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Totally formulaic, but overall a fun first episode. I liked getting introduced to multiple TCCs early on. I'm loving Kat (and when Judy was all, I'll come over the table for her!), but now I'm nervous she's one of the TCCs at risk for being cut, because they showed Travis Wall or someone saying they wanted to love her but she was struggling. I'm really hoping she makes the team. I legit shed a few tears when Amanda was talking about her brother. Those pictures of them together were so sweet, and I know losing a sibling at such a young age stays with a person forever. Beautiful dancer. I thought Charm LaDonna was a great judge! Very kind, which I think is important, and I'm excited to see her work with the DCC this year. WTF with Gina's hands? I have no way of knowing yet, of course, but I'm imagining she got overwhelmed with choreography in training camp and I'm hoping they told her she just needs some more time and they would like to see her back at auditions next year. VK. Ugh. I admit that I loved that they 1) showed her spectacular fall at all, and 2) showed it before and after the commercial break and again during the deliberations scene. Yes, from that to a Barbie and SG does boggle the mind. She does look better physically, though, and while it seemed somewhat fake to me, I noticed she at least appeared to be trying to be supportive of the other candidates. Kelli's zipper was a little weird, but she's lost some weight and is looking good. I think she looks good heavier, too, just saying I think she's looking healthy and is pretty as always.

Can. Not. Wait. For. The. New. Episode! Do I recall correctly that CMT puts the new episodes up around midnight the night they air? I can't remember if I did this last year (it's been a long 12 months!), but I used to watch the episode online before they locked it and then would download the episode the next day(s) it became available from Amazon or iTunes.

I forgot to include the post asking why Kristin and Lily got cut, but I'm responding to that question: Kristin was cut last year because she was an inconsistent performer who often looked sleepy and therefore low-energy. They kept telling her she needed to find her "wow factor" and she didn't understand what they meant or how to do it. Lily was cut mainly, it seems to me, because they had to cut somebody to get down to 36, but I think of the TCCs left, I agreed with that cut. I often thought she held her head or posture a bit awkwardly, she didn't always realize she was making mistakes, and sometimes was off beat. So, she was the weakest of the strongest 37 left. I say 37, because she was heads and shoulders above Malena, who really should have been gone weeks earlier IMO. I was fine with both cuts last season, but as I posted earlier, since they've both made it this far into their 2nd TC, I'm hoping for their sakes they aren't among the last 3 ladies cut from camp.

@Pau84, here are the links to the other two interviews with Kelli and Maddie. http://www.fox4news.com/good-day/reality-show-features-cowboys-cheerleaders-hopefuls https://youtu.be/1HxwRBlb_h8

Alanna is in the middle.

I just bought the season on iTunes and watched the fuller version of the clip posted upthread with Phil and Kelli on a stadium tour starting in the DCC locker room. OMG. It was great! It basically was 7 minutes of the Phil Show. He gave Kelli a tour of the players' locker room, which she said she'd never seen before, the Jones suite (apparently, all the Jones men watch--3 generations of them--the game while Charlotte is off actually working during the game), the press room, and the stadium. He's so funny and charming and easy in front of the camera, and he really lets his knowledge of running the stadium and love for his job and the Cowboys shine. I seriously am so glad that they did that! After 14 years of pretty much only being in the audition episodes and the occasional Meet the Team final episode, I loved that they put a spotlight on him like that. I'd take a stadium tour from him any day! In the video, they have Taylor, Erin, Brianna, Jalyn, Christina, and Molly appear in a few scenes. So, Jaylyn can't be seriously in the dog house with TPTB, at least. 🤣 Nice, actually, that Kelli picked her over Savannah for the red head "diversity," since it's pretty clear they value Savannah for her looks and doing appearances more than for her dancing. Of the second years, I think Taylor has gotten the most camera time recently, which is interesting--videos from calendar shoot, interviews posted on social media, last season, etc. She's very easy with people and personable and I guess she doesn't stiffen up or lose that in front of the camera. Her personality is what has led to her growing on me and she seems to have become an appearances favorite. I think she's cute now but that, like a lot of DCC, she will become more glamorous over time and be a knockout by the time she retires. But that only would be the frosting--she just seems like such a warm and good person of substance. Her work with kids (even across language barriers, as in one calendar video I saw), what her family went through with her dad, and she seems to keep her cool under pressure admirably. She was so at ease talking with Phil in this video and is such a sharp contrast to me from watching Maddie in those interviews just now. LOL, I didn't realize until I wrote this what a fan of Taylor's I've become! Seriously, these upper vets have to bring it because these younger vets are bringing it in every way! Interviews, Oxnard (Caroline practically on the 50 yard line, Bridget etc. with such prominent spots), Rachel W at Queen, calendar photos (again, hello, Caroline!), and all 2nd years on the show banner. I'm so glad this 2nd year class is pretty big--hopefully, that means we should have a good number of these ladies on the squad for a good while.

