Reality Show Rundown

So You Think You Can Dance

I have to say it again, because I think it bears repeating, but I find this season of SYTYCD just so so disappointing compared to previous seasons. And the penultimate performance episode did nothing to change my mind. In fact I can't even pick out an outstanding or memorable performance. Actually that's not completely true. I very much enjoyed the all-boy and all-girl routines. The boys did a funky Sonya Tayeh number that reminded of me Willy Wonka's Oompa Loompas while the girls were superheroes. Guest judge Lil C as always said a lot without saying anything worthwhile.

During the results episode, the top six danced a Tyce Diorio number dressed as clowns. I thought it was beautifully executed. Soon enough Jeanine and Brandon were the first two to be sent to the finale with the latter giving me a headache. Before we found out who left, we were treated to the Emmy-nominated performances from last year. My favorite performance of last year was one of them which was TabNap's "Bleeding Love" routine danced by Mark and Chelsie. In any case, it was Melissa and Ade who got sent home. They were my favorite couple all season, so suffice it to say a disappointing season became even more disappointing. Next week, the finale. Can we just skip it and move forward with the fall season?

Next Food Network Star

This is it, the finale! We find out whether Melissa or Jeff is the next Food Network star. Now I know it's the finale and everything so a season recap and then a getting to know your finalist segment is par for the course, but I just wanted them to start working on their pilots. With the help of Alton Brown, they honed in their show. From the get go, Melissa's "Kitchen Survival Guide" appealed to me more than Jeffrey's "Ingredient Smuggler" which just had a very good concept but had a lame name.

When they were reunited with the judges and their fellow contestants, they both seemed nervous, but excited as they should be. Bobby Flay acted as the emcee as he showed them yet more highlights from the past season culminating to both Melissa's and Jeff's pilot. Both did very well though a bit fast and intense. Still cooking something and teaching people how to do it in five minutes is a lot to ask so I give them props. I appreciated Jeff's concept more, but I correctly predicted that the judges would pick the more marketable Melissa. She is set to debut her new show in only a week's time! But don't say goodbye to Jeffrey since I'm sure the Food Network will snatch him right up.

Design Star

It's the White Room Challenge! It's my favorite challenge on this show since it's an individual challenge and it's always so great to see how designers express themselves using whatever limitations the show put on them. This year the contestants were only allowed to used things from the grocery story with the budget of $1000 (including two paint cans of color). There were three people I kept my eye on. Two because I've been loving their work since day one and the other one because I thought she should've been eliminated from the get go.

The two designers I've loved since the beginning are Nathan Galui and Dan Vickery and they did not disappoint in this episode. In fact both were hailed by the judges as one of the best white rooms. Nathan used black paint and milk/white primer for a bold and sleek look and I want to BUY his white couch full of personal notes. Judge Verne Yip thought Dan had the "single, most well-executed, most well-thought out response" to this challenge with his inspired and beautiful deconstruction of an orchard. The one I wished would leave is Tashica Morgan. She probably should've left in the first episode, DEFINITELY should've left last episode, and certainly deserved to go this week for her unoriginal and bland design. Instead the judges decided to get rid of color expert Jen Guerin because they found her design/color choices too confusing. Alas we're stuck with Tashica at least one more week. Damnit.

CLICK HERE to view the rest of the white rooms.

Reality Show Rundown

So You Think You Can Dance

Last week the show celebrated its 100th episode, so you just knew they were going to be pulling out all of the stops. For it's 99th episode, they invited Ellen DeGeneres to guest judge and while she didn't really provide constructive cristicism, she brought out the funny. Some of her comments brought me to tears. In the other end of the spectrum, Melissa and Ade brought me to tears by performing a heartbreaking and beautiful dance choreographed by Tyce Diorio showcasing the pains of breast cancer. Every judge were in tears and I bet the millions who saw the episode were as well. My least favorite performance was the waltz by Brandon and Jeanine. It was labored and just not as smooth as it should've been. The results episode, also the 100th episode, saw the performance of Emmy-winning routines like the "Hummingbird and the Butterfly," "The Bench Routine," and "Ramalama Bang Bang" as well as the reapperance of few key SYTYCD alums such as Benji, Travis, Donyelle, Pasha, and so many more. The episode also contained a special performance by Katie Holmes to promote the Dizzy Feet Foundation. In the end, judge favorites Brandon and Janette ended up in the bottom as well as Kayla and Jason. Jason went home for the guys, but, in somewhat of a shocker, it was Janette who had the least amount of votes for the girls.

