During the Las Vegas episode last week, Nigel told the 200-plus dancers that had made it through the first round that if they weren't stars, they needed to get off the stage. So it's ironic that when this season's Top 20 took the stage for the first time last night, there was nary a star among the bunch.

Please understand, there are many fine dancers in this year's crop. But personality wise? There's no Benji, no Travis, no Lacey, no Pasha, no Dmitri, no Sabra, no Neil. Hell, there's not even a Dominic or a Danny. I get that it was their first time out, and many of them were likely suffering through pants-crapping bouts of fear. But very few of these dancers, if any, exhibited any real star quality. It's the lamest bunch we've had in the show's history.

The first couple of the evening, swing dancer Jamie and ballet dancer Rayven (and I will say, it's nice to see a ballerina on the show), were thrown a funky hip-hop number that they basically muddled through. It wasn't terrible, but it certainly wasn't strong, and they're going to have to work on hitting it harder if they make it past this week. Both are also desperately in need of a makeover.

Second couple Susie (the uber trashy salsa dancer/high school teacher from Miami) and Marquis (who I guess is a contemporary dancer) were surprisingly graceful during their waltz, but absolutely botched the number's big lift. Like, obviously fucked that shit up. I feel bad, because this is clearly one of the couples the judges intended as chaff, and since they were hobbled by ballroom the first week, there's almost zero chance that they won't be in the Bottom 3 (and I suspect Marquis at least will go home).

Kourtni and Matt were next, and quickly deemed The Dancing Giants due to their towering heights. Kourtni is one to watch, I think - I liked her in her initial audition, and she was sexy as hell in her 80's Mugler leather-bitch ensemble in this number - but Matt, to me, was barely present. She's magnetic, he's dullsville. A capable dancer, but no charisma. It was a fun Mandy Moore jazz number, and I want more from her this year.

Chelsea and Thayne are probably the gayest couple this show has ever seen. Thayne is just flaming, y'all, and needs to dial it down a couple notches, because his intense energy is making me feel bombarded. Chelsea is dragalicious, but I love it - she's got a body that won't quit, and it was ably showcased last night with a barely there purple feathery number. Chelsea was fantastic, writhing and kicking and shaking all over the floor. Thayne was passable, with a couple fun moments, although his constant, manic smile started to creep me out. But they didn't work well together at all. (Thayne at least demonstrated no connection to her.) That said, I think they'll improve, and could be very good.

Other Chelsie (the ballroom one; there are two Courtnies and two Chelseas this year - stop the madness, mothers of America) and contemporary dancer Mark pulled a Mia Michaels number, and Mia was not having Mark in rehearsals at all. I'm kind of surprised Mark's here; he's a very odd dancer, and I believe he's the one in Vegas whose solo consisted of removing his shirt and standing there. I don't think he'll sit well with America. But Chelsie is amazing and worked her ass off last night, in a number Mia described as "Tim Burton's wedding." It wasn't quite that creepy, but included a couple cool moves that Chelsie ultimately carried. I'd like to see her with another partner.

The awesomely named Kherington and the dangerously over-praised Twitch got stuck with a Tyce Diorio Broadway number, and I feel for them. Diorio is a hack, and while he occasionally comes up with a decent, interesting number, I'm much more frequently bored with his choreography - I said last night that I'd seen more inventive numbers on local theater stages. Kherington threw herself (and her be-feathered butt; bad costume choice) into the piece, but Twitch just seemed to be along for the ride. I do not get the Twitch love. He's a fine dancer and seemingly a nice guy, but we've had much better hip-hoppers on this show before, possibly even this season.

The also awesomely named Comfort (female hip-hopper) and bland Chris (who really must hit the gym: twig arms) danced a jive, and Comfort emerged as the most charming, engaging dancer of the bunch by throwing herself into the number completely. She wasn't great technically, but she made up for it in moxie. Chris danced strongly, but he is an awkward thing, let me tell you. Go Comfort!

The surprise of the night was the pairing of contemporary dancer Katee (one half of the most boring best friends in the world) and beefy Joshua (hip-hopper with contemporary training) in a hip-hop number inspired by the Iraq war. Cringe inducing, right? Wrong. New choreographers Napoleon and Tabitha (who also did the first number of the night) created a fantastic routine, and Katee and Joshua executed it perfectly, with emotion, strong popping, and some really amazing tricks thrown in (at one point, Joshua lifted himself off the floor to a full stand using one knee). Best of the night, and soft-spoken Joshua is a major threat.

Forgettable Jessica (contemporary) and William (also contemporary) wallowed through a dirge-ish tango. Terrible costuming (ascot! Bodice that made Jessica look 20 pounds heavier!) and repetitive, obnoxious music plus dispassionate, but technically proficient, dancing made for one of the most boring routines of the night. I hope they're in the bottom, if only so that William can go home and I can have my Debbie Allen back. (As revealed in Vegas, Debbie is William's mentor, and can't judge as long as he's there.)

The night wrapped with a disco featuring button-cute Courtney (contemporary) and hip-hopper Gev. Gev is so totally out of his league, y'all, and Courtney deserves a much better partner. For disco it lacked energy, and Gev seemed more preoccupied with keeping up than with showing any kind of charm. They were savaged by the judges, and kind of rightly so. They could be in trouble tonight too.

All in all, a fairly uninspiring group. By the time we get to the Top 10 or so I suspect we'll have a decent mix, but as of right now, it's the least exciting crop of dancers we've had...ever. Tonight I hope that Susie and Marquis go home, but I suspect that Gev, Courtney, Jamie, and Rayven will probably be joining them in the bottom.