Yeah, Maddie was pretty awkward in those interviews. Underwhelming performance and kind of lame that she's supposed to be one of their star vets. I'm so ready for Maddie to retire, but I fear she'll stay for two or three more years, because she's teachers' pet/Most Favored DCC, still pretty young, and works as a nanny, so what does she really have to move on towards? She should be a better interviewee, as she's very practiced by now. Serious props to her, though, when she chided the dude and told him with a smile that they do have post offices in small-town Utah! That was gold. But back to her underwhelming interview performances: Not only did she barely blink, she gave lame responses that weren't very insightful or engaging. She kept saying "yes sir," which was weird and I feel like she missed every chance they gave her to contribute in some positive way. Her "narrative" of her journey to be a DCC was pretty uninspiring and dull and gave no real insight into the process or her status as a vet. And when she was asked directly about DCC travel and the anchor hinted he wanted to hear about international trips, she just said, yeah, it's great to jet set and then didn't name a single place they've ever gone. Weak. She could have mentioned USO tours (hello, one of Kelli's favorite things to promote), calendar, London, or even just Oxnard. Heather would not have missed on softball interview questions/leads like that. To me, Heather is hands-down their best spokeswoman among the senior vets. Wish she'd done the interviews instead. On the more shallow side, which I will admit informs how I feel about Maddie as a DCC, I agree Maddie's hair looks so much better longer, and it definitely does tone down her round face that makes her look so little girlish. I'll also say this: She finally is starting to look more mature (longer hair helps this), and if she starts looking more like a grown woman (which includes having a more mature and in-shape figure), I might start liking her better and be less annoyed and mystified by all the time she'll be getting this year in the spotlight.🤞

It's a bit clearer who's wearing pink tops in the 2nd photo, even though the faces are darker. Is Shaina to the right of Cianna? I think Kelcey is next to Kat. I can count 12 TCCs but I still don't know them enough to ID them from such small photos and without the handy photo cards with names. Heartbreaking for whoever gets cut at this point. I'm worried for Lily because she recently was in a session with Melissa Rycroft, which usually means she's struggling with performance. I'd hate for her to get Brennan-ed and be the last or one of the last cut again, even though I wasn't a big fan of Lily's dancing last year. She needs to stay on beat better, and there just seemed something kind of awkward sometimes with the way she'd hold her head and posture while dancing. Since she's made it this far a second time, I'm hoping for her sake that she's fixed that. Same with Kristin and her performance/projection issues, in spite of the fact that I was more than ready for her to be cut last season. Maybe I'm a total dork, but I really liked watching last season's first two episodes a few times with the forum TCC roster photos sheet/card a couple of y'all have made for us so I spot as many of the TCCs as possible and get a feel for how they dance. It also helps me feel like I know better who's who by the time I get to episodes 3 and 4. Looking forward to doing the same this year!

I can't tell on my small computer screen--is anybody missing from this pic? (Obviously not VK, as she's smack in the center) I think I see 12 TCCs here. So, no new cuts and still 3 cuts remaining, correct? I see 11 pink tops and I think that's Kristin in the back (no top visible) to make 12.

