So You Think You Can Dance introduced us to the Top 10 this week and there was some hardcore dancing, some hardcore personalities, some hardcore dissing, and some hardcore overdoing of John Mayer.

Quickly because I leave for the airport in 6 hours and have to sleep at some point… I love having Mia back as a Judge! An Emmy nominated Judge at that! I was psyched to see Wade get his shot at choreographing this new twist in the show. All of the solo’s will be the exact same routine which gives us a chance to critique each dancers take on the choreography. I was psyched to see me some Neil in some tight polyester and I was psyched to just have the show on!

Lacey is one hot sexy ass lady. Her Mormon relatives must flip their lids to see her sex it up as she does. WOW can the girl command a stage. Working it out from front to back, there was nothing wrong with her performance. Flawless. Danny’s as well. She ate him alive, but the boy can move.

Neil and Sara were electric, energetic, and quite the disco duo! Those pants did not disappoint, I love Neil even more now! Hot Tamales!

Sabra and Kameron were good I thought. She was absolutely stunning to watch and he was better than he has been for weeks. I get that he’s still lacking something but you’ve got to hand it to the kid for trying! I still miss Sabra and Dominic together though, don’t you?

Dominic and Jaimie’s Viennese Waltz was soooo not what I expected. It was not the Viennese Waltz we’ve come to know and love. She is always stunning with her lines and all but this was hands down Dom’s worst week. Like Mia said, 1 bad week… not too shabby!

Lauren and Pasha were really good tonight, I hate to admit it. The whole transformers opening and close were incredible to watch and sooooo perfectly in sync. I still don’t like her though. She annoys me.

Remember how I said I was excited for Wade’s choreography? Yeah, it wasn’t his best and to then see it 10 times was a little, how do I say this… TOO FRAKKIN’ MUCH! If I had to hear John Mayer say he was waiting for that world to change one more time, I was going to turn on every light in the house, run every air conditioner and start dumping oil into the Boston Harbor. That world needed to END!

In theory it was a good try. I did like watching how each one was different. Of the girls, I thought Sara, Sabra, and Lacey were the best. Of the boys, Neil, Pasha, and Danny.

So who goes home and who stays? Ideally I want Lauren gone. I worry about Jaimie because her solo was weak and then getting stuck with Dom was not good for her this week. Over on the guys side, it’s gotta be Kameron right? Poor Kam Kam!

Oh and how funny that once again Cousin Heidi got NO LOVE AT ALL? Dmitry’s up there shaking his thang and there’s poor Cousin Heidi screaming LOOK AT ME, LOOK AT ME, I’M ON TV AGAIN! Tragic.

Raise your hand if you wanted to KNOCK ON NEIL’S WOOD?

SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE Top 14 Perform

First of all let me start by saying I was so happy to see Cat Deeley and the Top 14 kids back in action after that mini-holiday hiatus they took last week. It was like seeing an old friend again, putting on those comfy pajamas, or biting into a bing cherry for the first time all year. You know, things you love and are happy when they come back and they just make you giddy like a school girl…

Before I get into the show at all I want to say that I want to hug, squeeze, kiss, high five, dap, and maybe give a happy ending to Hairspray The Musical Director/Choreographer/This Week’s Guest Judge ADAM SHANKMAN for finally having the balls to say that Danny Tidwell acts like he’s way above this competition! In fact I think the words were, “you dance like you’ve already won this competition.” There was some calling out of sticks being up asses and cockiness and my paragraph has just gone to a whole new level of innuendo but seriously, I WAS SO HAPPY TO SEE SHANKMAN CALL HIM OUT! Amen brother man! Needed to be done but we’ll talk more about it later.

On to the show…
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I was at GMMR’s all night watching the show and podcasting then podcasting again because we had a pretty major technical difficulty and I didn’t get home until well into the hours of Thursday.

