RFH

If they finish this series without having Danny back in some capacity, it would be a huge disappointment to me. However, on Aug. 20, Danny answered a tweet, explaining sytycd has "asked me to be an All Star many times and are always the sweetest to me" but he just hadn't been able to make it. Hopefully, if we have another season, he can make time for it. He's mostly teaching, as far as I know, with the occasional side project. I know he was prevented from it for several seasons while he was dancing with the national ballet company in Norway. https://twitter.com/TidwellDanny/with_replies

I guess I've missed the significance of keeping a tally of which genre won each week's voting. Is there a cumulative reward for one side or the other? Or is it bragging rights for either Twitch or Travis? Or is it a process, as I suspect, which is simply an otiosity featured as an excuse to give air time to two whom the producers feel are over-whelming fan favorites? I missed what happens with that at the end of the season.

Based on versatility so far, I would've sent Megz home before Neptune, though I really like them both. As silly as the "stories" are, I thought Neptune had a great stage presence and was believable in those roles. I doubt either would make top 4, so I guess it doesn't matter much. Jaja was cute in her characterization but I thought her technique deserved a little more critiquing. I didn't spot any of the goldfish-gulping-for-air mouth motions in any of her group or individual routines, so that's progress. I wonder about Ricky being able to appear, since On the Town runs through September. Since so many of both sides of the competition are cross-trained, I have to give Megz credit for being as versatile as she has been so far. She is one of the few who truly can be said is learning on-the-job. That used to count for something. I like all the remaining dancers, so I don't or won't feel outrage if she's eliminated next week. She should be proud of her work to this point. I've never thought Paul was more than just competent even in his own genre, so the paso doble was a failure on both sides for me. I will applaud his effort to tone down that annoyingly ever-present smile. He is on that list with Lauren G., Jose, Fik-shun, and Cyrus who all seemed almost unable to manage their uncontrollable grins. Virgil might be this season's version of that. For me, Gaby is a front-runner, but I worry about how voters will react to the praise she's getting. Voters are a fickle bunch and Virgil has that cutie-patootie glowing smile as his advantage. I wouldn't be surprised with a Virgil win. Jasmine owned her number. I am more impressed with her with every appearance. Something about Jim's physique bothers me. With his long torso and thin legs, it looks like a fellow dancing with four arms rather than legs and arms. His abilities in his own specialty are undeniable, though. I feel they've been harsher on him on his out-of-genre dances than they have been with others. I love his sweet spirit, too. Finally, someone referenced in a much earlier thread that Nigel may be leaving the show. I have a sick feeling that Travis and Twitch are being groomed to take over if that happens. Twitch, I can tolerate. However, seeing Travis the primary seat would inspire me to fianlly follow through with my occasional threats of "never watching this show again".