Congratulations to... (SPOILER ALERT!!!)

LAUREN!! YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!

Well folks, the big moment arrived when Lauren was crowned the Season 7 winner. There really was no going wrong (once Robert was announced as 3rd) - either Kent or Lauren would've been a great choice, but honestly, I think Lauren was just a smidge more deserving. She was a little more consistently good throughout her performances, and ultimately, I think she wanted the win a bit more. In any case, she is The New "It" Girl, and my sincere congratulations go to her. Great choice, America!

But let's not leave this discussion without acknowledging the second greatest moment of the night. Those of you who happened through the internet late today probably saw it coming (as did I), but nobody could've anticipated just how AWESOME it would ultimately prove to be. Props, kudos, and major "DAMN, girl!"s go to ELLEN DEGENERES, the surprise "superstar" who not only got her wish to dance on the show, but who actually got to be the Alex Wong stand-in in the reprise of his mega-sick hip-hop routine with Twitch. I wasn't surprised to see the routine modified a bit for her, but I was absolutely gobsmacked to see how well she did with all that was left IN! I love Ellen Degeneres anyway, but she earned a whole new chunk of respect from me for an outstanding effort that could easily have fallen flat considering how hard an act Alex is to follow, and instead she rocked the house. Way to go, Ellen! And a HUGE thank you to Nigel and the SYTYCD producers for letting it happen.

An exceptional end to an extraordinary season leaves me already excited for Season 8!! In the meantime, we'll have some periodic updates, chats, recaps, and ponderances to keep us in the spirit until that fateful First Audition Day. Thanks for reading - stay tuned!!

Oops...

Where's my posting on last night's performance finale? Well, um...I'm on vacation. I know, I know, that's no excuse, really, but...well, I basically had a choice between staying in and watching it or going to Atlantic City for the evening - with my hubby and no kids - and so, naturally, I went gambling. Sorry!! I have, however, read up today on how it went, and feel confident that it's anybody's game at this point - well, Kent or Lauren's anyway, with Robert in a very respectable position regardless. I WILL be watching the final finale tonight, and will post *something* following! SYTYCD Fan Judge lives!!! :)

Season 7 - The End Draws Near

I'm on vacation, but SYTYCD is never too far from my thoughts (well, it was pretty far from them this morning while I was lying on the beach, but...). As we wind down one of the weirdest - and most injurious - seasons to-date, let's reflect a little: What was your favorite moment of the season? Your personal favorite dancer? Choreographer? Routine?

In reverse order, I think...I think I have too many favorite routines to pick just one; at a minimum, I'm going to reserve the right to see some of them danced again in the final show recap before making up my mind. Choreographer? Travis Wall, with Stacey Tookey running a very close second. Personal favorite dancer? Hm. I've got a soft spot for Billy Bell, but there's just something about Kent that I think is just irresistible. I just wanna tweak his cheeks like a visiting aunt, y'know? And favorite moment? Many as there are to choose from, this one is a vivid standout: when Cat called the judges out for their hypocrisy in criticizing Adechike's Bollywood number after giving Jose's equally poor (and considerably less physically challenging) performance a smiling pass. I was so proud of her for speakin' up! 'Cause let's face it, the rest of us were thinkin' the same thing.

How about you?

What's Missing?

You know what I've been thinking has really been missing from the show this season? WADE ROBSON. He had, like, one group number early in the season, but that's about it. Where the heck has he been? Not that I'm complaining about the rest of the season's choreography, because truly, we've been blessed with the products of Stacey Tookey, Travis Wall, and even Ms. Michaels. But there is just something about the virtually hallucinative qualities of Wade Robson's routines that uniquely qualifies him as one of the most interesting choreographers of our time that I am truly jonesing for this season. Yes, his stuff is often so bizarre that I'm left a little dumbstruck at the end of the number wondering, "what...the...HECK is that guy smoking?" But I never leave a Wade Robson number thinking, "Eh." And I like that in a choreographer...

Bonus video!

Folks, if you're at all curious to know what last week's (results show) opening number would've looked like if Lauren had been able to dance it instead of Allison, check out this video. SYTYCD compiled and wove Lauren's rehearsal footage together with the performance, and it's really quite cool.



Thanks, FOX!

