SYTYCD: Deja Vu

So You Think You Can Dance:
The Top 20 Perform...Again

I didn't blog about it, but I called bull-hinky (in the immortal words of my beloved Dale Kettlewell from Greek) on the judge's decision not to send anyone home last week. Personally, I could have picked some people to go home without any trouble at all. But it is what it is: all 20 are back to dance this week, and two girls and two boys will go home tomorrow.

Play-by-play:

• OBAMMMMAAAAAA!!!! Come on, dude. Make your announcements on Mondays or Tuesdays. FOX has skipped covering his speeches in the past in favor of prime time programming, so I'm kind of surprised they're showing him tonight.
• I wish they'd just take Barack's time out of the time allotted for the judges to babble so we can still finish this on time. I say give each judge 30 seconds to give his/her critique and then cut off his/her microphone!
• Ahh, yes, a flashback to last week when the judges showed us yet again that they're always willing to make the rules up as they go along.
  
• I'm starting a campaign: #NoMoreChbeebInTheOpeningCredits #SeasonFiveIsOver
  
• I guess they decided that the solo intros were so boring last week that they're announcing them in pairs tonight.
• Cat is wearing a brilliantly yellow knee-length cocktail dress with a lacy top. I like it, but aside from the color, it's a little dowdy for Cat. The length and the lacy cap sleeves make it look a tad on the mother-of-the-bride side.
  
• Guest judge is dance icon Debbie Reynolds! Let's bring the truth tonight, Debbie!
• Cat shows a clip (featuring Debbie) from one of her favorite movies, Singing in the Rain. They could do a Debbie Reynolds tribute group dance tomorrow night.

Ricky and Ryan (Mandy Moore jazz):

• The featurette: We're sharing each other's secrets tonight. Ricky says Ryan's leg hair grows really fast. That's just TMI. They have to be sexy for this dance and are having problems with that in practice.
  
• The dance: Hey, guess what, it's a Mandy Moore routine set to an '80s song ("Addicted to Love"). I would have never seen that coming... Ryan's smiling too much again. And her non-smile facial expressions are a bit much too. Ricky's looking pretty good in this one. Aside from his snow pants-style outfit, that is. Overall, it was fine, not fantastic.
  
• The judging: Nigel loves it because it was "so raunchy." That's also shocking. Mary is addicted to the two of them. Come on, Debbie, bring the sanity! Debbie, "You fell out of your top, you fell out of your bottom, you gave us your all!"

Caitlynn and Mitchell (Stacey Tookey contemporary):

• The featurette: Caitlynn's secret is that she has boots that turn her feet blue. That's a really lame secret. Hey, guess what, this Stacey Tookey routine is about a relationship that has gone very bad. That's also a shocker.
  
• The dance: It involves two chairs. Caitlynn's dancing in the chair is pretty. They're doing a pretty good job with the emotions behind it, and the dancing is lovely. The concept is a little trite by now for SYTYCD, but it was a nice performance.
  
• The judging: Caitlynn reveals that Mitchell accidentally punched her! Yikes. I thought I saw something go wrong, but I wasn't sure. Mary loves it and is excited to see Cait go further outside her style at some point. Debbie: "I mean, you bled for us!" Lol, Debbie is a riot. Nigel calls it remarkable and says he felt Cait's inner turmoil.

Missy and Wadi (Jean-Marc Genereux cha cha):

• The featurette: Well, at least somebody's dancing out of their style tonight... Wadi laughing at Missy's laugh is pretty endearing. Jean-Marc says this is the most difficult cha cha he's ever choreographed for the show. What is he thinking?! Wadi is a free-running b-boy!!! Missy got on Jean-Marc's nerves during practice.
  
• The dance: So far, this is mostly sexy wiggling, and not much cha cha. Unless this picks up fast, I don't believe for a second that this is the most difficult cha cha routine from Jean-Marc in history. It's so slow! This had "we're novices" written all over it.
  
• The judging: Nigel thought Wadi was a strong partner, but as for his actual technique, a lot was missing. Nigel says other people who have never done the cha cha before have done better than Wadi. He thinks, however, that Missy was very good, and I disagree. Mary says the beginning was spectacular--and admits that's because there was no cha cha dancing in it! She didn't think Wadi did very well either, but she feels for him. She thinks Missy is the cha cha queen. I guess we'll have to agree to disagree. Debbie says she'll take Wadi home. HA! Wadi looks uncomfortable. Cat: "You made her night, I think." Wadi: "At least I made someone's night." AWWWWW! Poor Wadi! Don't take it so hard!

