EvergreenLove

I watched the first episode when it was free on CMT, but otherwise will not go out of my way to watch the rest of the season (and will definitely not purchase it). This is coming from a former die-hard who owns nearly every season on iTunes and has watched religiously since Season 1. Not only has COVID changed habits across the board, but I also feel that COVID has exposed K&J and this show in a way that I'm just not interested in supporting anymore.

Yes. In some of the plaza performance videos on YouTube, she can be seen announcing the cheerleaders.

It wouldn’t surprise me, that’s for sure.

I believe that even if Kaime would have been present through the entire training camp, she wouldn’t have made it. She seemed to really struggle once she was in that room, and more than just learning the dances. I remember Kitty praising Kaime’s solo at finals and calling her a rockstar, but ripping her apart (rightfully so) during her session in training camp. When Kaime came back in Season 5, she was even worse. Especially during the kickline at semi-finals. I found it off putting that her fan club waiting outside was in disbelief that she didn’t make it to finals - it was like she fully expected to walk on the squad that year.

I feel like there's a decent subset of former cheerleaders that are also anti-vaxxers.

Holy skeleton, Charlotte. Truly scary.

The panel interviews are actually one of my favorite things about finals. I suspect that their answers aren't as important as how they handle themselves in the moment with (potentially) tough questions/situations. Anyone can be a beautiful girl and a fabulous dancer with the right amount of money and effort, but getting to see the person behind that exterior intrigues me more than anything. Of course I admit I'm not the target demographic of DCC. 🙂 While I would love to see the solos in their entirety, I would REALLY love to see panel interviews in their entirety.

Made even more head-scratching because they specifically sized Brittany for a uniform in Season 6 that was the same size as her Season 5 uniform. Kelli even complimented her on her consistency. I could never see the “weight gain” that TPTB supposedly did.

I’ll take a serving of the tea.

Meghan from Season 6 comes to mind with your theory. She handled her Commander in Chief flub very well, which may have helped her get a spot in training camp.

I’m also not enjoying these videos, which leads me to believe that it’s more the videos than the candidates. It’s probably difficult to showcase a dancer’s abilities in a non-professional video/environment. And yes, these ladies are definitely young.

I’m right there with you. Loren’s blonde hair really wasn’t doing her any favors, and it was apparent once she got her brunette makeover.

I feel like a decent number of girls show up to panel interviews looking like they are ready to hit the club.

She was a favorite of K&J - that's why she moved up so quickly. Not saying she wasn't deserving, but it's no secret that a K&J favorite is going to get opportunities that others won't.

Someone ticked off Jay?

That is the best mistake yet from DCC Social Media gurus.

I'm sensing a theme here from Meredith - we have no right to snark on her when none of these things were even her idea. We're to believe that she's just some helpless bystander of all these things she was made to participate in? There's no way in hell that I would allow someone to put that "no cheating when eating" sign on my mirror, or approve that engagement post to print. Maybe this is why she was plagiarizing recipes. If the recipe was crap, well, "it's not mine!"

If she made it herself and wanted to wear it, that's totally different and I will stand corrected. I still wish they would have given her the real one to wear - I think it would have made her "living the dream" even more special.

Season 5 on PlutoTV now. I know the Trevino sisters don't get a lot of love, but Crystal looked great that season and her dancing was fantastic. Also, I'm always annoyed as crap when they show Amanda (the Good Morning America winner) in that horrible halloween costume. They really should have put her in the real thing, like they did with Ali Wentworth on Oprah's show. I can never prove it, but I'm convinced it was because Ali was smaller. And it was laughable that Kelli presented Amanda's request as "we'll do it, but just this one time!" when they did the same thing with Ali the year prior.

I would love this link as well.

I’m a huge fan of Amanda as well. Her solo last year just captivated me.

The best one: "With the pandemic, we're gonna kick its ass!" I don't know why we are working so hard on a vaccine when all we really need to beat it is the DCC. <eyeroll>

I do like that analysis, and there's probably some truth to it. Some of the "bigger" ladies (using that term loosely, of course!) that made the squad were some of the best dancers. Kandi Harris immediately comes to mind.

It was the last episode of Season 6 (episode 8), about 20 minutes in. Kelli introduced them as "the stars of 'Celebrate Texas'," so they may not have been referred to as Antebellum All Stars. I'm not sure. I hate to say this, but a few of the All-Stars in that segment probably shouldn't have been in the uniform (looking at you, Trisha Trevino).

Me too. If TPTB are truly reading this forum...find a way to re-release the 2-hour special, PLEASE!!! Especially as COVID living drags on.