Pop Cultural District

And we finally get the cuts

I hate to see any of these dancers go. Obviously, Will should have a spot here, but if it's not him, then I don't know what other three guys I'd have chosen, and these are clearly the right three girls.

Will it be Courtney or Chelsie? I can't say I have a preference, though I won't be sad to see Chelsie be-glitter brassiere leave. Wow. Chelsie's going home. They love each other. Four weeks ago I would have yelled over this, but I can't seem to work up too much caring. Cat says she "couldn't have coped" without all of Chelsie antics. Wish they'd have shown us some of those instead of wasting so much time having each other discuss their likes and dislikes. She had a good run. She nailed pretty much every single dance.

Chelsie's crying, but she's still beautiful. She says she's grateful for the opportunity and she's still smiling that mega-watt smile.

Now on to the guys. It's going to be Mark, right? Maybe they'll vote them both off and bring Will back! I promise I'm letting that go soon. Twitch is moving on. Mark takes it like a champ, smiling huge and giving Twitch a huge hug. Twitch, in the meantime is a huge freaking drama queen about it, like shut up Twitch and let Mark have his moment. God. I enjoyed watching Mark dance. The word unique has been overused, but it's true. He and Chelsie were one of my favorite partnerings ever. I'll miss them both.

That's a wrap. More Joshua next week.

Now one of the guys will be safe

I wish the show wouldn't drag this out so much. Can't they just schedule more performers and desist with all the "suspense." Not that I don't love Cat, but even she's not a miracle worker.

Oh, Mark looks so pleased at the judges' praise! That's kind of cute. It's really hard to make any predictions at this point because everyone's getting positive recaps.

We finally send someone .... Joshua to safety. On thank God. I really think he could win this whole thing. He buries his head in his hands and then does a little moonwalk off the stage. I'm so relieved. I can finally start drinking my beer. Sorry about my freakout earlier.

Now we get Lady GaGa, and I have got to say ... this is so awesome. I have never heard of this girl (possibly tranny?), but she starts with an awesome electronic declaration that "pop music will never be low brow" which I am on board with.

She can't sing at all, but based on sheer performance value alone she is giving Madonna a run for the current dance-pop queen throne. Her blonde wig is also Tyra-diculous. There is so much 80s awesomeness I can't even describe it. Her robot is kind of sick. And she's wearing a blazer with a LEOTARD. Now she's white-girl rapping. Seriously I am not doing this justice at all. YouTube this business. She's wearing these glasses that I am positive render her blind while she vogues.

More on the Festival of Independent Theatres

As that annual summer treat, the Festival of Independent Theatres, enters  the home stretch of its 10th season, here are some updates and random impressions on specific productions at the Bath House Cultural Center, 521 E. Lawther Drive on White Rock Lake.

A PERMANENT SIGNAL -- This is the vaunted U.S. premiere of Sherry Kramer's silly comedy about two Sirens on a mission to earth. Last week, Lulu Ward tore a muscle in her calf and was unable to go on in the role of Siren Noreen. Director Susan Sargeant took over, trouper-like, with script in hand. Sargeant reports that Ward is healing and is expected to return to the production at the 8 p.m. performance on Friday, Aug. 1.

AUDIENCE -- The pairing of Carl Savering and Nye Cooper as an Eastern European brewery foreman and the once-imprisoned dissident who toils at the plant is bravo-worthy. (Cooper's character is meant to remind you of the playwright, Vaclav Havel, who was an imprisoned dissident before he became president of the Czech Reublic.)

But let's cut to the burning question in playgoers' minds: What's in those beer mugs that Savering's character drains at an amazing rate and Cooper's quaffs reluctantly?  It sure looks like beer. One Bath House staffer says it's lemon ice tea. Another says it's non-alcoholic beer, which we all know is low-alcohol beer. (There's foam, so our money is on the beer.)

Theatre Quorum's deftly staged production returns Sunday, Aug. 3, Thursday, Aug. 7, and Saturday, Aug. 9.

