kayma

I like Justin a lot more after he's been on GGG so much, but they will never convince me he's the most amazing chef ever! Some of his stuff looks interesting, but I think they need to dial it back with him before they ruin the Goodwill he's built The 3 on 3 chef challenge show went the exact opposite way I expected on each round.

I'd guess most of the stars these days are met with a blank stare and a who? At least those "unknown" athletes would be more fun (and more deserving) to watch than Tonya Harding.

I wish they had gotten a few more athletes from the Olympics from the lesser known sports. This would have been a great time for those who have day jobs to pick up some extra cash and show their stories. They really should have gone outside the box on this season. I love that Chris Mazdzer is on and wish they'd gotten one of the gold medal curlers, too. The young girl from speed skating would have been fun, too. The one who emigrated from Nigeria(?). Erin Hamlin, too. If they can do 3 figure skaters, why not two Lugers. The young snowboarding kid who won a gold. The two female cross country skiiers who won the gold from an incredible sprint at the end of the relay. A women's hockey player? That's just off the top of my head, so why couldn't casting find better options?

When the first Russian closed the gap during the 50km, I couldn't help wonder what they spiked his glucose stuff with. It's pretty awful that I have such little faith in Russian sports that I immediately discount his achievements and the silver and bronze medal.

I loved V/M at the 2010 Olympics but was turned off by Scott's attitude in 2014 and even questioned their comeback. But, they are so far ahead of everyone else to my untrained, casual observer eyes that the scores are ridiculous. P/C should be in 4th (or lower) after V/M, Shibs, and H/D. I can't believe they are going to push a P/C win even with obviously less than perfect skating and a wardrobe malfunction.

Yes, apparently they are Team Montreal instead of Team USA. I don't think V/M got that memo, though. I wasn't really a fan of theirs before but was resigning myself to the inevitable bronze. Now, I'm really hoping they don't medal.

If the Shibs (or any other ice dance team) are skating both programs in the team competition, I think it's a shame. Of the individual entries, the three ice dance teams and Nathan are most deserving of being in the medal race. Since at least two of three ice dance teams will likely not medal, I would have liked to see two get a team medal. I would much rather see the gift medal go to two of the ice dance teams who are all ranked in the top 7 in the world than go to a woman ranked 9, 14, or 43, depending on the second entry. (If it's the athletes' decision to skate both, I don't blame them for choosing to do so. I think it's poor planning for the team criteria.)

I wouldn't let Adam or Mirai anywhere near the team competition. Both are far too prone to choking to hang everyone else's hopes on. I'd split the ice dance to keep the teams fresh since they actually have a shot at a medal or top 5. I would also send Vincent out to rack up points even if he's less than perfect. Attempted quads rack up more than attempted triples. The men's field is sad enough overall, he'd probably muster up enough points for the team competition.

I just watched the men's competition and think they should send the top 3. Adam has no chance at a medal and isn't really that competitive internationally anyway. Send the three that delivered when they needed to. I'm sick of the entitlement he and Ashley always display.

I thought Savannah was trying very hard to seem upset - fake voice, deliberate body language, laying it on too thick. She even cracked a smile during her comments. She didn't seem all that broken up to me. I'm sure she knew and isn't the least bit surprised.

I watched an episode with the diners, drive ins, and dives chefs. The final challenge was to make a cheesy, northeastern dish. I guess I never realized how limited chicken parmesan is nationwide for the praise those judges were heaping on. As someone included in the Northeast region, chicken parmesan (eggplant parmesan and haddock parmesan for that matter, too) is always fried. At least it is at every chain restaurant, local restaurant, relative's house, hole in the wall, and dive bar that I've been to. I've only had non-fried versions when I make it at home with leftover chicken. I'm so shocked by the rave reviews over what looked like a sad version of chicken parmesan. Where's the mozzarella? Where was the spaghetti or bread? You don't just eat a piece of chicken covered in sauce. I've never been a fan of the judges on this show, but chicken parmesan is basic. I'm not sure why an episode of this silly show annoyed me so much.

I really liked the Shibs. Maybe, it's because they can't do the romance emo routines. Are Virtue/Moir really that good again so soon? I really liked them in 2010 but now it's all such a predictable schtick that I can't tell.

