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Dave: The kit is a whole series of files, *including* some PDFs, so it's zipped so that it contains everything and makes the download time shorter. You absolutely do NOT need WinZIp to open the file. If you're running Windows XP/Vista/7, Microsoft has built-in software to take care of it; simply right-click and say "extract all" to unzip the kit (source: http://bit.ly/pb6lov ). If you're running an older version of Windows (95/98/2000/Me), I recommend an older version of WinRar (also free for trial, download from: http://bit.ly/o4JJF8 ). If you're on a Mac, I believe you'll need Stuffit Expander (daily Mac users can chime in here if I'm wrong). How that helps!
Garcol: My future self came back from the future and gave it to me because he knew I'd need it as a prop. No, seriously, it was achieved through digital photo editing in Photoshop. See my other comment, above, with a link to my blog post where I talk a bit about it.
Matt: Thanks for your interest! I don't have a setup-shot, but the photo was achieved with 2 umbrella lights: off-image left at 1/2 power, and off-image right at 1/4 power. I stood in the middle and triggered them wirelessly with an on-camera sync. If you're interested in the post-processing that went into the image, I have a blog post up about it: www.mattdeturck.com/blog/2010/10/queue-is-for-imageout/
tbelknap: Good idea! There's a pair of 'em on here now, so you can take your pick!
- I understand Paso Doble is supposed to be epic an all' but couldn't they avoid a "choir-of-the-apocalypse" piece for once? (Speaking of versatility, though, same-composer Jim Dooley's score for "Pushing Daisies" is light, fanciful, and really wonderful)
- I actually didn't mind Tyce's Fosse-"esque" routine. I credit this to incredibly low expectations for all things tasty oreo.
- Totally agree with all your comments on the Travis Wall routine, including how much I really enjoyed it.
- I like Melinda, but I think she'll end up in the bottom this week.
Poor Chris. I loved your cute underdog-ness in the beginning. Your win and your being in the top made me proud. Now, as soon as you open your mouth with what your concept is, our entire apartment shouts at the screen "DON'T DO IT CHRIS!!"
Sweet! I can't believe s06 starts so soon -- I feel like 'Masters' just got going, but that's because I keep forgetting that it's just a quick 7(?) episode blip to tide us over.
Pam: I freakin' love Cat. It's nice to see a host who seems to genuinely like and want to be supportive of the contestants, rather than someone winking at the audience with an "Aren't I awesome? Watch meeee!" tone.
Cat said that Sean Kingston is a teenage star? The way he hobbled around the stage, I started to think he was in his 80's! And I don't know who to blame for how small his head looked -- he was a Violet Beauregarde-proportioned hip-hop strawberry. Oh, and the performance was atrocious too.
Otherwise, I totally agree with Kathy -- happy all around, but I personally enjoyed the opening group dance.
Jonathan's a little *too* "cute as a button" for my taste. Probably hampered by the fact that I thought he mugged for the camera several times too often, but it might've just been the angles. Similarly, maybe it was the angles the judges were sitting at, but I was surprised when they crowned Caitlin and Jason's Bollywood routine as perfection -- I thought it was very good, but she was off several times.
I was surprised how much I really enjoyed Randi & Evan's routine, but my favorite of the night was hands down Wade Robson's. I don't think you could get the entire back story of the robots as Wade described in the rehearsal footage, but I feel like he always creates more intricate histories for his dancers' characters which help THEM, but only bits of which come out on stage. With that, he always pays such attention to all the other production values and his music choices are always terribly different from the other choreographers and sick as hell. His "Triplets of Belleville" routine from season 3 with Sarah and Jesus and the newspapers remains my all-time favorite for the show.
I had the exact same thought about the hot dogs. I hope they bring the "against an expert" tast test again, though, as the idea has merit. Maybe it's because it's only the second episode, but the food doesn't yet seem as inspired as last season's was. Blame it on the challenges, or the contestants?
Peking: I much prefer your symbolic suggestions, but unfortunately the simple truth is that the washer & dryer was broken in my TARDIS.