That being said, I have watched last night’s SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE and will be working on a recap as best I can throughout the morning. Stay Tuned…

Did anyone watch Hidden Palms? I can’t believe its over already. I knew going into the show that there were only a handful of episodes but 8 is just ridiculous. If 8’s ridiculous, how about 4 because that’s as far as I made it before the summer shows collapsed on me and I was overwhelmed by my television options.

By now you’ve figured out that I didn’t watch the finale last night (The CW was really behind the show, you can tell by the choice to schedule the finale on the 4th of July when so many people are parked in front of a tv set).

I will however point you in the direction of a great HIDDEN PALMS FINALE RECAP at BuddyTV.

After reading that, I don’t mind that I missed the last 4 episodes. I hope that some of the actors on the show move on to bigger and better projects. I thought that Amber Heard was luminous in most of her scenes and feel she could move up in the acting world. I also liked the creepy next door neighbor girl Ellary Porterfield. I still refuse to believe that Cliff wasn’t gay gay gay though. All I’m sayin’.

Last night was horror film night over ON THE LOT and once again when the show was over I was enraged at how retarded it is. OTL (not to be confused with OLTL) managed to live up to its theme though this week, I was horrified that I’m still watching.

Eli Roth who I have to admit I have a little hard on for was the guest judge and instead of being an enthusiastic mentor to these filmmakers only a few years younger than he, basically he was a total douche. While I love Eli Roth’s mission and his films (Cabin Fever actually gets better with more viewings and Hostel/Hostel 2 are deliciously fun) I would hardly say he’s the second coming of Horror Christ (that title goes to Rob Zombie). Eli Roth is good at what he does but they are incredibly flawed films with flimsy plotlines. His films are gore and fun not horror, period.

So to see him rip apart the only good horror type films of the night was sad to me. While none of these films really scared me, there were some that had incredibly good horror elements and two that stood out above the rest by combining horror and comedy.

The best films of the night belong to Sam Friedlander and Andrew Hunt.

Sam Friedlander’s Anklebiters was pretty funny, scary, and gory! There was a line delivered by the Mother as she was walking out of the bedroom that was simply perfection and I don’t know if Sam even knows it slays! “Start tomorrow off on the right foot!” Genius because we know any second this kids right ankle is going to be chewed off by some fang toothed rat looking thing. Good puppetry, great screaming by the kid, and I thought the tag was good.

Andrew Hunt’s Midnight Snack was a whimsical tale of monsters lurking in your closet and the reveal that you know they’re there. Some perfect shots in this piece. The placement of the ghouls, superb and the final reveal pretty funny! I love the nod to numerous Japanese horror films as well. Andrew Hunt in my opinion NAILED it last night!

In third place is hillbilly Jason Epperson’s Eternal Waters. It had some great shots, the pacing was good, and it was very J-Horror in its spirit coming back to help the living element. Japanese horror is always centered on the elements and righting a wrong. They’re very spiritual and earthy and I thought Jason Epperson did a great job capturing that feel. Too bad his films always have a religious or very pointed message. Contrary to what Eli Roth said, I thought the Mother was fine and while she was dressed too young I can see him doing it for the votes. If we’re gonna criticize the woman, it should be for not being pretty enough to wear that outfit. I kid. Is it wrong that all I could think while watching was, “Why is she so upset? They’re twins, she still has another kid?” Yes, I know… the twins were the actors, not the characters and YES I’M JOKING!

Fourth last night would be Shira-Lee’s not so scary ghost/haunted house story Open House. The best part of the whole film was the actress with the lisp that I always think is S. Epatha Merkerson but its not. Her part was haunting and touching but the rest of the film was cliched and I hated the tag.

Kenny Luby’s urban cannibal tale of internet myths, The Malibu Myth was bad. BAD BAD BAD.

Last was Mateen Kemet’s “real life horror” tale of racial profiling and the nightmare of DWB in America. While I applaud his attempt, I just wish he would step out of his socially conscious box and create a film the pushes his abilities. Regardless, it didn’t work at all.

