Ode to an Icon

Farewell, Heather.

Thank you for making America's Next Top Model the best show of the season. We believed in you from the beginning, and you've proven you have what it takes.

Thank you for being okay with being a "geeky" girl. Who knew awkward could be so charming?

Thank you for teaching America about your Asperger's. You call it a disability, but it didn't stop you from taking slammin' photos.

Your ride may be ending a little early, but I believe we haven't seen the last of you. Rock on.

Kid Nation

When I first heard about the new reality show “Kid Nation”, I was horrified. What kind of parents would let their kids run around without adult supervision for 40 days, for the sake of being on TV? What would happen with these kids? I imagined a chaotic 'society' in which the bullies would run wild, scarring the other kids for life.

As I actually sat down and watched a few episodes of the show, however, I was surprised by how greatly the (portrayed) reality differed from my expectations. For the most part, the kids demontrated great maturity and dedication to what would be best for the group as a whole. They consoled one another when homesick. They took care of each other when hurt. When one district slacked on chores, the other kids came in and washed all the dishes, simply because it had to be done.


On the show, the kids are given the opportunity to rebuild society in an abandonded town called Bonanza City. (For a full description of the show, there's a great write-up on wikipedia). Each team leader is representative to a town council that makes decisions for the group. Every few days, the council is given a task to help bring order to the town. For example, the leaders are given the freedom to choose what time a town curfew should be, but must also enforce their decision.

Various challenges determine the respobsiblity of each district (winners are 'upper class' and take it easy, losers scrub toilets), and a good overall performance may result in a group prize. In a recent episode, the town earned a big reward - the choice between a collection of holy books (Bibles, the Koran, etc.) and having a miniature golf course built in their town. To my amazement, the kids chose the holy books over the golf course!

Although there are some of the scenarios one would expect absent parental supervision, there are far more examples of kids buckling down to work hard, encourage one another, and do whatever it takes to make the town succeed. Thank you Kid Nation - you've given me a renewed respect for our young people.

So You Think, What???

So, have any of you heard of a little show called "So you think you can dance!" ?

In the absence of Survivor, American Idol and America's Next Top Model, this show has been our summer time reality-show fix, bringing us back to our dating-dancing days with the USC Ballroom & Latin Dance Team, when Gary and I would rock-step, whip, and sugar-push our way from competitive ballroom dancing partners to best friends (awwww).

This season has special meaning for us, as one of our FORMER COMPETITORS in the swing world is now a contestant on the show! Lacey Schwimmer and her brother, last year's winner Benjie, are the children of a popular dance teacher in the Southern California area. We used to see them all the time at West Coast Swing conventions when their father, Buddy, was teaching. They were immensely talented, from a very young age, and when Gary and I competed against them, about nine years ago, they totally whooped us (they would have been like, ten years old)! We never had any doubt they would grow up to be big dance stars, and now it's fun to root for their success on this televised dance competition. (If you're also a huge Lacey fan, you can check out her myspace fanpage here)

My only disappointment with the show is that my most favoritest dancer, Jessi, was sent home after she collapsed from dehydration and had to go to the hospital. She missed the live performance, so she wasn't able to be protected by America's vote, but she came back for the judging show, and after she danced for her life with the bottom 3, was dismissed by the judges without explanation.

Did the judges really think she had the worst solo? Were there extraneous details to her collapse that prevented her from continuing on the show? The world may never know... I understand not keeping a dancer on if they can't perform, but I don't believe they can really award the winner the title of "America's FAVORITE Dancer", 'cuz that was Jessi.

Word.