Grandma Moses

She looks like she could have a sugar daddy.

Brandi Kilby. When they straightened her hair, she became a totally different girl. Wow!

Brianna, from Delaware. She was strikingly beautiful. Loved her look and her personality. I seem to remember her saying she would take two years off and try out for DCC again, which would’ve been this year. But I didn’t see her. Anyone know why she didn’t try out as planned? More on this episode: Lisa is great. She may not be a glamour girl but she has a lot of punch and she works very, very hard. Good for her! Oh no, another Dead Relative Backstory. MTT producers, please stop beating the dead horse. So to speak. Victoria has seemed to rein herself in this season and it’s good to see. She seems more put together overall. Meredith… I think it must be Xanax or something. She’s delayed in her speech, she is delayed in her movements. Moving in to new, updated apartments, new lamps, new sheets, new beds...sheesh. The TCCs this season appear to have a lot of money from their families or something. It seems like a shift from seasons past. There’s nothing wrong with having money. But if you want the all-around golden girl you’ve got to make sure that the DCC does not become some sort of club only for the very wealthy. Chandi—still one of my favorites. Darling, precise in her movements, consistent. Not overly sexy but I think that’s a good thing. A team full of Kalyssas would change DCC into something else. Amanda has an interesting look. I call it “pretty punk.” Kind of like a Debbie Harry. Once in a while though she can look almost walleyed. Madeline S.—I’m rooting for her. The humble legacy.

YES. Caroline has grown on me so much. She’s a powerhouse, has strong dance technique, she’s beautiful. All around all-American girl. I’d lighten her lipstick color to soften her a bit. Other than that, I wouldn’t change a thing. Caroline for point. She’s the real deal.

Totally agree. I really like Lily this season. I hope she makes it to the makeover episode of training camp. I think she needs 1) her hair smoothed out and 2) really good quality makeup foundation. I think she could be a total knockout waiting to happen.

I miss Kitty Carter. Last year was the outlier for me. Other than that, I have enjoyed watching her every year. Outspoken, colorful, direct, and downright hilarious to watch. (“Cathyyy, that move went out in the 70s.”) Kristi Scales continues to be one of my favorite judges during the audition process. I don’t always agree with what she says, but I think her comments are honest and she provides a unique POV. She’s refreshing. I think Bret has moments of cute, but something with the way she purses her lips when she speaks bothers me. I’m glad they didn’t take Katy into training camp. If they cut Gabby for the belly flab, it would’ve been wrong for them to take Katy. I think it’s tough to judge the solos from the tv screen since we can’t hear the real music they were using. Example: without knowing what she was dancing to, I can’t tell if VK was randomly flailing about during her routine or whether there was some musicality there. I’m sure it’s a licensing issue, but still. Christina bombed the interview question about the star. I’m not even a Texan and I could’ve answered that. C’mon. Charlotte looks softer this year. Her hair was too shaggy last season and it made her look harsh. This year, she looks much better. Victoria’s interview answer about who would she cut (Kelli, Judy, or Charlotte) was clever. Well played, VK. Malena always seems on edge to me. She’s a beautiful girl, but it’s uncomfortable to watch. Kat should’ve had a better routine than that. And a better costume. I’m still Team Kat though. I like Rachel W., but I will say I think she’s put on a few pounds and they've gone straight to her legs. She looks a little thick to me from the waist down. Charm is a good addition to the judges panel this season! Like her a lot. Amanda’s solo was strong, sharp, and a little sexy. Was that a Flashdance/80s costume routine Lily was doing? I’d love to know what song she danced to. I’m impressed with Kristen this year. She looks more polished, feminine, put together. Poor Malena’s tag was sticking out. Madeline S. Oh em gosh. Kicks for days. Good dance technique. She’s real, not made up. Love her! Ok... Why are almost all the dancers in tights and bare feet these days? Maybe I’m just anti-germy, but ew. Put some dance shoes on. Please.

