First, just to get this out of the way, there was no shirt ripping to end the evening.

Second, to get this out of the way, Todd's hair looked great.

I was sitting at the end of the arena opposite the skater's entrance in the corner and in the front row. If you've been to the show, I was in the corner where Todd puts the triple axels. The only problem with these seats was that one corner was virtually impossible for me to see. But to be that close (and I was really close) and have a completely clear view of one end of the ice, I was quite happy. I also didn't take any notes, so this is all memory and not in any particular order.

Alexei seems to be back to doing three numbers, as he did the Steppenwolf number here. I have to say that the Steppenwolf number is the only one I could really do without. It just screams filler to me. His other two numbers though are a joy, particularly Overcome. There are people who you know are very good and you know the program is great, but you don't completely "get it" until you see it in person. Overcome is an absolutely stunning program in person. Racing is great fun, and the crowd enjoyed it. Jump-wise it looked like he did a lot of triple toes and did one of the night's two triple lutzes.

Jamie was snakebit skater of the evening, falling out of both the throw and her SBS spin in Come Fly With Me and doubling the throw in Lovin' Touchin' Squeezin'. I really liked Come Fly With Me, which is not only a fun program by has some cute plays with song lyrics.

The Elvis and Marilyn number surprised me because it was actually really entertaining. I still think the music edit is awful, but Elena and Anton are great entertainers. They sold this program to the rafters. Elena also had her hair curled for the number and I think it looks really cute that way.

For the other folks with just one number, Jenni and Todd are too cute. In person, you do notice that they aren^Rt at the level of the other pairs, but I really didn^Rt care. Kyoko and John have really come into their own, I think. The lift they do at the end of the program, where Kyoko is in a candle lift and then pressed up into another lift, is really impressive in-person. Roca and Sur were gorgeous, absolutely effortless, and generally what I like about ice dance. Kat was also gorgeous and effortless. The person sitting next me mentioned the lack of ladies, and I said that we did get probably *the* lady.

Kurt is one of those skaters who I don^Rt think needs a single jump to make me happy. I thought his first number was captivating with the edging and the movement over the ice. Who needs jumps? Also, the second number proves that you can have a program where you aren't on the ice all that much and be entertaining. First, you have a reason to be off the ice other than an audience mugging. Second, that when you're on the ice you do more than skate laps. It was a total scream.

Todd was amazing, not that I thought he wouldn^Rt be, but he really was. And this was aside from doing three triple axels (we sure Todd realizes that this isn't a competition?). Anyway, Channel One Suite went really well, except for the fact that it looked like he doubled the sal. The spins were amazing, fast and dead centered. Basically, I love this program. The program that kind of surprised me was Miserere, because I had yet to be impressed from what I had seen on TV. This program is much better live. I think you get a better sense of the power of the program. He fell out of triple toe, which went up completely crooked. Also, I haven^Rt pulled out a tape, but I think the jump order has been changed around as the first jump of the program was the triple axel. But I also had a great view of the final spin of the program and man is he good.

Other notes: To whoever thought up the Studz program, thank you. It really is that funny and these guys really do look that good in jeans. Both the opening and closing numbers seemed like they should be longer, but I really liked them both. And, having seen it with my own eyes, Todd really does skate well to Will Smith. I think they turned down the bass this year, and another thank you for that.

And for total frivolity: First, John Zimmerman may have become the most desired man in figure skating. Second, I don'Rt think that the "standing naked in the spotlight line" is being taken as a metaphor, but as something they'd like to see attempted.