Well, Dance, of course.

We kick off with Cat having once again found her proper wardrobe person and a killer hair stylist. Our judges are all in assembly. And we get a really interesting and well choreographed Lion King-themed opening routine that was clearly not Wade’s work, so who? It was too fun to be Emo Mia. Hmm.. Imagine my surprise when it turned out to be…Tice D’Orio?? I was really surprised. Who knew he had something like that in him? Maybe he does better with large group work, I don’t know. But that was Broadway caliber and then some. Loved it.

Up first for elimination or safety is Lauren/Neil and Lacey/Kam. Lacey and Kam are safe (Happy Birthday, Lacey!) which means Lauren/Neil are in the bottom three. Now, with only 8 couples, really good couples are going to land in the bottom three, but given their dance the night before, I’m not surprised these two are there. Crack Mary is, but I’m not, as I picked them after last night’s show. One down, two to go.

Up next on the chopping block - Hok/Jaimie, Dominic/Sabra and Chuy/Sara. I don’t think any of these three couples should be bottom two, so…. Hok/Jaimie are declared safe. (Yay!) Sabra and Dominic are safe (as they should be, really.) But Chuy/Sara are in the bottom three. Wha???? Maybe it’s because they went first and people forgot about them, but that? Is terribly, terribly wrong. They were really great last night. Hmmm. That one I don’t get.

Woo! Jessi is okay, which is great, but even greater is they’re going to let us see them perform their routine together. I was really excited to see how they looked with this, so I’m thrilled the producers are giving us this peek. Well, she’s wearing substantially less than Melanie, for starters. It was really good. Of course, you don’t watch Pasha as much in this one, and there is a lot more lifts and such in this routine than the one he did last night, so I’m really glad we got to see it the way it was intended to be danced. And, yeah, it was pretty hot. We also get the news that Pasha is safe from tonight’s elimination. Now that is cause for celebration!

Two couples left, one more spot in the bottom three. I’m guessing Shauna/Cedric, but wouldn’t it be a scream if it was Danny/Anya? I know, I’m perverse like that. But as much as Cedric should go, the renegade in me would love it if things were shaken up a bit. You know, just for this week and all. Who me? An instigator?

Here come Cedric/Shauna and Danny/Anya - (and I must say that Cat is so cute the way she so sincerely supports the dancers. I want to be besties with Cat. Don’t you?) Cat opens the envelope and HA HA!!! Danny and Anya are indeed in the bottom three. I LOVE THIS!!!! I swear, I had no clue, but this? This is great stuff right here. Yeah, yeah, I know Cedric isn’t as good and should go, but let the people prop him up a bit longer. He won’t make it to the end, the folks going home in the meantime probably wouldn’t have either. It just changes the exit order, that’s all. So…wow. Just wow. But I called it! I said that based on that performance, those two were bottom three and America agreed. (I still have NO idea what they were smoking to put Jesus/Sara there, but they can’t get it right all the damn time.)

So…what a killer bottom three we have tonight, y’all! This is what makes this thing fun. I am dying to see what these guys pull out to keep their very toned behinds on the program. Woo hoo, I am so in love with this season. Dayum.

We have seven dancers in our bottom crew tonight. Lauren is up first, dancing a contemporary routine (to a Kevin Federline song? Really?) Other than a little wardrobe malfunction getting her jacket off, she does a pretty sultry routine. Is it enough? Not sure. I wasn’t wowed.

Next up is Neil, who gives us a lyrical performance. He definitely gives it his acrobatic best, and manages not to kill himself by avoiding tripping over the jacket that Lauren left behind. An okay performance, he definitely poured his heart into it.

Up now is Sara with hip hop/b girl. She was kind of all over the place at first, looking pretty nervous actually. She put together a few good strings of moves, but overall it wasn’t very seamless. Not like Cedric pulls off. I’m a little worried about her.

It’s Chuy’s turn next. He dances contemporary to the The Romantics “What I Like About You” which gets the audience going. Maybe it’s just me, but everyone seems a little bit flat tonight, like they were caught off guard about having to perform and just aren’t quite as On It, as they might otherwise be. He does an energetic routine, but not sure it’s wow material either. The audience loved him.

