Aethera

I just...wow.

Pie Style's restaurant and food truck are actually surprisingly good. I never would have tried them if they'd had his name all over them, but they don't. I don't think there's even a picture of him on the website. Justin turned out to be a jerk, but I'm not sure Marti deserved her own show then. I was rooting for her this season though, for sure. I never liked Melissa. I did not like Jeffrey either - I feel the same way you do, JTMacc99. Creepster. Did I like Debbie that season? I can't remember.

I just had a bit of a lightbulb moment. Which is sad because I'm at work and it's about FNS instead of about the project I'm supposed to be working on. They all struggle with 'POV' because Culinary Point of View is weird made up phrase. What the show should be asking contestants is simply "what show would you do?" or more elegantly "what's your concept for a show?" which is something they really failed to articulate this season, though I feel like they used to do so more in the past. "A show where I go out and eat great food and then come home and turn it into a great sandwich" is a show idea (and a good one!) not a Culinary Point of View. The POV is basically "Sandwiches, man." It would make this show a lot more interesting, watching the mentors help people hone show concepts instead of vague ideas. I can't think of any real show concepts out of this season's group. We shouldn't have had to wait until the pilot to find out the concept of Luca's show. "Italian Food" is not a good show concept. And it isn't even really what they call a POV, but they didn't care about that, because Dimples. If they'd heard "Go to an Italian restaurant and taste a dish and then make something inspired by that dish" they could have worked on that and his pilot might not have been so weird. It would have made more sense if he'd just made something with burnt wheat, for instance. Cowboys! is not a show concept, either, and then you get stuck with Cowboy Up or whatever the heck that was. If they'd heard "go to a nice restaurant and make one of their dishes more Cowboytastic" they might have figured out a different, better direction for him to go in, instead of leaving him to his own POV devices and hammering Sarah about Date Night Wait Texas Wait Kids! (Date Night was actually the closest to the concept of a show one of the final 4 had before the promos, except of course Damaris had already done it.) Clearly a lot of people here have good ideas for what Nicole's show concept could have been - instead of "Coastal Cuisine" we could have gotten "making seafood more accessible by teaching people about the different kinds of fish available to them, what can be substituted in recipes, how to best highlight each type of item". That's something she could demonstrate in challenges. OK, rant over. Back to work :)

Is it just me, or did the opening number just scream "hey look how white we all are!"? That was my immediate reaction to the all-white costumes, and it totally distracted me. I'm thrilled Jasmine is back as an All-Star. I'm only sorry we don't get Aaron back. Really, I think it's a good panel, though like everyone else I'll miss Mark, and I don't really need Jenna. I am a fan of Tanisha, but the rest of the girls, meh. Valerie is full of joy but I don't think her dancing is good enough, and I am getting tired of that same face all the time. Clearly it's all about Jessica, which annoys me. I want to see her challenged. Jacque and Bridget, super forgettable. The boys, I'm also being bugged by the Ricky Show, but I think Zach is great, Emilio is fine, Casey is whatever, and Rudy needs to go away, pronto. I too was distracted on the female group number by how bad the dresses looked. If David's Bridal had a nightgown line, there it would be. The male group number was much better. At the beginning of this season a lot of posters were talking about how they were pushing a ballroom winner this year. Feels like not so much, now. Contemporary again, blah.

I think you misunderstood me. I don't think the kids need to be in the show, or have anything to do with her concept. I think it's ridiculous that she got hit over and over about her kids, when her POV had nothing to do with kids. I think the FN people are in the wrong on that, and it wasn't fair. If I didn't think Sarah was a ridiculously stupid waste of air, I'd be rooting for her to win despite them trying to sabotage her. My point is that when the kids WERE brought up, we got the stupid Sarah look and the "oh man they're right" line multiple times. You feel that's motherly? To go "oh man, I should be using them as props", which is how it came off to me? It honestly looked each time like she'd forgotten she had them, and that she was totally on-board with the mentors' idea of mentioning them more. I had expected either indignation at their pigeonholing, or thoughtful consideration about the idea and perhaps including it if she WANTED to, or an actual response to the mentors like "I have thought about it but I don't want my show to be about my kids, I like my Texas POV", or "yeah my kids don't want anything to do with my showbiz career" or at least a story about her kids to camera or SOMETHING that felt genuine. There were a lot of things that would have felt more genuine and like she cared about them, but instead it felt like she was saying "duh, I should have used my kids" both of the times they got brought up, like they ARE props, and that she didn't have any thoughts for them beyond that. And that might be editing, but all we can respond to is what we see.

I'm not saying she has to use it. But every time they brought it up she was all "oh damn how could I forget my kids! I should have used them". She could have said "I don't want to make this about my kids" but she agreed whenever they brought it up. I think since Texas and Date Night were so unsuccessful, they were trying to find her something else. But nothing worked because she just…sucked.