Iveta and Nick (Nakul Dev Mahajan Bollywood):

• The featurette: Nick always wears shorts. Yeah, these two have Bollywood written all over them, lol.
  
• The dance: Um, this is a little rough. Part of the problem is the jerky camera work. Part of the problem is Iveta's hair extensions. Independently, they both look ok, but next to each other, they don't look quite in sync. The spinny lift towards the end was nice though.
  
• The judging: Nigel says it was entertaining and they did a good job since they weren't in their style. He does say that others (Joshua and Katee) have done better at Bollywood in the past. Mary saw chemistry between the two of them somewhere in there. Debbie's just excited to be here; she feels 20 years younger. She thinks they were terrific. Nick looks like he wants Debbie to offer to take him home.

Miranda and Robert (Napoleon and Tabitha hip-hop):

• The featurette: Ugh, first Nappy-Tabs routine of the season. Duck and cover... Miranda allegedly has a crush on Tadd. Ugh, this routine is about woodpeckers! I hate woodpeckers! And I hate Nappy-Tabs routines!
  
• The dance: I guess they figured they better show us why Robert is here fast or he wouldn't be around much longer. Ok, color me unimpressed all around by this one. Esp. by Miranda's back flip that she didn't get the whole way around. Most of this looks like something I could do after 2 hours of practice...
  
• The judging: Mary always gets nervous when animals are imitated on this show (little foxes, anyone?) but she liked this one. And then she gushes about Nappy-Tabs. Come on, Mary... Debbie was mesmerized. Then she does the Woody Woodpecker laugh. Nigel: "I'm just worried about how many dancers she's taking home with her tonight!" Nigel thinks Miranda is the "best contemporary dancer he's seen do hip-hop." Oh, come now. I could name a whole score of people, but I'll stop at one: Alex Freaking Wong.

Clarice and Jess (Stacey Tookey contemporary):

• The featurette: Clarice sleeps with her eyes open. Jess draws a stick figure orchestra. Ok, that secret's actually interesting... And then Jess burns all the goodwill his stick figure orchestra inspired in me by saying, "I can't wait to tell my mommy I'm a prince!" in a baby voice. Holy heck, man.
  
• The dance: A contemporary dance inspired by the royal wedding, I guess. This has its moments (her extensions, the too-brief side-by-side part), but it also has some slightly rocky spots. Not bad.
  
• The judging: Debbie says they touched her heart, and she'll take them both home with her with Wadi. Nigel liked parts of it. CAT IS HOSTING AN EVENING IN L.A. FOR WILLIAM AND KATE! Nigel liked the separate stuff, but thought some of the together stuff looked uncomfortable. (Finally, I agree with someone!) Mary calls Clarice "Miss Legs."

Jordan and Tadd (Jean-Marc Genereux Viennese waltz):

• The featurette: Eesh, this was a tough draw for them. Tadd says that Jordan is dumb (in nicer words), but that's no secret, buddy...
  
• The dance: This involves a park bench? Are you kidding me? Her lines are nice, but her style is still a little hoochie for the waltz. Tadd's waltzing could use a little work. Especially his steps when he's holding her up in a lift. He looks a bit staggery there.
  
• The judging: Nigel thinks it was just so beautiful. Nigel seems quite impressed with Tadd's waltzing, considering he's a b-boy. And now he says that this is the best he's seen a b-boy dance something like a Viennese waltz. Put a kibosh on the exaggerations, Nigel. Mary says Tadd is the biggest surprise of the season. She thought his lines were unbelievable. She thought Jordan was beautiful too. Debbie says they were just as wonderful and Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse. (Speaking of exaggerations...)

Melanie and Marko (Mandy Moore jazz):

• The featurette: Melanie has a big issue with people touching her ears. Marko loves to read romance novels. The routine features an old song with a new twist. And a hat. This looks promising.
  
• The dance: Melanie's outfit is rough, but everything else is great. Marko's rocking it. Until he dropped his hat, that is... The concept is good, but the choreo could be a little better.
  
• The judging: Mary thought it was so good. She thinks these two can take on anything that is thrown at them. Debbie thinks they're stars, and Nigel agrees. He thinks they've both got the perfect 50% technique/50% passion combo.

