Although I could have done without last week's So You Think You Can Dance heartbreaking retread, I am ready to pop lock my way to next week's ultimate boogie down. We'll just overlook my impending nervousness regarding the last four standing.

Cat Attack: Rocking a fabulous 60's inspired silver sequined strapless mini, with a mid-parted flip in her golden locks. She has not disappointed once this season.

Guest Judge: A hopefully at a loss for words but always entertaining Adam Shankman.

Courtney & Mark - VIENNESE WALTZ (Jason Gilkinson)
I am immediately drawn into the story; it's beautiful. Doesn't hurt that Mark is totally crushing on ever adorable Courts. The technique is well served and I hope the judges give Mark props for that. Adam points out that Mark has the best rise & fall of any male on the show (true), Mary thought Mark is growing, and Nigel said it was romantic & had a WOW factor. As a "Cookie" fan during the last AI, I welcomed the song.
Chelsie Solo- The strongest she's been all season. Girl is seriously staking her claim for the finals.
Twitch Solo- OMG did Cat just put his faux grill in her mouth: spittle & all?! Cat rocks; oh and the solo was entertaining. Again....Twitch is a star.

Katee & Josh - CONTEMPORARY (Tyce)
My guy Tyce has worked overtime in Wade's absence. Complete awesomeness with well executed leaps, Josh catching Katee mid-air in the splits, and a story that rocked my world. Didn't want it to end. Adam advised these two are the most exciting dancers to grace the SYTYCD stage, Mary was wowed by the phenomenal catches and gave them passes to the finale. Nigel had to remind himself again that Joshua is not classically trained, because he makes it look so effortless.

Paula Abdul is in the house! Turns out she gave Sir Shankman and King Tyce some of their first dancing gigs. Thanks, Paula. Nigel also brings attention to Gillian Lynne, extraordinary choreographer of Cats & Phantom of the Opera.

Chelsie & Twitch - MAMBO (Tony & Melanie)
I thought this routine was on FIRE even with Twitch's lack of training. He worked his hips, even if they couldn't catch up to Chelsie's rapid fire footwork. Adam noted Twitch sold him with his face, Mary gave Twitch props & Nigel cautioned him to watch his face if he's unsure of something. They all loved Chelsie's fancy footwork and agreed that no one on the show can touch her in this genre.

Katee Solo- FUN. I love her when she's in her element.
Joshua Solo- Rumpshaker in effect. This guy is the complete truth.

Courtney & Mark - JAZZ (Sonya)
Sonya is two ticks past crazy, & I love it! This "love story" was full of madness and it was tailored for Mark's weird style. Not totally sure what happened but....whoa. Adam called it sick, Mary anointed it the weirdest fight scene she'd ever seen and Nigel cosigned my thoughts by agreeing it suited Mark.

Katee & Joshua - PASO DOBLE (Jason Gilkinson)
I must see the Australian SYTYCD just to continue seeing Jason's work. Joshua finally got to be "naked" like Twitch & Will (we couldn't get by one week without a little chest action, could we?) and I gave a standing O to this saucy piece of work. Joshua makes Adam believe in the impossible, Mary says true magic happens when the couple is on stage together& Nigel says if Josh keeps it up, he'll steal the show.

Courtney Solo- Unfortunately, it looks the same as all of her other solos.
Mark Solo- His hair is so cool. Oh, and the dance was too, even if he really just played with his shirt.

Chelsie & Twitch - HIP HOP (Naptab)
This was more of a character dance that I hope voters will appreciate. I think the crazy conductors could have been a bit more crazy, but this was creative, fit Twitch (and surprisingly Chels) and I like the classical version of Control by Janet Jackson. Adam says it's witty & intelligent, Mary calls Twitch stellar & was surprised Chelsie kept up with his madness. Did Nigel ever really critique the dance?

So there you have it, sugarlumps. As we await the fate of our beloved semifinalists, are you sad SYTYCD is almost over for yet another year? And why can't it come back early? Who do you think will win (Josh)? When was the last time you ate Tabasco? And finally: do we really need a Ghostbusters III & does anybody know whatever happened to Ray Parker Jr.?