Sometimes, the System Works (Top 4 Results)

If, of course, you stipulate to last night's performances being the appropriate deciding factor, then the three dancers going into the finale are the right three - and thus, the system worked. (If, however, you think the wrong people are in the top 4 to begin with, well...) But here we are, so congratulations to Kent, Lauren, and Robert!

I think, ultimately, it was the right choice, although I hate to see Adechike go (and can't believe I'm actually okay with Robert being in the top 3). I think Adechike just kinda hit a plateau he couldn't get past, whereas Robert soared last night, right to the top of the heap, apparently. Now, if he actually wins this thing (and don't think I don't have nightmares about a scenario in which Lauren and Kent split the teenybopper votes, leaving it squarely in Robert's lap), that's a different story. But after last night, I think the right three moved on.

As a side note, 'cause this has been bugging me for weeks: speaking as a resident of the greater Washington, DC metropolitan area, ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON IS NOT A CONGRESSWOMAN! Thanks to the ludicrosity (new word) that is our electoral system, the District does not, in fact, have representation in Congress. Ms. Norton is, in fact, a "Delegate," a special representative assigned to speak on the District's behalf, but with no voting power whatsoever. It twangs a special nerve every time Nigel says and the screen displays the word "Congresswoman" in conjunction with Delegate Norton. Those of us vehemently supporting bringing the District up to the level of humanity the rest of the country enjoys find it particularly grating, and I felt the need to speak up. I'm just sayin'.

So, who wins it? Kent? Lauren? Or does Robert pull yet another dark horse moment? What do you think?

Random reminder

To quote Mia, "I love boys!" Meaning, of course, in a completely non-pedophilic way, that it is SUCH a joy to watch the guys dance together on this show when they're given such terrific routines - the Kent & Neil Broadway number, the Kent & Neil best friends number, the Billy & Ade "Homeless" number...the list goes on. But I have a bone to pick with the judges who've been touting these routines as landmarks, as if this season is the first time we've seen two guys dance together. Ah, such short memories. One of my all-time favorite routines for pure entertainment was the Season 2 "Tranji" (Travis and Benji) rendition of "Gyrate," a Shane Sparks hip-hop number that was just Krazy Kool. Don't remember? Conveniently, I found the extremely fuzzy YouTube video version:

Top 4 Perform - Recap & Fan Judge Eval

WOW. Still reeling from that final Travis Wall number, but let me break down the night's events, a little more space-efficiently this time:

Opening group number: Um...truthfully? I've seen better Tyce Diorio routines. Don't get me wrong: I think dancers did well with what they were given, I just don't happen to think they were given all that much. Granted, there was a storm warming floating across the top of my screen that shrank the viewing area and provided a bit of distraction, but really, even upon rewatching, I just think it was a little lacking. It underutilized pretty much everyone, with the possible exception of the last few gymnastics by Kent. Not a blazing start to the show, but not a death knell either.

Lauren: SssssssssssssssssssssMOKIN'! That Argentine Tango was HOT, HOT, HOT! Like, "um, can the choregraphers please remember this girl is only SEVENTEEN???" hot. It was understated because it used slow control rather than fast footwork and complicated lifts to make its point, but that just added to the anticipation of it and built the [ahem] *sexual* tension. Outstanding. Then came the Black Widow jazz number. I can understand the point Mia made about needing a smidge more ferociousness, but honestly, I was so busy worrying about how steamy the whole thing was that I didn't notice. My husband used a good (and more politically correct term than "sexy"): sultry. That it was, and I pretty much forgot Ade was there while Lauren was doing all those kicks and twists and turns and lifts. What an incredibly talented dancer she is, and I would not be at all sorry if she wins this competition.

Adechike: Oh, I SOOOO wanted him to have a better night than he did, but unfortunately (and for once), I'm kinda with the judges tonight. I would be a little less harsh, of course, but I do think there was just something missing. In the Afro-jazz number, before the judges ever commented, I just kept thinking, "when is he really gonna just let go?" And it never happened. In other numbers this season, I've thought he had a little too much bob and bebop - which is what I think elicited Mia's rather unfortunate (but technically accurate) critique of Adechike's Bollywood number as having an African dance feel to it - and yet here he was in an Afro-jazz number, and I didn't get much of that bounce at all. I wanted him to look loose and lively and, because that's what the dance was about, FREE. And he looked...well, more than once, he looked like he was concentrating. That was less true in the second number, but he didn't quite lose himself in it entirely the way he needed to. It was better, and I truly think he thinks he's doing what the judges are telling him, and he can't quite figure out why it doesn't look that way to them. But, with Kathryn (in yet another eye-catching, number-stealing red dress) as his partner, he really needed to step up a little more than he did. I think he is a good candidate for going home this week, and I actually think I'll be disappointed if it's anyone else. I'm sorry, Adechike, because I am truly a fan.