Turns out I am a fan of most of these current vets! Love: Bridget, Heather, Caroline, Ashlee, Cianna, Hannah, Molly, Alanna, Tess, Rachel A., Brianna, Jalyn, Gina (the last is a huge change from her 1st year for me) Like: Lexie, Savannah, Erin, Amber, Alexis, Daphne, Amy, Rachel W., Taylor J. Neutral: Madeline M. (but I think she's growing on me) Not a Fan: Christina, Miranda, Maddie Recent retirees missing the most: Lacey, Maggie, Khalyn, KaShara, Robin, Jessica Marie, Bess, Amy T., Stephanie TCCs I'm hoping make the team: Chandi, Kat, Amanda, Taylor

Bradie James is the cutest in that segment! Was he one of the Cowboys who "coached" the TCCs and vets in a flag football game during season 3 or so? I loved it when Shelley tells him he needs sass because it's a touchdown dance and then he's like, yeah! and actually pumps his arms almost correctly. Those sexy hips need work, though, bless his heart. Nice to see Cianna and Rachel A as the non-leaders chosen for the segment. I also loved Phil in the locker room tour. He's just awesome. I love his Southern drawl and it's been great learning on the boards how much he does in his job. Somehow, I'm most impressed that he's an art curator for the stadium. I'm second most impressed that he got down on his knees dancing last season during the finals audition dance party. I just find him charming and he seems like really good people. So excited for Friday's premiere! I know so little about most of the TCCs that I'm extra eager to start seeing them in the first episodes. Here's hoping they "introduce" us to all the TCCs and don't just hyper focus on the strugglers and VK.

LOL, is that Howie Mandell in Amanda's video?!? It really looks like him, and he even shouts out the window that his name is Howard. I thought it was a kind of funny video that shows she's cute, can dance (though why in that hot pink biker shorts and top?), and doesn't take herself too seriously. The other video showed she has real snap and pop in her dance and I would bet way more control than her other tall blonde TCC colleague. As for Amy's mess up, I do think that would damage her chances at point, if she is in the running. You could see that she spaced on what moves came next and was looking for guidance. You can't do that at point, ever. She may get a very forward position, but if I were TPTB, I'd lack complete confidence in putting her out there with no one to guide off of or look at in a frazzled moment. Everyone is going on about them using the same old choreography, but Amy, their most senior vet, couldn't remember all of it. Everyone messus up, yes, but not what you want out of your most senior DCC or point girl.

That's a great picture of Alanna. I think she's getting more comfortable in front of the camera. She looked a bit awkward in some of the calendar shots I saw, but I noticed she consistently looks great in candid sideline photos. Nice to see she's getting the hang of the more staged photography. She's such a solid dancer, seems much beloved by her teammates, has a killer figure, gorgeous hair, and a beautiful smile. Such a nice surprise to see her front and center like that. Ashlee is one of the prettiest vets, in my eyes, and she's so impressive, what with her aims to become some kind of pediatric physical therapist and all. I also am so impressed by how much stronger she's gotten as a dancer and performer this past year. From being one of the last TCCs at risk of getting cut last year to getting a Barbie and Show Group this year, wow. Last year, I loved how much Judy seemed to like Ashlee and be impressed with her learning curve and performance quality. Judy noted to Kellie that Ashlee had climbed way up the ladder and "was going to have some real sex appeal" when she dances. Seems like TPTB are very happy with her growth as a vet and I like how they are encouraging her to keep going. That's a nice enough picture of Daphne, but if this is not the set banner, they should go for another blonde or almost-blonde, like Lexie or Caroline. You know who I always wanted them to pick for an MTT banner who never made it? Katie Marie. She's so freaking gorgeous and photogenic, I never could understand it. I don't think she ever made calendar covers, either, and I always thought she should have. She was a stellar sideline performer and always took some of the best action shots--huge smile, clean lines, and vibrant energy in every move and shot. Loved her!