Alexander and Sasha (Napoleon and Tabitha hip-hop):

• The featurette: A sensitive routine about a soldier coming back from Afghanistan and seeing his wife for the first time. Oh, Nappy-Tabs... Trying to recapture the Katee/Joshua glory of yore.
• The dance: Why the soldier's wife is dressed so scruffily, I don't know... Sasha is good. Alex, not so much. He's a little stiff. The uniform is probably not helping that perception though. My favorite part was when Sasha was dancing in the beginning before he came back. That can't be a good sign.
  
• The judging: Debbie loved them. Mary's crying. Emotional exploitation, this routine is. But we've made it through most of two episodes without one of these types of routines (cancer/addiction/war/etc.), so I guess it was only a matter of time. Nigel finds it "ironic" that they did this dance after Obama announced troop withdraw in Afghanistan. He thought they performed it well.
  

Ashley and Chris (Spencer Liff Broadway):

• The featurette: Not a good sign that I completely forgot about the two of them. In this routine, Chris is incarcerated and they have to dance with a row of bars between them. The bars are kind of far apart though, so Ashley could easily squeeze through them if she really wanted to...
  
• The dance: They're dancing well, but Ashley's skirt is kind of stealing the show here. It's quite eye-catching when she twirls. Chris did some cool stuff on the bars. The routine was all right. They danced well, but the concept may have stifled them a bit there.
  
• The judging: Nigel is impressed with b-boy Chris doing jazz. Nigel says the next time they put him in prison, he hopes Ashley comes to visit. Mary talks about 211 degrees and 212 degrees and it's all just a bizarre buildup to putting them on the Hot Tamale Train. Debbie calls them sensational.

I refuse to pick three favorites tonight. I feel like we were just watching various shades of mediocrity for the most part this evening. If forced to pick three, I guess I'd go with:

• Melanie and Marko's jazz
  
• Caitlynn and Mitchell's contemporary
• Chris and Ashley's Broadway

This three-couples-in-the-bottom, four-dancers-go-home thing could get really sticky tomorrow night.

SYTYCD: Starting Off Season 8

So You Think You Can Dance: Top 20 Performance Show

First performance show of Season 8! Let's go:

• Cat is wearing a sparkly black mini dress with silver shoes, tousled wavy hair and smokey eyes.
• I am so sick of seeing Chbeeb in this intro.
• There are some seriously unfortunate outfits amongst this top 20. And I'm getting a little sick of watching everyone do leg kicks. I think we went a little contemporary heavy this year. Esp. with the girls.
• Cat is having a slightly rough time reading her intros tonight.
• Megan Mullally?! Seriously? Because she danced in that I Can't Believe It's Not Butter commercial? She says she has a dance history. Ok, I guess that's all right then.
• Mitchell injured his elbow. He can't perform tonight so he's automatically in danger tomorrow.
  

Jordan and Tadd (Sean Cheesman Afro-jazz):

• Featurette: Jordan wants to be a Pussycat Doll really bad, and that makes me like her even less than I already did. Tadd was a dancing taco in a movie. When he was a kid, he thought he was Caucasian. His 8-second intro was amusing.
  
• The dance: This started out really cool, but I think it lost some steam in the middle. Picked up towards the end. Seemed really long. Danced well though.
  
• The judging: Nigel thought it was tremendous. Mary agrees. Mary was impressed with b-boy Tadd. Megan liked the precision and power.

Sasha and Alexander (Travis Wall contemporary):

• The featurette: I find this Alexander dude a bit on the creepy side. Sasha gets to kick the crap out of Alexander. Watching Sasha beat him up has made me warm up to Alexander a bit.
  
• The dance: Sasha's dress is out of control. Oooh, Sasha's rocking the creepy face there. It's a good routine, but I'm not blown away. I feel like they could be doing something harder, perhaps?
  
• The judging: Mary likes the transitions in Travis' routines. Mary thinks Sasha is very strong. She liked it, but she didn't quite feel the connection between the two of them. Nigel is scared of Sasha.

Clarice and Jess (Tyce Diorio Broadway):

• The featurette: Well, they sure played right into Jess' hands by giving him Broadway. Um, yeah, Jess is annoying. I think the helpers are Katee and Jakob!!! Or am I seeing a mirage? Can we watch Katee and Jakob instead?!
  
• The dance: With all the cards that are stacked against this one - Tyce, Jess - I'm not expecting to like it much. Clarice just knocked out one heck of a split leap though. She's got nice extensions. Otherwise, I'm pretty bored. They danced it well, however.
  
• The judging: Megan loved everything about it. Nigel wants more from Clarice. She'll need to work hard to keep up with Jess and his innate Broadway style. Whatever. Nigel says Jess is one of his favorite guys this year. Ugh. Mary says Jess couldn't have done anything any better.

