Friday, August 17, 2007

WE HAVE A WINNER!!!!

In fact, we have 2!

Miss Sabra takes the win as America's "favorite" dancer and...

Congrats to our very own Jen Romansky who's top 2 picks of Sabra and Danny as her #1 and #2 makes her the winner of our first ever SYTYCD pool.

Hats off to Danny who put up a good fight. If the competition were really America's BEST dancer, surely he would have taken the crown, but America voted for their favorite, and Sabra it was. While there is some speculation about the contest being rigged, I do believe the votes were in Sabra's favor. I love this show and can't wait until next year... hope you will all join in again!

Thanks for taking part in it... let's plan our next pool!

Commissioner Rappa

Thursday, August 16, 2007

Check it out!

On tv last night...


Matt, Caroline & Rich give a standing O with Mr. Neil

Melissa & Rich cheer for Sabra with Mrs. Sabra

Monday, August 13, 2007

Top Four Performance Show!





I won't spoil wednesday's show for anyone, but I will tell you, you have a great 2 hours of tv ahead of you on wednesday night. I haven't watched today's episode where we say goodbye to Pasha (not surprised) and Lauren (surprised) but clearly I know that is what happened since myself, Matt, Caroline and Rich were lucky enough to sit 2nd row at the pre-taped performance of the final 4. It was fantastic. I have so much to say but again, don't want to spoil for all you regular viewers. I will say that sitting directly behind Travis (last year's runner up) was certainly a highlight for me. I love him and still believe he should have won last year.

Still, Rich and I posed for a picture with Benji... why not!

Matt, next year's front runner for commissioner, truly had a full day of SYTYCD. After sitting through hours of taping, he went home to do a little research on the final 4 and look at what he sent in... INTERESTING I must say, and completely disappointing if he is right.

Just checked out the SYTYCD newsgroup and if posts are any indication Neil will win the show. Here are the amount of specific posts:
Lacey 10,800

Neil 22,967

Danny 10,772

Sabra 3,037

Neil has seven times as many postings as Sabra and twice as many postings as the other two in the top four.

I really don't want Neil to win. I have my clear winner now. And I truly believe you and all of America will have the same feeling as me after Wednesday night. Hands down... there is one person who is just incredible.

Hats off to all the dancers though. Tonight we were told that since friday, they have each learned 5 dances, beginning their day at 7am and ending at midnight, with only a 1 hour break for lunch. We were told their bodies and brains at this point, are mush and they are all tired, sick and injured. It's incredible how hard they work, so for that, they all get my support.

Keep your eyes peeled for the four of us- I think we all got air time, especially Rich and I who were substitute family members of Neil. You may also see our heads popping through the sign that Sabra's mom is holding... so look closely!

Commissioner Rappa

Tuesday, August 7, 2007

I still care- I swear!

Ok, first and foremost, I must appologize for my lack of blogging. While some may think the show is less important to me now that I am eliminated (as is Jodi after last week), that is completely not true. I let work get the best of me this week and lost focus on SYTYCD. I promise that will not happen again. Especially now that we are down to 6- it's getting intense! Lucky pool players like myself, Matt, Caroline and Rich are going to next monday's taping- top 4... can't wait! But until then- we still have wednesday and thursday night to look forward to. To recap last week, we said goodbye to Sara and Dominic. With their departure we saw the last of the b-boys and b-girls on the stage. I loved both of them. Now, I think i'm fully supporting Danny and Sabra. Lauren holds a close 3rd.

Will be back tomorrow night after performances....

Rappa

Friday, July 27, 2007

Adios....