I'm sure if I got to perform with Queen, I'd think it was one of the best nights of my life, too! Now that I've seen better footage of the performance, I have a better idea of the formations. Guess the first one I saw was from the audience and was a limited single angle. Despite the painfully slowwwww tempo, I thought they looked pretty great. It's like other stadium performances--most folks just see in sync arm and pom stuff and the hair flips, so even though the choreography was nothing new to our eyes, I bet it looked solid from just about every seat in the house. So many of the girls got some good camera time! I loved seeing Hannah and Cici so much and felt like, wow, I could go for a Hannah-Cici-Ashlee triangle down the road. Those three together were pretty prominent because they framed Adam and they looked great together. Hannah's shorts are short, but her ass looked awesome in them. I thought Bridget, Rachel W, Heather, Lexi, Gina, Tess, Amber, and Daphne rocked it, too. I literally never looked at Maddie. She didn't draw my eye a single time after initially spotting her, and I've watched this like five times already. I hope we get to see some of this on the show! Seems like a pretty big thing to cover during training camp, especially because the rookies came to watch. I think it's really nice and fun that they brought the TCCs, too.

Gah, could the tempo of that song have been played any slower?? They know people are trying to dance to that song and look energized, right? Pick it up, people. I do not like Amy at point but I would dislike Maddie even more. In all fairness, part of the issue probably is that the song is so slow it would be hard for anyone to look like they're rocking it and showing real pop. Shocked that Gina is so far back.

Yep. Just showing what talented and accomplished dancers are trying out is plenty interesting to me. I loved Amy T's intro, for example, which did not force some sob story and instead focused on her academic achievements and medical implant invention. I vastly prefer that to the ridiculous focus (complete with dramatic music) on Maggie talking about feeling self-conscious about her psoriasis. Not saying they shouldn't have addressed that--in fact, I like that they showed such a beautiful young lady has insecurities because I think that sends a good message to young women and girls that everyone feels self-conscious about something and that we all have to strive to accept ourselves for who we are. However, I did not need the reality TV-manufactured dramatic presentation of her tale of skin "woe." I also disliked the way they handled that young lady, Paris, by playing up her "hood" roots by filming her sitting on bleachers behind a chain link fence. Again, no need to cover up her story of pulling herself up (rather impressively) by her own bootstraps, but I think they could have addressed that and shown more of her talking about trying to make a career out of dance and getting real gigs with little formal training. @Bellisima08, your comment and thinking about this has me wondering how or if they will address Shaina and the tragic plane crash. I'm not sure which is appropriate. Certainly, they should not exploit such tragedy for TV, but I also wonder if disregarding it altogether would feel (to Shaina) like they're minimizing the tragedy and not caring how it affected her in camp. Thoughts?

I don't think those look like tiger stripes on Erin. They look like badass muscle ripples. One of the big differences between her first year trying out and her second is her body. She always was dancer lean but now she is ripped! I think she looks great now and really really really hope she doesn't go overboard like some vets in trying to be thinner and thinner. She's right on the edge for me--looks great but I don't really think she can spare any ounces to lose, let alone pounds. Yes, the new intro song is a horror show. Alana's brows look different and it's amazing! The only other DCC I ever saw with such a dramatic transformation in their appearance was Brittany Evans at her makeover. That was astounding! And I never knew that about Emma and her second year SG audition!! That makes her even more impressive for me. I love a comeback story and seeing people keep pushing rather than letting a mistake or rejection get them down. She is such an incredible dancer, and while she always makes it look effortless, I guess this shows that even the greats (of course, it's especially the greats) have to put in the work. This is part of why I really wish they would spend more time showing the strong TCCs and the work they're putting in and challenges they're facing in camp. I don't want to see strugglers who will never make the team struggle all season (I'm looking at the Malenas and 18-year-old Briannas of TC), I want to see what it takes to make the team. I would have loved a segment or two watching rookies like Bridget, Hannah West, Caroline, and other stellar gals in their rookie TCC putting in extra practices and training sessions (I can bypass the coffee convos of "Are you stressed?" "It's so hard to focus when you know any mistake can get you cut..."). Even showing girls practicing or working with vets before practice would be nice. I don't think I've seen a scene like that since Emma's rookie year.