Ryan and Ricky (Christopher Scott lyrical hip-hop):

• The featurette: Ryan is obsessed with Law and Order: SVU. Ricky kind of reminds me of Brandon from Season 5. He's really peppy though. Yea for lyrical hip-hop that's not choreographed by Napoleon and Tabitha.
  
• The dance: Ryan's dress is cute. It looks like something someone would actually wear. I'm liking this. I feel like the girl actually gets to dance in this routine, and not just sassily strut around, as often happens in these hip-hop routines. They're both good, but I think Ryan's stealing the show a little in the side-by-side dancing. Nicely choreographed routine!
  
• The judging: Nigel didn't quite get the story, but he loved the dancing. He says Ryan stands out in the sea of good girl dancers. Mary thinks Ricky is one of the best boys.

Caitlynn and Mitchell (Sonya Tayeh jazz):

• The featurette: Yea Sonya! Mitchell is a little much too. He also sweats a lot.
  
• The dance: Robert is taking Mitchell's place. I'm happier to see Rob now than I ever was last year... This routine is pretty classic/standard Sonya, but it's cool. Caitlynn's pretty good.
  
• The judging: Mary loves Sonya's choreo and thinks Kaitlynn's legs are spectacular. She thinks Kaitlynn was brilliant. Mary sure hopes we see Robert later this season as an all-star. Megan was impressed with how young, small Kaitlynn showed such power. Nigel gives her 10's for performance and technique.

Miranda and Robert (Jason Gilkison jazz):

• The featurette: Miranda is from Pittsburgh. She's dancing in lingerie in her intro clip. Robert kind of sings his 8-second intro. He also has an Urkel voice. He's also a bit much. What is with these boys this year?
  
• The dance: Mod outfits for the jive. Interesting. Miranda's jive looks a little stompy--not very light. I don't think Robert quite has it either, but he's got nice spirit. I'm excited to hear Mary's take on this.
  
• The judging: Megan liked it. Nigel points out the obvious: that Robert might alienate people with all the "woooooooo"-ing. He wants him to point his toes. Nigel wants more confidence from Miranda. Mary seems to like it, and I'm a bit befuddled. She gives them a wohoo. Ok, I'll defer to Mary. She knows more about jive than I do.
  

Missy and Wadi (Sean Cheesman jazz):

• The featurette: Missy likes talking in a Jamaican accent and Wadi was born in Jamaica! It's perfect! The dance is about evil, sexy demons.
  
• The dance: They start the dance in two separate boxes. Some very cool moments in that routine, especially the end when Wadi jumped and flipped all over the two boxes. Nice.
  
• The judging: Nigel thinks this is Sean's best work ever. Nigel thinks Missy is one of the beasts of the girls. He thinks Wadi is brilliant. Mary says something incomprehensible about Pandora's box and whoopass. Megan pulls out a Mia Michaels-esque "ahh-MA-zing."

Melanie and Marko (Travis Wall contemporary):

• The featurette: Here's my power couple. Marko is from Guam. They are two statues that dance into one.
  
• The dance: Mel and Marko plus Travis, and an Ingrid Michaelson song to boot! They're awful bendy for statues... This is gorgeous. They both display amazing control over these moves. So, so good.
  
• The judging: Judges give it a standing O. Mary's almost in tears. Ok, she's really in tears. She says this was one of those magical numbers that happen once or twice a season. Breathtaking. Megan has chills. Nigel thinks that could have been the first Emmy-nominated routine of the season. Marko's the one who still has a bullet in his shoulder. Nigel says Melanie is the queen of the beasts. He thinks she's the best girl dancer EVER ON THE SHOW. Wow.

Ashley and Chris (Christopher Scott hip-hop):

• The featurette: The dance is about a couple that finds out that they're both cheating on each other at the same time. Chris is cute. Ashley has a nice smile.
  
• The dance: To Cee-Lo's "Forget You," of course. This is spunky. Not sure Ash is the best hip-hop dancer ever, but she is a ballerina after all. They're bringing a nice energy to it. Not one of the marquee number of the night though.
  
• The judging: Nigel thought it was a lot of fun. Mary liked Ashley's swag and Chris' heart. Megan thinks SYTYCD has the best makeup and costumes of any show.

Iveta and Nick (Jason Gilkison quick step):

• The featurette: Well, if someone had to get the quick step tonight, at least it was world champ Iveta. Iveta is originally from Lithuania. Nick's very slow 8-second intro was funny. Iveta is a quick step slave-driver.
  