It’s Jessi’s turn next. I hope she delivers better than last time. She gives us a contemporary kind of hip hop kind of emo routine that is really good. Five seconds in and she is totally killing this, just as she said she would. This? This is a save your ass dance right here. Innovative, evocative, and absolutely well done. She better not be going anywhere. That’s how you do it right there.

Danny is up next, and I can’t wait to see this. He’d better bring it like we know he can. And oh boy, does he ever. That was stunning and perfect. Boy can move. A little teeny bit cocky ending it a tad early, but that’s Danny for you.

Anya is last, and I always feel bad for the ballroom folks having to do solos. Just doesn’t seem fair really. Interesting outfit and not at all sure what style that routine was. Contemporary Emo Ballroom? It was kind of a mish mash, so not sure where that will get her, but I suppose we’re going to find out. Right after a bunch of commercials and having to listen to Fergie and Ludacris entertain us for a bit.

Of the dancers in the bottom three, it’s going to be a really tough call. No Cedric to send home, so that leaves us sending home Jesus, Danny, or Neil. Hate to say it, but buh bye Neil. If it was up to me, anyway. As for the ladies, we have Lauren, Sara, Jessi, and Anya. The only one who should be safe given those solos is Jessi. It’s a total crap shoot after that who goes home. I’m not even sure who I’d pick, other than, well, any of them really. They bring very very different things to this show and all were about par for their solos compared to one another. Personally, I’d like to see Sara keep going. I’m not as ooh-aaah over Anya as everyone else seems to be, so I could survive her leaving, but I doubt the judges would ever do that considering the tongue bath they give her and Danny every week. Hell, they even had to reassure them why they were in the bottom two, which was, well, ludicrous. I’m thinking Lauren, but betting it’ll unfortunately be Sara. which would be a crime given all the chances they’ve given Cedric. Lauren is a very good dancer, but not unique or strong enough a dancer, overall, to win this thing.

What will they do? First, Fergie. Who is very skinny, but looks sort of odd for some reason in those lemon yellow peg legs. Very pretty girl, but lip syncing leaves me cold. It always surprises me when that deep voice comes out that face. The FF button is begging to be used here.

Aaaaand, we’re back. We’re starting with the girls. Ooooh, this should be interesting. The loser is going home with a two to one vote from the three judges. (We know how Mary and Nigel think, but I wonder what Debbie’s contribution was on such a wild, unpredictable night?) Nigel tells all four their routines weren’t strong enough. I definitely disagree about Jessi’s - she was the only one doing anything innovative and interesting, but oh well. He calls Lauren out on all the time she wasted with the jacket, etc, and delivers a smack down, then calls Jessi forward, in my mind I’m thinking it’s to tell her she’s safe, then just summarily cuts her. Wow. That was harsh and cold. And she’s the only one who should have been safe in my mind - and I don’t even really care for her! Dang. Double dang. I know I said in my previous blog that I’d send her home, but not based on the DoD’s I wouldn’t have.

But you know what this means! A new partner for Pasha!! Who will it be? Anya, Lauren, or (gulp) Sara?

So, it’s the guys’ turn. Again, I’ll go out on a limb and say it’s not Danny as he put in the only real performance. (But if it ended up being Anya and Pasha together, that would be wild!) I still say Neil. Better not be Chuy!!

Nigel informs them they were unanimous this time. So it ain’t Danny. Nigel calls on Neil and tells him he was outstanding tonight. Uh oh. Then he calls out Danny and says the same. Oh no. Say it ain’t so!!! A possible Sara and Pasha combo? OH MY GOD. But it’s true. Jesus (aka Chuy) goes home tonight. Yikes. What a night!!! His parting speech is a tear jerker.

Okay, I know I said I love this season, but wow, this is so hard. But I guess when you have this kind of caliber and this kind of cross section, it’s going to kind of suck every week. It surely will every week from now on, too, only worse as we go further. Just….wow.

So, Pasha and Sara. Well, I’ll be first in line to catch their virgin voyage on stage together. Only I think we have to wait TWO WEEKS to see it, because of July 4th being next Wednesday. Well, they’ll need the rehearsal time anyway.

Discuss!