Didn't Erin get at least two Barbies already? She even got one the year she was one of the first cuts. Pretty impressive. I really was not a fan her first audition, but she was a hot mess and busted her butt for the next year and came back a different performer. One thing I really like about Erin is that she went for DCC in spite of her fine arts dance peers and professors looking down on her desire to audition. I think that takes guts, especially to come back a second time after being one of the first cuts on national (international) TV and risking getting cut again. I could see her being a 2nd leader next year.

Changing the subject a bit, but, regarding DCC diversity: I was just looking at that Pompedia site posted above and I see that the DCC had more black cheerleaders in 1973--in what was still basically the Jim Crow South--than they do right now. And that still will be the case if Kat makes the team. I've always thought that they should do some serious recruiting with HBCU dance teams, of which there are plenty in the region. And it's so ridiculous that it's Texas and they always have so few Latinas and most of them are white-passing or close to it. With Lacey gone and Alexandra cut, are there any Latina contenders for this year's team? And with Gabby cut and Yuko retired, I think Chandi is the only candidate of Asian descent this year. Not that I'm saying anything new, but: not a good look for the DCC, if they really want to be America's Sweethearts representing America's Team. The DCC do targeted recruiting and have done so for years. I think it's time they revise their strategy. If you want to recruit the best of the best and have a truly diverse pool of candidates, you need to recruit heavily and widely. If they already are recruiting at HBCUs, they're not doing a good job and need to rework their tactics (I can't recall any black DCC graduating from an HBCU since I started watching in season 3). Kelli has mad respect for marching bands, and many college black marching bands are the shit--and I know she knows this--and it's with these bands that a lot of very talented, disciplined, well-educated women of color are trained and can be found. Send some black DCC alumni to recruit at these schools!! And surely there are Latinx dance troupes and such in Texas that they can reach out to to try to draw in more Latinas, etc. Speaking of recruiting, like others have mentioned before, I'd really like to hear/see more about the scouting and prelims free-passes the DCC do to recruit. I recall that Sydney Durso (one of my faves even if she's not a forum fave!) and Katie Marie (now Cherry, another of my faves) both were invited to audition and got to skip round one auditions. But I didn't learn that on the show and it would be an interesting thing to see from behind the scenes after so many years.

I recall reading a Q & A with Judy a few years ago online. She said she hated the stool but they made her sit on it, and she said that doing Thunderstruck at every game was a mandate that came down from on high and is not something within her and Kelli's control. I'm sure it's tied to Cowboys branding and marketing strategies and it is a part of their brand recognition now. So, you know, if the Jones clan thinks it's part of what makes them rich, it will stay. Also, I can imagine that someone made a huge deal with some entity tied to the song royalties, so again, I think money is involved and that the persistence of T-struck is about the money or what they perceive is helping to make their money.

I think Heather can kill it when she wants to but that their concern might be consistency. She started out in TC as very vanilla but by year 2, she was getting comments and appearing in footage that showed clean power and dynamic facials. I love it when she dances like that and want to see her bring it like that as a GL and would be very happy to see her at point. Really, I'd be happy to see anyone at point except for Maddie. That sounds so mean, but I just do not see her as point girl caliber in her performance or appearance. She is a great dancer, but as others have pointed out, including during her solo at auditions this year, she does not always finish moves and can be lackluster at times. I will be utterly gobsmacked if K & J pick Maddie to be the most filmed and photographed cheerleader for the season. She's a great ambassador and seems to be a much-loved team mate, but to me, that does not a point girl make. And yes, Caroline looked amazing at point in the video! Her eyes pop like mad, she has such amazingly clean lines and well-trained feet, and has that perfect DCC blend of girl-next-door-meets-glamour-queen. If they don't go wild and make a 2nd year vet point this year, I definitely could see (and would love to see) Caroline and Bridget in the triangle down the road.

