Mike Hughes on TV

So you think you've had some busy weeks? Imagine what it's been like for Brandon Dumlao.

After failing to make the top 20 in "So You Think You Can Dance," he suddenly got a call: Billy Bell was ill and off the show; Brandon had made it, after all. A day and a half later, Brandon (a hip-hop dancer) was on stage, waltzing with Pauline Mata (a jazz dancer). Then the judges voted him out and sent him home again.

Ariana Debose was also cut. I plan to catch both in phone interviews Wednesday, then post the story here by mid-afternoon Wednesday. (Note: That blog is posted now.) That will continue most weeks, the day after the ousters.

Meanwhile, here are a few of my comments; please add yours:

The show pointed out it had some opposites duos, but that was inevitable. This year, it has several girls who consider themselves country kids or Southern Belles; most of the guys are from the city.

So Ariana, who drives a tractor on her family's North Carolina farm, was with Peter Sabasino, from Philadelphia. Noelle Marsh, who also grew up on a North Carolina farm, is with Russell Ferguson of Boston. Kathryn McCormick, a Georgian who likes to spend most of her time outdoors, is with Legacy Perez, from Miami. Channing Cooke, a former tomboy from small-town Massachusetts, is with Phillip Attmore, from Pasadena.

Opposites link, sometimes boosted by great choreography. Some high-octane highlights came at the beginning and end -- Channing and Phillip bouncing delightfully to the Jackson 5's "Rockin' Robin," Mollee Gray and Nathan Trasoras doing a furious disco to Gloria Estefan.

There were other highlights, from Jakob Karr soaring spectacularly to Bianca Revels, a Detroit tapper, flowing seductively with Victor Smalley. It was a great start; we wish Brandon could have stayed for more of it.