Robert: I sooooo did not want to like Robert as much as I did this week, but really, he just nailed it. NAILED IT. Both times. That Viennese Waltz was exquisite, and Nigel was right (although I had to go back and re-watch Lauren's number to notice it), Pasha missed his straight-arm lift, but Robert pulled his off stunningly. And that hip-hop - well, Napytabs is just DA BOMB, of course - I have to agree with Adam: I thought he danced circles around Dominic. I was a little surprised Adam said it, mind you, and it created some awkwardness on the stage, but he was right. I was expecting Big Tall Robert to have trouble getting down into hip-hop the way he needed to, but really, he couldn't have funked it up any better. To further be able to work with balloons, which have to be a phenomenally challenging set of props, was just icing on the cake. I won't cry if Robert's sent home (there's just something about him that's a little disingenuous, a little "trying too hard"), but honestly, he doesn't deserve it this week.

Kent: I don't know what Disco Mia was watching, but I thought it ROCKED, and once again, HIS FACE IS SUPPOSED TO BE LIKE THAT! Yeah, okay, Adam put a little better spin on it - I get that there should be a little more "Rico Suave" and a little less "Corny Kid from Kansas" (or Ohio, or wherever the heck Wapakoneta is), but really, Disco is FUN, and a little cheesey, and I thought he rocked it. And that spinning lift at the end was enough to get my vote. How the momentum didn't carry them clear off the stage I will never know.

And then there was the Travis Wall routine. To finish out The Kent Analysis: he was perfect. Absolutely incredible, on all counts, and I think (I sincerely hope) that is secured his place in the finale. But really, it is almost unfair to give that one entirely to Kent, because it wouldn't have looked that good without an equally good partner, and I couldn't imagine a better one in the role than Neal (who I ADORED the first time around, by the way). But really, let's not get sidetracked by how well it was danced: TRAVIS WALL IS EXTRAORDINARY. I could not be happier that he is a choreographer, and that he has gotten such fabulous exposure on this show. He is a force to be reckoned with in the dance world, and I suspect he will be making a HUGE name for himself long after this show ends. He has introduced me to some of the most beautiful artwork in the world of dance, and waiting for one of his routines to come up on the show is half the excitement for me anymore. BRAVO, standing ovation, OUTSTANDING, Travis. Thank you for letting us into your world.

What did you think? Anyone willing to predict who's going home? Who's going to win?

Butterflies

Since I'm merely an armchair judge, why in the world am I nervous about tonight's show?? I suppose it's the post-traumatic stress of seeing Lauren in the bottom three last week; fear of the bizarreness that is an audience-voter show is no doubt to blame. Still, I should be extra excited, because at least when we get to this point, it's pretty much ALL good dancing...right? True, Adechike and Robert don't always shine, but at least certain other less-capable dancers *cough*Jose*cough* are already gone. And yet...I'm almost afraid to watch. And tonight isn't even the RESULTS show! Oy. Well, 36 minutes 'til I start peeking through my fingers to see how it goes. Good luck, Top 4!

Told Ya'

Further evidence that Mia should return to the world of choreographing and leave the judging to the more, er, eloquent set: THAT OPENING NUMBER ROCKED! And can I just say that, much as I like Lauren and think she's a fabulous dancer, I am SOOOO glad she couldn't dance that night and Allison had to do the number, because I cannot *imagine* how it could possibly have been done any better by Lauren. I cannot even picture Lauren in the role. Allison's face, hair, smile, and of course dancing were all just off the hook. THANK YOU, Mia!!

*GASP*

That was the only audible sound in the room when we heard Cat tell Robert, "No!" As in, "No, you're NOT in the bottom 3 again this week." Meaning that Lauren IS.

??????????????

There is no accounting for how people vote, that's for sure, but my guess is that it was a combination of the "popular" folks splitting the vote (Kent and Lauren), and people rising to help the folks they suspected would be in trouble (Robert and Adechike). In any case, that was the moment that we knew both Jose and Billy would be going home, because let's face it, NOBODY thinks Lauren should go home. And I mean nobody - have you seen the postings on this girl?