Former: Abigail Klein Recent: Jenna Jackson (she was the last real DCC superstar, IMO) Current: Lexie Smith

I finally got to watch the first episode. New opening song: two thumbs DOWN. Sounds like the theme from "Dance Moms." Only not as good. Kat! LOVE her. I'd seen her in photos on Instagram during auditions, and I could tell months ago that she was gorgeous. But to see her in action! She's really beautiful. Wouldn't she rock the uniform! Amanda, another favorite. Lots of pop. Crisp. She reminds me a little of the actress Amanda Seyfried. Loved, loved the sweet backstory about her brother. That said... Gina. I liked her too, but especially for the fact that she didn't have a Dead Relative backstory. Refreshing. DCC Lacey was her inspiration. Well, good! Lacey made Judy cry when she retired. Clearly Lacey inspires a few people! Lily bored me last year. I thought of her as the poor man's Jordan Chanley only without Jordan's heart and bubbly personality. But this season, I admit, I found sassy-salty Lily quite interesting. Please, keep the cameras on her! And please keep her talking. Kelli looks fantastic. I do see that she's slimmed down these past few years. You go, woman. I've seen comments on here about not liking Julia's look, and I have to agree. To be more specific, and I hate to say this, but she looks to me like a man in drag. Also, her legs aren't very long by DCC standards. TPTB have chosen shorter legged girls for the squad before (Tara, Loni), but I just don't like the look. I still think Meredith has a thick middle. Kind of rectangular shaped. Not my favorite look, but she is interesting to watch in terms of her facial beauty and dance skills. Keyna, wow, she's in great shape. I couldn't tell by her dancing though if she'd have the stamina or flexibility to pull off the DCC style. Chandi, so pretty. Beautiful eyes! Would love to learn a little more about her. Lisa, the one they called "adorable." YES. Loved her. Victoria. Ugh. No. I hated the fall out of the turn. I heard Kitty Carter in the back of my head saying, "Don't do s**t you can't do." You know, I would be impressed with Victoria if she were to do hip hop or something totally different than her current shtick. Something to show that she's good at her craft, and not a one-trick pony. (No horse comments, please!) I can't wait for next week! Semifinals are my favorite round.

I always liked Natalie on DCC MTT, because she was such an incredible interview. Conversation for her seems easy and natural. After seeing this interview, I like her even more! She's got a humble, self-effacing quality to her, too, which makes her even more likable ("I barely made the team," etc.). Thanks, Scorpio, for posting this!

It's the pants.

Well, this season is over. I purchased from Amazon and didn't mess with iTunes this time! Episode 13 was better than I expected. The HD visuals of the pyrotechnics and music as the DCC made their entrance was exciting. I mean, I've seen that now a dozen+ times over the years, and this time I was like, "Wow. Here they are." Charlotte looked strange. Is it the shaggy haircut? Or has she had (more) work done on her face? I think she's attractive the way she is naturally, so the difference kind of freaked me out. Kelli looks fanfreakingtastic this season! I wasn't sad to see Lily go. I don't particularly like her look, I don't like her hair, or her style of speaking, and then her dancing was kind of blah. So yes, pare down that squad and cut her, absolutely. I wasn't sad to see Malena go either, all though I certainly felt some sympathy for her being cut the last night. I will say that watching her cut gave me the major uncomfortables Eek. Contrast her reaction to Tara's! So different. The "No, no, no, no, no, no, please, no, no, no, don't say it..." Eeeyikes. That said, Malena is beautiful and would rock the uniform. Who knows? Maybe she'll come back after hitting those prep classes hard. And she needs to learn to smile on that field! The Brennan/Kelli hug in the tunnel was a touching moment. And Lauren pouncing on Brennan with glee was precious. Poor Jalyn! That looked painful. She was a good sport though, took it in stride. She seems to be a good sport in general. I would love to see Cianna's hair blown out. I thin that would be a stunning look for her. Poor Yuko! Hope she recovers fully and quickly. Briana is fantastic. Wish we'd heard and seen more of her this season. Ashleeeeee! I've liked her for awhile and she just keeps getting better and better. And her shoulders! Strong and gorgeous. And she's absolutely right that it's the hard work that gets you there. Bridget's reaction, "My team, my team!" Loved it. Caroline had one moment in the tunnel when she was hot. Most of the time she doesn't strike me as that attractive. I loved seeing when they called their parents with the good news. Did y'all notice the song titles behind Kelli on the white board? Seasons ago, we used to know exactly what songs they danced to. "When I Grow Up," "Glamorous," etc. Now it's harder to know that because of licensing issues or whatever. So it was great to see some of those song titles this season! Lacey was so cute as an 18 year old! And Kashara. She's one of a kind. She will be missed.

Jinelle would be a fine replacement when the time comes, I agree. She's smart and has a good TV-Q. I'm thinking they might want a Texan in that top role though. Oh, HELLS no. Jenn K comes across so condescending, so snotty. She can be assistant whatever, but that's it. If I were a betting girl, I'd say Ashton Torres Little will be the one to replace Kelli when she retires. She's got the same approach, and she's easy on the eyes and easy on the ears. The one who is qualified to replace Judy someday is Michelle Keys. Her choreography, for football games in particular, is pure genius. But she's moving to Hawaii, so it's a no-go. Plus she's made a name for herself as a choreographer, and I'm not sure she'd want to limit herself to just the DCC organization. My two cents on that subject!