It’s almost anticlimactic to announce the SHaQ winner now. But I will! I asked you to tell me who Jarret, Zach and Dane are and how they are known. They are the heroes of my Three Musketeer trilogy! This week’s winning blog babe is…Darla!! Woo hoo!!!

Have a great weekend everybody.

Tags: Writing by Donna
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Wow….what a night, huh? We had it all. Starting with Super Cute Cat Deeley in some kind of black drapey toga dress that looked like she laid down on a bolt of fabric, rolled, then stood up (well,the wardrobe dept can’t get it right every week, but yikes!) In the good news dept, along with Dirty Uncle Nigel and Crack Mary as judges, we get special guest judge, Debbie Allen. Sometimes she can be too much for me, but other than being a bit verbose, I loved her as a judge last night. We could have her every week and I’d be fine with that. And hey, she gave Cedric a scholarship to her world famous academy, so she gets permanent love status from me.

That ends the normal part of our show. Now the dancers take the stage and I don’t think there was a single pair tonight who weren’t really challenged by their material, for one reason or another. Which I really liked, even if it didn’t produce the most amazing dancing of the season. We get it all, tonight.

8 couples will dance tonight, starting with Sara and Chuy, who get krumping with one of its originators, Lil C. I knew Sara would hit this, as it’s in her style area, but Chuy really brought it, as well. I really liked the choreo for this and thought Lil C really adapted the style well to show off their styles. Wonderful start to the night, very high energy. Woo!

Next up is Cedric and Shauna with a contemporary routine from Mia. It was kind of all over the place for me, but I thought Shauna did well, and though Mia tried to hide Cedric’s shortcomings with her choreo, he did a great job of emoting and totally gave himself over to the piece, but his limitations as a dancer are really showing now. I thought he judges were perhaps a bit more brutal than necessary (Mary!) but Nigel did put some perspective to it, then Debbie stood up and offered him a place in her school, and Nigel prodded her to make it a scholarship, and the crowd goes wild and Cedric beams because he knows he’d just received a prize greater than he could have ever hoped for. I do think he should go home tonight, but I also feel great knowing that of any kid out there, he will take full advantage of the training he’s being offered. Kudos all around. (And I really want Shauna to stay and get a good partner….Pasha perhaps? More on that later!)

Third up, we get Lacey and Kam doing the quick step. I just love watching these two. They are like seasoned pros no matter what they do. Danny and Anya get all these kudos, but I think this is the strongest team. There is such charisma, chemistry and showmanship here. I don’t get as much intensity from the other “top” pair. Anyway, another solid, fun night from these two. Great job. One thing I love about Lacey is that, like her brother Benji, she comes from a swing background, where the facial expressions and mannerisms are supposed to be over the top. I adored Benji and those over the top emotions went well for him, but normally they put me off. Lacey manages to keep them in line with whatever dance she’s doing and it never looks oversold to me, but perfectly fitting in whatever routine she’s doing at the time. I hope she does go after acting and theater, as I think she’d be a natural there, too. Broadway would love her.

On to pair number four - we get Danny and Anya, who are finally pushed waaaaaaaaay out of their comfort zone with hip hop. I was excited to see how they’d handle it, but to their further detriment, they get Dan Karaty as their choreographer. I used to love Dan’s stuff, but with all the new instructors they have, his work really isn’t rising to meet the new standard on this show and it really shows here. However, while he didnt’ do them any favors with a less than wow routine, another team could have done a lot more with what he gave them. Danny and Anya are too good to be bottom three, but speaking of this week’s routines exclusively, I’d have put them there. Sorry you two.

Up next is Dominic and Sabra with the first ever rumba on this program, any season. And wowowoww, do they go for it. Not only is Sabra gorgeous, lovely and as effortless as ever, but Dominic totally partners her in a way that is never in doubt, not for one second. Beautiful routine, gorgeous execution. Could have done with a lot less posing and posturing after the fact from Dominic, but it was so good I’ll forgive him for being young and immature. They deserve to stay after that one. Well done.

Coming out next is Lauren and Neil, who get the tango. This is another bottom three performance for me. Mostly because both the routine and the music did them no favors whatsoever. But also because it obviously didn’t suit either of them and they were clearly out of their element. Interesting to watch, but not up to the level of the others tonight.