Watch Sam Frieldlander’s Ankelbiters
Watch Andrew Hunt’s Midnight Snack
Watch Jason Epperson’s Eternal Waters
Watch Shira-Lee’s Open House
Watch Kenny Luby’s The Malibu Myth
Watch Mateen Kemet’s Profile

If you’re wondering who went home from last week’s mess of films, it was David May.

Jesus H FOX, what the hell are you doing to my poor Nathan Fillion? Just when I was getting all geared up to see two more unaired episodes of the already canceled DRIVE, you go and pull it (again) from the lineup.

Fox was supposed to air two episodes of DRIVE on the 4th of July. Sounded good to me as its supposed to be a washout here in Boston for the 4th. I can think of less exciting ways of spending a night than with Nathan Fillion, his arms, and those pretty teeth of his.

Now, Fox is saying that they will air Drive on Friday, July 13th. Can we hope for them to burn off the remaining episodes in the weeks thereafter? Fingers crossed!

So You Think You Can… Predict who’s going home on this show each week? Hardly. Last night’s SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE results show was yet another shocker of a night for the dancers and for the audience. The contestant that just won’t go away is still kicking around and Mary Murphy’s jovial screams were probably sent into a pillow last night instead of into the audience.

As you’ve probably guessed by now, Cedric Gardner did not go home after the insistence from Mary Murphy and Nigel that he must. I knew this would happen. I knew that the way Mary and Nigel treated Cedric on Wednesday night would cause more people to vote for him out of sympathy and not. Oh you could just see Mary seething sitting there on her stoop. Suck on that Mary Murphy! Cedric Gardner is still on the Hot Tamale Train and he ain’t getting off anytime soon. Shauna girl, you deserved to stay as well, you worked that Mia routine like noone’s business.

Jessi was there in attendance and she looked great during both the opening number and when they allowed her to dance the routine she should have danced the night before with Pasha. Let me tell you, girl wiggled and writhed like a horny latin stripper! The routine had a different feel but hands down it was wonderful to watch. Regardless, she’s dancing for her life.

So who went home already, geesh…

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So You Think You Can Dance Week 3 started off with one hell of a bang! Not only did we get the best guest judge the shows ever had, we quite possibly got the best guest on any reality show, period! A dancer has an irregular heart and was replaced by an insane person. Nigel rips a dancer a new one and asks Cat to sit on his face. All this and more coming up on So You Think You Can Dance.

The Top 16 performed last night and the two hours hurled by like a whirlwind and I’m still left numb from all the awesomeness.

Guest Judge Debbie Allen (girl, you know I love me some FAME and beside all the gifts you brought to the show last night you also reminded these kids that Fame does cost and that up there on that stage is where they start payin’… in SWEAT!) is the shit! Never has there been nor will there ever be a Judge on SYTYCD like Ms. Debbie Allen.

She’s funny, professional, emotional, fierce, uplifting, generous, articulate, and honestly could there be someone who knows more about dance? Doubtful. The woman worked it out and the only thing missing from her performance was a guest spot from Felicia Rishad and some lip syncin’ Huxtables.

Before the dancing began, Mary told us that her favorite dancer is Dominic (and seriously he’s slowly becoming mine as well) and she gushed so much about him that I swear she’s got a blue dress and a beret somewhere in her closet. Nigel said he was very pleased with the show up to this point and loves the online chatter, even the person that called him “The ugly old guy with the dentures and the cat on his head.” when trying to correct the person he basically sexually harassed Cat. “And you’ve not been on my head Cat…” Oh no he didn’t!!!

On with the show!

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It’s summer and it’s hot outside and on TV! Podcast #10: Ducky and GMMR Sun Themselves

TV Podcast 10: Ducky and GMMR strap on their tankinis, floaties, and hit the pool to tackle the chaos of the summer television schedule in the sweltering heat.

