Most headlines today noted the "surprise" elimination of one of the show's not-so-well-versed-in-ballroom contestants. I say - not hardly. Yesterday, I bet that after a bloated hour of filler, fluff & sequins, Kim Kardashian would be sent packing from the dancefest. It wasn't hard to see that her lack of charisma, personality and let's face it - any semblance to dance whatsoever, would get her the boot pretty quickly from an otherwise entertaining cast.

Dallas actor Cody Linley is sitting pretty in the middle of the pack, poised to take a spot. His maturity in ballroom is pretty impressive. With some more polish on his footwork, he'll be a strong contender with two-time champ Julianne Hough.

One week closer to crowning another dance king, as the quest for the elusive silver disco ball continues.....

Am I deceived? Will this be an abbreviated season of Dancing With the Stars, my little Leotards? Because with the early of appearance of the glitter fests' two most challenging genres (Saucy Rumba & Fiery Paso Doble) either the strong will survive, or the musicality-challenged will persevere!

Center Stage: Brooke Burke is truly the only star to bring it so far this season technically while delivering the most dazzling of performances. Her lines are exquisite, and an almost expert take on the fierce Paso Doble belied her sweet demeanor. Other front runners include crowd favorite (as well as dancergirl here) the light on his feet & completely awesome Warren Sapp, who finally got to wear his sequins. Toni Braxton also delivered the goods with a romantic Rumba, and Misty May-Treanor who actually needs to take some of the edge from her sharp movements to make her dancing more fluid. This week, however, it worked for the attack-style Paso Doble.

Call Backs: Our very own Cody Linley leads this pack with handsome looks and very solid Rumba. Cody's dancing personality is fresh, he pays attention to detail with his frame & he's just so darn adorable as he attempts to grow into his "manliness" on the floor. Keep rooting for him; he's a natural dancer. Lance will have a better chance if his partner, Lacey, would cease her quest to change the world of ballroom so drastically that she loses basic steps that should be included. Loved her (a little) on So You Think You Can Dance but here, she must remember it's her partner's quest for the disco ball at stake, not hers. Susan Lucci also deserves a call back because, well - she's Erica Cane. And gorgeous in that Princess Jasmine ensemble she totally rocked this week.

Hang Your Legwarmers: Rocco, Kim & Cloris. Any of these guys could exit stage left after the second round eliminations. (Technically the third?) All are lacking in finesse, ballroom personality & technique. My bet is Kim will be left to rent Saturday Night Fever after a cold Rumba this week, wondering where she went wrong.

What do you think, Dallas? Isn't Cody making us proud? Don't you think he has a good shot at creeping up to the top of the heap? Is four days long enough to learn a difficult routine? (YES, I say!) And finally, doesn't his stint on DWTS give you hope that he has a career beyond High School Musical: The Glory Years?

 

 

In the name of all that is Holy in the Kingdom of Dance: Why has America allowed Cloris Leachman to continue on her ridiculous ABBA-inspired quest to become the next dancing queen?

Yes, Hometown Soft Shoe Players, it is comforting to know that our own Cody Linley  is perched safely in the nest of sequins and sparklies. In just two competitive episodes, Cody has shown poise, growth and maturity which have landed him in the middle of the Fox Trotting pack. He pays close attention to his form, his feet are actually well placed, he's charming & that smile is worth at least 100 extra votes. More discipline (and less Julianne watching) will help our dashing young Hannah Montana star Fred Astaire his way to the top of the pack.

In just the beginning of the BIGGEST SEASON EVER (alas, DWTS is not known for its subtlety) the bar has already risen, leaving the playing field surprisingly level. In spite of Wednesday's ridiculous elimination of dapper Ted McGinley in favor of Gamma Pottymouth (the aforementioned Miss Leachman), DWTS  is off to an entertaining start. It will be good to see the competitors actually grow in the technique and actual sport of the contest; but for now watching them is just plain fun.

Cross those twinkletoes that Cody (and the others celebrities) aren't Sanjaya'd in the name of a good - not funny - laugh. Spare us, America - so we can see some REAL ballroom action!

Anybody surprised that the Emmy Awards show got its worst TV ratings ever? I happened to catch a full two minutes of it Sunday (during halftime of the Cowboys game) and, well, those are two minutes of my life I will never get back.

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The glitter! The sequins! The thrill of the cheese!

Color me dazzled, Paso Dobles...it's the Season Seven premiere of Dancing With the Stars: host Tom Bergeron's quick wit, co-host Samantha Harris' robotic inspired delivery, the return of Maks, the gloriously hokey disco ball trophy, Bruno's colorfully confusing commentary, and even soap diva Susan Lucci.  Texas, we have reason to celebrate.