LAUGHING WILD -- Act I Productions introduces a pair of endearing crazies from the loony bin of playwright Christopher Durang. A confused young man and more confused young woman meet (clash, actually) in the tuna fish aisle at a supermarket, then relive the moment for a long but rewarding single act.

Director Tom Parr IV has cast superbly. Ginger Goldman  and Brian Witkowicz nail their characters. But it's Goldman's grasp of her character's fierce devotion to her special insanity that lingers in your heart and mind.

You can laugh wildly at this one at 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 1, and at 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 2.

Ticket information at 214-528-5576 or on line at www.bathhousecultural.com.

--Perry Stewart

Joshua better not go home

And we're back. And I'm still furious. I was really upset when I thought maybe Josh was in the bottom two. I hate these Snuggle dance breaks. if I want to watch people sucking as they dance, I will get on YouTube. I watch this for people who can dance. Though one of the finalists is apparently from Cedar Hill. Some old lady in ugly pants win. Can you tell I'm a bit bitter right now?

Also: apparently Jessica and Comfort get to go on tour this year. Well played, Comfort.

Now we're going to cut someone. Apparently not Courtney, though. We're getting nothing but good recaps from the judges. She did kill it last night on that jazz routine.

But we're only getting good stuff from Katee, too. You know, even two weeks ago, I would have ranked Chelsie as my fave girl, but now, I'd def rank Katee above her, and I'm having a tough time calling it between Courtney and Chelsie. I'm not sure what changed.

Now Chelsie. She's adorbs. She looks like she's on her way to the guillotine, though. Man, she really was hot last night during that mambo. They're not giving anything away, praising the girls and not indicating who's going to get cut. Only one gets to go to safety. And it is .... Katee. Thank goodness. Can she put that shirt up for safe-keeping, too? Cause it is u-g-l-y.

So You Think You Can Dance: I still hate you America

Okay, I missed the opening dance, so let's just get to it: WHY IS JOSHUA DANCING A SOLO? WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU AMERICA? WHY IS MARK NOT IN THE BOTTOM TWO???? Oh, ummm, what's that? They're all dancing solos? I just have no idea what I'm talking about? Alright then, carry on show.

Joshua's solo is an amazing Michael Jackson inspired and it's great. Cat loves it and comments on his new, brace-free smile. He shouldn't be in the bottom two. Maybe if I pretend like it isn't happening, he won't get voted off.

Chelsie does her solo thing, tossing in some jive. It's, you know, a ball-room dancer's solo.

Twitch's solo is ... a Twitch solo. He prances around, does some geek stuff and then tosses in some cool stuff to keep me from being totally bored.

Okay, maybe I'm just irritated about Joshua, but until the kid started doing back handsprings and breaking hardcore I was all, "He sucks." He doesn't though, even if his popping does need a serious amount of work. His B-boy style is pretty tight, though. He's strong. But how come he gets to dance for so long. I'm ummm ... getting bored. I'm probably going to hell for saying that. He was pretty adorable, though.

Okay, Cat rocks. She full-on picks up the kids and holds him while she interviews him. I love her.

New Kelly 'round the corner?

So sez Amazon.com (not the most reliable barometer, but ...) -- I'm working to get some kind of confirmation.

--Preston Jones

If you're not busy Saturday night

I love Brad Paisley, but I'm almost sad the show is Saturday night, because I'm going to be missing this. Lifetime, mean cheerleaders and Texas? Sounds like entertainment to me.

- Erin White

Alejandro Escovedo cancels

Word just came in from our Bass Hall friend and former Star-Telegram colleague Malcolm Mayhew that Austin singer-songwriter Escovedo has canceled his Aug. 23 show at McDavid Studio for health reasons. And Fort Worth isn't alone in this.

--Robert Philpot

Well, he does kinda look like the lost Ramone

Variety reports that Howard Stern is producing a remake of Rock 'n' Roll High School. Speaking of Howard Stern, here's some news about him and a Dixie Chick.

--Robert Philpot

Jessica Simpson gets serious

E! Online reports that in the September Elle, Jess speaks frankly about experiencing abuse in the past. (AP photo from Star-Telegram archives)

--Robert Philpot