So You Think You Can Dance: TV Tam’s Top Ten

Last night we lost Comfort and Thayne, revealing this year’s top 10. Like the judges last night, I really liked Thayne’s technique and grace, and was even coming around to his creepy smile. Nigel commented that he would have rather let two girls go than lose Thayne – so why didn’t they? We know the rules – one guy and one girl gone a week – but why not make an exception in these cases? When we get to the bottom four, it’s fine for two males to share a routine, so why not earlier on in the competition? Okay, so some people are pretty reluctant to see two guys waltzing around the stage, looking lovingly into each others’ eyes – but there are plenty of styles that lend themselves to side-by-side routines: contemporary, jazz, hip-hop, Broadway, even the dreaded krump. We know these choreographers are creative, so why not let them do their thing without having to sacrifice good dancers for mediocre ones?

That’s my rant for the day. I can’t wait until next week when they start mixing up the couples. Here are my thoughts on who will be eliminated over the next few weeks.

5. Jessica And Gev- Nigel wanted Jess gone this week, and I am pretty over her. She reminds me of Jamie last year – she has beautiful lines but doesn’t hold a candle to the other girls when it comes to performance. And I love Gev. He’s a fun little B-boy. But he doesn’t have the technique or the confidence to keep going. I think that once he loses Courtney, he’ll be lost in general.

4. Courtney G. and Mark – Courtney makes Gev look good, but on her own she can be a bit forgettable. I don’t think she has the presence or the skill to partner well with any of the other guys. The judges have already commented on Mark’s lack of technique, and I’m afraid that without Chelsie by his side, he will fade into the background.

3. Will and Kherington – Will has the technique, but does he have the personality? So far, I haven’t seen it. I think Mark has far more charisma, but I think Will’s talent will keep him on just one week further. Miss K is one of my favorites as far as personality goes, but she has a tendency to lose her connection with the dance and her partner.

2. Chelsie and Twitch – I was torn between Chelsie and Miss K for the final spot in the top 4, but Chelsie so far has more charisma and knows how to command the stage. Twitch may not be the best dancer, but he’s definitely a fan favorite, which is, in reality, all he needs.

1. Katee and Joshua – Katee is a gorgeous girl and a gorgeous dancer, and she is definitely an asset to Joshua. He’s a little quiet, a little reserved, but when he dances I am completely amazed and surprised every time. Even when he’s not technically sound, he has presence, and I think he deserves the crown.

The Best of Summer TV- Continued

In compiling my short list of summer reality programming, I left off the most real of them all: FX's 30 Days. I caught the new season last night, with former NFL player Ray Crockett spending 30 days in a wheelchair. I'm guessing he played for the Cowboys, since his wheelchair-unfriendly abode is in Southlake (and is worth about $1.7m, according to the Tarrant County appraisal office). The episode was really heartwarming and inspirational, and it reminded me of what a great show this is- one that dares to document real-life struggles and controversies without being preachy or stretching the truth. Morgan Spurlock deserves an Emmy.

In other programming, tonight is the first night of the So You Think You Can Dance Top 20 competition (Fox), as well as the season finale of Top Chef (Bravo). I'm rooting for Stephanie all the way!

Summer Shows- What to Watch

The primary TV season is over, the DVRs are empty, and summer blockbusters are teasing us to spend our money at the theater. But summer doesn't mean we have to shut off our TVs altogether- there are plenty of summer-only series worthy of our attention, even if they're not on network TV. Stay inside this summer and check out these original shows.

1. Two words: My Boys. The show follows tomboyish sports writer PJ and all her boys- including her brother, her poker buddies, and all her rocky relationships. Jim Gaffigan supplies great comic relief as PJ's suburbian brother, and her best friend Stephanie, PJ's complete opposite, provides insight to the female view of a boys world. The third season of My Boys begins on June 12 and full episodes can be watched online at tbs.com

2. Summer reality. Mind you, I'll choose a well-scripted series any day of the week, but summer reality is different. So You Think You Can Dance, from the producers of American Idol but with more exciting talent and a much better host, is back for it's 4th season and the top 20 are announced this Thursday. This summer we are also treated to the return of The Mole, albeit without original host Anderson Cooper. But after watching the first episode, I'm inclined to stay with it.

3. ABCFamily. This summer we see the loss of Greek(the season finale airs next Monday), but we gain two new series: The Middleman, kind of a twenty-something female Men in Black and The Secret Life of the American Teenager, from the creator of 7th Heaven and starring Molly Ringwald. In addition, the ABCFamily original movie The Circuit, starring Michelle Trachtenberg and Drew Fuller as racecar drivers, premieres on June 8.

4. USA. Veteran shows Monk and Psych anchor the network, but budding show Burn Notice is the show with the most interesting premise, an ex-spy helping others while trying to figure out why he was "burned" by the US government. New show In Plain Sight got off to a rocky start with Sunday's premiere, but promises to improve, especially when Dave Foley guest stars on June 22.

The Offspring are Back On

The Offspring return with a new album next month, and if their first single is a good representation, it's going to be pretty awesome. It seems that a lot of bands are returning to their origins and leaving behind the pop-laden remnants of the last decade (unless that band's name is Green Day). By listening to Hammerhead, you would never think the Offspring was capable of a song like "Pretty Fly for a White Guy." And that's a good thing.

Download Hammerhead for free here.

The album releases on June 17.

Moonlight Ceases to Shine

Another one bites the dust, my friends. CBS has decided not to renew freshman series Moonlight for a second season. The sad part is, this comes just days after the demise of Fox's New Amsterdam, another promising show whose time was cut far too short.

RIP Mick and John. You will be missed.

Greeks and Geeks/What to Watch Tuesday

Just because I am not a fan of the Greek system doesn't mean I don't enjoy watching made-for-TV college students make complete fools out of themselves. And for this fact alone, I can admit to loving ABCFamily's GREEK. GREEK has the lightheartedness and stamina worthy of the CW, but hopefully it will live a fruitful life on the ABC subsidiary. Although the topics of underage drinking, premarital sex, and homosexuality seem to contradict the channel's Sunday morning Pat Robertson sermons, I applaud ABCFamily for giving us a diverse and unorthodox "family" rather than another 7th Heaven.

If you missed last nights episode of GREEK, I just discovered it re-airs at 11PM on Tuesday nights, quite a blessing, especially now that the monstrosity that is American Idol has pushed our Tuesday night favorites House and Bones to Mondays, already TV's most overcrowded night. And unless you have been brainwashed by that singing show (I gave up after Beatles night #2), then your Tuesday nights are pretty sparse.

Tonight's recommendation: Beauty and the Geek- it's geek makeover night!

Quick Tip: What to Watch Thursday

I know, I know...you are all sitting at home twiddling your thumbs on Thursday nights thanks to the Lost hiatus. But hopefully, you all have had the opportunity to catch the quirky Eli Stone in the post-Lost timeslot on ABC. And here's the kicker- it's still on! Luckily, this marvelous show finished production before the writer's strike, so we still get a full half-season! And if you're still at a loss for what to watch at 9/8c, you're in luck tonight. That's because CSI returns--and takes a trip to Grissom's bugcave! I mean apartment!