• The dance: Well, it's a quick step. So there's that. It's kind of a rockin' one though. It's alright. Not my favorite dance ever, but they did a good job.
  
• The judging: Megan was impressed by tap dancer Nick. Nigel thinks Nick came up to scratch. Mary is flat-out screaming her critique. The dance had everything it was supposed to. Iveka is the first American representative to win all 10 dances. Mary says it was unbelievable and Nick rocked.

My favorites:

• Melanie and Marko's contemporary
• Missy and Wadi's jazz
• Ryan and Ricky's lyrical hip-hop
  

Overall, it was a pretty good start to Season 8, I'd say.

Greek: Moving On

Greek:
"Legacy"

This is it. I've been dreading this moment for weeks, but now it's upon us: the series finale of Greek. One last hurrah with our favorite CRU students.

I'll begin with one last Greek play-by-play, and then I'll get all sentimental at the end of the post.

Highlights and my observations:

• Is Rusty wearing the same flannel shirt that Evan was wearing last week? That would be scandalous. (Ok, I've looked into it, and can confirm that it is NOT the same shirt. I guess it would be a little late in the game to open the Rusty-and-Evan-have-a-secret-romance can of worms...)
• Finals already?! Fastest Greek semester ever!
• Evan! Evan's broken hand!
• Evan says "nothing" is up with his broken hand/arm.
• Um, Casey and Evan aren't really going to be able to come up with "what the KTs are going to try to pull" to save their house. It's hard for non-KTs to think like KTs.
• Actually, Evan, Casey Cartwright stops "thinking about her future" on a fairly frequent basis.
• Calvin has picked accounting as his major. He does not sound too convincing though when he says he loves it. Uh oh.
• Aww, Rusty gave Ashleigh a name tag for her new office.
• Dale's second cousin Barry got married last week and he hadn't left the house in five years!
• Dale: "You don't think it's us, do you?"
• LOL at Dale offering a long list of all the "horrible" Matthew McConaughey movies and still never hitting on the one Rebecca was referring to (Ghosts of Girlfriends Past).
• Ha at both Cartwrights accidentally breaking things upon entering the KT house.
• Oh no, Pledge Spidey's dad is Villian X. Suddenly things make sense. I didn't see it coming; I was blinded by my love of Jonathan Silverman as Richard in Weekend at Bernies.
• YEEAAAAAA! It's a good-old KT brainstorming session! These scenes are seriously one of the best parts of Greek.
• Beaver suggests they try a plan based on the plot of Up but attributes it to something he saw on 20/20!
• Rusty: "You can't blame Luke Skywalker for being Darth Vader's son."
  KT: "Spoiler alert!"
• Cappie: "Pledge Spidey, bring me the action figures! And the Barbies! We're going to need them all!"
• Casey calling Evan "Evan Bacon." LOL.
• Heath, Calvin, Beaver and Ashleigh's "tourist" disguises.
• Wow! Dale's even helping too!
• Tour guide: "Have I told you about our house rabbit adoption center?"
• Ha at Casey yelling "Oh!" in surprise upon seeing Cappie in the organic cafe.
• This is epic.
• And now Rebecca is pretending to be Ashleigh. This is a complicated plan.
  