Last night we said goodbye to Jaimie and Kameron. That shook a few things up in our pool, eliminating Emily, Marni, Rich and Deb. You join Caroline, Sam, Jenni and Jen G in the loser pile. Jon is in terrific shape with all three of his dancers still in the pool (way to go on the trade - it totally saved you!) Melissa, Brooke, Matt, Jen R, Jodi and Jana are still strong with 2, while Nick is barely holding on with Pasha. The game is getting good! 8 players and 8 dancers remain! Atleast I think so and so does DAN KARATY who I just ran into at Starbucks. Of course, being the loud-mouth publicist and pool commissioner I am, I had to fill the SYTYCD choreographer in on our pool. He was loving it and after posing for a picture with me gave me his thoughts on this season. He thinks its between Lacey and Danny. He asked my opinion and when I said I was very impressed with Sabra, he actually seemed surprised- telling me he thought she was going to be one of the first off the show, but has definitely stepped it up. I did not get the impression he saw her going all the way ... unlike Mia who called Sabra out as her favorite the other night. Dan was really cool. I would like him to be my new friend. I am going to try to track down his info so I can get him involved in the pool- maybe he will want to be a special guest commentator one week on Dillon's Dish...

Meanwhile, Jen R. has really mastered the SYTYCD celeb look-a-like roster.... check it out!

Thursday, July 26, 2007

Previously on SYTYCD.....

A HUGE thank you to Matt for stepping in while I was on my great European adventure (I will be putting up a link to our photos from the trip where you can see me busting a move on the dance floor in 5 different countries.) While I was gone, there were some surprising eliminations like Shauna and some not so surprising goodbyes like Cedric. Last week, we lost Anya and Hok. I was fine with Anya leaving- she bothers me, but I would have liked to see Hok make the top 10 if only for the purpose of making the tour. As Matt pointed out, here are the standings going into tonight's elimination:
Seven players have all three members still intact:

Nick
Janna
Jodi
Jen
Melissa
Deb
John

Five players have two remaining players:

Emily
Marni
Matt!
Brooke
Rich

The following players have been eliminated from the game:

Sam
Jen G.
Jenni
Caroline


Now, onto last night's performances. I have to say I absolutely loved this episode. Wade Robson's choreography was moving- my favorites of the solo performances were Lauren and Sabra- I must say, Sabra is looking pretty damn good! She is KILLING IT! That is good news for Brooke and Jen R.

My prediction is that either Neil or Kameron could be leaving tonight for the boys, and i think Jaimie may have to go for the girls- not because she doesn't deserve to stay- but out of everyone that is left, she seems to fall at the bottom of my list. Maybe I'm wrong...

We'll have to see in a few hours! I'll have results up tomorrow.

Enjoy the show.

Thursday, July 5, 2007

No Dancing This Week...

Ok, so I'm a little behind on blogging about last week's episode but the emails that went around on Friday were sufficient enough for thoughts/feelings/emotions on the sad and surprising departures of Jessi and Jesus.





Moving on to this week....maybe I missed the memo, but I was upset when I got home from Manhattan Beach last night and SYTYCD was not on. Bummer! We'll have to wait until next week to see who else goes home. In the meantime, I'd like to announce that there was a successful and commissioner approved trade. After Caroline's plea to trade Lauren, Jon stepped up and offered his Jaimie for Caroline's Lauren. If you refer to the below cross reference guide, the change has already been made. The trade period has expired. That is bad news for Jenn G! You are out of the game. I do have an offer for you, or for anyone else who may be interested though...

I will be out of the country from July 9th-July 23rd and I'm accepting applications for stand-in commissioners during these 2 weeks. Of course I will be updating the blog, but I would like to have a substitute during this time to keep all members informed of immediate news and results that I may be late on. Plus, I most likely will not be able to watch until I am home... let me know if you are interested in lending a hand.

Happy 4th of July to all pool contestants!

Wednesday, June 27, 2007

Spoiler Alert - Wednesday 6.27.07

I had so much to say about the performances tonight, but am now speechless after hearing about Jessi. While its terribly sad for her, it could potentially be devastating for Jenn G, Jenni and Deb who have her in their top 3. Tomorrow, if Jessi is ok to dance, she will be "dancing for her life", but if she is not well enough to dance, she will be cut. Pasha gets a standing O from me tonight. Impressive for dancing like that...with that. I was NOT impressed by the so-called Cha-Cha Dance US Dance Champion that stepped in. Am I wrong? I'm really beginning to love Sabra and Dominic, was pretty creeped out by Danny's grinding moves towards Debbie Allen during her comments towards him (anyone else see that?) and think Cedric is just awful. His preaching drove me bananas and for those who know me know I HATE BANANAS.