Alright, finally posting my thoughts on this episode. First of all, Victoria's cut. Holy Tammy Faye Bakker, Batman! The mascara. I have no idea if she'll try out again, but if she does, she'll have to be in her best physical shape and be ready in every other category too. There is no half way for her, going forward, if she's going to succeed in this. Gina must've been wearing the same mascara as Victoria, because hers was running all over the place too this episode. Tara's cut was--and she said it best--"heartbreaking." I wish they hadn't cut her. What a class act. I think she'll be fine after this, because people who are gracious like that tend to bounce back well. It's the bitter ones you have to worry about. I noticed Tara's weight gain back at auditions and posted about it here in May/early June. She does have shorter legs, and when she's lean, it's easy to miss. But add an extra 10+ lbs, and it's going to make her look blocky. Cute, but cute like those baby blocks with the alphabet letters on them. Not her best DCC look. But there is so much to like about her that makes her good for the team. When Lacey walked her out of Kelli's office, it was so telling to see how much squad support she had. Kashara, Gina, Lauren--those tears were genuine and really flowing over this. Tara's cut was probably the hardest I've ever watched in all 13 seasons. There was a moment when she referred to Kelli and Judy possibly regretting the decision, and the way she said it was so mature, so good natured, which takes incredible nuance. Contrast that with that scary girl Whitney a few seasons back when she told Kelli and Judy when they cut her that they'd regret it. The way she said it gave me the creeps. I liked Erin's story. Really, she has brought a much improved game this year over last season, regarding looks and strength and dance and maturity. Good for her! Yay, I finally got my Meredith Oden "Where Are They Now?" segment! When I read all the comments on here, and how she'd supposedly aged, I was expecting the worst. But when I finally saw the episode, I thought she looked fine. I love that she loves being an American and has an interesting job along with her husband. Her boys are adorable. ITA with those who are worried for their safety. I hope they have excellent security in the countries they're sent to!

Yes, I think it was season 5.

I called Apple Care yesterday and got my full season 13 refund. (My husband calls me "Squeaky Wheel.") Then I went to Amazon and bought the episode there. You'll lose the whole season 13 on iTunes by doing that, but it seems to me many on here would like to "lose" season 13 anyway. Now that I've seen the episode, I'm formulating my thoughts for a bit before I post my opinion on it. Funny how this show ropes you in and even as outsiders we feel so personally involved! The episode was intense, and I am still absorbing it all. Or, as Kelli would say, "I'm a ball of stress about tonight," and "I'm fixin' to be sick."

Oh, I was relieved to see that Taylor go. She was awful. Throwing the evil eye at Kelli during rehearsal? I was so glad that Cassie called her out on her attitude. She was totally protecting the DCC brand in that whole ordeal.

The answer to the question of whether a DCC should use her role as a platform for a political movement or social firestorm (kneeling during the anthem, #metoo, etc.) is NO. There can be a follow up statement like, "My job as a DCC is to cheer on the Cowboys, and it's a privilege for me to further the goals of the Cowboys organization." Or something to that effect. It's in that pivot statement that I'd be curious to know exactly how Kelli and Charlotte would want the TCCs or DCCs to respond.

Agree completely. And while I think Amber is cute and talented, I'm a little worried for her future as an attorney if she can't connect the dots on the concussion/flag football question and where her answers lead. This is exactly what lawyers are skilled at doing! She sure did. I remember her saying that if she didn't make it, it wasn't because they didn't give her enough changes to improve. True humility and responsibility there! I miss that after several seasons of tears and "I worked so hard for this" bellyaching.