• Ash's big glasses are cute.
• Evan nailed Beaver's balloon scheme on the head!
• Cappie can graduate!
• Casey: "You accidentally graduated?!"
• Casey: "I get it. Go to her!"
• Rebecca: "So, I got an e-mail from Robin. She says we didn't work out because I'm not a lesbian."
• Dale: "Why didn't we ever work out?"
  Laura: "You don't like to sweat?"
• While I'm not totally on board with Laura being the future Mrs. Kettlewell, the kiss was worth it to see Rebecca getting shoved into the cake.
• Oh, poor Rusty's breaking down.
• IT'S WADE!!!!!!!!!!!! Wade's looking cute with his new haircut!
• Katherine! Aw, Katherine's going to share a KT story! And her story is that she lost her virginity in the KT house... Yikes.
• It's Jen K.! Has she been around this whole time?! She says she regrets writing the article. But she's the editor of the CRU paper, so I guess it worked out for her.
• Oh no, Mr. Parks just singled out Casey and Evan to explain why the house should be torn down. How is that their jobs as law students, exactly?
• Come on, Evan, be a nice person! YEA!!! Evan did the right thing! Good for Evan.
• (Why did they want Evan and Casey to speak anyway if they were just going to tear the house down no matter what? No consensus was reached. Why even bother trying to talk the "protesters" into it?)
• Oh, Beaver! Oh, Rusty! Ohh, they're all crying! Oh, KT house...
• Casey: "You're not my geeky little brother who got beat up by a sixth-grader when he was in high school."
  Rusty: "She was an eighth-grader."
• Casey: "You don't need me or anyone else to look out for you anymore. You can take care of yourself."
  Rusty: "I get that from you."
• Casey: "I did the right thing. I got that from you."
• Uh, no, Evan. You and Rebecca didn't work out because you're still in love with Casey. But it's the last episode, so I guess we have to gloss over that fact today.
• Evan punched the wall!!! (because he was sad about losing Rebecca)
• Rusty's rallying the troops! Aww.
• KT brother: "We can't sleep in tents all winter! In case you forgot, this is Ohio!" (Uh, I didn't forget that it was Ohio. Greek's writers forgot that.)
• Ashleigh: "You know, this room is crazy big!"
• Evan: "Hey, Crappie."
• Oops, I don't think Evan meant to inspire Cappie and Casey to run away together. But that's exactly what he did. And he was super cool about it. Evan has been such a do-gooder today! Redeeming himself for semesters of misdeeds in one swoop!
• Awww, Ash and Rusty!
• Ok, everything's going great and all, but I feel like the resolutions are coming at us at a really rapid-fire pace. It's hard for any one moment to sink in, because there's another one coming right on its heels.
• Ha at Cappie doing jumping jacks before orating.
• Professor: "For your finale I just have one question: Why?"
  Cappie: "Because you're lazy."
• Cappie's real name is "Captain John Paul Jones"!
• Calvin and Heath are going to India to help people.
• Cappie: "You are my legacy, Spitter." (This one gets the distinction of being the Sweetest Line of the Night.)
• Aww, even this Rebecca/Casey hug is making me sad. Holy crap!
• OH MY GOD, they're playing Youth Group's "Forever Young" cover from The O.C.! ARE THEY TRYING TO KILL ME?!?
• (How fitting is it though that Greek borrowed a song from the last show whose series finale made me cry like a little girl?)
• Evan hugging Cappie and Casey.
• DALE JUST KISSED CASEY! Ahahahaha! Everyone's reactions were fantastic.
• Cappie: "Dale?"
• I really wish this Casey "Where to?"/Cappie: "Wherever you're going." exchange--THE LAST LINES OF THE WHOLE FREAKING SERIES--hadn't been spoiled in the promo that ABC Family has been showing all week. Knowing exactly what was coming kinda ruined that moment for me.
  

It's hard not to feel sentimental about this finale. It really does seem like an end of an era--not just for Cappie, Casey, Evan, Rusty, Dale, Calvin, Ash, Rebecca, Beaver, Katherine, etc., but also for me. Greek made its debut shortly after my own collegiate experience ended, and over the years it has allowed me to vicariously experience some college moments I missed out on, as I did not participate in the Greek system; was not part of a messy, never-ending love triangle; and did not engage in too many crazy capers. I guess I was rather like Rusty would have been had he not joined Kappa Tau. (Or like Katherine...but not as stern.) So Greek not only taught Rusty to have fun, but allowed me to experience some of the fun I may have missed.

Even putting aside my college nostalgia issues, Greek has meant a lot to me over the years purely because it is fun. I can remember several times when I was sad or frustrated, and watched an episode of Greek that saved the day. In that respect, the show itself has been a great friend to me.

And, speaking of friends, what I will miss most about Greek is its characters, all of whom I view as my friends (even though I know they're not, in fact, real). Over the episodes, I've raved about Greek's ability to make a spectrum of different people all seem very likable. This extends from the top with the main characters--Casey, Rusty, Cappie--on down to the supporting characters who have gotten to stick around because they're so darn lovable--Beaver, Heath, Katherine, etc. Some shows are lucky if they can create one or two good characters who display a unique personality, have interesting layers, resonate emotionally, and inspire love and devotion from viewers. Greek is--sorry--was a show full of them. And they will all be deeply missed.

P.S. It's not too late to make a spin-off featuring Beaver striving to manage his new job as a kindergarten teacher and his blossoming relationship with a certain Type A law/MBA student.

(photos: abcfamily.com)

The Best Quotes of Greek: Rebecca

It's no secret that Rebecca Logan is not one of my favorite characters on Greek. In fact, aside from people like Frannie and Tripp, Beccs is generally my least favorite of the CRU gang. But while she's brash and self-sabotaging and rude, Rebecca is also smart, quick-witted, brutally honest and usually good for a laugh.