I really liked in the tour preview that Emma and Val actually danced together. The rest were so busy mugging at the camera that they were barely dancing with their partner. I really loved Calvin. I hope he achieves what he wants in his post-football life. I preferred Laurie over James, so yay. I hope Emma, Lindsay, and Sasha get good partners next year. I'd love to see any of those three win or, at least, make it to the finals. Artem, too. Sharna can take a turn with the token old guy.

Oh, I did not like James's freestyle at all. It looked very high school dance recital to me (albeit exceptionally danced from the extras). The voiceover was weird and threw me so much that I don't think it actually hit any emotional notes. I loved Calvin's. I think Lindsay's the best at freestyles between this and Alek's. I hope she gets a "ringer" next season. I really liked Laurie's. I thought it was perfect for her. I like finales best when they throw out tens like candy. I like it when everyone's happy and excited and the result is left to those who vote. I'm not voting but I like this final three. They're the best/most enjoyable ones from the season. I can't believe they trotted out a trombone for Calvin. He's such a good sport.

I don't really get the James love, though I do think he's earned his place in the final. I thought his dance wasn't up to Laurie's and Calvin's; although, giving him immunity was the fairest option and I can't really argue with it. I would have liked to see James dance side by side with Laurie or Calvin to be able to compare. That's the problem with immunity - we don't actually see the best side by side. I thought Laurie's dance came together so beautifully. I love Calvin and Lindsay. The dance off really shows me who I like. Marilu can leave. She seems so opposite what the other contestants are. Everyone is having fun, working hard, and working in their partnerships while she's just such a dark spot. I almost feel bad for Derek. Sasha is the breakout star for me this season. I don't care one way or the other about Terra, but he's been great this season.

I just turned it off and didn't even make it much past the halfway point. Nothing redeeming about this version of the show for me. I like these characters. I don't want to see them needless killed and tortured while some guy who talks too much and isn't all that impressive breaks down my heroes. Maybe, I'll come back when I hear negan's dead. To think I was so excited all weekend for this.

I broke down and voted tonight for the first time. Lindsay and Calvin were my favorite of the night and have been in my top two all season so far. Their dance was so much better than Jana's in my opinion, and I really hope the jeopardy was just producer games and not a sign of things to come. I missed the middle of the show because of thunderstorms, but I completely forgot Amber, Jana, and Marilu were even on it. Aside from Laurie and Calvin, no one really has my attention.

Marilu was so annoying. Can we get rid of her (and Rick) and have Derek and Emma team up for an exhibition every show? I don't mind Jenna and liked what she put together, but Jake seems like he's got some serious personality issues. Better luck next time, Jenna. Maureen was uncomfortable to watch. Save the tears for most memorable week. Still love Artem, though. Was her dance really that bad? I fast forward the judges to see the scores only. I thought she was pretty on par with most everyone else. I wish Sharna would resist the Kool aid hair. She and her partner were quite enjoyable. Lindsay and her partner were fun. I think Lindsay is my favorite pro at the moment. I hope they make the finals. I really like the Vanilla Ice HGTV shows and liked him here. I wish he'd gotten Emma, though. I like Witney, but she doesn't seem like the best teacher for a newbie. If they don't pick it up quickly, she just falls back on taking out the content. Love Laurie and love Laurie with Val. I'm looking forward to great things from them.

I like Roger. He's kind of adorable. Brianna is ok. For a show that is so good about everyone else's accents and diction, they needed to pay more attention to Brianna. She was so whiny sounding and some of her dialogue took me right out of the show, which never happens during Outlander for me. Hopefully, they work out her dialogue and she settles in. I think it's really sad that Claire seems to have only lived a half life the past 20 years and that her relationship with Brianna suffered for it. It seems like a disservice to Jamie's memory but was probably inevitable after losing him. The best parts for me were the parts in the past. I kept wishing they'd hurry up back to them. As good as Caitriona is as Claire (and she's so deserving of the praise), I think Sam stole the episode in their parting scenes. How he didn't break until she was looking away, that realization when he couldn't hear the buzzing, and that accepting nod when he touched the stone and nothing happened. I had been spoiled about the speech about 200 years of purgatory and loving her well and didn't know how Sam would make that sound natural and not a romance novel trope, but it was perfect. I so hope we get to see his reaction after she's gone and (hopefully) him killing Black Jack next season. Oh, Murtagh. I'm still hoping he lives. Overall, the whole 20 year separation seems so contrived and such lazy writing, but that's a problem I have with the source material, which I won't reading anyway.