VOTE. Remember, they are 888 numbers, not 800 numbers.

I'm truly interested to know how many of you actually vote. I do attempt weekly but after 3 busy signals I usually quit.

G'night




Monday, June 25, 2007

Matt's Cross Reference Spreadsheet

Thanks to Matt for creating this easy to read spreadsheet divided by dancer so you know who else shares your contestant with you:
LACEY

Emily- Lacey, Anya, Jaimie
Marni- Lacey, Kameron, Anya
Jana- Lacey, Danny, Kameron
Jenn G- Lacey, Jessi, Kameron
Matt- Lacey, Hok, Lauren



ANYA

Emily- Lacey, Anya, Jaimie
Sam- Anya, Danny, Sara
Marni- Lacey, Kameron, Anya
Brooke- Anya, Lauren, Sabra
Rich- Anya, Jesus, Pasha



JAIMIE

Emily- Lacey, Anya, Jaimie
Nick- Jaimie Cameron, Pasha
Jen R- Jaimie, Danny, Sabra
Caroline- Jaimie *TRADE*



KAMERON

Nick- Jaimie, Kameron, Pasha
Marni- Lacey, Kameron, Anya
Jana- Lacey, Danny, Kameron
Jenn G- Lacey, Jessi, Kameron
Melissa- Kameron, Lauren, Sara



PASHA

Nick- Jaimie, Kameron, Pasha
Rich- Anya, Jesus, Pasha



DANNY

Sam- Anya, Danny, Sara
Jana- Lacey, Danny, Kameron
Jodi- Danny, Sara, Jaimie
Jen R- Jaimie, Danny, Sabra
John- Danny, Neil, Jaimie



SARA

Sam- Anya, Danny, Sara
Jenni- Jessi, Sara, Cedric
Jodi- Danny, Sara, Jaimie
Melissa- Kameron, Lauren, Sara



JESSI

Jenn G- Lacey, Jessi, Kameron
Jenni- Jessi, Sara, Cedric
Deb- Shauna, Jessi, Lauren



CEDRIC

Jenni- Jessi, Sara, Cedric



HOK

Matt- Lacey, Hok, Lauren
Caroline- Fiena, Lauren, Hok



SABRA

Jen R- Jaimie, Danny, Sabra
Brooke- Anya, Lauren, Sabra



LAUREN

Melissa- Kameron, Lauren, Sara
Brooke- Anya, Lauren, Sabra
Caroline- Fiena, Lauren, Hok
Deb- Shauna, Jessi, Lauren
Matt- Lauren, Hok, Lacey
Jon- Lauren*TRADE*, Danny, Neil



JESUS

Rich- Anya, Jesus, Pasha



FAINA

Caroline- Fiena, Lauren, Hok



NEIL

John- Danny, Neil, Jaimie

Bye Bye....



Thursday night we said goodbye to Jimmy (I personally didn't think it was his time yet) and Faina (I'm very pleased). Caroline has the first casualty, though while many of you think she may be eliminated already, she still has an option to trade. Meanwhile, I should let you guys all know that trading players will last ONLY through this week of competition. NEXT Wednesday, at 8pm PST, the trading window will be closed.

Caroline has had a streak of bad luck in this year's reality pools. In this past season of Survivor, Caroline's two picks were the first two contestants voted off the island, leading to her elimination. Let's hope her luck picks up this week!

Thursday, June 21, 2007

Top 18 Dance....

Well well well, don't we all feel like idiots for not picking Dominic. None of us - not one. We couldn't see past the b-boy/breaker in him. As Mia said, he is "truly what this competition is about." I was floored by his moving performance. But then again, I'm a sucker for contemporary. I personally think those in trouble include Fiena and Cedric, and Jaimie and Hok (though I was impressed with Hok's ability to samba). To be honest, Fiena drives me up a wall (Sorry Caroline.)

Feel free to share your thoughts and opinions in the comment section below....

Commissioner Rappa
Signing off at 1:19am
Goodnight. It's very late for me. I must sleep now.

