So You Think You Can Make Me Cry

I love Travis Wall. Like head over heels, want to have his babies, and worship the ground he walks on. (BTW, this totally ignores the fact that I have no ideas whether he likes boys or girls. That's ok. I will still have his babies.)

I first fell in love in season 2 of So You Think You Can Dance. Watching SYTYCD as a family was a ritual. Often over a yummy Chinese dinner from China Wok, we would watch him take on any genre of dance and rock it. (With the exception of Quick Step - but honestly, NO ONE should have to compete quick step. Or Russian Folk Dance. But that is another discussion for another post.) At the end of every episode we would always vote for Travis. Sadly, Travis came in second to Benji in the competition. Why America has to vote for their FAVORITE dancer and not the BEST dancer is beyond me. Check out the Tranji dance from the finals and judge it for yourself (but clearly, Travis is better).

So I thought this was the end of Travis.

Fortunately for us (and the entire world), it wasn't. SYTYCD is brilliant and invited him back to be a choreographer. And if it's possible, he might be a better choreographer than dancer! It certainly helps that he picks my favorite artists to choreograph to, but his work is powerful and meaningful, and most importantly, accessible. Everyone can appreciate it.

And apparently I appreciate his work so much, it moves me to tears. The first time his dancing made me cry was actually a Mia Michaels routine. The Bench dance was actually nominated for an Emmy. It's pretty obvious why.

But then he made me cry again. He took one of my favorite musicians, Jason Mraz, and favorite genres of dance, contemporary, and made a really beautiful piece that might have hit a little too close to home.

And then tonight he did it again. His dance, in honor of his mother (and well-known dance teacher) Denise Wall, moved me to tears. Be sure to check it out on http://www.fox.com/dance/ as soon as they post the episode.

Travis Wall, you are the future of contemporary dance. Keep it coming. And let me know about the babies.

The end of an era

It's no secret to the five or so people who ever read my blog that I am obsessed with celebrity culture and reality television. I just find it all so fascinating.

So it should also not surprise anyone that Lauren Conrad is one of those people I can't get enough of. The story of a sweet young girl from Orange County who is plucked from obscurity by a random MTV producer and becomes the embodiment of every 16 year old girl's dream - the normal girl who can become famous and fabulous.

So I just watched the series finale of "The Hills" and I was ready for lame. And for the most part, it was. But the last 10 seconds was awesome.

Spoiler Alert: As Brody watches Kristin get chauffeured off to the airport to move to Europe, the production assistant moves the Hollywood sign and we see Brody on a Hollywood set and Kristin in the Town Car like two feet away. So much for reality.

Adam DiVello might be my new favorite person. What a way to end the show. Not just a suggestion that his "reality" show isn't so much, but a full-on statement. And while I never believed that "The Hills" was real (because I am not a 16 year old girl), according to Twitter many people did. Some even compared the end of the show to finding out Santa Clause isn't real. As a Jew, I can only assume that is a life-altering event.

So the real question is: how much of reality television is reality?

To be honest, I would hate to believe that the entire show was scripted as that would mean people have to sit in a room and write things like "So you don't want us to call you JustinBobby?" or "He's a sucky person!" and my personal favorite "I want to forgive you. And forget you."

But it is also good to actually know that the show wasn't real. Not only because it makes my life a lot less lame, but it also means that maybe other people won't think that a good path for their future is reality TV. I mean, who needs another Snooki?

So after spending 6 seasons (+ 1 for Laguna Beach) with Lauren, Audrina, Whitney, Lo, Kristin, Heidi, Spencer, Brody (and whoever else - BTW, whatever happened to Jordan and Brian from Season 1? Jordan is so much better than Spencer!) I said goodbye tonight to one of my favorite "reality" shows.

And on a positive note, I don't have to worry about where I will get my next LC fix. I have another book to read in her line of L.A. Candy books and B introduced me to the audiobooks (narrated by LC herself). Guess what I have been doing on my way to and from school this week...