Going seventh tonight are Hok and Jaimie who get a jazz routine from the very, very twisted mind of Wade Robson. (Where does he get this stuff?) Anyway, it’s the hummingbird and the flower and I’m all yadda yadda whatever Wade, until they come out and start and it’s just absolutely stunning and wild and so very different, I’m absolutely transfixed. He choreo’d beautifully to their individual strengths and it was really a stunning piece of work. Best of the night for me. Major golf claps all the way around.

Last, but waaaay not least we get Pasha and Jessi. They get the cha cha, which is Pasha’s personal style, so you know it’s going to be wonderful as I’m sure he’ll partner Jessi beautifully and showcase her just fine. But then, drama! Jessi falls ill with an irregular heartbeat and difficulty breathing and is sent to the hospital, where she remained even through the live show last night. So, instead, Pasha is partnered with his choreographer’s dance assistant, Melanie LaPatin, who (though they dont’ announce it) was a former US champion in this form. Clearly that was a few years ago as she’s no longer in top physical form, but the girl can dance. Anyway, the deal is we are to vote and judge him exclusive of his partner and she does a great job of just being there and being enough to let him do his thing, but never trying to do too much with her part. Pasha, on the other hand, makes her look like the siren to end all sirens and man oh man do we all want to be Melanie or what!! I know I did! Dayum. That was smoking. He was like Maks Jr for me. Whew! He gets my vote tonight. And, to be fair, as it is his strength, he supposed to look great, but wow, he surely did.

Nigel explains that the way it will work tonight is that, if Jessi comes back, because she didn’t perform and get votes, she’ll automatically be added to the bottom three girls and dance for her life. Pasha will only be there if his votes put him there. And if Jessi is not well enough to perform, then she will be cut from the program. Harsh, but what else are they to do? Cut someone who is performing? Also not fair. A sucky way to go, and I hope she is there tonight to dance for her place on the show, but we’ll see. However, this brings up the provocative possible pairing of Shauna and Pasha if Cedric goes home tonight, as is predicted. I think they would be a great match up as they are both strong performers with solid physiques. I’d love to see them together. Sorry, Jessi! Not wishing you bad luck, but I wouldn’t be upset with that outcome.

Bottom three for me? Based on tonight’s routines and performances, it should be Lauren/Neil, Shauna/Cedric, and Danny/Anya, along with Jessi. Going home? Should be Cedric and Jessi, but if not Jessi, then….hmmm. I have no idea!

What’s in store tonight? I can’t wait to find out!

Tags: Writing by Donna
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Well…that would be me. Better late than never, and this is about as late as it gets!

So, 18 dancers/9 pairs are left on our favorite Dance Show. Cat Deeley still manages to be the cutest thing ever despite the fact that she towers over the dancers by a good ten feet. I would kill to know how she does that. This week we get Dirty Uncle Nigel, Crack Mary and Emo Mia as our judges.

First pair up tonight is Lauren (hip hop) and Neil (contemp) who get hip hop with new choreo dude Dave Scott, who I already love five seconds into the rehearsal footage. Their performance is definitely better than their samba last week, but while I love it, and think they look good, Neil does a great job considering it’s not his niche, but I sort of thought Lauren would bring more to it. She’s good, but not wow. Maybe she was afraid of outshining her partner, I don’t know. Judges agree, more or less, and none of us think they are in danger of being bottom three…and we move on.

Next is Pasha (latin ballroom) and Jessi (contemp), who get a seriously whack bird oriented jazz routine from, who else, Tice. I will say they totally give themselves over to it and do about as good a job as anyone could do with that routine, but I worry that people won’t “get it.” Mia does, of course, and drools. Mary screams and Nigel nods sagely. No bottom three threat here they say, and I agree they shouldn’t be, but I worry. Early in the rotation and a weird routine, plus a lot of people don’t seem to like Jessi from what I read on my fave little TWOP bb’s. Maybe it’s just us. We’ll see.