Amanda Peet - likable, beautiful.

Harry Smith - likable ... likable.

What was it then, that was so irritating about their interview last week that made me want to march over to CBS headquarters and berate Mr. Smith in person? You decide.

I can't give you a good reason why I am just getting around to writing a post about The Next Food Network Star.I started watching it faithfully after I tired of Hell's Kitchen.

Did anyone else watch the finale last night? I think the judges desperately wanted Aaron the entire series. I also think that any of the contestants could be great hosts of a show, including Dallas' Lisa Garza. She and her husband run Suze.

What do y'all think?

WHAT?!

Last night was the first time in So You Think You Can Dance history that I cried.  It just goes to show how much of a connection this year's crew has with us loving fans. Alas, it does not make up for my hurting heart.

Cat Attack:  She is totally rocking a cream colored, over the shoulder Roman goddess mini with her hair pulled up. Sigh. We should all be so lucky to look this fabulous.

Opening sequence: I would love it more if the shoddy camera work would straighten up. I can't enjoy newcomer Chuck Maldonado's choreography because the editing is all over the place. I'm also questioning the make-up job, but then again I can't see it. From what I saw, it was pretty cool, though.

Nigel is in leather again. I think he's feeling dressed down digs. He wears it pretty well, too. He gives a voting plug on behalf of decalreyourself.com. Good job, and excellent use of this forum to grab attention for a very important matter.

Here's where things go further south than cow dropping it like it's hot: What do you mean Will is in the bottom four?! I am as shaken as he is. Being the classy dude he's always shown himself to be, Will struggles to keep a smile on face until his fate is revealed. But he is visibly hurt & shaken.

Comfort is the first girl to hit the bottom and after Chelsie is sent to safety, Courtney knows she's headed there, too. When Mark is sent to safety, he snatches the words straight from my opened mouth: What????? What????? He hollers over and over again.

I did not even want to see what was coming next, with my two favorites, Twitch & Joshua left standing in the line of fire. Unfortunately, it's Twitch who is so overcome with emotion he turns away & squats to the floor. Now I am crying, too. Poor Courtney is left in the back for ten-teen years before Cat finally brings her out in the land of the obvious.

Nigel's (strangely) single comment regarding the bottom dwellers was the fact that Will & Twitch were the best two dancers on Wednesday. He notes it would be sad to lose either one. This reeks.

Aubrey Morgan & Eddie Tovar of the LA Ballet grace the stage with a beautiful Pas De Deux. The technique is blazing hot, but where is the connection to the viewers? Still, it is elegant & I appreciate them for sharing their gifts.

TIVO Pause: I really wish they'd stop with the Wendy's commercial with Wendy's eyes moving around because it freaks me out whenever I see it. Sort of Bride of Chucky like. I'm going to have nightmares behind this.

My mind drifts to the finale; I'm praying Mandy Moore or TabNap Choreographs the final group number.

The solos were all solid to me. Again, Twitch is a star, going all old-school on us with Hollywood Swinging.  I'm so upset.

WAIT: LL Cool J is in the house! He picks up my spirit ~ slightly. Yes, this lady loves Cool James. He looks great & is on his game, rhyming his new song, Baby. I throw my "L" in the air, as he commands. But doggone it, I thought we'd make it through one show sans the now tiresome For Real sign &  Cool J just threw it. Geez. Anyhoo, folk tend to forget he was technically a child star. I'm proud of how far he's come.

Comfort is released (again) and I must say, she is a gracious young lady who will go far if she continues to be humble. She heads back to Big D a star. But now as Twitch & Will hug tightly, I am bawling like a baby. I am in fact, a wuss. Will is sent packing and I'm happy Twitch is safe but still don't want to lose this guy. From here on out, every elimination will be painful.

What about you, my chick-flick weepers? Were you sad, too? Do you remember SYTYCD ever being this emotional? Were you torn between Josh or Twitch being sacrificed? Will we get our finale with the two of them battling it out? And finally...oh, forget it.

It looks like all the drama in the current edition of So You Think You Can Dance has not been saved exclusively for the dance floor.