Shows we’re watching: Age of Love, Top Chef, The Next Food Network Star, Kathy Griffin’s D-List, The Closer, Rescue Me, Traveler and obviously So You Think You Can Dance.

Shows we’re looking forward to: The return of Big Brother 8 and the premiere of Burn Notice.

Then we hit the news and crazy ass Isaiah Washington, Heroes casting, the return of Sark, Nip/Tuck, 24’s Female President, and we give big bear hugs to Kelly Clarkson. Oh yeah, and we talk The Office cast on the big screen.

We’ll cover a ton of shows so thanks for coming back and listening to the joint TV Podcast between www.givememyremote.com and www.duckyxdale.com

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Interested in catching up on our past podcasts? Head on over to the podcast page where you can listen to all of our previous episodes.

Have a question for Ducky and GMMR? There are a couple ways to contact us:

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This is Dan and Kathie’s favorite method of contact because it allows us to hear from you and we use these messages live on our podcast to answer your burning television questions. It’s FREE and you don’t have to do anything but click RECORD BY PHONE on the box below and it will walk you through how to contact us!

It’s super easy and free to leave us a message:

Step 1: Click on “Record by Phone”

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This is a great way to spread the word about our podcast and it really helps new listeners determine if they want to subscribe to us or not based on YOUR COMMENTS. Subscribing to the joint podcast between duckyxdale.com and givememyremote.com is the best way to listen to us.Please comment on duckyxdale and givememyremote’s TV Podcast at iTunes.

Every Tuesday morning I wish I spent the night before in Los Angeles if only so I could have seen the taping of this week’s SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE. We’re entering Week 3 and I’m getting more excited as the time passes.

Last week we lost Jimmy and Faina, the week before Ricky and Ashlee and according to online sentiment this week we should be losing Cedric and Shauna (though Jessi is earning bad marks all around).

After reviewing the dances that will be performed on tomorrow night’s show I have to say I’m a little worried. Not to mention, people who attended the taping last night said it was a mess of a taping. Some girl fainted, they had to re-record a good amount, and the audience was out of control. To me, that sounds like money!

The dances and choreographers are revealed after the jump.
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So You Think You Can Dance Week 2 was a hard one because each contestant was really great and tonight, I knew it was going to be a really rough elimination. I however wasn’t expecting the shock of LACEY and KAMERON going home!

I kid…

Though sadly some peeps would love to see that happen. How dare you!

Let’s get right to it. The Bottom 3 Girls were Jessi Peralta (wha wha what?), Shauna Noland, and Faina Savitch. I expected Shauna and Faina to be in the bottom three but really with Jessi? Mary wasn’t having it and again I was worrying we were going to have a Ricky moment from last week.

The Bottom 3 Guys were Pasha, Jimmy Arguello, and Cedric Gardner. Again, Jimmy and Cedric were expected but there was no way Pasha deserved the bottom 3.

Tonight we did lose two dancers that were not partnered and in doing so we’ve created our first Season 3 Frankendancers….

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Wednesday is a good night. So You Think You Can Dance really makes me a happy camper and the show tonight started off with some incredible routines and some hot ass chemistry!

My BF Neil Haskell (yes, after tonight it is official) and Lauren Gottlieb danced to a Hip Hop routine by Choreographer Dave Scott. We got to learn a little more about both contestants (all the contestants really) which is great because it helped me fall more deeply into TV crush mode with Neil. We’ve got a special thing, me and Neil and his calves… Those calves are like two softballs in white socks (wait, what?) and I just want them wrapped around his ears me.

I loved that Neil came out during the opening of the show and did the trademark Travis Wall spins, that helped endear him to me, can’t lie. The choreography was insane for this routine and it really played to Neil’s height and lankyness. I absoloved the ass smak, the dive roll, and the kick Lauren gave Neil! Amazing! Such a great way to start the night.