Going third tonight is Hok (street) and Jaimie (contemp) and let me say this right off..Jaimie? You need to stop ending every single sentence like it’s a question? K? They get samba and I’m so proud of Hok with his gorgeous grin. He does give it his all, and they tackle it with gusto, and from a performance standpoint, damn they’re fun, but I’m afraid from a strict quality standpoint, they aren’t going to be up to snuff. However, Hok is so popular, I think that, if nothing else, that will get them through this round.

Up next is Dominic (street) and Sabra (contemp), who won some hearts last week with their big hearts. Can they do it again? They get a contemp routine from new choreo babe Mandy Moore (no, not that Mandy Moore) which again goes toward the somewhat whack, but more understandable from a contemp than a jazz standpoint (Tice!) They actually do really well and I’m really impressed with Dominic for how much he puts into this routine. You expect gorgeousness from Sabra and she totally delivers, but there is a definite connection with these two and Dominic’s heart is just bleeding all over the damn place and so you have to love him a little. Plus, not an easy routine and pretty darn lovely as it turns out. Judges all agree. We’ll see how it holds up tomorrow. I think just from effort and determination they deserve another week.

Fifth couple tonight is Faina (ballroom) and Cedric (crazy liquid boy). They get foxtrot with retro guy Hunter Thompson (doesn’t he look like he was digitally lifted from some 40’s movie?) and, I’m so sorry, because I Heart Cedric a lot, but this isn’t up to snuff. And Faina, who is lovely, just can’t lift Cedric into the realm he needs to be in to compete here. Even Dominic is finding more inner dancer, so….I’m seeing bottom three here. Not Faina’s fault, but still. The judges pretty much tear Cedric down to his core matter and that’s tough, even though true. Like, don’t you think he knows that already, Nigel? Sheesh. Let the boy get booted in peace why doncha.

Now we have Amazing Lace (swing) and Kameron (contemp), who have Krazy Khemistry and way above average showmanship skillz. Love her or not, you can’t deny the girl knows how to perform. They get Broadway from Tice (scare!) but it’s actually performable and not whack. These two are great (woo, a Racy Lacey!) and every single second is wonderful and fun to watch. I just enjoy their chemistry together. Riveting pair, here. Judges all agree. I don’t think they have to worry. She’s so good she’ll just outdance the Benji Backlash and dare people not to vote for her.

Seventh up is Danny (contemp) and Anya (latin ballroom) who, another chemistry couple, but mostly because Danny oozes it out of every single pore of his body, so whoever he partners is lucky. And Anya gives a lot back in return, too, though I just don’t connect with her as personally. They get an incredibly hot Viennese Waltz routine and they’re just amazing. No worries for those two. The judges are still drooling somewhere.

Next to last is Jimmy and Shauna (both contemp) and they get hip hop from (thank god) Dave Scott, who has to do something better than that horrible Oz routine they got last week (Tice!) Love the routine, Jimmy really brings it, Shauna leaves me kinda meh, the step routine didn’t really work for me in this venue, and I worry just a tiny bit that they will take Hok/Jaimie’s spot in the bottom three.

Last up is Chuy (street.contemp) and Sarah (street) who get paso doble with that weird little Jean Marc dude and his crazy red jello haired wife, who somehow choreos some pretty interesting routines. Sarah has never been in heels, neither has done ballroom, much less partner dancing…this should be interesting. The routine totally fascinates me. They dance the paso to, I’m not kidding, Queen’s We Will Rock You. Which is alternately amazing and just plain crazy. All things considered, they really were amazing, with only the music sort of hindering them (in my estimation anyway.) Any other couple, this might have been bottom three, but only by a hair, however, given their learning curve, they should stay.

My Bottom Three picks? Faina/Cedric (he should go home), Shauna/Jimmy (she should go home), and, hate to say it, Hok and Jaimie. Though it might be Chuy/Sara. Both faced a stiff learning curve, and Hok’s fan base will probably save him, but I think Chuy/Sara did a better job and faced stiffer odds.

Will I be right? Will I be wrong? Fortunately I have the answers a mere TiFaux click away.

Results Night!