Fox Television announced that Jessica King has bowed of the dancing competition due to an undisclosed injury. King is reportedly discussing the injury during Wednesday night's episode. In the meantime Dallas' own Comfort Fedoke, who was just squeezed out of a Top 10 spot during last week's eliminations, will replace King on the show as well as the tour.

Will the eleventh-hour save motivate Comfort to hip hop her way to the top? Or will she find herself dancing for her life again Thursday?

Stay tuned, folks. A smokin' season just got set on blaze. It's getting hot in here!

David Letterman read this list to fellow talk-show titan Oprah Winfrey on the episode of Oprah broadcast this afternoon. Drum roll, please ... 

10. She smells great
9. Without her, we never would've known that quack, Dr. Phil.
8. She helped me start my wildly popular "D" magazine.
7. We're yoga buddies.
6. She's incredibly busy, but she still ignores my calls.
5. She validates parking.
4. She taught me how to launder money in Caymans.
3. She let's me crash at her place whenever I'm in Chicago.
2. She gave me my first post-surgery sponge bath.

It's finally here...So You Think You Can Dance's Top 10 Revealed!
I am so stoked my little dumplings, I am going on-line to find out if the Hot Tamale Train is coming to Dallas.

Cat Attack:  Our hostess was all frills & chills in a leg baring, adorable black mini. Her hair was a tad bit jungle mamma however, but she scored points for the black flower holding one side of it back. What? I like flowers in my hair.

Holy pop-lock! Nigel announces the dance battle between Robert & Phillip is officially on for the finale. Dust off your Electric Booglaoo video cassettes my friends, this should be street dance history in the making.

Bottom Three
Comfort & Thayne - Is there any surprise here? Comfort's lack of technique & incomplete storytelling outside of her genre has hindered her two partners. But I heart Thayne so I am a tad disappointed. Mia hit the nail on the head: America got it right; they haven't reached their highest potential on the show.

Jessica & Will
One outstanding dance was not enough. Based on comments I've come across or were sent to me, you kind of had to be a dancer to appreciate the one dance these two got right - The Garden of Eden number. The quick step once again claims innocent victims. Mary said her heart was aching over it & she'd fight for them. Bonus: I get to see my dance queen - Debbie Allen, in the house to root on her protégé.

Twitchington
Although heartbreaking, not a true shock. The twisted tango strikes again. America's goofy sweethearts have been slammed back down to dance class basics. Nigel issues a warning/ultimatum:  they're safe anyway but better not land here again because next time they may not be so lucky. And as the king admonished - no one is safe.

Alvin Ailey Dance Composition
No way! One of the most revered Ailey masterpieces, "Revelations" right here on stage. I am so glued to the set. Talk about lines, these men have the most incredible use of lines we've seen on this stage. For those who may not be familiar, in dance "Revelations" is the equivalent of say, "The Star Wars" Trilogy. This was just one part. It's a spiritual journey told through contemporary art.  In a piece like this, I like to call the dancers griots, or storytellers. Think about your own spiritual awakening, trials & triumphs, your awakening - then watch this dance again. You'll feel it. The fluidity of the nonstop motion, leaps and drops to the floor in Revelations is unmatched.  I am elated, and I am watching again.

The Solos
Comfort - She played this one low key for me, though Nigel thought it was on point. She looks ready to leave.

Thayne -  Every movement is pronounced; his dance diction is on. He shines without a weak partner.

Jessica - She's gorgeous; reminds me what I like about her.

Will - Aside from the fact that his most glorious moments arrive when he is without shirt, dude is STANK. What an African King racing across that stage, looking like he is truly dancing for his life. He just outdanced the Ailey Company.

Kherington - Kher Kher is a joy to watch. But I am starting a campaign right now: didn't Thayne just dance to One Republic, too? The same song? Much as I love 'em, One Republic needs to be officially removed from the SYTYCD playlist before it is indeed, too late to apologize.

Twitch - SUPERSTAR. No kidding. He has the best musicality of anyone that has graced this stage. And I know, too because I wrote that single word on my notes and King Nigel later cosigned it with his comments. He rocked like a star, & the daggone audience would not stop screaming! He should go far in this business.

