... and then Mia Michaels opens her mouth

So we're finally, finally somewhat unpacked. There are still things in boxes but we're up and running and having dinner at home. And thank goodness for that! If I see another Styrofoam box in the fridge anytime soon I think I might freak.

So since we're basically unpacked and our computers are all connected to the pretty-pretty network again not only can I resume blogging but I can catch up on one of my favorite TV shows!

So You Think You Can Dance started just as we were moving so I've been catching up with it via the loveliness that is the internet. The quality isn't the greatest, but I get to watch it, and that's all that matters!

They went throughout the nation to various cities a la American Idol to find contenders for the show and this year they stopped in Salt Lake City. There was some amazing representation from the great state of Utah and most of those dancers featured in that episode came through to the Top 20: Chelsie Hightower, Matt Dorame, Thayne Jasperson, and Gev Manoukian. And there's even a little representin' for San Jose in the form of Miss Katee Shean! Hollah!

June 11th marked the first show with the Top 20 and I was just able to watch it on Tuesday. There were some very strong performances, but my absolute favorite performances were the Hip Hop routines choreographed by Napoleon and Tabitha. Here's Rayven and Jamie's performance and here's Katee and Joshua's performance. Just amazing!

So last night the Top 18 performed and I have to say I'm kinda disappointed that not a lot of the contestants gave it their all. I really, really wanted to love Thayne and Chelsea's dance, not just like it. Chelsie and Mark were excellent as were Katee and Joshua. The routine that just gave me chills and choked me up a little was Jean Marc Genereux's Viennese Waltz. The whole basis behind this routine is that his daughter has Rett's Syndrome - a neorological disorder rendering her motor skills pretty much useless - and she just lights up when she sees people's movement and dancing .

It's a beautiful number that is beautifully executed, and then....

Mia Michaels, the guest judge this week, opens her big fat mouth and begins to tell Kherington that her smiling throughout the whole routine seemed "glossy." And then she just dumps all over her saying she would have like to see more "realism" in her facial expressions. Nigel jumps in to disagree and smooth over the needlessly harsh words and that just sets her off again. To shut her up Kat Deely asks the dancing couple what Jean Marc said to them about the emotions he wanted expressed in the routine. Kherington got maybe five words out and got choked up and the Twitch had to finish. Jean Marc wanted to emote happiness, exuberance, and joy... so the smiles were just what he ordered. Mary got choked up and teary and if Nigel weren't so British he would have, too.