It was an unfortunate outcome, I think, because detractors be damned, this was a big week for Billy, while neither Robert nor Adechike had particularly outstanding performances. Yes, Robert's contemporary number with Kathryn was beautiful, but if you go back and watch it again (as I have, more than once), you realize that the number is beautiful, and Kathryn is exquisite, but Robert's just kinda...window dressing. He did well, don't get me wrong, but compared to, say, Billy's "homeless" dance, it was really nothing special.

But that's the show, folks, and when you don't vote for the folks you like, you can't complain when they don't win. In this case, I think there were just enough people who were ticked at Billy for not dancing last week (and not going home as a result) that it cost him the vote in a week when Robert and Adechike's fan clubs finally kicked in. Further proof that the judges should've let Jose go last week, because then there would've been another person in the mix this week, and Billy mighta made it.

If only they'd had a fan judge last week to keep them straight... *sigh*

What was your reaction?

Well...!

Much better show than I feared, and I am crossing my fingers that Billy adequately redeemed himself with the other voters, because he certainly did with me. Here's the rundown, blow by blow, 'cause it's my blog and I can do it if I wanna.

Kent (cha-cha w/ Anya): Mia, Mia, Mia! That is Kent’s face! I think she is dead wrong – I think he has absolutely taken the note about his face, and I think the “face” he had during this dance was appropriate for the number, the style, and the moment. As he was dancing, I was marveling at how much he’d grown up on this show, and I was absolutely annoyed when Mia criticized his face again. Lettigo, Mia, lettigo.

Robert (contemporary with Kathryn): Way to go, Stacey Tookey! What a marvelous routine, with a twist that literally took my breath away. I caught my breath when I saw the ending, and it was then that I teared up. But, oh, right, this is about the dancers. I’m with Adam – I know this was about Rob, but Kathryn is unreal. And Rob was pretty good too, I have to admit. Now can we talk about Nigel’s comments? Um, so, let me get this straight: now, exactly one performance later, he thinks Robert has grown a lot this season? Wasn’t it just last week that he told Robert he wasn’t growing? Hello? Is Nigel suffering from amnesia or is that me?

Jose’s solo: not bad. Didn’t really hang together especially well, but at least he “tricked it up” a bit this week.

Adechike (jazz, with Courtney): Had a hard time figuring out what I thought, so I was a little relieved to have the Judges’ opinion (for a change). I think Adam had it right – this was just dancing – for better or worse. I kept trying to put the routine into a box, and you can’t, really. There was no real story, it was just dancing, and I think it was that freewheeling-ness that was what I really loved about it, because it let Adechike just dance. I understand Mia’s critique about his need to polish his athleticism a bit with style; and I think that Adam and Nigel are probably right that he was a bit restrained for the music. But on the whole, I think he did it really well…but it probably won’t end up in the top performances of the night.

Lauren’s solo: THAT was dancing with abandon, Adechike! She perfectly married the song, the style, the costume, and her personality. I hated that it had to end so soon.

Jose (hip-hop, Comfort): ARE YOU KIDDING ME?? HE GOT HIP-HOP?? Someone, please convince me this show is not rigged. That is ALL I have to say on the subject. How he danced is entirely irrelevant for me at this point. (But for the record, I didn’t think he danced it all that well – for once, I wholeheartedly agreed with Mia. Not that the routine was all that good - Napytabs look even more brilliant to me now.)

SIDE NOTE: He pulled his groin and that’s why he wasn’t in the group dance? BUT HE COULD DANCE HIS SOLO WITHOUT DIFFICULTY??? Yeah, right.

Billy’s solo: YES, YES, YESSS!!! THIS is the Billy Bell we have been MISSING! THAT was the routine he should’ve done the last two weeks for his solo. It was well thought out, it was danced with ENERGY, and it had soul. He had expression. He had heart. Welcome back, Billy!!!

Kent’s solo: HOW DO YOU LIKE THAT FACE, MIA?! I loved it, and I thought he was in it. Now if he could just keep his eyes out of the audience when his dance is done…

Lauren (Broadway with Allison): SIDE NOTE: I love Allison. Okay, now that I’ve gotten that out of the way: WOW. Is Tyce having some kind of Damn Yankees fantasy this season? If so, I LOVE IT! If I could see a show with that routine and the Kent/Neil routine together in it, I WOULD BUY TICKETS EVERY NIGHT. Awesome. Absolutely awesome.

