Alone and Unobserved

So You Think You Can Dance is back, as of last night, and I am all aquiver. The auditions are, if anything, crazier than those for American Idol, but are somehow also much more watchable—yes, you get the weirdos like “Gold Inferno,” but you also get sick, amazing acts like Robert Muraine’s or polished performances like Leonidas and Aliona’s. (David “Sex” Soller has never been the slightest bit watchable, of course—he invented “skeevy,” turned it into an art form and then bludgeoned us to death with it, and I really wish he would just stay home next year.)

But the REAL reason I’m so happy, the REAL reason I got so worked up over the return of the show, is that Season Two second-placer Travis Wall was on camera for a few fleeting moments. Ah, Travis, how we’ve missed ye. For old time’s sake, here is Travis and Heidi’s duet from Season Two (a routine that won choreographer Mia Michaels an Emmy).

Travis and Heidi in Calling You
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqLNCZD-7Jc&hl=en]

He showed up to teach a simple routine to the contestants, and I’m hoping (fingers crossed!) that he makes several more appearances this season in that capacity.

P.S. Cherry season has begun. Mmmmm!

[Image by Poppy Wright]

Travis, I hope you don’t feel too let down right now. You may not be America’s Favorite Dancer (which just proves that America is collectively drunk, blind, and/or stupid, a favorite proposition of mine), but you were the hottest thing in the the studio tonight, with the possible exception of the cute guy on the front row that the camera liked so much. I wonder what HIS name is . . .

Everyone can breathe easier: Travis is still on the show. I know you were all as worried as I was when he somehow landed in the bottom two, but that turned out to be a blessing in disguise, because we got to see him cry, dance, hug people, and then cry some more, and it was wonderful. In fact, tonight’s episode focused on Travis a great deal, right from the beginning. Go to Ricky.org to see the opening number, “Cell Block Tango” from Chicago, starring Travis as the sexually ambiguous Alvin Lipschitz. Ricky also has several pictures of Travis, as well as a video of his solo. Hooray!

Carry on.