In my next life, I think I'll be a soldier or a saboteur or a stunt pilot, but not a dancer. Dancing seems way too dangerous -- especially after this week's "So You Think You Can Dance."
Alex Wong injured an achilles tendon and was pulled from the competition -- maybe for this week and maybe for the season. Allison, one of the show's "all-stars," re-injured a rib and asked to be taken to the hospital. And to think some parents breathe a sigh of relief when their kids turn to dance instead of football.
Here are a few of my comments; please add yours:
1) Alex, a sensational talent, has wretched luck. Last year, he had to give up the show because of his Miami Ballet contract; this year, he gave up the Miami Ballet for the show -- and may emerge with nothing.
2) Sean Cheeseman is my new favorite choreographer. His routine -- with two dolls (Robert Roldan and Kathryn) at first trapped in cellophane containers -- was a delight, maybe the best of the season.
3) Still, Robert can't buy a break. That routine -- and the waves of praise that followed -- came in the first hour. Late in the show, viewers saw he and Ashley Galvin struggle with the dreaded quick-step.
4) It was good to see some substantial disagreement tonight. After Nigel Lythgoe was too easy with praise for Adechike Torbert's first routine, Mia Michaels said he was dead wrong. After judges were too harsh on Adechike's Bollywood number, Cat Deeley came to his defense.
5) That second one was especially true. Torbert may not have got all the Bollywood details, but he was wonderfully dynamic and entertaining. As Deeley reminded us, Jose Ruiz was praised for putting his personal stamp onto a Bollywood number; Adechike was condemned for the same thing.
6) It was a great night for Lauren Froderman, who covered the extremes -- sensual the first time, sweetly romantic (paired with Kent Boyd) the second.
7) Kent and Jose did well tonight, but they don't need to. Before and after each dance, their faces light up with a rich humanity that gets them votes.
8) My favorite Kent comment this week was when he said Lauren belches "like the man I could never be."
9) My favorite Kent comment ever was the time the country kid marvelled that his big-city dance partner "will let me touch her anywhwere."
10) And my prediction for Thursday? The rules put Alex in the bottom two; I think Robert and Ashley will join him there, victims of having a quick-step routine near the end of the show. Despite their comments tonight, judges will send Robert home.