The ladies: Kherington showed that she was more than a pretty face, Jessica's solo was disappointing but she's sticking around because of one dance she performed in a spectacular way. Comfort leaves tonight.
The gentlemen: Someone has to go home. After the brilliance showed by Twitch & Will, Thayne is that person. I am so with Nigel at this point - I wish it could have been two of the girls packing. No worries, though. As Nigel noted, Mia wants to work with our smiling gent. So I am sad to see him go, but sure we'll see him (and his glorious smile) again.

So what do you think? Are you glad the dance battle is on & poppin'? Were the right two (need I ask?) eliminated? Are you excited to see the TOP 10 mix up next week? And finally, since everything's bigger in Texas, shouldn't I be getting a bigger paycheck?

Hello, my boot-scootin' boogey'ers! Cue music, it's that time again for So You Think You Can Dance.

It seems this is the last week of life as we know it with our dancing machine teams. It's Top 10 time, and the current couples will be split next week. It will be interesting to see how all of these awesome performers fare with someone new at their side.

Cat Watch: Like the Al Green classic,  Simply Beautiful. Cat's strapless, floral summer frock & straight hair complimented her well. All is right in the dance universe.

The judges: Nigel, Mary & Marvelous Mia in a funky little black hat & off the shoulder top. She does not however, steal Cat's thunder.

Chelsea & Mark: SALSA  (Alex Da Silva)
Chelsea's Edyta-inspired barely there minidress was a show all it's own. But this saucy number by Alex complete with a pendulum swing, circular arm hooks &  killer lift/death drop to the ground at the end had my hips talking! It was so much fun, and had the most precise footwork I've seen this season. Feet were firmly planted in place each time they touched ground, and Chelsea does resemble Old Hollywood with legs that go on for a year even though she's 5'2". Judges loved the routine, but wanted more of Mark.
Give the guy a break.

Comfort & Thayne: HIP HOP  (Tabitha & Napoleon)
Can I just say I like Thayne? Something about his smile appeals to me because it translates into joy on the stage. The choreo here was awesome with offbeat nuances accenting the beats of the music. It's too bad it looked as though these two were dancing in two separate places. No chemistry. Dear Cat tried to fight for Comfort after Nigel banished them to the bottom three without seeing the second number, & Nigel promptly put the smackdown on our hostess. Rightfully so.
I will say I was proud of Thayne; he hit the right marks in this number.  I was feeling for Comfort, visibly upset at the critiques.  She clearly does not understand where she's going wrong. Sadly, the look on her face as she painfully listened told more of a story than her dancing. Simply put: she's a terrific dancer, but she does not know how to speak with it.

Jessica & Will: CONTEMPORARY (Tyce)
Did you catch the deep breath Jess took before starting this Adam & Eve artwork? Oh my. Tyce is The Man. As I watched these two do handstands, roll on top of each other, weave their lines accordingly across their partners dance space I wrote: Should I be watching this? Wow. It seemed so private. So real.  Nigel gem of the day - "This is why there was so much begetting in the Old Testament." Mary was left blushing, and Mia declared it a "perfect piece of moving body art."
What else can I say?

Courtney & Gev: CHA CHA (Pasha & Anya)
Ok - didn't know Gev was Russian, and I figured out his appeal for me is his uncanny dance resemblance to Pasha (meaning he is a dance chameleon, conquering various styles). I adore Pasha, and my hubby still thinks he was robbed last year by not getting into the Final Three. So we were delighted to see this hot hot, technically smart piece from smokin' Anya & Pasha. The two burned up the floor so much, you could barely tell Gev needed to sharpen his footwork. Just a bit. He gets extra points for shaving his chest, too.

Kherington & Twitch: KRUMP (Lil C)
Seriously, this was hard core. Loved it. I am surprised the judges gave Kher Kher a free pass when it was clear homegirl was worn out before the end of the routine. But she hit it so hard, they excused her. I didn't expect anything less than what Twitch gave, which according to Mia was gangsta on a platter. Nice guy gone; roughneck in the house. It was buck, stank & all that. The judges ate it up. Nigel gem #2: "On paper this routine is the equivalent of a duet between 50 Cent & Miley Cyrus."  Classic.

