Tonight's drinking game? take a shot every time you hear "best group ever"

(cross-posted at SYTYCD Social)
Hi, folks! I am doing my SYTYCD homework for tonight's "get to know your top 20" episode. I'm very glad the producers decided to give us this special show so we don't start seeing the dancers get eliminated until we have clapped eyes on all of them and seen them dance at least once! I'm not even bothered by the idea that the judges will do the first eliminations, because (repeat after me) this is a scripted reality show in which we are being told stories and led to believe things that are not necessarily true! I'm willing to kick back and gossip for a few weeks before I start voting.

So, I have dutifully watched all the audition episodes, even though I missed the accelerated rhythm of the summer-style audition frenzy. One benefit, to my mind, in starting the show this late in the fall season is that I got to enjoy America's Best Dance Crew and SYTYCD Canada before the S6's actual competition gets underway: fewer distractions.

Let's hear it for the show where dancers do their own choreography: I love how ABDC showcases the crews' responses to challenges. We Are Heroes and Vogue Evolution were my favorite crews. This season, DWTS is not even in the picture for me as a dance show, no matter how great my love of ballroom dancing is, because I feel about Donny Osmond just about the way I feel about Toom DeLay: both of them trigger the gag reflex. Cannot. Watch.

So, here's how I have prepared for tonight:

• Watched all the audition episodes and read all the recaps hither and yon? check!
  

• Watched the interviews with the Top 20? check! who do you think has the most annoying verbal tics? who is unexpectedly intelligent or charming? what is that "star quality" that the judges are casting for which means that some more proficient dancers didn't make the cut?
  

• Compared STYCYD Canada to U.S. version? check! Tara Jean was not my first choice, but any of the top four dancers was worthy of winning in my eyes, and I really enjoyed seeing different choreographers. Cat Deeley is still the hostess with the mostest for me!

• Mourned the departure of Mia Michaels from the show? check. Count me as one of the people who thinks this a huge loss, although not fatal. the show will go on, but I will really really miss Mia's contributions as a judge, a choreographer, and as an inspiration to the dancers themselves.
  

• updated my Twitter feed to make sure I get every gossipy tidbit from past and present contestants, judges, and choreographers, fans and bloggers? check! I'll be watching the live-blogging, tweeting, and the show at the same time.