The Best Quotes of Rebecca:

Rebecca: "I will pay anyone $200 to take this tray up to Cappie's room and watch Reba with him. We're on season 5!"

Rebecca: "God, Rusty, you're trying to get them to donate money, not get in your van!"

Rebecca: "At least I didn't sleep with a 16-year-old!"
Mr. Cartwright: "O.M.G!"

Rebecca: "You have to get Ashleigh to forgive me. I've apologized, groveled, told her I liked those silly arm-warmer things she wears. Nothing's worked!"

Rebecca: "No one uses embossed wrapping paper unless they want to get in someone's pants."

Rebecca: "I chased him for three blocks before I realized we're doing Ash a favor by letting him keep that shirt."

Rebecca: "I have a couple gowns that would be perfect for this competition."
Ashleigh: "From what?"
Rebecca: "From being rich."

Betsy: "She does have over 20 years of experience."
Rebecca: "So does Kirsten Dunst, but that doesn't make her movies good."

Rebecca: "I burned your house down once. I'll do it again."

(photo: abcfamily.com)

The Best of Quotes of Greek: Calvin

Often serving as Greek's voice of reason, Calvin has dispensed his share of sage advice over the years to Rusty, Evan, Dale, Rebecca, Ashleigh and others. An astute observer of the human condition, Calvin has offered dry sarcasm and brutal honesty, providing a great counterpoint to the zaniness of some of his classmates.

The Best of Calvin:

Rusty: "Look where she's putting those bills!"
Calvin: "Which will be put right back in to circulation. By the end of the week it could be under some kid's pillow."

Calvin: "Look, either turn off the music or leave us out here to die!"
Rusty: "The sad thing is that I know the words to that song."

Calvin: "I don't mind that you're poor. I'd just prefer that you not use the word 'lavish' again. It's weird."

Calvin: "And what does one have to do to be labeled the 'house slob' of Kappa Tau?"

Dale: "We've already lost our pizza break. Do you want to cut the massage circle too?"
Calvin: "Yeah."

Rusty: "Is this still stylish?"
Calvin: "Was it ever?"

Calvin: "It's like watching an episode of Entourage, except cheaper...and actually watchable."

Evan: "I figured you'd love to be in charge of the Omega Chi float. Don't gay guys love floats?"
Calvin: "That's show tunes, jackass."

Calvin: "Thanks for letting me raid your closet, Dale. You were the only person I know that might have clothes resembling anything close to Austin Powers."

Cal: "Gays spend money on Mardi Gras like grandmas on Christmas!"

Calvin: "She handed you her virginity on a silver platter, and you just sent it back to the kitchen."

(photo: abcfamily.com)

The Best Quotes of Greek: Dale

While Dale Kettlewell has now been incorporated into the Greek system at CRU, for most of the series he has often be on the fringe, judging the everyone else's exploits from the sidelines. A one-man Greek chorus, if you will. And what a hilarious chorus this sharp-tongued science genius and Lord's witness has been.

Oh, Dale, I'll miss you so.

The Best Quotes of Dale:

Dale: "Cover up your privates! Lord's witness coming through!"

Dale's USAG Ball: "It's going to be a sin-free evening filled with non-alcoholic drinks, line dancing, and subtle proselytizing."

Dale: "When I told my parents about your descent into the Greek sect, my mother cried, and my father said 'G.D.' for the first time in his life."

Dale: "Have fun perpetuating stereotypes of wasted, reckless youth, Rusty."

Dale: "Oh, well, I used my last bottle of chloroform when I was on Murder, She Wrote."

Dale: "G darn it. This campus has endless available locations for undeserving, perverted students that want to act inappropriately, but when a group of elite academics what to blow off some steam while debunking Aristotelian physics, suddenly everything's booked up? I call bull hinky!"

Dale: "Hey, how 'bout a little Bible Boggle, huh? Remember that time you spelled Leviticus and Harvy Brewbauer cried?"

Kirk: "Hey, Dale, your pajamas just blew out the window!"
Dale: "Huh. Must be the light weight cotton, you know 'cause my winter flannels never have that problem."

Rusty: "Now I have to prove to the actives why I'm a true Kappa Tau."
Dale: "Well, you could just show them a biopsy of your decayed liver."

Dale: "I have to fight off a surly mechanical engineer to get this spot. I told him to build a bridge...and get over it."