Let’s just get right to it - most satisfying safe couple of the night? Dominic and Sabra who do a full on body plant on the stage as they writhe around in their absolute shock and glee at getting another week. So, yeah, I’m a sucker for that. Not as satisfying safe couple is Hok and Jaimie. Now, I love Hok and I don’t want to see him in the bottom three anymore than the rest of every man woman and child in America, but he probably deserved it over some others and I’d hate to see someone more deserving go home, so…Chuy/Sara are in danger. Except no….it’s Pasha and Jessi. Whu? I know it was a whack routine (Tice!) but still….what is America smoking?

Rounding out the bottom three, to no surprise, is Faina/Cedric and Jimmy/Shauna. My exit choices still stand. That is, until they all do their Dance of Death. Jessi and Pasha both phone it in, though at least Pasha tried to mix it up a little, given doing a ballroom solo is just plain weird anyway. Jimmy was good as always, but Shauna…..damn, girl, that was great! So now I’m totally confused. Send Jessi home, when clearly she’s a great dancer but obviously not well loved by the public and, hey, she phoned it in (what WAS that outfit, btw? The new babydoll bedroom line inspired by Heidi?) Okay, then Cedric is also totally amazing in his liquid boy form, and Faina does a fair job, though not as good as last week. So….I’m thinking it might be Faina and Cedric. Another couple bites the dust.

But why should anything make logical sense? First, Pasha and Jessi do get the phoning it in lecture, but are safe, and really, they should be. But glad they were warned that just because the judges all said they didn’t belong there was no excuse not to give it their all. Then we’re left with Faina and Shauna and after Shauna’s amazing DoD, you knew it was going to be Faina. Which, at least she made it one week longer than her brother, but I think her partner selection really, truly screwed her over. But what can you do? So Faina’s gone.

Leaving us with the no brainer decision between Jimmy and Cedric. Except Mia goes insane and decides that maybe Cedric really is the amazing growing boy and Jimmy is just great but oh well, them’s the breaks? I don’t get this, and neither does Crack Mary, who, surprisingly sanely thinks it should be Cedric leaving. Leaving Nigel to be the tie breaker and, after already sacrificing a better dancer to the kid last week, to intense backlash from the public, saves Cedric one last time (after telling him he wasn’t right for this competition and after hearing Cedric saying he was at peace with leaving, given all he’d already gotten.) So…we’re sorry, Jimmy, thank you for playing and here’s your crappy parting gift. Truly wrong. On every level.

This is the hard part about this competition being so strong this year, every week it’s just going to get tougher and we’re just going to care more. I can’t wait for tomorrow night!

Don’t forget to enter this week’s SHaQ Attack contest. Details in Monday’s blog.

Tags: Writing by Donna
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…is going to be MAC Daddy Tuesday. Waah. I arrived home from Texas and went straight to working the local craft convention here and haven’t had a second to myself. Okay, I had a few seconds, but I used those to buy a car when my van finally decided it really didn’t like actually functioning any longer. (Although it is super cute, so that helps take the edge off the painful payment plan I had to sign my life away for.)

My plan is to hide from the rest of the world at some point today and just wallow in a lot of TiFaux’d dancing and cooking. Possibly a little Wimbledon tennis if it ever stops raining over there. So tune in tomorrow for (hopefully!) all the MAC you can stand.

Today, however, is time for the next SHaQ Attack contest! Woo hoo!

This week’s Scavenger Hunt question is: Who are Zach, Dane, and Jarrett and what are they known as?

Send your answers to donna@donnakauffman.com with I got it! in the subject line. I’ll choose one winner from all the correct entries and announce it Friday morning.

Good luck and happy hunting!

Tags: Writing by Donna
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Time to name the winner for this week’s SHaQ Attack contest. You all sleuthed really well, but there can only be one winning Blog Babe, and this week, that title goes to….Minna from Finland! And Minna named all three of the Black Sheep men, so she gets two books! Woo hoo, Minna!!

The correct answer was: Donovan MacLeod, Raphael (Rafe) Santiago. Bonus Question: Finn Dalton (whose story I am writing right now!)

Tune in next week for some Mondo Dance MAC and another SHaQ Attack contest!

Have a great weekend, everyone.