Next Food Network Star

It was down to three contestants: Debbie, Jeffrey, and Melissa. They only had one challenge this week, given to them by Emeril Lagasse, and that was to cook a 3-course meal for a group of very impressive panel including the judges. They only had $1000 to buy their ingredients with Jeffrey only spending a third of his budget. In addition to this, they had to take inspiration from the legendary Julia Child's "no fear" attitude as they prepare their courses. They even got to see the new movie Julie & Julia starring Meryl Streep and Amy Adams. Stay-at-home mom Melissa became the first of the two finalist to go through as she astounded the judges with her course. Debbie and Jeffrey weren't so lucky. The judges liked Debbie's "Seoul to Soul" concept, but they never really thought she executed it to its full potential. And while Jeffrey has had some really high marks, he has achieved some very low marks as well this week coming from his much-panned risotto. In the end they went with Jeffrey to go head-to-head with Melissa. I would've done the opposite, but in either case I still would've predicted Melissa to win it all.

Design Star

The remaining ten contestants were divided equally into two groups. My favorite designer, Nathan Galui, was one of the team leaders along with Amy Sklar. Both teams were tasked with remodeling a kitchen in just 26 hours and with a $20,000 budget. As with previous seasons, the biggest hitch with the kitchen challenge is most team never finish on time so right away both teams tried to focus on finishing on time. With the kitchen being such a construction-heavy room, expert builders Antonio Ballatore and Dan Vickery took the default leadership roles and both were praised by the judges in the end. Nathan's inexperienced were balanced with some winning moves from his team as they DID finish on time and delivered a beautiful kitchen. Amy's team, however, suffered a major lack in leadership as Amy cracked under the pressue as well as being seriously pulled down by the incompetence of Tashica Morgan who seemed to fail at everything she did. Shockingly it was Amy who the judges got rid of over Tashica. I thought this was absolutely the wrong choice.

Reality Show Rundown

So You Think You Can Dance

This week the top ten were paired up with different partners. For the most part some partnerships worked. My favorite couple and performance was Jeanine and Jason performing choreography by former SYTYCD finalist Travis Wall. It was breathtakingly beautiful and really showcased both of their skills. The judges (and the audience) loved it as well. My least favorite performance came from Randi and Kupono. I've always loved Randi and I've only recently started semi-rooting for Kupono. So it was a bit dissapointing that their Paso Doble lacked the passion and strength that the style commanded. It was then not a surprise to see them both eliminated the next night. At this point my favorites are still hanging in there, but I fear that the powerhouse that is Brandon and Janette will bulldoze everyone to their way to the top 4. And while I admit they are both great dancers, I've never been a fan of either for one reason or another and they are definitely the frontrunners. Next week, an eventful week to celebrate the 100th episode!

Next Food Network Star

It's getting to the end and the top four contestants really had to keep their composure this week as they were thrown obstacles and surprises left and right. First they had to do a live demo with an obnoxious co-host and a less-than-optimal kitchen environment. Then they had to prepare a seafood recipe with ingredients they were not comfortable with. Debbie won the first round brushing it all off while maintaining her bubbly personality while the others were less successful in varying degrees. In the second round, they all did well enough, but Jamika suffered another crisis in confidence. With the end being so close, that was just enough for the judges to say goodbye to her. Next week Deb, Jeffrey, and Melissa have one last chance to convince the judges to pick them to be the next Food Network star.

Design Star

The season premiere of HGTV's Design Star happened tonight and I'm already excited for the season to come. There are already definite personalities, and clashing ones at that, that will provide the needed entertainment and drama. Plus the addition of Candice Olson and Genevieve Gorder to the judge panel is just wonderful as I really enjoy both of their design sensibilities. Similar to past season, their first challenge was to design the house they were going to live in with the eleven contestants given $50,000 and five rooms to divide amongst themselves. Right off the bat, two designers impressed me with their boldness and design intelligence. Nathan Galui and Dan Vickery did the dining room and the judges, like me, were definitely wowed. The other designers didn't really make much of an impact on me yet. Though NataLee Callahan was evicted for breaking down mid-challenge due to her and her partner's overly ambitious, but poorly executed design. Next week, divided into two teams and a kitchen remodel!