I liked that Jamie was trying to change the outcome. He doesn't know how it'll turn out but it's worth a shot to attempt what was probably a different strategy. Really, I just want him and his clansmen and Rupert and Murtaugh and Claire and Fergus to go home and live happily ever after. I'm pretty sure they're not going to harm Fergus too badly and obviously Jamie and Claire will survive. I'm holding out hope for Murtaugh. I just love Murtaugh. I'm glad to be done with Sandringham. He was always so obviously duplicitous that I never understood why anyone listened to him. I like that Mary got her own revenge. Maybe she'll start to grow up now. I loved that Murtaugh was able to get vengeance for Mary and Claire. He looked so pleased with how it all turned out. (I will really be gutted if we lose Murtaugh.)

I like Ginger well enough and thought the freestyle was cute. I don't care for Nyle. I'm lukewarm on Paige and thought she danced well but meh. I know why they redid the salsa but I thought she had rougher dances. But, then when I try to figure out a better one to redo, I can't remember any other dances she did. So, I guess Mark for the win because he was my second favorite this season behind Lindsay. Or, I'd take Val. Don't really care if their partners win or not.

I like Ginger. She clearly works hard and does a really good job. She's not perfect but none of them are. I agree that the judges' scores for her are weird - as in completely and totally nonsensical week to week just like with Paige, Antonio, Wanya, and Jodie. They're praised one week for something that was complained about the week before. One week they get low scores for the same thing that gets a 10 the next. She's been both in last place and in first place, as has Wanya. She's gone early, and she's gone last. TPTB, in my opinion, have been treating the stars pretty equally. They've been mixing up the order pretty well. The judges score everyone, except Nyle, on a randomly changing standard that seems to equal out over a couple shows. There have been good packages and bad packages but no straight up character assassination a la Nastia and Tamar. Yes, Ginger got a 30 tonight but she had a lot of content and did it well. Was it perfect? No, but that's never been the standard as far as I know for a 30 on this show. Bindi, of all people, holds the record so it's clearly not about dance perfection. And, as far as I'm concerned, once Nyle got a 29 for that, Paige and Ginger should have gotten 30s easily for their dances and even Antonio should have gotten a 10. I'm not sure what the judges saw that kept Paige from a 30 because that was beautiful. I'd be perfectly fine with a final with Wanya, Ginger, and Paige. I'd even take Antonio in the final because I find him oddly charming. I'm worried that Wanya in the bottom twice now means he won't make it, though. I'm hoping his rough night and Lindsey's devastation will give them a push. Oh, and we've had men dance with men on this show before. Mark and Val danced together last week for the highlight of the show.

I'm ready for Paige to go, which is a shame because she is clearly the best and Mark is doing a great job. That jive was great, but I find her so unlikeable. Most of what she says sounds so whiny to me. Maybe it's her inflections. I loved Ginger's dance and thought it was worthy of its score. I'm a sucker for a good waltz. I think Witney just never figured out what to do with Von. I've never been a big fan Nyle's. His comment last week didn't bother me at all, but I felt like this week he was making excuses. I know Antonio's been slacking and that he's not the best dancer, but I do still like him. I'm still rooting for a Wanya win. He and Lindsay are perfect partners.

Maybe I'm easy, but I loved this episode and was surprised when it ended. I don't always know who the new characters are when they show up again, but I get enthralled anyway. I like that Claire is feeling useful again. I like the Claire and Jamie distance for now. I love Murtaugh and am glad he's enjoying himself. And, I'm glad they all got a win at the end even if, I'm sure, it's short lived.

I hate when this show forgets that it's supposed to be fun. Between the nasty judging, the uncomfortable editing in the packages, the randomly enforcing expectations that haven't been in recent seasons, the strict scoring then random 10, and the scoring mix up by two judges, this episode sure killed the fun this season had going.