Notes as I watched this week's episode: Watching Sarah's promo and the reaction, I am suddenly very aware that she keeps forgetting her kids, and that her reaction when this is pointed out doesn't seem very motherly. She's more worried about talking about being a mom than actually being a mom, it seems. Does she really have children? Does she resent them? Does she not really parent them? I can perfectly picture her helplessly parenting children on a sitcom, but cannot picture her actually parenting. Thank god she's finally gone. Lenny's promo was so bad compared to Sarah's, I'm really surprised they put him through. If they hire him, I think he HAS to have a studio audience. He's consistently bad in the non-live stuff. I think Nicole has the weakest POV of the group. It sounds like it's just the best thing she could come up with, being from the Jersey Shore. She totally nailed it when she was worried about being 'weathergirly'. Robert Irvine has increasingly creepy biceps. Careful dude, you don't want to be Sly Stallone here. Nicole, do not say Oh Em Gee. And man you are boring. When he told her to unboring, she just got weird. Luca's pilot sum-up was really confusing, and it made me realize - I don't think they ever, ever asked him his point of view. "oh, it's Italian because he's Italian". Not fair. The POV part of this show has always been a problem though. What would Giada's POV be? Toothy Italian? Bobby's? "Grilling is cool"? Alton is the only one of them who had a strong one with his show. Getting back to Luca, his POV is "force an Italian dish onto an Italian restaurant's menu...and then a feast"? Notice we haven't heard that at all before now. Lenny's final pilot: you can tell it's been edited to deal with his awkwardness. I would maybe eat that steak, but the concept of Cowboying Up restaurants is terrible. Nicole's final pilot: Better than she's been all season, actually, but I still don't care. She doesn't seem to know what she's talking about. New Orleans = Clams? No. Luca's final pilot: His POV even less well explained, and kinda sucks. Also that burnt wheat cavatelli looks like centipedes. And he's not very intelligible. My vote? Maaaybe Nicole, but effectively, no one. I would love to know what the total number of votes is this year compared to last year.

Bleh, where to start. This episode was terrible and frustrating. I thought the background scenes were completely unfair. I also can't believe Emma screwed up the gift of Paris - though I understood every word she said. I will say, with everyone coming out in costume of their location I was holding my breath when it was Lenny's turn. They obviously gave him that one because of course he would want to say in the cowboy getup and we wouldn't have any misguided semi-racist nonsense. The Great Wall and the Moon were both way mean for locations - this whole episode just highlighted the foolish producer nonsense. I really don't know who to root for anymore. Lenny shows flashes of a personality I like, but then reverts back to the Cowboy nonsense. He was really good at the live demo last week, I thought. But this week, yeesh. It was like the Beetlejuice commercial. Emma I think is my favorite, though if L'Oreal wasn't listening to the 'bigger! bigger!' notes I think I'd like her fine. Sarah is the worst. I also feel like she's doing 80% of the commentary, and I've wanted her gone since the first episode. I wonder if Christopher might just come in under the radar. I don't think he has quite enough personality, but he's the least polarizing, for certain. Then again, that doesn't make for good TV. I will say this about Rodney Pie Guy - I hated, hated, hated him on his season, but damned if he doesn't make delicious pie. I went to his food truck without knowing it was his, and enjoyed it. I was sort of horrified that it was his when I found out. But their website barely mentions him. No picture, even. Been back a bunch of times, and a lot of the pies are really good. So I think sometimes the personality gets in the way of someone who can actually cook. That's Lenny to me. I freely admit I don't watch cooking shows at all - I watch a few of the Food Network night-time shows, though increasingly I'm tired of them. But I've always enjoyed this show. This year though, I think might be my last.

Chad has always felt a bit fake for my taste. My sister lives in his town and has been to his BBQ joint - she says it's ok but that he's can be kind of creepy with the female patrons - a lot of charm and smarm. I think Luca did far better in the challenges on the Star Salvation than he did on the actual show, but I just find him boring, no matter how cute he is. And I actually think Lenny seems like a nice guy, but I don't think he should get a show. I find him to be less annoying than Pie Guy Rodney last season (though I live in DC and LOVE his pies; they are delicious).

I too was thinking "what a classy dude" when Ernie Hudson showed up and didn't even have lines. That was cool. This whole thing kind of reminded me of the West Wing Leo death. Then again, everything reminds me of West Wing.