Wednesday, June 20, 2007

Who's Who

WHO'S WHO IN THE S.Y.T.Y.C.D POOL...

Matt Kunitz

While I have no dance experience, I did win the 2nd grade roller skating limbo contest. I was actually in 3rd grade but I was really short and could pass off for a 2nd grader.

In the shower I sing well enough to be in a boy band. I worked with Kevin Richardson, of the Back Street Boys, while executive producing Fear Factor.



John Lavin

When not creating trailers for tv shows that don't yet exist, John enjoys reading, traveling and breakdancing with Lily Tomlin.






Emily Grimes

Although I am an accountant for Endemol USA now, there was a time when you would've found me in the chorus line. I grew up dancing--ballet, tap,
jazz, clogging, modern...you name it. I also danced in several musicals in college. I am presently taking an acting class that I love and I'm hoping to make my performance comeback sometime in the near future!






Jennifer Romanski

I think I can dance, but its more like a comedy than a drama. I'm obsessed with Travis Wall and still have last year's shows on my DVR. I'm a MassHole who loves red wine, graphic design and my Brit husband who is half the magic behind my biz: www.hellolittleone.com?




Rich Leist

Son a

proffesional dancer- Mother still teaches dance
Dancer/ Singer of "The Young Americans" Performance Group
1998-2001
- 45 states performed in.
- 3 years in Boyne, MI performing at a Dinner Theater. Personal highlight performing as Gene Kelly singing in the rain. Stage Manager and Host for Dance Excellence Convention 2001-2007.
Captain of the High School Football team. Running Back.
All this for a straight guy. Impressive.




Brooke Rappaport

“I have no picture or bio so if you want me to have one then you can do it all bc I have no pics of me on my comp and no facts about me either so the comissioners can do it!”

**Commissioner note: Brooke is a 17 year old heading into her senior year of high school who clearly has no time for bio writing nonsense such as this.






Jenni Beligrin

Makeup artist by day and Trocadero cocktail waitress by night, Jenni is quite the multi tasker. While serving mojitos and kettle sodas to thirsty patrons, she faithfully watches So You Think You Can Dance every Wednesday night from the tv above the bar. She puts her love for dancing before her love for tips, taking valuable time away from her night to cast votes for her favorite contestants.






Nicky "I Know I Can Dance " Bove

Nick was a pianist, gymnast and jazz dancer most of his child and adolescent years. In high school and college, Nick became involved in beer drinking and drugs, participating in a variety of local beer pong, zonk and flip cup tournaments. He also took interpretive dance and skin flute lessons for fun and fitness. After graduation, Nick put his dancing and partying on hold to start his career. He is now a successful drug dealer, living in Jersey City and aspires to one day be the future husband of "So You Think You Can Dance" Season 2 Champion - Benji. Nick also coaches in a professional beer funnelin

g league on the weekends and has most recently accepted a position as the assistant to the assistant choreographer for Vanilla Ice's new video remake of Lionel Richie's " Dancing on The Ceiling" !

Marni Cioffi

As captain of the cheerleading squad, Marni was known around Dayton High School as the girl with “all the moves.” Now, she spend my evenings teaching her nephews how to do the running man and roger rabbit. On the weekends she likes to go clubbin’ with her husband where they bump and grind on the dance floor.



Melissa Rappaport

Melissa, who has been moving and grooving for over 25 years, learned her best moves at summer camp. She was the youngest camper to ever make the Israeli Arts Festival dance group and the youngest counselor to be elected “Head of Dance in 1997. she continued to rock out at the University of Michigan where she spent many a late night on the Rick’s dance floor. Currently, she resides in LA where she does a lot more watching dance on tv than actually dancing but still aspires to be on tour

with Janet Jackson as a back up dancer.


Caroline Kunitz (photo will be uploaded shortly)

Caroline's dance career was short lived. She quit ballet at 9 years old after her first recital. She could not tolerate the frizz caused by the tight bun she was required to wear in her hair.

