Full disclosure: I skipped 80 percent of the audition episodes this season. I think it was a combination of burnout from S5 having just wrapped, and having too much other stuff to watch (it's on versus "Top Model"; that's like the ultimate Sophie's choice for me). Anyway, I did catch both Vegas episodes, so I feel fairly caught up with the proceedings. It's not like the vast majority of the chuckers we see in the audition episodes ever show up again, anyway.

Going into the episode 38 dancers remained, so we had to lose almost half of them. But first, a surprise: new credits! Massively overhauled for the first time since Season1. I tried to figure out who was dancing through them, and definitely picked out Phillip and Ade from last season, as well as a couple left over from Season 1. Is it a mix of all previous seasons? Or just 1 and 5? In other news, Mia Michaels has shaved her head. NO! But that's not the worst of it: she has reportedly left the show, effective immediately, although that was not discussed in this episode at all. (She did make a cryptic remark to things not going her way lately; I hope she's OK.)

Nathan Tresoras was up first. Kind of fitting, since he's been waiting for more than a season; he originally auditioned for S5 but was too young. Nathan is a contemporary/hip-hop dancer, and he is what we call a ringer. Mia gave him some crap for being so young - a "baby" in the world of dance - but of course he made Top 20. He should be a serious contender this season, I think.

Some people I do not know got cut, including a guy with a bad hat, a guy in a bad scarf, and a brunette girl who needs to get some anti-frizz solution immediately, followed by ballet dancer David Hovhannisyan, who frankly looked way too old for this show anyway.

From the footage they played of her Kathryn McCormick is clearly a beautiful dancer. But when she cries - which she does often - she goes into this really annoying high-pitched whiny voice, and I'm going to want to punch her in the throat if she doesn't get that shit locked down fast. Because she is in the Top 20. Perhaps she can pull mime as her style every week?

Channing Cooke is very cute, but from the clips they showed us I wasn't wowed by her dancing. But she's in the Top 20 unanimously. I guess she must have something going on. That "something" is not fashion sense, as she wore a really badly wrinkled silk shorts/top combo that made her look like Stumpy McStumpenstein.

In short order Ariana deBose and Ellenore Scott both made the Top 20, which makes four contemporary female dancers in a row. So I guess that particular glut is with us for another season.

Contemporary dance Billy Bell was next. His second solo in Vegas was seriously astonishing, and he is a total DUH for making it in. Another serious contender, although he lacks Nathan's cute factor.

Russell Ferguson became the first krumper to ever make the Top 20. Here's the thing, Russell is a totally amazing dancer period. He killed everything they threw at him during Vegas Week, to the point where Adam Shankman openly doubted Russell's claims that he has received no formal training. I'm thrilled to see him in the competition, even if I think krump itself is a total bullshit style of dance. I hope he does well, because he's very likable.

Hip-hopper Kevin Hunte also made the Top 20, so we have some honest-to-god hip-hoppers in this year's competition. THANK GOD. Last year's hip-hop representation was pathetic, basically limited to Phillip Chbeeb's limited bag of tricks.

We had three tappers waiting to get into the Top 20. First up was Bianca Revels, who has been trying out since Season 4. I have never been as impressed with her as the judges are, although I thought she was much improved this year (I really liked her tap battle with Ryan). Nigel played with her a bit, and then finally put her through, prompting her to cry and say, "Nigel, why'd you do me like that?" Ha ha! First tap dancer ever in the Top 20!

Then they brought in tapper No. 2, Phillip Atmore, who got a little sassy with the judges during group number in Vegas Week. I get the sense that Phillip is a bit of a dick, but he's hot and very talented, so I'm OK with it. The judges took him to task for being defensive in Vegas, and to his credit, he was markedly less defensive this time around.� And Phillip made it through.

Then it was time for absolutely delicious Peter Sabasino, the third tapper. He's so Jersey, I am swooning. I have a thing for Cro-Magnon types. It's a problem. He really struggled during Vegas, but made it through -- and is in the Top 20. THREE tappers! They're making up for lost time, I guess. And all three of them seemed genuinely excited about each others' success. That's cool.

Victor Smalley got dinged for his Mohawk, although I really liked it. He's a good-looking contemporary male, and he made it through, adding to our very high level of male hotness this season. Not so much adding to that score was Jakob Karr, another male contemporary dancer, but he made it in too.

Mollee Gray was up next, and although I knew she was in - they have pimped her way too much, and she has the "High School Musical" pedigree - I have to say that I am disappointed by that decision. I really liked her in the early audtions, and she's an adorable little pixie, but I have come to dislike her intensely. The judges continue to criticize her for dancing like a 14-15 year old. That isn't my issue. My issue is that she behaves like a 9 year old. She is constantly mugging for the cameras and clearly desperate for attention that I just can't deal with her. I just need her to stop, because I suspect we're stuck with her for a long while.

Noelle Marsh claims that she has wanted this since she was 3. Unless Noelle is now 8, I question that, since this show has only been in existence since 2005. Noelle was cut during Broadway in Season 5, but she made it this time. I don't know. I find her kind of boring. And another fucking contemporary dancer.� After returning to the bullpen, Mollee had to run up and steal her thunder because they're "best friends." They kept calling each other that, even though it seemed like they had just met during Vegas Week. That's your best friend? If that's true, I'm genuinely sad for them.

Pauline Matta was pulled out of Vegas after injuring herself during the Broadway round. She also couldn't do her final solo. And yet somehow, she made the Top 20. I don't know how that works. You put through a dancer who couldn't finish the auditions instead of others who could? What does that say to the dancers who didn't make it? This woman is that good that you're willing to make a major exception for her? She's got a lot to live up to in my book.

Break dancer Legacy Perez had a tough time in Vegas, really struggling through much of the choreography. He held his composure well, and ultimately made it to the Top 20 mostly on the strength of his solos (which are pretty cool), and because he is fairly likable.

Meanwhile, contemporary dancer Paula VanOppen got to the final cut last season, and apparently really killed it in Vegas this year, and was offered a spot in the Top 20.

Four ballroom dancers remained, competing for two spots in the Top 20. Considering that they were the ONLY four ballroom competitors in the entire Top 38, this left me confused; why would you only have one male and one female ballroom dancer in your Top 20 when so many of the routines are ballroom numbers?

The guys were up first, and it was a tough call from my couch: they're both hot guys, and they can both move like a son of a bitch. Ultimately it was super-buff Ryan Di Lello who made the Top 20. I hope wee Gene and his deliciousness comes back next year.

Ryan's wife, Ashleigh, and Karen Hauer were up for the final spot - how is it that only ONE female ballroom dancer� is getting in, when there are like SIX female contemporary dancers making it? - and ultimately Karen got the nod, which meant Ashleigh was going to be separated from her husband. Or not! After a pause, she made it in too! How did that happen? It turns out that Paula VanOppen turned the show DOWN because she'd been offered a movie contract (has that ever happened before in the Top 20?), and that left a spot open for Ashleigh. Wow. Ballsy move on Paula's part.

So that's our Top 20. More diverse in certain areas - three tappers, a krumper, a b-boy - but curiously light in others, specifically ballroom. Again, WAY too many contemporary girls. Thankfully there's enough guy candy to make me overlook just about any faults I have with the cast.

Next: the schedule gets even crazier. There's a special on Monday at 8pm, where we get to meet all of the Top 20 dancers, and see them performing their actual styles, before the competition begins. THAT starts on Tuesday, but only partially - there will be no elimination episode next week at all. Instead, two dancers will be eliminated on Tuesday, apparently by the judges' decisions solely. What. The. Fuck? � � � �