So far, I’ve read two of the books that I’ve wanted to read for a long time that I put on my summer reading list.

The drumming thing didn’t work out.  As  much fun as it sounds like, I don’t have the time to devote to make it worthwhile.  There’s no reason to do it half-assed.

But, that doesn’t matter.  Because we are on the next thing, and this one’s the one thing I’ve been looking forward to for a long, long time.

Again, v’hmayvin yavin.

V’Hamayvin Yavin

Look how they describe the “Black” Course:

“Hard. Long. Wet.” – Henrik Stenson

“The difficulty of [it] is how long it is.” – Geoff Ogivly

“The [Black] is … long.” – Tiger Woods.

Man.  Such stereotyping.  And Henrik Stenson is a sicko.  He might rape the course before the weekend is over.

So You Think You Can Dance revealed their Top 20 last night, and sadly, two of my early favorites didn’t make it.  Now, before you go saying “Well, Noyam, don’t love sucly dancers” let me point out that the reason my guys didn’t make the Top 20 wasn’t because they weren’t good.  In fact, one was freakin’ awesome.

I mean, check out the move he does at the :16 mark:

Or just watch this solo from Vegas Week:

Wow.  No, the reason Alex Wong didn’t make it was because he was already under contract to the Miami Ballet Company, and couldn’t get released.  Hopefully, that will be remedied by next season, and he can get a fast track to the Top 20 in Season 6, joining Nathan Trasoras, who was too young to be eligible this year, and got a pre-approved Season 6 Vegas pass.  Here’s his solo this year:

Meanwhile, we had to know only one Kasprzak brother was going to make it, even though they are both great dancers with great personalities.

Evan is a little more telegenic, which probably explains why he made it.  But, I really think Ryan’s great, too, as evidenced by his tap solo up there.  He’s also, apparently, very smart and a great choreographer (fast forward to 2:20 mark).

I doubt he’ll give up the chance to make the show as a dancer, but I would love to see them give him the chance to come on as a choreographer, and maybe give him a leg up in that way, because he’s pretty damn good with that.

For all you who like to rail about the bible’s definition of marriage:

 

Hattip: GorillaMask

Hey, did you know Andy Pettitte is a starting pitcher?

Hattip: Sports Hernia

Someone else thinks that So You Think You Can Dance is better than American Idol!

Check it out.

Some of what’s there, that I’ve been saying to other people:

to me, the talent is just better on that show

It really is.  These people are so amazing to watch.  Which gets me to:

It’s just more fun to watch. When they do group numbers on So You Think You Can Dance, it’s not to sell gas-guzzling American cars. They’re legitimately interesting large-scale dances. They also dance as partners, then split up the partnerships, so there are little mini-dramas stuck in-between the larger drama of the competition. But even without all the peripherals, watching people dance on TV is just inherently more interesting than watching them sing.

The choreography is amazing.  Not just the dancers and their talent, but the routines that are custom designed for them.

But, most importantly, in terms of making for an enjoyable show, the judging.

I’d say that the judging on So You Think You Can Dance is better all around. Even the crazy judge—Mary Murphy—knows a lot about ballroom and seems to scream like a wild woman or not scream like a wild woman based on actual merit.

It’s true.  The judges on SYTYCD are truly knowlegdeable about the field.  The know things, can pinpoint things and offer intelligent, cogent and constructive remarks.  Nobody on SYTYCD is going to say something completely idiotic like “For me, for you, dawg, I just don’t know.  For me.  For you.  Not your best.”

There is no “song choice.”  The songs, the outfits and the choreography is all chosen by someone else.  The dancers are there to dance.  It makes the judging focus on what’s important, instead of getting “critiques” like those that Alison Iraheta got this season that judged her outfit instead of her singing, and managed to give her negative comments after a performance that was entirely positive and amazing.  That doesn’t happen on SYTYCD.  For those of us that watch both shows for the performances as well as the competition aspect, the judging and its creditibility are important.  SYTYCD gets it right.

 

Hattip: Warming Glow.

Ed’s Note: My apologies to those of you, my dear readers, that can’t watch videos from wherever it is you read this blog; this will be a video-intensive entry.  My opinion: worth logging in at home for.

Season 5 of So You Think You Can Dance started last week.  Two nights of auditions continue this week, starting tonight.  Of course, the show gets exponentially better when we reach the finals, the Top 20 (after Vegas Week, which is next week).

In the past, I’ve had conversations (not to mention blog posts) with people that usually go like this:

Me: “The show is freaking awesome!!  I love it!”

Them: “Really?”

Me: “Yes, I like it better than American Idol, it’s that good.”

Them: “No.  Really?”

Me: “Yup.  Check it out.”

So, as a public service to those who are intrigued enough to follow my advice and check it out, and for those that might otherwise be too obstinate, I present my favorite numbers from last season.  Before each video is the performers, the genre, and the song name (if I know it).

Katee & Joshua, Hip Hop, No Air:

Chelsie & Mark, Hip Hop, Bleeding Love:

 Katee & Joshua, Bollywood:

Katee & Joshua, Samba, Baila Baila:

Katee & Twitch, Contemporary:

Kherington & Twitch, Contemporary, Dreaming with a Broken Heart:

Katee & Joshua, Broadway, All for the Best:

Jessica & Will, Contemporary, Alone:

 And one fave from Season 3:

Lacey & Danny, Samba, Hip Hip Chin Chin:

It’s totally OK to admit that I was right.  This stuff is awesome!

Meanwhile, here’s the Season 5 audition of Natalie Reid, who auditioned with Katee (they were roomates) last year, and was the 21st person, the last one cut before the finals.  She’ll be there this year:

Family simchas are wonderful.  When they’re my neice’s Bat Mitzvah, they’re wonderful and they make me feel old.  When, on the drive home, I think about how old I’ll be when my younger daughter is a Bat Mitzvah, I nearly crap my pants and swerve off the road.

So, yeah, my neice had her Bat Mitzvah last night.  It was a wonderful, amazing, beautiful affair, and I really have to give my brother and sister in law credit for throwing a great party.  I very much like that they did a regular, standard affair, with good food, a live band and dancing and speeches, etc, as opposed to some small, just the ladies party at some restaurant with a DJ or something.  Yeah, it probably cost a LOT more, but it was worth it (imho).

I went to a wedding last night, of a school friend of my wife.

Something about weddings is just so nice, so beautiful, no matter who or what, I can’t help but get into it.  Whether it’s the music (soft and beautiful at the chuppah, loud and blasting at the reception) that I love, the general idea of the whole thing (ya know, two people coming together to be one, yadda) or some of the language and words we use in the ceremony, I just really get into weddings.  I love them.

With that, let’s wish a hearty mazel tov to Dan, who will, iy”H, be getting married this weekend.  Unfortunado, I won’t be able to go to the wedding.  As you can tell by how much I love weddings and that this one is my friend, I’m disappointed.   Mazel tov, Dan.