So amidst all my bitching about the auditions dragging on and on, I managed to miss an episode Tuesday night. Oops! Just so no one feels cheated, I'll be recapping both episodes in one blog. Try to contain your excitement though, because there's a "So You Think You Can Dance" newsbreak first: Adam Shankman will be joining Nigel and Mary as a permanent judge on the panel. Whether this means there will still be guest judges is unclear.

OK, onto auditions! Last night's show took us to the Atlanta. Permanent judges Nigel Lythgoe and Mary Murphy were joined by ... NO! Say it ain't so! Lil C is back this season. Damn! I thought for sure we were finally rid of that fool.

-Billy Bell, a doe-eyed 19-year-old, kicked off the Atlanta auditions with a routine reminiscent of "Billy Elliot." (I smell a nickname coming on!) His extension and lines were absolutely fantastic, but the routine lacked fluidity overall. Still, a solid audition. The judges nit-picked (his hands were a little awkward, his center was off a bit), but sent him straight to Vegas anyways.

-Travis Danison did a stiff "hip-hop" routine, and yet I couldn't stop watching him. Probably because he closely resembled Adam Shankman. In looks, in dance style, in facial expression. It was uncanny. He was cut anyways.

-Anthony and Antwain Hart were back again this year with their tag-team hip-hop and it was better than ever. Tight, in sync, entertaining, and loaded with fun tricks. Last year these guys made it through to choreography (and I think Vegas). The judges sent them through to choreography, which Anthony struggled with. Only Antwain ended up making it to Vegas.

-I initially wrote Matthew "Boogie Links" Pollard as a joke audition -- he spent most of his pre-audition time chatting up the ladies -- but he was actually halfway decent. He did some serious contortionism hip-hop, but nothing spectacular. The judges decided to let him have a go at choreography, which he struggled with, but ultimately sent him packing.

-Jessica Jenson, had a soft-tissue sarcoma in her hand and had to have it removed, but doesn't let that affect her attitude. The bubbly, upbeat dancer said she's proud to be the "one handed lady." She danced to Imogen Heap and just nailed it. She used her limbs in the most graceful fashion, like a swan craning it's neck almost, and really understood how to choreograph to the music. She struggled with the choreography round.

-Thomas Hamilton not only brought the talent, but also brought a very tragic story with him. Thomas is a crack baby, raised by his aunt because his mother was and still is a drug addict. His audition was one of the best we've seen so far this season. Fantastic lines and technique. The judges picked on him for paying more attention to God than the audience at times. And yet they made him do the choreography, which he nailed. Nigel picked on him for not having expression in his face (they were incredibly mean this episode), but gave him his ticket to Vegas anyways.

The second episode took us to the Big Easy for the first time. Nigel wasn't around for this part of the audition tour (he was back in merry ol' England picking up an honorary degree), so Mary Murphy was joined by Adam Shankman (yay!) and Lil C (boo!).

-First up was Shelby "Skip" Skipper, who performed the New Orleans Bounce, a style of hip-hop that includes a lot of leg wagging and shoulder shaking. I'm not sure what to make of it -- I've never seen anything like it before. Mary and Adam both loved it and Lil C called it "buck." Ugh. I would have liked to see him try choreography, but the judges sent him straight to Vegas. Ooookay. I guess if he isn't all that good, he'll get eliminated there instead.

-Jonathan Litzler, an adorable sandy-haired dancer, just soared during his audition. The height on his leaps and flips was just crazy, and he seemed to just stay suspended in the air forever, which is a testament to his strong control. On top of that, he's a tumbler and did a series of flips that the judges (and me) loved. This guy is one to watch, I think. Straight through to Vegas.

-We only saw a few seconds of Calvin Turner, Jr.'s contemporary dance, but it left me wanting to see more. Great musicality, incredible lines, and fabulous control. They sent him straight through to Vegas.

-Funny man Eric Le Blanc decided the best way to warm up for his audition was to down six energy drinks, scream at fellow contestants, jump around and do monkey noises. Wow, just wow. His personality outshined his actual dance ability, but his solo was certainly fun to watch. He did the funniest dead fish flop I've ever seen. After a thoroughly entertaining scream fest with Mary, they decided to let him do the choreography. Really? "It seems without Nigel here, the judges have gone crazy," Cat said. My thoughts exactly, but he was eventually cut.

-B-boy Justin Kenney brought some crazy moves to his audition, but initially lacked control. His flares were great, but a lot of times it felt like he was about to fall over or didn't mean to do the move the way he did it. The judges gave him very high praise, but asked him to do the choreography. He really struggled with the ballroom routine, but the judges took a huge, HUGE risk on him and sent him to Vegas. Cat was right, chaos reigns supreme when Nigel's not around to keep Mary & Lil C in check.

-Kimalee Piedad auditioned with her partner (whose name I missed) with a slow theater arts dance that was reminiscent of Cirque du Solei. She did one lift where she bent her body into a semi-circle over her partner's head. Hard to describe, but I think my roommate's reaction ("Boy, she's bendy!") sums it up nicely. Straight to Vegas.

-Jakob Karr gave one of the best solos we've seen yet. He was more flexible than most of the girls we see on this show (which is saying something!), had a great center and control of his pirouettes, and seemed to get six feet off the floor with his leaps. The judges loved it and sent him straight to Vegas.

Only a few more shows 'til the Top 20 are revealed (one more round of auditions, plus Vegas week). Can't wait til we get to Sin City if for no other reason then to see tappers Ryan and Bianca and a few of my other favorites again. Who else is ready for them to name the Top 20?