Ok, onto this episode: I was disappointed that Victoria blew Jinelle off, never responding to her texts. I understand it, because I know my own tendency to hide and retreat when I'm stressed or under pressure, but I know it's a weakness--and a bad one in the workplace--so I fight that tendency like crazy. Victoria is young; hopefully she's learned from this how she must learn to communicate with people. And better by phone or in person if possible--not text! I can't fathom why Victoria turned to "people who have struggled with weight" instead of taking advice from someone who hasn't struggled with her weight. Did it occur to her that maybe Jinelle hasn't struggled with her weight was because she understands how to fuel the body, and she's consistent? She has a lot to teach. And when you need to learn, you go to the master, not the people who perhaps have the same weaknesses you do. I thought it was brilliant that Jinelle wanted to send Victoria to a doctor/nutritionist. It might help them to see what's going on, to see if Victoria has something going on where it'll be like swimming against the current if it's not resolved. As someone going through perimenopause, I can tell you, hormones have a lot to do with it. Having worked in media relations, I always enjoy the media relations part of training camp. The questions this year were hard. I have to say, Brianna B. knocked it out of the ballpark with her reply on concussions! Such a smart thing to say. She's intelligent and quick on her feet, and she is going to nail interviews. I felt badly for Taylor T. Can't really fault them from cutting her, at this point. I like her and I did tear up when she got cut. She had such a sweet disposition about everything. But come on, girl. You get recipes, vacation ideas, outfit ideas, decorating tips, and baby pics on Instagram. You get your news from other sources. Try Drudgereport.com. They have a collection on there that seems to capture the major stories of the day. Taylor T.'s cut may pave the way for Kelli to make more cuts, I think. Now that it's not 42, you know, they have to whittle it down somehow to make the right formations. I like the Where Are They Now? segments a lot. Can they do Meredith Oden? She was my favorite legacy of all time.

Oh, see if you can get ahold of season 2, like on the CMT free trial or something. It's my favorite season--so worth watching!

CaseyRe is right. Both in dance and in figure skating, coaches will physically interact with you to show you the correct position/movement. And it works! So finally posting on this episode! I felt bad for Miranda when she started to cry. Seriously, she must be on edge thinking she could get cut for such a minor correction. Maybe there's more going on behind the scenes, I don't know. Ashlee--so glad we've been introduced, finally! I really like her. Not a Madeline fan. I don't like her lower lip chipmunk thing going on, or the way she smiles with her mouth open. She's a good dancer, but that's not enough to be a DCC, in my book. And what was she thinking, moving her stuff into another locker?? Cianna when she had straight hair reminds me a lot of Sydney Durso. Really cute! Yuko has such a pretty smile! Love love the dimple. I've not been an Erin fan in the past, but she is really wowing me this season. Starting with her foundation makeup, giving her that clear, flawless complexion, makes her eyes stand out. And her dancing! Soooo much better! She's sharp AND feminine in her movement. So much fun to watch. Yeah, I called Rachel's major RBF at the beginning of the season and it was good to see it come out during the Mentor Melissa section! And I'm glad Melissa called her out on the non-weakness weakness she cited ("All the dances seem the same to me..."). That said, Rachel is stunning. Really, a beautiful girl. I liked Melissa's short hair--I thought she rocked it--but I don't like it so much now that she's growing it out, and I really don't like the highlights. I think they do nothing for her. Oh! And has she really had 3 kids? She looks incredible. So impressed. Cannot wait to see the Jinelle/Victoria showdown next week! The preview had me like :-O

I get my episodes from iTunes, and it’s not available there yet either. Weird!

Lindsey was her name (I had to look back for reference). And I'd totally forgotten about her already! So yeah, I think they made the right choice in cutting her. I love how tough she is though. I loved it when she said she'd been through worse.

Ashlee, yes! Spunky, cute, fun to watch. I LOLed about Bridget and her own audience! It's like she's showing Kelli and Judy, "Hey, I can perform for even the people up in the nosebleed section. Can't you just see me on the field?" I thought it was brave of her, and yes, adorable. Kitty Carter is one of my favorite people on the show. She's entertaining even by herself. In fact, I've thought that she could have her own show, but now, I'm not so sure. She was not herself last night. I don't know what it was, but it was disappointing. Yes! And not only is Jinelle a healthy eater, but she's consistent about her health and weight. And that's what they want in a DCC. Rachel's talking points may not have been perfectly executed, but the sentiment was there, and I think she'll get a pass on the little things. I imagine Kelli and Judy can see very clearly that with Rachel, they're not going to have a Kalyssa on their hands come February, posing nearly nude on her IG, or a Jenna, texting Shelly about her position in the triangle. Rachel is humble, sweet, she loves the Lord, she takes direction, and she's drop dead gorgeous. She's exactly what the DCC needs right now, and Kelli and Judy know it. Ok, do we have to hear from Malena every single damn episode? Come on, already. It's the same old talking points anyway. Borrrrinnnng. I too cried when Dayton got cut. Although I did wonder to myself, where was all this emotion before? I wish she would've let it all out on the dance floor and during interviews, not just upon her exit. Sweet, beautiful girl, and it was tough to see her cut.

Yes, to all three. Also, Michelle Keys Rocks. The. House. Best choreographer ever. I too would've liked to hear her behind the scenes feedback on the TCCs to Kelli and Judy. Oh! And I think a video segment on how to properly tie the Kelli Knot is in order.