As I watch: The Kat conversation with Alla at the start is what we need more of - Kat is the best...so much better than Bieber! Speaking of that first couple, has someone who previously made the green mile ever come back to auditions and not gotten a ticket? I feel like it's been a while since we've seen a bboy like that. He was good. The kid was just an excuse to pull Fikshun up again. I like him but now it's too much. But wait...wait! Twitch was there? Now I feel cheated. Johnny Waacks: Grow up jidges. At least he laughs as they are so rude about it, and has some awesome confidence. I'm glad he made it through. I am so glad so many of these dancers are in their mid or even late 20s this year. I hope the top 20 isn't just teenagers. With the sob stories sometimes I wonder if the producers are literally asking "ok so hi, dance style? age? Aaaaand what's the worst thing that's ever happened to you? Ooh dead dad, ok...but can you relate it to dancing in any way? Make it up if you have to. You can? Excellent!" I'm glad the funky ballerina made it through. She was like a better version of NotMiley. I agree that ballet might not be her thing, but she might be made for this competition if she's trained in other styles. Jenna was ok last season. As for being an Allstar, I don't see her as any worse than Chelsie, Lindsay or Witney. At least her name is spelled normally. And people are right: she'll pull focus less than others. That is definitely a problem sometimes. Stanley was completely awesome. The acting is something that dancers lack sometimes, and he has it. And he was just so humble and nice seeming, too. Banks also awesome. I'm sorry he didn't make it.

Yes! That's exactly who I was thinking of. Though she does look at awful lot like Maggie from Walking Dead, I was definitely trying to place Ashley Williams, specifically because of How I Met Your Mother. Thank you for releasing that part of my brain :)

I thought this ep was better than the first one - more actual dancing, only the one sob story, some interesting people, and less jidge nonsense. I love that one moment where it sounded like they were going to bring a dad on stage and then they did NOT. And I thought the little girl dancing (although she was clearly more of a gymnast) was a lot nicer than most of the relatives being pulled on stage. The Miley look-alike got on my nerves, but I liked her dancing. I just don't want to hear her talk - too much nervous energy. If she could calm down a bit, she might be better, but I don't see it happening. I liked Mary Poppins a lot though she won't get far, which is fine. She clearly enjoys the heck out of what she does, and it was great to see them showcase someone older, who just wants to dance for the love of dancing, not for the fame. Didn't care for the sexy girl. The tapper's face reminds me of some actress - can't place it, but I liked her. Just so sunny. I don't think she'll do as well as last season's Alexis, who I thought was awesome, but she deserved her ticket, I think. Fikshun was definitely the best in the dance-off, and using that guy as an excuse to see them seemed fine to me. He wasn't going to make it to 'Vegas', but it was entertaining, and they did not outclass him. I do think it's interesting that several guys in a row have been all "I don't want to screw my partner". Makes them seem like nice guys. Bieber, yeesh. I just fast-forwarded through most of it but I did catch the bicep comment. What are they thinking putting him on TV when he's so obviously baked? ETA: I meant to mention, the dancer on that ep I most want to see featured in 'Vegas' is the Asian ballet dancer in the quick pass. Her dancing was impressive and she looks like she has a personality they'd feature.

Ditto! I thought Fiddler and said to myself "ok so maybe a Dad thing will be cool" and then nope! There should be maybe one dad on stage per season. The fact that this guy did his routine TWICE was absurd. Overall, I feel like they are showing fewer and fewer dancers in favor of this nonsense and the sob stories. Tell me the whole story if they get to 'Vegas'. Otherwise I really don't care. Nigel's comments about the Utah girl's mother were some of the worst I remember hearing from him. It's just so unnecessary. I also thought the shaming of the zumba guy was over the line. He knows he's not making it, but he wanted to go up there and show his stuff, and the producers let him. They've been kinder to people like him before. Caleb I just...ugh. Yes, it made sense they'd mention this dad since he was on the show last time. That's fine. I was pleased he wanted to do something quirky instead of focus on the tragedy, and then that goes out the window after that terrible choreography. I thought Nigel could have been kinder about it but I get that he was pissed he couldn't bring this sob story through. And then in Chicago they just put him through anyway? Come on. Finally, yes, more Kat please!

See that's when you just start watching again :)

This is my favorite show of all time. I used to rewatch twice a year, in the background while I worked, but now I'm lucky if I manage it once a year. I started college the year it premiered, in DC, and we were all glued to the TV. My roommate got up early one day and happened to be down at the Vietnam Vet memorial when they were shooting down there. They said "come back tomorrow and we'll put you in the background". I never forgave her for not telling me - you can see her and 2 guys from down the hall reflected in the wall, and in the background when Toby's there to see the homeless man's body. Season 5 is terrible, except for the Glenn Close ep. It really does get good again in Seasons 6 and 7, but so many people didn't make it past Season 5. It's far easier for me to pick the worst episode (the CJ documentary) than the best, but I do keep a running list each time I watch. Favorite character has changed over time, but these days, it's Leo. He reminds me of my father a bit.