That video is now unavailable and says the NFL has blocked it. Did Kelli really tell someone she would cut them after rehearsal when they had a panic attack? Who???

I think this is a nice picture of both ladies, but I do agree that they currently are looking a bit gaunt. After y'all instructed me in how to access InstaStories (thanks again!), I went down a little Instagram rabbit hole looking at everyone's pictures of the wedding. Schram (one of my DCC faves) is looking more like herself in the face (a while back, folks were discussing it looked like she's had some work done or injectables and I agree, something looked kind of off for a while), and mostly her body looks rocking. But, I was honestly a bit shocked at how bony her back looked in one of the beach pics she posted from the wedding trip. As for Kelsey, I often have thought she looks a bit too thin and really had been noticing it in the months leading up to the wedding. I presumed she was on some kind of "wedding diet," which of course was totally unnecessary because she always looks very trim. I go by my bobble-head effect rule--when someone's head is looking a bit too big for the rest of the thin body, that person maybe could use a few pounds. Kelsey looks border line bobble-head-effected in some photos, but that is not unusual for her. What saves her (like Tess and Jinelle) is that she has a decent sized chest that helps give a healthy vibe and shows she has at least some body fat. The wedding looked gorgeous! I thought her dress looked kind of plain in some pictures, but in the videos, I saw how beautifully it moved and it looked much more elegant in action. I really loved all the acrylic at the ceremony. So chic and kept the ocean views unobstructed. Bet their honeymoon will cost more than every vacation I ever have and will take in my life. Yes, I'm a little jelly.

I imagine they might run season 13 soon to help build hype for the new season. It's not just VK coming back but also Kristin and Lily who make it into TC again, and then there are others who reauditioned like Malena, Jasmine, and probably some other folks I'm forgetting. TPTB likely are certain there was no nepotism showing because VK got cut last year, so I doubt that concern factors into the reruns. If they were blind to what the episodes revealed before and after airing, I don't imagine they'll see a difference now. Also, TPTB (or at least Kelli) probably will think that running season 13 will help remind folks of the 2-season narrative arc of VK's struggles and triumph over adversity to make SG and the team this year.

I've read nothing about Kat being a diva that I can recall, which of course means nothing one way or the other, but I'm in no way ready to think that's the case. She is one of the prettiest TCCs in my eyes and, based on the pictures and video I've seen, she brings some needed glamour and 50-yard-line vibes to the table. I like her hair color in pictures, but it's such a close caramel color to her skin tone, I would imagine that it could wash her out and make her look one color head to toe on the field. I really hope she didn't get cut! Wasn't she one of the three at the medi-spa filming the other day? Now that my shock has worn off about Jaylyn not making it back to Show Group, my excitement for Caroline, Cianna, and Rachel A making SG is sinking in. As for Jaylyn, I keep wondering if there was something, um, regionally cultural about why she seems to have fallen out of favor with TPTB. Non-Southerners often find Southern behavior codes and customs pretty weird--the most obvious being the "yes, ma'am" thing, but there are many others. I have wondered if there were some things she did or didn't do that set K &J's Southern Belle I'm-In-Charge teeth on edge. I just can't picture what else she could have done not to make SG again. She fell last year at SG auditions and they were so happy she recovered her performance and judges agreed she was one of the best and made the group. Daphne looked rough in this summer's SG video we saw, and it is hard to imagine Jaylyn performing worse than that (I'm not getting on about Daphne making it--for now, I'm trusting D was caught on film in an unusually bad moment or she was dealing with an injury that wasn't expected to be long term). And if Jaylyn had done something truly awful, she would have been off the team. So, yeah, guess I'm still at a loss. Here's hoping we get some good SG audition and judges' deliberation scenes this season. And can I say how excited I am that the season premiere is just over 2 weeks away!! With practically zero information on TCC this summer, I'm more than ready to get to "know" the rookie candidates and find out what really went down at auditions and cutting poor Gabby.