disco routine. The lifts WERE sloppy, they DID hesitate a lot, and they WERE a beat behind the last half of the routine.
That was made obious at the end where Kayla was rushing to get in position to flip Brandon, and didn't quite make it. Brandon willed that flip around. Then, they rushed into place at the finish.

That said, I think they are both great dancers, I just think Dorianne Sanchez puts WAY too much in her routines. I know she is so adament to prove Disco is a serious form of dance, but GEEZ!!!
Actually, my favorite Disco was Will's and Jessica's last year.

I don't have a whole lot of thoughts on this week's show. I heard Big Brother UK was good so I watched sixty episodes over the course of this week to get caught up, and my brain is complete mush. I did want to say thank you for the Monica Bellucci pick-me-up though, it's always appreciated. Your opening observation of Evan was hilarious as well.

Since several people have commented on it, I think the problem with the disco routines is that Doriana(?) has come to the conclusion that faster and more tricks/lifts = better routine, when she should really be concentrating on the flow of each dance from beginning to end. In other words, she is too concerned with putting in great lifts, but doesn't pay enough attention to how well each lift can be transitioned into the next or how each lift fits into the flow of the routine as a whole. This has been a problem of hers in the past and it keeps getting worse. I blame her more than the dancers.

ohhh yeah, you are spot on about Doriana Sanchez! That describes every one of her routines perfectly. I'm never happy with them.

Where has Dan Karaty been all season?

Another excellent recap. I like all four survivors, but I think if it were just up to me, I'd pick Brandon to win... but I think they all have nearly equal chances (except for Kayla - who I think will have to really stand out this week to have a shot at it.)
Thanks!

Thanks for another great recap! Love the bountiful pics of Hugh, but I wouldn't mind if you sprinkled a few more pics of beautiful Danny in your next recap...yes I know he's gay, but since I only have a chance with him in fantasy land, that doesn't matter does it!

I agree that Doriana packed too much into that disco -- I blame her, not Brandon and Kayla for the mess. I think they did as good a job as they could with it.

I think it's hilarious that Sonya made Melissa the Powerpuff girl (I work with kids, that's why I knew!) -- I have a feeling she was either told to dumb down her part or did so on her own -- seems like TPTB really did not want her in the finale.

I hated the Tyce broadway -- why can't he just stick to jazz? I can't say I really loved any of the routines tonight, except for maybe Brandon's solo I guess if I had to pick, Kayla and Brandon's mister/mistress routine was the best (a little close to the addictions theme though, wasn't it?) This show seems to be sticking to the pattern of impressing me only every other week. What's up with that?

Oh and I'm still rooting for Jeanine or Brandon for the win, but I can't help but compare them to previous seasons and feeling like they're both missing something. Like, last season, Josh and Katee stood out for me from day one and seemed able to tackle (almost) anything. I think Josh and Katee would totally own Brandon and Jeanine if they were on the same season. And then, of course, there is Danny :) And Blake -- how come no one ever mentions Blake?

Awww... Was that Eliza pic for me? Thanks so much!

Awesome recap, as always. I'm definitely a little bored with this season. I'm lucky if one dance a week blows me away, and in seasons past it was more like half the dances each night that were amazing. I still love this trainwreck of a show, but I'm pretty excited that ABDC will be back soon.

I am going to agree with everyone about Doriana's routines too. They seem posey.

That quickstep with Melissa and Evan was horrendous...the one with Vitolio and Karla(?) where her dress changed was WAY better. And I also thought Jeanette and Ade's disco was better than Kayla and Brandon's. The caveat is that the dancers had 4 routines in one night. I've hated Melissa from day one, it was like she was trying too hard. And that chick never even got hip hop...moreover she barely got a fast dance. Retire, old lady! Go Jeanine!

Everyone's said it, but I need to get it out, too: I'm so sick of Doriana Sanchez and her overstuffed, frenetic disco routines. And I'm sick of how the judges kiss her butt after every single one. Are they afraid that if they don't gush over it that everyone will realize how bad they are? Every disco routine this season has been too crowded and too frantic.

I think someone needs to take Lil C aside and give him a little talk that goes something like this: "you talk way too much and say so many stupid things that everyone is starting to forget that you were that really cool guy from Rize and just thinks of you as that dude that won't shut the fuck up. So stop talking."

I'm glad Ade went home. He had some great dances and a good personality, but he was very sloppy, especially in ballroom. And Melissa obviously had to go. Now if we could only get rid of Evan.

I want Brandon or Jeanine to win. Brandon's been awesome and taken part in about three-quarters of my favorite dances from this season. Jeanine's always been good.

I don't mind Kayla, and I think she's a very good dancer. She's just not memorable.

cattyfan: I totally agree about them needing to find more balance and trying to push the dancers more. I think that’s what’s gotten me invested in year’s past. You want to see them tackle something that will be tough for them and knock it out of the park.

tv freak: Thanks! I’m so glad the pick was noticed as I was thinking I was very clever to have included it! ;P

here4beer: I know, I used to love Lil C and now I cringe whenever I see he’s on. Are Powerpuff Girls superheroes?? Very interesting that your station didn’t edit stick out and mine did. It is suggestive, but since when is stick a dirty word??

Allison: Princess Buttercup!! I love that movie so much! I think they tried their best with a routine that was not well put together. Doriana needs to start editing herself.

wcsdancer: I’m glad I’m not the only one that hates that crap. I’m not sure why no one recapped DWTS. I’ve actually never watched that show beyond the clips that Joel McHale shows. Is it worth checking out?

patbsaid: He used the same music as he did when he auditioned, so it may have been the same solo. LMAO about the shaving thing – I never noticed until you said it!

jenday23: Oh my god, that flip was awful. I can’t believe I forgot to mention that! Totally agree about Doriana overloading her routines.

ohhhyeah: Totally agree with your observations on Doriana. Her transitions suck nine times out of ten. Did you really watch sixty episodes of BBUK??? Holy Crap!!!

cattyfan: I dunno, but I wish he’d come back as a judge. I also wish they’d get Wade at the judges’ table, Brian Friedman, Jean-Marc, ANYONE but the same three people they seem to keep recycling.

fire@will: I think you’re right, Kayla probably has the least chance of winning it all thanks to Nigel and co pissing everyone off at the beginning of the season with their constant tongue baths.

Lizbot: Blake. He got sort of a raw deal I think because of his unfortunate comments about Dan Karaty. But you’re right, he was an amazing dancer. He knew it, too.

TheMiki: I knew you’d appreciate it. ;) I am also excited ABDC is coming back. It has a totally different flavor than this show, but I love seeing what those guys put together. And there’s Shane over there!

Yanksfan24: I never hated Melissa, but I see what you’re saying about her trying too hard. And yet as far as her dancing went, she didn’t try hard enough. Does that make sense?

JohnnyLegs: Amen to your comments about Lil C. I used to love him on this show and now I cringe when I see he’s going to be judging. I don’t know why they always seem to kiss Doriana’s ass. Maybe she has naked pictures of Nigel and Mary together or something.

Thanks everyone for reading and commenting! I can’t believe the season is almost over.

SWAK, PottyMouth

We enjoy DWTS, more to watch the professionals than the celebs. It's all ballroom, though, so that may not appeal to you. They do at least have the professional dancers perform with the lip synching guest performer. It's pretty cheesy and not a 'real' ballroom competition, but it is fun to watch some of the celebs actually become dancers.

Oh no, I like ballroom. My sister and I used to watch those ballroom challenges on PBS whenever they were on - do you remember the ones? With Juliet Prowse?

Maybe I'll have to check it out this year.