L.A.  Can I just say:  I LOVE JESSE TYLER FERGUSON.  Now that that's off my chest:

Alexa:  Hm.  A little puzzled.  Both my husband and I felt that this audition was a little...lackluster.  Maybe just in light of the fact that she got through to the Green Mile last year, but we both said, almost simultaneously, that she was great - but not exceptional.  And yet they didn't even bother to comment.  Hm.  Hokay, moving on...

Wacking:  This is a trend I just don't get, BUT I will say that Johnny Wacks actually had some interestingness to offer, and I was happy to see him go through to choreography.  Unfortunately, that's where it ended.

Eliana, the Joffrey/Alvin Ailey/Cirque girl:  Um, yeah.  She's so in.

Kinda disappointed they sped through the next three, but glad they all made it to Vegas, because I definitely wanna see more.

The Diva Twins (Nick and James - the "Ninja Twins"):  I'm sorry, but after spending a lot of time with my head tilted sidewise like a confused dog, I have come to the conclusion that THEY. ARE. A. [BLEEP]ING. RIOT.  I don't give a hoot about their dancing, or their ages.  I just want to see them on TV.  In their own show.  Nigel, you can make this happen!

Sam (the lovely girl whose mother deserves to be publicly flogged):  Lovely.  Yes, she needs some guidance, but really?  This is a girl who NEEDS this show.  And thankfully, she is going to get the chance in Vegas.

Kaley (sp?) Carr, mustachioed surf break-tapper:  Oh yeah.  This one's a keeper.  This is a personality I can't wait to see more of, and oh yeah, he can dance too.  Sorry he didn't make it through choreography, but I have a feeling we haven't seen the last of him.

Megan Branch, from Arizona:  Sonya Tayeh cannot WAIT to get her hands on this one.  YOWZA.

And then there were some other awesome dancers we didn't really get to know, but that I am looking forward to seeing in Vegas.

Cole Horibe, The Martial Artist: You want different?  You want unique style?  This guy doesn't just have it, he IS it.  It felt like he was telling a story the way hula or Polynesian dancing does.  It was the strength of martial arts, with the grace of The Hummingbird Dance from a few seasons ago.  A. MA. ZING.

Thank you, SYTYCD, for skipping many of the next auditions, but letting us see what they represented.

David, the Circus Man:  I can't tell how much dance talent the dude has, but DAYUM.  I spent most of that number with my mouth gaping open. Holy crap.  That was... just...  Duuuuuude.  So sorry he bailed in choreo, but I understand.  I do hope he'll come back next year.

Stephen, the, er, Ballet Dancer:  I hated to see him crushed, BUT, Nigel was so right.  I get that he was trying to stand out by doing something different, but what the dickens was he thinking??  Once he started dancing, then OH my goodness.  Thank God they gave him a second chance.

Funnily enough, I actually remember the three repeaters, and I'm happy to see all of them are back - and better.

Jonathan, the Italian...stallion...cat - well, this man can dance.  But he can also do some other things that I'm not sure work to his advantage, not the least of which is get under people's skin in a not so endearing way.  Still, I'm...curious.  And yet...not.  I just can't quite make up my mind about this one.  Which will probably make for good television.  But not this year.

Jasmine and Marshea: Okay, yes, they got me with the heartstrings story.  But they also got me with the dancing.  Because it was GOOD.  Utterly stunned that Marshea can even walk six weeks after an accident like that, let alone dance.  That he danced well was just an automatic bid in my book.  And apparently Mary's as well.

I can hardly wait for Atlanta next week.  You know, the place where we first met Melanie, BEST. SYTYCD DANCER. EVER.

G'night, y'all!