Tags: Writing by Donna
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Hello from Texas. I am here learning all kinds of wonderful ways to play with clay, melted art, metal, and such. My nails might never come clean, but I’m having a blast expanding my art knowledge. What I’m not doing, however, is getting the chance to watch any television. Hopefully my faithful TiFaux has it all waiting for me when I get back home….which will be just in time to run my shop’s booth at a huge local craft convention that is coming to my town. (*It’s at Dulles Expo, for anyone in the DC Metro area who is into crafting….come and play with us!)

Look for some Mondo Dance MAC to come Monday morning.

I will announce this week’s SHaQ Attack winner tomorrow. Some of you are even in the running for that bonus book! Way to go, Blog Babes! It’s not too late to play. See Tuesday’s post for details.

Also - most of the SHaQ Attack prizes have gone out in the mail (except yours, Alicia…have to get there during regular biz hours to get that puppy to Australia, but it’s coming, I swear!) so previous winners, keep an eye on your mailboxes!

Happy TGIF-eve, everyone.

Tags: Writing by Donna
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It’s Tuesday, so it must be SHaQ Attack time!

Special bonus this week…I now have the advance author copies of my August release, The Black Sheep & The Princess, which means it’s officially on my website bookshelf as a winning selection if you wish.

This week’s question is: Name at least two of the three Men of Trinity, Inc…aka the “Black Sheep” of my upcoming series. The answer is on my website. Somewhere. (And if you’re one of the rare few who know all three names…bonus book if you win!)

Email all answers to donna@donnakauffman.com with Black Sheep in the subject line.

Tags: Writing by Donna
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I am away on business this week…but I will try to post from the road.

New SHaQ Attack tomorrow!

Happy Monday.

Tags: Writing by Donna
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For this week’s SHaQ Attack contest, I asked you to name Josie Griffin’s hero. Those of you who said Connal MacNeil (from The Charm Stone) got it right! The winning blog babe this week is….Cheryl S! Woo hoo!!! Tune in next week for another contest.

Now…time for some Mondo Dance MAC!

I was able to piece together all but the first two dances from Wednesday night. (Which was a total bummer as that meant missing Hok, my early fave, and Danny, who intrigues me.) I did get to see the clips in the results show and it looked like they were both awesome.

So, we reunite with one of my favorite hostesses ever, Cat Deeley (honestly, she’s just sunshine on a stick. A very long stick.) And we meet our three judges, Constipated Dan, Crack Mary, and Pervy Uncle Nigel.

Finally, we get to some dancing. I miss all of the beginning, then pop in on dance three, but the first two pairings were Hok and Jamie, who got hip hop. I have no idea who Jamie is as TPTB opted to not show her to us until now. Pair number two was Anya and Danny who got the jive. Now that’s a dangerous pair and I haven’t even seen them dance yet!

My viewing pleasure started with Lacey (Benji’s sis) and Kameron (of the red and black hair.) Okay, was it just me or was it clear from, oh, I don’t know, the first minute that these two are wildly attracted to one another, if not beyond that already? Whatever the reality, they have chemistry that made my television want a cigarette when they were done. They got contemporary, choreo’d by Mia, in all her moody strangeness, but these two totally gave themselves over to it. I was riveted. It was going to take a lot to top that one, and already I know we are in for one hell of a season, if that is the caliber of week one. That was finale caliber to me.

Fourth up was Sabra and D’Trix. Unfortunately they got Disco from the same choreographer from last year, Doriana Sanchez, who really, really needs to take three giant steps back from the botox needle. Mother may I? Why yes indeedy you may. I’m not fond of this category because it’s too dance clubby and not really detailed enough to be worthy (I almost feel the same about Broadway as a category, but at least there is some range there.) Anyway, for two kids who have never partner danced before, this was pretty damn good. But it’s just not near the caliber of entertainment that the previous dance was, and I’m thinking it was only partly the category. Oh yeah, Sabra who? I hate it that they don’t let us get to know all the Top 20 dancers in the preseason. But Sabra is very good and she has a lot of natural sparkle to her that should carry her a long ways.

Fifth pair was Ashlee and Ricky, who get the tango, which is mostly a huge shame as she is a gargantuan next to him. Despite his gangly height and her very pretty face (another big sparkler) they looked too odd to focus on the dance. I fear for them on results night. The judges concur, and might I say here that I appreciate how much improved Nigel has been in his commentary. He seems to have had a very enlightened moment where he realized that saying sensationalized things just to be sensational is not a ratings grabber, but a huge turn off. Especially when he has a wealth of actual constructive criticism and praise to share, as he did tonight. Golf clap for Pervy Uncle Nigel.

