Mason

I think I spotted EvanK!

I'm not sure I can handle 2 hours if it's anything like this past season... but yes, it is definitely better for the dancers to be properly showcased.

Last week, she played the main victim on Criminal Minds!

I wonder if Marko and Koine will find ways to continue their partnership. They each elevate the other, plus there seems to be genuine affection between them. I would wonder the same with Lex, except I think he'd rather dance with Taylor if he's going to pair up, plus he has Shaping Sound. I am very impressed with her, as a person and as a dancer.

Easy way to find out: how many of us are battling waning metabolisms? :-)

Didn't Cat and Nigel talk about his surgery--pacemaker?--keeping him offsite during the all-star selection process? I've always wondered if that's why there was that sudden switch of... was it Robert?... from one team to another?

I'm sure it is very hard for female dancers to age, especially if they were not blessed with exceptional metabolisms. Plus exercise and moving alone does not ensure the incredible shape these kids are in. Their joints will allow them to jump higher and, dance longer, so they expend more calories; but the kicker is, they can also get away with eating junk. I am not a dancer, nor was I blessed with a dancer's metabolism. Every year I age, I have to fight harder to stay in shape and see if I can drop another pound. Exercise and movement keeps me healthy, as it appears to keep the choreographers healthy. For the rest, you're battling genetics and food... (That said, I too find it discouraging :-))

The thing about Koine... and any judge could have said this of her in any routine... is that she is joyous. That they couldn't even say that tells me she's scoring very high with viewers.

Fik-Shun was clearly unhappy the entire time he was there. There was definitely something going on, and my guess is that at least some of the contestants didn't know going in. I'm guessing the same was true for Denys & Antonina. I sure wish someone would leak something :-)

He was Julliard-trained, as I recall. Denys spoiled me forever; no ballroom solo, male or female, has ever come close to what he could do.

Anyone else wonder how Kiki managed to catch all those canes without wearing his glasses??!!

Actually, Nigel has been pretty careful about what he's said this season.

At least in Canada, The Wizard of Oz is on one channel or another several times a year. How's this for an opening number: Logan dressed as the Bolger Scarecrow, Alison as Dorothy, and everyone else as crows. (If I Only Had a Brain is likely too slow.) The choreographer would have to find a way to get him off the pole, though.

I think Sean Cheeseman's small group number was a direct response to both criticisms.

Shout-out to Leggy Cleggy!! This routine makes it all the more puzzling why Denis had so much trouble with the lifts in his World of Dance routines. Amanda is much taller and heavier than Antonina. S

He was like a different person dancing with Koine: much more open and engaged.

Huh????!!! These kids have time to hook up? Or do these relationship predate the show?

How come the US judges don't dance on the table like these do? :-)

Compared to World of Dance, SYTYCD is a breath of fresh air. I enjoyed everyone, for the simple reason I was spared that ridiculous scoring system, where Fik-Shun could be praised to the skies yet be given an artifically low score. I am willing to suspend disbelief and go along on the journey, knowing that these kids are bringing everything they have and the All-Stars finally have skin in the game (i.e. they win or lose as well, they don't just get to walk off the stage at the end.) If I hadn't watched WofD, perhaps I'd be more cynical :-)

I was okay with Vanessa during the auditions, because she was kind and encouraging. But that's not what's needed now; her brand of niceness isn't strong enough in opinion to counteract Nigel's insensitivity. (I'm rating his "deep hurt" comment to Robert just one rung lower than his comment about Evan's "hooded eyes.") What we need is a judge who's willing to say "what do we know about someone else's deep hurts?" and move on to more constructive commentary. Speaking of Kasprzaks, I'm reminded of Nigel's criticism of Ryan's whoppee cushion tapping as overcompensating for... I want to say appearance, but I honestly can't remember what the reason was. Valid or no, these sorts of observations should be shared privately not on national television.

Especially when he knew Robert would likely be the one going. At which point, Robert demonstrated to the world his ability to deal with deep hurt.

LOL, this is how I used to feel when people ragged on Evan!

So far, Wikipedia isn't even mapping them, like it has other years. If only one person is being let go per week, does that mean the show is on until October?

Cyrus doing contemporary. Our worst fears manifested. This is the routine Nigel referred to in his critique. You can see the similarities in dress.

I think we now know why Fik-Shun seemed so sad. (Though I think he was truly taken aback at how low his scores were.) For certain, he's back to his old self on SYTYCD. I also don't think Keone & Mari expected to score that much lower than Les Twins, even if they too suspected they were set up to lose. Wonder how they're going to fill an entire hour with 3 acts...