Dale's new roommate is deathly pale, has a weird, unplaceable accent and wrote a Dale thank you note for making his own bed.

Casey: "I just met a Canadian guy who was looking for a roommate. He was really nice."
Dale: "This Canuck is relentless!"

Dale: "Aren't you a little concerned about the verbiage? 'Liberal arts.' It seems like it would attract a certain element. Like socialists, tree-huggers, and general deviants."

Dale: "I DVR The View all week so I can watch them all back-to-back. I just love it when Hasselbeck serves them supper."

Max: "Rusty's concerned that you never leave the apartment. Are you avoiding something out there?"
Dale: "Yeah, vegans and Coldplay fans."

Dale: "Essays? Oh no, that leaves too much room for teacher interpretation, and frankly this guy's kind of a nutbag."

Dale: "Can anybody tell me why this class is worth three units? Every first-grader in Wetumpka knows that the pig is whipping that guy because of lustfulness."

Dale: "But it's not the end of the world! Don't you read the Scriptures I leave on your pillow? There's going to be signs!"

Lana: "I don't date guys with issues."
Dale: "Someone without a college degree shouldn't be so choosy."

Dale: "Really? Cappie didn't mention that in his Christmas newsletter. It did have a fantastic date nut bar recipe."

Dale: "Nice glasses, J.J. Have you figured out how Lost is going to end yet?"

Dale: "You'll get one of my deep-fried snacks when you pry it out of my cold, dead hands!"

Dale: "There's Casey! I could spot those blond locks in the middle of a Swedish flea market."

Dale: "Do you know the CRU Atheist Club has their own ski trip? They should get used to a warmer climate where they're headed."

Rusty: "I don't think the Bible would approve of you stealing thy neighbor's goat."
Dale: "The Bible doesn't say zip about kidnapping they neighbor's goat to psych thy neighbor out before the big game."

Dale: "Let's be honest, with that dimpled chin and those buttery blond highlights, it's pretty clear who is in the right here."

(photo: abcfamily.com)

The Best of Quotes of Greek: Ashleigh

Like BFF Casey, Ashleigh Howard is a pop culturally astute young woman trying to make her way in the world while managing boys and friendships and school and life after college. She's had some setbacks, but never allows them to crush her spirit, and her triumphs are well-deserved. Rusty said it best when he called her a "human magnet" who draws people to her. She is a sunbeam of light: fun, irreverent, honest, generally happy, caring, quirky and lovely. (And I didn't just compare her to a sunbeam solely to hearken back to that infamous rainbow sweater of hers.)

The Best Quotes of Ashleigh:

Ashleigh: "...which is why, in many ways, I think that Ferris Bueller is my generation's Gatsby."

Ashleigh: "Yeah, we've seen each other through good times and bad. Like that time you hooked up with that 16-year-old! Oops!"

Fisher: "When I first met you, you know, I kind of imagined us doing the whole going-out thing."
Ashleigh: "I imagined you naked."

Ashleigh: "You are not Rusty. You have much, much daintier features...except his hands."

Ashleigh (to Heath): "It's a good thing you're pretty."

Ash: "You know how P. Diddy has an all-white ball in the Hamptons? I was thinking that we could do a similar thing here and have an all-blue ball."
Cappie: "I can't top that."

Ash: "You used to be this focused, driven person. When did you become this girl? Someone who sits around making lists and second-guessing your choices. Paging Dr. Grey! No, wait, you are more like Joey Potter. No, you're worse. You're the F word."
Casey: "Don't say it!"
Ash: "Felicity."
Casey: "You bitch."

Ash: "He smells like cupcakes and man."

Ash: "But sexy fierce or scary fierce? ...I want to look hot, but also threatening, like 'cheat on me again, and I will cut you.'"

Ashleigh: "I think Clueless is one of the greatest movies in the history of movies!"

Casey: "I'm like the worst detective ever."
Ashleigh: "Oh, stop. Remember Inspector Gadget? He needed a dog and a 10-year-old girl to solve anything."

Ashleigh: "And they sleep where they poop. You can't trust a bunny."

Ash: "It's a fun way to start of the semester. You have a boyfriend. I'm single. We're arsonists."

Ash: "After graduation, I'm just going to have to live off the land."

Ash: "If you ask me what my weaknesses are, I'm going to tell you!"

Ash: "Who knew finding a job would take so long? It always happens so fast in movie montages."

Ash: "Casey took a 'Which Friend are you?' quiz on Facebook, and she's a Rachel. She wishes! She's more like a Ross."

(photo: abcfamily.com)