18 year old Lewisville native & Hannah Montana star Cody Linley laced up his ballroom shoes to become the youngest contestant ever on the show. With "older woman" Julianne Hough, the charming budding dance master kicked off the show with an interview package displaying more crushing than dancing. Cody has instant likeability....save for the "old folks" remark he let slip. Cody unleashed a respectable cha-cha needing a bit of footwork cleansing, but his form is fantastic and Mr. Montana Star has great potential to go far. He sported a healthy 18 out of 30 points. Not bad for his first time out; the judges are notoriously rough on our dancing delights the first few weeks. Besides, the mid range grade will keep our lucky local under the backlash radar.

Having to master either the Fox Trot or Cha Cha, most of stars showed incredible braveness, if not a need for some technical polishing. There was far too much stiffness and fear, like Ted McGinley's OMG face through his entire  routine. I'm all about strong arms, impressive feet & storytelling - which we need more of. So bring it on, starlets. Even as host Tom snarked: "I forgot we had a 4." Ouch. Funny, but ouch.

High flying: Brooke Burke, Lance Bass, light-on-his-feet Warren Sapp & of course our Cody.
Back to basics: Cloris Leachman, Jeffrey Ross & it pains me to say, Susan Lucci.

So there you have it, Hometown. Are you surprised that Kim Kardashian wasn't stronger? Didn't you want to dance with Warren Sapp too?  Aren't you glad I didn't go there with Cloris Leachman? Where did Brooke Burke get that fabulous figure from after four kids? Haven't you missed Edyta's perineal lack of fabric?

Until the next show, brush up on your form and grab your best sequined mini...this season is going to be more than we could get on Pay Per View. Let's get ready to crown Cody the next dancing king from Texas.

 

The halls of Reinhardt Elementary echoed with disappointment Sept. 8 when it was announced that the afternoon “watch party” for student Bryce Cass had been cancelled.

Technical problems prevented Alan Engle, the school’s instructional technology specialist, from showing a much-anticipated video featuring 10-year-old Bryce in the season premiere of “Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader?” 

Complicating matters was the fact that construction workers severed a fiber optic line, leaving Rockwall school district without internet or phone service.

But that didn’t stop Reinhardt’s fifth grade “TV star” from beaming, shaking my hand and politely welcoming me to his school. His contagious smile and positive demeanor lit up the library where his parents, Rick and Terry, welcomed my questions with gracious enthusiasm. 

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And I'm excited about it. I was probably a little too young the first time around and am probably a little too old the second time around...but that didn't stop me then and it isn't stopping me now. Which makes me think...do you ever really get over getting hooked on teen dramas? Apparently not in my world.
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My apologies to Bonnie Tyler. Seriously, though, I am very excited about Vol III of Heroes. I was never a big comics/graphic novels guy (except for cartoons), but I absolutely am hooked on this show. I just watched Vol. II on DVD and will try to patiently wait for the debut on Sept. 22.

Is it possible that anyone dislikes this show? Or am I just a sucker for silly effects and superpowers? Hey, it is way better than SuperFriends, right? Wendy, Marvin and WonderDog are just a cryin' shame. 

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From the reaction of the audience, Jason Castro had to know he was home. The Amercan Idols Live! Top Ten Concert Tour came to Dallas last night (yes, on the the first day of school) and dreadhead fans came from across the globe to see their favorite American Idol perform live at the American Airlines Center. Among the fans: neighborsgo editor Kandace Dodson and me. I'm still going through more than a hundred photos I took of the concert and the "meet and greet" after party that Kandace and I were lucky enough to attend.

Mary Ann Simpson was there, and presented this quilt to Jason Castro on behalf of all the dreadhead fans who created personalized swatches to show their love and appreciation for Jason.

Jason wrapped himself in the quilt and posed for this photo with Mary Ann.

"This was one of the most personally rewarding projects in the gifting of my skills and time. I feel blessed that God chose me as the instrument to make this idea of a quilt come to life…  What I gave to the project I have received back ten-fold.  I hope this quilt will touch you all the way it touched those who participated in making it.  It was a wonderful group effort of love and imagination," Mary Ann wrote me.

 

It's intermission at the American Airlines Center. So far, Chikezie, Ramiele Malubay, Michael Johns, Kristy Lee Cook, Carly Smithson and Brooke White have performed.

According to neighborsgo editors Dawn Redig and Kandace Dodson, Carly has been the early favorite. Her version of "Heart" (of course, few can compete with Ann Wilson) has left an impression.

The second half will have Jason, David Archuleta, David Cook and Syesha Mercado.

Make no mistake. The crowd is eager for Jason Castro to appear. Duh.