Jenn Galardi


Jennifer has been dancing since the ripe old age of 4. However, as the only daughter of a classic east coast work work work family, she never really got to express the artistic joy of dance. It was the “discipline” factor that made it something she continued up through high school, along with tennis, cheerleading and straight A’s.
She always did the ‘right’ thing, went to the ‘good’ school and got the ‘real’ job post graduation in Birmingham, AL. However, beginning to break the confining shackles, she moved to LA where her first taste of being in front of the camera came from the notorious Mikey Glazer and Matt Kuntz on FEAR FACTOR in 2001. Due to her competitive nature, she was PISSED OFF she didn’t win, but did, however, come from behind to place 2nd with a stellar performance in the pig ear eating contest. Jennifer finally said Fuck You to the conventional life her parents’ had dreamed for her and continues to dance professionally for the LOVE of it. As proved in the pictures she loves to hide behind her hair when she dances (and Yes, that is J.Lo’s sexy ex wife, Cris Judd in the background!) She is the owner of a company called Girls a Go-Go and dreams to one day be in pieces choreographed by Mia Michaels and Wade Robson.

The Four Muskateers- from left to right- Deb, Jodi, Jana, Sam
















We are a fun bunch of lawyers from New Jersey and NYC
And sadly enough we are all addicted to reality T.V.

Each week we meet to watch and Deb always stocks the fridge
We order in food, critique the show, and enjoy a tasty beverage.

We know this competition will soon get pretty tough
So we always have a stash handy to pass and puff.

Each Wednesday night we will root for our own picks to advance
So now we have one question – So you think you can dance?

Tuesday, June 19, 2007

The Picks

Draft is complete and below you can see which player has which dancers. The next post will include the images and bios of your competition. Please turn those in if you have not done so already! Remember, any and all trades must go through the Commissioner's office.

Emily- Lacey, Anya, Jaimie
Nick- Jaimie Cameron, Pasha
Sam- Anya, Danny, Sara
Marni- Lacey, Kameron, Anya
Jana- Lacey, Danny, Kameron
Jenn G- Lacey, Jessi, Kameron
Jenni- Jessi, Sara, Cedric
Jodi- Danny, Sara, Jaimie
Matt- Lacey, Hok, Lauren
Jen R- Jaimie, Danny, Sabra
Melissa- Kameron, Lauren, Sara
Brooke- Anya, Lauren, Sabra
Rich- Anya, Jesus, Pasha
Caroline- Fiena, Lauren, Hok
Deb- Shauna, Jessi, Lauren
John- Danny, Neil, Jaimie

There were only 2 contestants not chosen at all: Dominic and Jimmy. Hmm... looks like alls bets are on the ladies this year. Will be a first if one wins.

Monday, June 18, 2007

So You Think You Can Dance Pool


Welcome to Dillon's Dish Pool Contestants! I will be posting results and pool status weekly on this site. The draft pick order has been sent out and by tomorrow evening, you will be able to see everyone's picks here on this site. Bookmark it. You will be visiting frequently!

Sincerely,

Commissioner Rappa

Friday, June 8, 2007

BABY DILLON


Here is the photo that made me fall in love with Dillon... this was the picture sent to me before I went to pick him up. He is 8 weeks old here.

Wednesday, June 6, 2007

Memorial Service for Dillon Rappaport



Mikey and I are holding a memorial service on Saturday, June 9, 2007, on the rooftop of 8455 DeLongpre Ave in honor of Dillon Rappaport. Please come by any time between 5pm-7pm. If you have stories or memories of Dillon you'd like to share, your thoughts are very welcome. There will also be a very special donation "plate" where it is encouraged that each person donate a simple $5. All donations will be given to the Amanda Foundation (http://www.amandafoundation.org/) in Dillon's name.



Immediately following the ceremony, we will move down the street to Trocadero, where we will celebrate Dillon's life over drinks- like he would have wanted us to. He loved that his mom and dad always knew how to party.

So please join us. Email me at melissa@rapparound.com and let us know if you can make this very special occasion.

Thank you to everyone for your love and support. Dillon was my best friend. He got me through some of my most difficult times, and truly made me a better person. I will miss my baby.