Mia said Neil rocked her world. Get in line bitch!
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It’s Wednesday and that means tonight is all about SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE over on Fox. While some of you might think that the dance show is live, it’s not. It’s recorded Monday nights, aired on Wednesday and then they go live on Thursday.

Before I get to the spoiler of what couples danced which routines, I wanted to bring you this treat. Please let this be the group number this week. Here’s an amazing video of Gwen Verdon doing some 60’s Bob Fosse (thanks to pheoboy for the video):

Here are the couples and their routines for Wednesday, June 20th:
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If you go back and look at my ON THE LOT posts from the beginning, I was so excited for this show and was a huge supporter but I think I may have to start eating crow. Fox has completely lost control of this filmmaking reality competition and sent it spiraling into an unknown orbit even E.T. couldn’t phone home from.

The original format of the show was two episodes per week; the first they showed all the films from all the directors and then the second night we learned who had the lowest number of votes from the viewing public and that person was sent home. It was intended to be a film a week kind of competition where pressure and structure limitations forced the best directors to rise to the top.

Fox was spooked by the ratings and reduced the show to one night a week only days before their next live episode. This left the format of the show in limbo but I assumed it would all be explained during the first live broadcast. Three weeks later I still have no clue what reality show model they’re working from, what the format is, how its all decided, or what will happen to the overall purpose of On The Lot.

In the last 3 weeks we’ve seen 15 films, 5 at a time. That means they’ve not made films for the last 3 weeks. How boring could that be for each contestant. They’re just waiting and waiting to be picked off one by one for films they made and are ready to move on from? This so isn’t what the contestants signed on for and its really not what I signed on for as a film lover, former film student, and tv junkie.

That being said, I still love watching the short films each contestant makes. None of them are golden, none of them are perfect but many of them show incredibly talent and promise.

Tonight the lovable Will Bigham, the country boy Jason Epperson, the activist Mateen Kemet, the FX guru Zach Lipovsky, and the cutie Jess Brillhart showed their films.

My favorites were Will’s film “Glass Eye” and Zach’s cute fairy tale “Sunshine Girl.” Both have distinct visual styles and told simple stories yet they couldn’t have been more different from the other. “Glass Eye” was very quirky and dark and funny while “Sunshine Girl” took a childhood fear of darkness, found a whimsical solution but in doing so caused mass hysteria in the world.

Hands down the worst films were Jason’s preachy anti-drug anti-violence gang melodrama “Blood Born” and poor delusional Jess‘ supposed horror tale “The Orchard.” Jess’ film had such promise because she described it as a horror film from a tree’s perspective. I initially expected to witness a murder or something from the trees point of view but when I saw that a farmer was cutting down a tree I wanted to see the tree either fight back or see the pain and horror of watching a tree see another tree be mutilated but she delivered neither. It really sucked.

To add to her misery of having a crap film, she had to deal with this genius quote from Carrie Fisher who usually reserves her sharp tongue.

Jessica, that was my least favorite thing next to adolescence and being left by a man for a man. The only thing really scary about it for me was that it could have gone on longer.

Yes she did!

Next week 12 contestants move on but only 6 will show their films from the Comedy genre. The following week the remaining 6 contestants tackle Horror. It’s both comedic and horrifying the direction this show has taken so really its all kind of apropos.

Oh yeah, within the first two minutes filmmaker Marty Martin was sent home with zero fanfare at all.

So You Think You Can Dance groups numbers are either incredible or incredibly bad. Last night we were given yet another incredible treat from choreographer Wade Robson. Seriously, can I just have his babies already? Wait, that’s not possible and I so don’t want kids but you get the idea here.

Wade Robson’s So You Think You Can Dance Group Dance Video

The girls were like Laugh-In dancers meet Oompa Loompas and the men were just sleek and sexy hot! Everyone was on point, in sync, and representin’! Great way to open the show.