Robert’s solo: pretty, but nothing spectacular. But maybe that just reflects my overall feeling about Robert…

Billy (contemporary, Ade): OUTSTANDING. That was one of the most moving routines on this show, moreso than almost all of the romantic-themed contemporary dances. Adam has it absolutely right: it was evident in his solo, and then this dance that Billy has just finally arrived – welcome to the show, Billy.

Adechike’s solo – what a beautiful show of strength.

Kent and Jose (Broadway): Well, if that didn’t demonstrate the difference between the two, I don’t know what could. First two segments of the dance: Kent – 25 moves; Jose – 2. Seriously? Now, once the choreographer actually gave him some moves to do, he wasn’t bad, but…he wasn’t Kent either. Once again, the routine was dumbed down for him – and once again, the judges didn’t seem to notice (except for Toni, and she was mighty diplomatic about it). Meanwhile: I desperately hope that Kent will go to Broadway and have a career there. I will be so disappointed if he gets sidetracked to Hollywood or a dance company somewhere. If ever there was a man born to dance on a Broadway stage, it’s Kent.

Lauren and Adechike (Foxtrot): Sleek and slick, and not bad. Not sure it gave me fever, exactly, but it was enjoyable. I think Nigel had some good points, most on the mark of which was that up against some of the other routines of the night, it was just kinda…good.

Billy and Robert (Bollywood): I think Billy won that. I honestly think Billy’s slightly smaller frame lent itself to him having the more delicate and refined looked of a female Bollywood dancer (and I mean that in a good way, not to feminize Billy); it made Robert look a little big and bulky by comparison, and his smile was just a tad too goofy for me. I diverge from the judges on this one – Billy was the clear winner of that role, of that dance, and of my vote.

What did YOU think?

Are you ready?

Tonight is show night! Are you ready? I have to admit, I'm not so much.

Sidetracked this week by a kid with a broken foot (and a cast that can't get sandy or wet with saltwater, 10 days before the big family beach trip), I can't say my head has been in the SYTYCD game. And when I do think about it, I must also admit a little trepidation. After last week's decision fiasco, I'm almost afraid to see what happens this week. I worry that no matter how bad Jose is - or how good Billy is - it will be Robert and Billy going home, or in any case, some couple of people that does not include Jose. I know I will find that utterly unfair, and I will be peeved, and I am not looking forward to that. Then again, maybe I can use the show to take out the rest of the week's frustrations. Hurling insults at the television set is relatively harmless, in the bigger scheme of things...right?

What do you think will happen?

Rearranging Deck Chairs on The Judges' Platform

There's been a lot of chatter this season about the changes to the judges' panel, namely the sabbatical of Mary Murphy, the addition of Mia Michaels as a "permanent" judge in her stead, and the choice not to have a rotating additional judge each week. At the beginning of the season, many people (myself included) were excited to see Mia return after her absence last season, and we looked forward to what she would bring to the panel. Many folks also lamented the loss of a rotating judge, but were willing to see how it would play out. So, how has it gone?

Hm. Well, I miss Mary. And I don't think I'm alone, judging by the comments to that effect on the Facebook and Fox SYTYCD pages. Who'da thunk we'd find ourselves longing for "the Hot Tamale Train" and her rollercoaster emotions bookended by rivers of tears and screams in a range generally heard only by dogs? But alas, we do miss her, and I'm afraid it's because her replacement hasn't lived up to expectations. On the contrary, Mia has been on the receiving end of some of the most viscerally scathing fan commentary for a wide range of behaviors this season, from incoherent, babbling feedback to inappropriate and often downright insulting critiques. With all due respect to Ms. Michaels, who I genuinely believe to be a brilliant choreographer, I have to agree that she's been the weak link in the judging chain this year, and I am hoping Season 8 will see her return to the studio and vacate her seat on the platform.

In my opinion, while the other criticisms generally have at least a kernel of validity, Mia's greatest offense has been that she has so obviously and indefensibly endorsed favorite contestants. (As an aside, kudos to Cat for calling her on it after the infamous Adechike Bollywood fiasco.) That not only harms the dancers in their development (because really, what has Jose learned, other than that a pretty smile goes a loooooooooong way?), but it also diminishes the credibility of the judging panel and ultimately the show. While Nigel, and to a much lesser degree Adam, have also been guilty of pandering to pet performers, it's not a giant leap (er, jete?) to think that it's Mia's influence that has changed the tenor of judging on the show this season. Would we really have seen no one go home last week if Mary had been the third judge? Or if the fourth judge hadn't been a true "guest," but one of the show's own choreographers? Mary may have been an emotional firestorm, but she respected the show's format and, for the most part, the voting audience's contribution.