Katee & Joshua: VIENNESE WALTZ (Jean-Marc)
The snake drop & lifts were fabulous, but not enough to save the dance. The judges chided Joshua for being "too bouncy." I agree. He attacked the piece when he should have surrendered to it. More fluidity was needed. Katee was visibly upset with the judges dissing her partner. She's attached. Mia's comment that Katee is just one of those people who's meant to dance was spot on.

ROUND #2

Chelsea & Mark: BROADWAY (Tyce)
Tyce is beside himself tonight. He's doing his thing; and Mark is doing all the work in this number. Chelsea mostly poses in what looks like 10 inch heels and legs that will not stop going on. Wouldn't you like to slap somebody around just for a minute like Chels did to poor Mark? The death fall in this routine was superb - my oh my this girl trusts her partner! The judges declared it sultry, sexy & bluesy; Nigel commented that the 110 degree Vegas heart was not as hot as this number. Mia loses cool points for throwing Mark's technique under the bus. I do not agree at all; I think his strength as a partner revealed itself.

Comfort & Thayne: CONTEMPORARY (Mandy Moore)
Again, Mandy is a favorite of mine;  I was just not feeling this choreo because of the way it was danced. There is an almost sloppy yet technically sound look contemporary has, but it just looked sloppy here. The judges didn't believe it and neither did I.  Mia notes you can only fake technique so much. Nigel would rather have seen two different dancers in the same piece and Mary noted it wasn't strong. Mia did backslide Thayne a job offer though, saying she can't wait to work with him. And yes, he should keep showing that amazing smile.

Jessica & Will: QUICK STEP (Tony & Melanie)
Why don't the producers put this out of it's misery already? Uuugghhh. It's the kiss of death. And is it me, or do the judges get all snippy with Will when he's fully dressed? And who put him in that too little jacket? He's a classy guy though, standing up for his girl when Mia inexplicably went all busta on Jess, saying Will needs a new partner & he's tired of carrying her. Wow, that was pretty cold. True, but cold.

Courtney & Gev: JAZZ (Mandy Moore)
"Lost in the Jungle"  is inspired & the kind of quirky story I live in dance for. Gev is a revelation. Seriously. He transforms into any character our crafty choreographers create for him. I disagree with Nigel - this was not cotton candy. It was pure barbecue on Labor Day, capped off with peach cobbler & Blue Bell Ice Cream.  Mia declared these two one of her top couples and Mary noted they were tough & raw. I hope they are safe, then again I'd like to see a Gev solo.

Kherington & Twitch: TANGO  (Jean-Marc)
I noticed early on the footwork was off, which the judges outed as "hops" in the twitchy dilemma. Had the twosome not declared this a Mr. & Mrs. Smith battle to the death, they might have fared better with the judges, who weren't feeling it. Mia smartly commented that dance is what's underneath the steps; nothing was providing the meat this classic choreography was craving. Nigel said the only thing they murdered was the dance.  I am heartbroken - my favorite couple finally got a negative review. Oh well - can't win 'em all.

Katee & Josh: BOLLYWOOD (Nakul)
New favorite style!! WOW. This routine was richly layered with a mix of different cultural movements: a little hip hop, a pinch of African and alot of Indian giving a beautiful shape to a fun, energetic and enticing composition. It takes strength to pop up from the floor, or circular knee spins on the ground (my group is SO going to execute that move).
Mary said heart + soul = stardom. Yes, these two are stars...with a ticket on the Hot Tamale Train courtesy our screaming salsa queen. Mia said it was awesome to include world dance on the show. And Nigel summed it up nicely in wishing "the world would come together with dance rather than what we're doing." Well said, Nigel. Well said.

What do you think, Texas Two-Steps? Who will be in the bottom three? Like me, are you torn between a number of talents on this season? Did you catch a glimpse of Jack Bauer during the FOX fall season promo? And Prison Break? And finally, shouldn't there be a National Tabasco Day?