Sixth was Sara and Chuy, who most fortunately got the first pop jazz routine designed by Wade Robson for a pair on this show. He has done the group numbers from last year and is so wildly demented in his stuff that I totally adore him. Love or hate his routines, and I love them, they are undeniably riveting to watch. Sara, the beat girl, and Chuy are wonderfully fabulous in this very twisted routine. I tie them with Lacey and Kam, and that is saying something. Loved it!

Seventh pair was Jessi and Pasha, who got the waltz. It was absolutely lovely. Very floaty and made me want to wear a floaty dress and be swept aroudn the floor like that. Deep sigh. Not my number one or two dance, but totally gets my vote to stay anyway. Damn, this is going to be an amazing season! I have NO idea how they will send anyone home.

Eighth up is Faina and Cedric. They are both stunningly beautiful people. She has this amazingly angular face and a body I would kill multple times for. He has such a beautifully soulful face, and those eyes…. They get hip hop from Shane and Cedric nails it to the wall and then some, while Faina struggles a bit more given her ballroom background, but I found their routine entertaining as well and think they’ll do fine.

Ninth is Lauren and Neil, both very likable kids, though we have no clue who Neil is until tonight. They get Salsa. I totally agreed that Lauren is hard not to watch. Great entertainer. And Neil is, too, but the upper body comments were dead on. I hope they stay though, I really like them both.

Last of the night is Shauna and Jimmy with the dreaded Broadway (well, dreaded by me anyway.) Tice, who bugged me last year with his lame choreo (but he is rather rowr to look at) does a better job this time, but it’s Jimmy who totally sells it, while Shauna (who we don’t know) struggles a bit more. Enjoyable, but perhaps some fear with this duo too for the results show.

Speaking of which…..It’s Results Show MAC!

After an opening number by Wade that I rewatch twice for its total awesomeness, we get our bottom three couples and I only got one out of three right.

Faina and Cedric - America gets this totally wrong in my book.
Sabra and D’Trix - this one I get, but I like them anyway.
Ashlee and Ricky - no real surprise, but a shame they were paired together given the height thing.

My early picks, before seeing their dance-for-your-life solos are Sabra and D’Trix. After watching the solos, I change that to Ashlee and I have NO clue! Because the guys all did well. I stick with D’Trix, though, as my guy pick, as he didn’t do as much with his solo. It’s the same reason I choose Ashlee.

Lloyd performs while the judges deliberate and gets mad props from me for actually singing and not lip syncing, even while dancing some really fun-to-watch choreo with his back up guys - that was just great - which costs him some breath, so even more mad props for doing it anyway.

Then it’s time for the Big Decision. I am very glad I’m not a judge this year. The talent is off the charts.

In the end, they send home Ashlee and Ricky. I’m still thinking it should have been D’trix, but Ricky wasn’t going to last long anyway. Something is off about that guy. Ashlee is all kinds of talented, but I’m kind of glad the odd couple pairing is gone. It was the only dance that was hard to watch. Not fair to them, but as a viewer, I’m selfishly happy.

Can’t WAIT for next week. Man, I’m glad this show is back.

If I get to Top Chef over the weekend, I’ll MAC it on Monday. Have a great weekend everybody!! And Happy Father’s Day!!

Tags: Writing by Donna
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So, while I was at work, we had a wicked electrical storm that knocked out my power, and, as it happens, Dirty Uncle Nigel. I’m trying to piece together clips from the website and internet, but so far, not much luck. And my imaginary friends are calling. (I have to say, it’s great to get paid to play with my imaginary friends. Seriously.)

I will endeavor to put it all together and tack that MAC onto tonight’s show and have Mega-MAC for tomorrow. I did get Top Chef, so will check that out when time permits and see if it’s MAC-able.

Also tomorrow I will announce this week’s SHaQ Attack winner. It’s not too late to enter. See Tuesday’s post for details!!

Happy TGIF-eve!

Tags: Writing by Donna
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