So I'm really hoping she returns next season. (Of course, I'm also hoping they'll decide to incorporate audience/voter feedback, by, say, appointing a "fan judge," but I digress.) What about you?

The Most Unbelieveable (Non)Decision

Those of you who have watched the show religiously since the beginning were no doubt screaming at your television sets last night to hear Nigel announce that the Judges had decided NOT to decide who to send home. All three "bottom" vote-getters (well, two bottom vote-getters, plus a sort-of injured Billy) were passed through to next week without so much as a tongue-lashing. A gentle reminder to Robert and Jose to demonstrate growth, and a liability-protecting save for Billy for choosing not to risk further injury, and a few million voters are left saying, "Whaaa...???"

So here's my take on what happened last night, for right or wrong, but how I would've judged it if I'd been on that platform:

First of all, you don't praise Robert to high heaven immediately following his dances and then suddenly feel he neglected to demonstrate growth this week when the judgment day comes. It must've broadsided Robert, and while I'm not his biggest fan, I thought that was unfair, and worse, a blatant attempt to justify not letting Jose go.

Secondly, Jose has GOT to go, and the judges - and choreographers - need to stop protecting him just 'cause he has a sweet smile. I don't care how nice the kid is, he is not the same caliber dancer as the others, and it is now so painfully evident in his performances that the judges cannot expect to keep giving him a pass and then be surprised that everyone is up in arms about it. His shine has worn off, and even the voters thought he should be a candidate for leaving, so Judges: HE SHOULD'VE BEEN.

Now to Billy. Oh, Billy. I have been a Billy fan all along, but I have to say that I winced with each of the last two weeks that he found himself in the bottom 3 and then couldn't even begin to conceal his disappointment. His face registered absolute dejection, and his solos were, in turn, lackluster, I suspect because he was simply too bummed to summon the energy for more. That's a shame, of course, because he is exceptionally talented, and this show is, after all, a competition. It's hard not to take the voting personally, but I hated to see him do it nonetheless.

And then this week happened. Is he really injured? Should he have danced? Only Billy really knows. From where we sit in the TV audience, given his history and Nigel's explanation, it sure seemed more like he was afraid to dance than unable to do so. Lots of folks who posted to other fan pages seem to think he didn't want to be shown up doing the Step routine. Me? I am not sure the outcome would've been any different if he'd had a contemporary assignment. I think he would rather have been in the bottom automatically because of injury than risk the emotional zing of having been voted there. But whether or not I'm right, the judges' decision, I think, was actually the right one, and the one thing I agreed with - although I thought their explanation of it was a little backward.

Sure, Billy opted not to dance, even though the doctors said it was his choice, but that doesn't give him the same automatic discharge as Alex and Ashley, who were unable to dance. The reason is absolutely justifiable from the show's perspective: if they had sent Billy home for not dancing, the message to future dancers would've been that they should go ahead and risk further/worse injury or they'll be sent home. That's a huge responsibility for the show to accept, and I think they were right in considering the precedent when determining what to do with him. That said, I think he'll have to be absolutely stellar next week to not be sent home if he lands in the bottom 3 again.

But even if they kept Billy, that was no reason to also keep Jose. And for my part, I could even make a case for dismissing Robert, who I actually thought danced very well this week (and who didn't bug me nearly as much as usual): Robert has been in the bottom 3 a lot. The Judges don't understand this, because, like Jose, they love Robert. But what the judges fail to understand - and the reason I think having a "fan" judge each week has merit - is that there is something the VOTERS don't connect with, and since this is, after all, a competition to identify *AMERICA'S* favorite dancer - NOT the Judges' favorite - they should respect that. If they couldn't bring themselves to send Jose home, then they should've sent Robert. To say that the decision was just impossible, or to suggest that all were on par with each other and that choosing one would've been unfair, completely undermines the premise of the show and the credibility of the Judges. It's not the first time a tough choice was before them, but it was the first time they let their feelings for the dancers get the better of them, and I think that signals a dangerous turning point for the show.

What do you think?